Chapter 23: Natsumi’s Fury Ignites

The group traveled through the mist, staying as quiet and careful as they could, trying to avoid the endless noise echoing all around them from Legion’s many forms searching for their prey. They crept along broken streets until they found a narrow alley and slipped into it, as one of Legion’s massive abominations walked down the road right past them.

They then quietly walked through the alley, exiting out the other side, but the instant they stepped out, a deep, distorted voice rang out. “There you are. We see you now.”

A hulking abomination leapt toward them from the shadows. Alex reacted instantly, charging forward and driving Onimaru straight into its chest. The demon-repelling power surged through the blade, releasing a violent burst that tore the abomination apart in midair, scattering its flesh across the ground.

“We need to move, now that they know where we are,” Alex said sharply.

The three broke into a full sprint, the fog spell clinging to them like a fading shroud. Yet even as Natsumi’s magic tried to conceal their presence, the sounds of Legion’s countless abominations grew louder from every direction, closing in fast.

Then, the swarm found them. Shapes emerged from the mist, hundreds of twisted, clawed forms rushing at them from every street and rooftop. Celeste shouted over the chaos, “We have to fight and run! Don’t stop, just swing at whatever gets in our way!”

They pushed forward through the thick fog, blades flashing, cutting down anything that got close. Every step was a battle, every breath filled with the stench of corruption as they forced their way through the tightening ring of Legion’s many forms.

Suddenly, a smaller abomination burst through the mist, its body a grotesque disfigured creature with many arms. It lunged straight for Natsumi. Startled, she screamed and dropped to a crouch, covering her head in panic.

Alex saw her freeze. “Earth Shot!” he shouted, thrusting his hand forward. A compressed bullet of stone blasted from his palm, slamming into the descending creature and tearing through its body. The abomination crashed lifelessly beside Natsumi.

He rushed over, grabbing her hand firmly. “We have to go, now!”

But when he pulled, she didn’t move. Her leg was stuck. The small abomination he’d just destroyed had fused itself to her ankle, tendrils of tar-like flesh wrapping around her, trying to hold her in place, just like what had happened to him in the hospital.

Natsumi screamed, panic taking hold again.

“Hey, look at me!” Alex said sharply. When her frightened eyes met his, he spoke firmly, “Use your own strength and pull free. You can break it.”

Natsumi’s expression hardened. She grit her teeth, forcing every ounce of her will into her trembling leg. With a cry, she ripped her foot upward, tearing through the sticky, fleshy strands until she was free.

Celeste, ahead of them, turned back, surrounded by three abominations pressing in from all sides. “Hurry up, you two! This is getting really bad!” she shouted, swinging Masamune and Excalibur in sweeping arcs that sliced through the encroaching creatures. Holy light and blue streaks flashed through the fog.

Then Natsumi and Alex came up right behind Celeste, each of them swinging their blades to cut down the abominations ahead. Together, they pressed forward through the mist, striking anything that moved as they fought to carve a path through the endless swarm.

As they proceeded, the swarm began to thin out. Celeste frowned, her instincts uneasy. “I don’t like this feeling… something’s not right.”

Before they could react, the ground beneath them trembled violently. From the side street beside them, the scattered remains of destroyed abominations began to merge together, forming into a monstrous, half-sized version of the original giant. Its body shook the ground as it took shape, its heavy steps making the nearby buildings collapse like paper.

The tremors split the earth beneath them. Natsumi stumbled backward, her right foot plunging into a bubbling pool of black, tar-like blood. She screamed as it pulled her down.

Alex and Celeste immediately grabbed her arms and heaved upward, pulling with all their strength. But as they freed her leg, a massive hand burst from above them and swung across, striking Alex with devastating force.

He was sent flying through the air, crashing through the wall of a building across the street. The impact sent him through several rooms before he hit the floor hard, debris raining down around him.

“Alex!” Natsumi screamed. Her focus shattered, and the fog spell around them dispersed instantly.

“We see you now! There is no hiding from us. Your feeble magic has failed!” the countless voices of Legion echoed from all directions.

Through the thinning mist, another newly formed giant roared, its voice shaking the entire street. It stood just a block away, toppling buildings as it advanced, while the one that struck Alex loomed over them.

Celeste turned sharply to Natsumi. “Go get Alex! Make sure he’s okay! I’ll try to hold them off!”

Before Natsumi could speak, Celeste charged forward with both her weapons drawn, sprinting straight toward the nearest Abomination Giant. She leapt high, Masamune and Excalibur ready to strike, but then, something unexpected happened.

In midair, both her arms were seized by enormous claws, stopping her attack cold. She was yanked upward with terrifying speed. As she looked up in shock, she saw one of the two greater demons that had been hunting her the moment they felt her holy power in the hospital.

The fog’s disappearance had revealed her position. And the moment she had jumped, it had swooped down, snatching her from the air in its monstrous grip.

It beat its wings furiously, carrying her away from the battlefield and out of the city, her blades still glowing as she struggled helplessly in its grasp.

Legion’s monstrous voice erupted in fury, shaking the streets. “Demon! That is our angel! How dare you steal her from us!”

The nearest Abomination Giant bellowed, turning its grotesque head toward the sky. Without hesitation, it began to chase after the flying demon that carried Celeste, its heavy body plowing through collapsing buildings as it roared in rage.

Natsumi then rushed into the ruined building where Alex had been thrown, climbing over the rubble and calling his name. After frantic searching, she finally uncovered him beneath a pile of debris. He was battered and bruised, coughing as she knelt beside him.

“Are you all right?” she asked urgently.

Alex groaned, forcing a weak grin. “Yeah, that hurt quite a bit. But luckily, nothing here’s made of stone.” He coughed up a little blood, then raised his trembling hand and muttered, “Vibrating Heal.”

A faint vibration ran through his body as the spell activated. His skin healed and scarred from the spell as the wounds slowly began to close. Natsumi steadied him as he pushed himself upright.

“We need to go,” Natsumi said between breaths. “A demon took Celeste.”

As they started toward the exit, the entire structure began to shake violently. Dust rained down as the roof was suddenly torn away. Legion’s massive hand smashed through the ceiling, its claws reaching straight for them.

Alex reacted instantly, shoving Natsumi aside. She fell hard to the floor just as the colossal fingers wrapped around him, yanking him up through the shattered roof and into the open air, saving her from being caught in its grasp.

Natsumi looked up in shock as Legion’s massive voice thundered, “I’ve got you, Nephilim! You will become one with us soon!”

Her eyes widened in horror as the giant shoved Alex into its chest. Dark tendrils burst from the abomination’s body, wrapping tightly around him and pulling him into the writhing mass of flesh.

Alex looked down at her one last time, his voice strained but resolute. “Run, now, while it’s distracted! Get out of here and save yourself!”

But Natsumi didn’t flee. Seeing Alex’s desperate plea only ignited something inside her. Her oni blood began to boil, power flooding her veins as rage filled her eyes. Yet, unlike before, she didn’t lose control. This time, the fury was clear and focused.

She glared up at the towering giant and screamed, “Give me back my Alex!”

With a thunderous leap, she shot into the air, Muramasa glowing with dark crimson energy. Her muscles tensed, her body strengthened by her awakened oni blood as she prepared to strike the abomination down.

Legion noticed Natsumi charging toward it, Muramasa glowing in her hands as dark energy swirled around the blade. The giant swung its massive arm down, but Natsumi was faster. She slashed through the air, releasing a dark crescent-shaped slash of dark energy that cleaved through the abomination’s arm, severing it completely. The limb crashed to the ground, shaking the street.

Landing atop the ruined building, Natsumi readied Muramasa again, channeling what little magical energy she had left. She tried to unleash another attack, but nothing happened. Her blade flickered weakly.

“Damn,” she muttered, panting. “I’m out of mana. Holding that fog so long drained everything I had.”

She exhaled sharply and took a battle stance. “Looks like I’ll have to do this the hard way.”

All around her, the remaining abominations began to close in, surrounding her as Legion’s giant form loomed ahead. Its laughter rolled through the air, guttural and cruel.

“Ha! Oni, you will be next! And once I have the angel, all three of you will become part of us so you won’t be separated for long!”

Natsumi tightened her grip on Muramasa as a red aura flared around her body. The ground beneath her cracked under the pressure of her power. Her rage burned hotter, her oni blood surging as her strength multiplied. She let out a roar that shook the air, readying herself for the battle ahead.

Then she whispered to herself, her voice low and trembling with fury. “Don’t worry, Alex… I will save you. Because you are mine. And nobody will take you away.”

With that, she steadied her breath and lifted Muramasa once more, preparing herself for the slaughter that was about to begin.