Spying

Ayuri flushed immediately; her face was bright red, and her orange eyes were darting around in embarrassment at the thought.

“I mean, if you want…” Her voice was just above a whisper.

Toki chuckles softly, “You don't have to be so embarrassed; it's only for our safety.”

“Right.” Her face turned to the side, still avoiding his gaze.

Our priority should be figuring out a plan with everyone; some of them already seem to be starting to talk to each other. That leaves us to introduce ourselves now.

“Ayuri, do you mind giving me a loudspeaker with your thread? Is that even possible?” His own confidence was wavering.

Ayuri nods. “It's possible.”

Her drum major stick taps onto the grass; golden threads emerge from the bottom before they start twisting and twirling around themselves, forming a megaphone.

I haven't done this type of thing ever before. I can't believe I'm about to do this.

Kneeling, Toki makes sure to grab it firmly before taking a breath in and shouting into it.

“Everyone!”

Their attention instantly turns towards him, both in alertness and curiosity about why this person was screaming.

“Gather around, we're going to make a plan.” His logical suggestion got a couple of nods, but also scepticism emerging.

Instantly, there was a group of four members who went up to him.

I'm surprised by that work.

“We're from the god of machinery.” A man with a clockwork top hat spoke, his voice hinted with elegance, while his brown suit attire complemented his ancient look; he had silver eyes and a confident demeanour as he stood.

Toki nods. “I'm Toki, behind me is Ayuri, and Shina is sulking in a tent. We represent falsity.”

"I'm Dahoqu." He points backwards; they were the same suits except that they had their hats personalised to their style. There was one girl in the group, and the rest were guys.

They certainly seem to be a strong group if they all managed to survive.

Before he could continue his thoughts, another man approached him. He had basic animal clothing on his entire body and looked like a mammoth, and with his spiky black hair and wild stance, he definitely seemed to be primal.

“I'm Hatake. Also, my teammates are all dead!” He spoke rather enthusiastically about the death of his group.

The last one, then, is that girl who apologised; she doesn't seem to be the social type.

She was hiding near a tent of her own, at least compared to Shina, and she was curious about the conversation unfolding, so she decided to scout it out.

“Do any of you know her name?” He points towards her near the tent.

They both shake their heads before Hatake speaks out.

“She's a mysterious one, alright, but I like it,” he said with a smug, flirtatious tone.

I never asked if you liked it or not; nobody cares about your type.

Taking a breath in, he drops the megaphone, allowing its threads to retreat. Toki calms himself down before suggesting his ideas.

“We should take charge and attack the other team while we can; we were only separated by the forest after all. Two hours and we will be in action.”

Dahoqu shakes his head in rejection. “Attacking would just mean that we're at a disadvantage; the other teams might have some sort of defence, and even if they don’t, then attacking would make us exhausted on arrival.”

“If you consider it like that, you have a point, but there is also the idea that they might be arguing or not on the best of terms. Luckily, here, we have never met each other before, so we bear no hatred.”

Dahoqu nods in agreement. “You are correct; it is just unpredictable.”

Toki sighs out in response, his mind remembering the goddess's words, “I heard that someone here has flight.”

Hatake steps up. “Of course, that's me. Guess my brilliance couldn’t be hidden even across the world.”

This guy is getting on my nerves already.

Ayuri places a soft hand on his shoulder, and Toki smiles softly in response. She always knew what to do in a bad situation, it seems.

“You can fly out and see their base, can’t you? Tell us how it is.” Encouraging tone was an understatement of what he used.

Hatake laughs, “Of course, but I can’t fly out for two hours; I can fly for max an hour. My magic pool got limited because I would be invincible, of course, haha.”

“Bring someone with you that can walk with you,” Toki points out to everyone here.

Hatake turns around, his eyes scanning the area. He could pick the machinery group or perhaps the mysterious girl he fancied.

“I pick her.” His fingers pointed towards the suddenly opened tent, a pair of red eyes peering out, and red and ash hair grabbing his attention instantly.

Of course, she overheard. Her hearing is just as good as Kazu's now. I wonder if her absorption of those abominations also improved her hearing, and not just physical attributes.

His lack of knowledge about Shina absorbing Kazu leaves him perplexed at this scene; he's quick to recover, however.

“You can't go with her, or she will kill you,” Toki stated firmly.

Hatake grabs his shoulder roughly. “Listen, listen. I like her looks; she could kill me, and I wouldn't complain about having to look at her at my death's door. I don't have a chance at beating a whole group anyway, so let me enjoy it with a fine-looking gal.”

Is he trying to get my pity, or perhaps manipulating me into allowing it?

“Pick someone else already; we don't have time to waste,” he insisted.

Hatake scoffs, “Either she goes, or I'm not going. I already said it's fine if I die.”

He definitely doesn't believe my words. It's not her looks that will kill you, idiot, but she will actually kill you by taking your power and dissipating you.

There was a clear barrier between the two; the rest of the team was also getting frustrated. Leaving him with one option

“You can go, but if she tries anything, I want to fly away. Even if it's getting close to you,” his voice left nothing to argue against.

Hatake smiles before pointing out to Shina, “Red girl, let's go.”

“Call me Shina,” she said, approaching him.

They both walked out of the camp towards one of the two forests. There was clearly nothing left to lose at this stage. After a couple of minutes, they vanished from sight. Their mission begins.