Chapter 17: Into the Tunnels

The sun has barely set over Tokyo, painting the sky in bruises of purple and black, when we leave the Hoshi house. We do not sneak out this time. We walk out the front door with purpose. We have spent the entire day reinforcing the wards around the property, layering ancient barrier spells over the fences until the air around the house hums with a low, protective vibration. Hajime and Naomi are safe inside, oblivious to the magical fortress we have built around them.

Now, we are free to track the enemy.

Kenuji is in the lead. He is in his human form, wearing a dark grey trench coat that swirls around his ankles. He looks like a detective from a noir movie, except for the glowing psychic aura that flickers around his head like a halo of static electricity. He is holding a small vial in his hand. Inside the vial is a pinch of the black dust we collected from the destroyed Shadow Assassin clone.

"The signal is faint", Kenuji says, his voice tight. He stops at the corner of the street, tilting the vial toward the north. "But it is there. It is pulling me. Like a compass needle pointing to magnetic north".

"Where does it lead?" Yoshi asks. He is cracking his knuckles, the sound sharp in the quiet evening air. He looks dangerous tonight. The playful smirk is gone, replaced by a cold, hard focus. He is wearing his combat boots, and I can feel the earth trembling slightly with every step he takes.

"Shinjuku", Kenuji answers. "Specifically, beneath it".

"The subway?" Muji asks. He is bouncing on the balls of his feet, restless. His shoulder is fully healed thanks to my magic, but the memory of the blade is still fresh. He wants payback. "I hate the subway. It smells like armpits and ozone".

"Deeper than the subway", Kenuji corrects him. "The old maintenance tunnels. The ones they sealed off after the war. The veins of the city".

We take the train to Shinjuku Station. It is crowded, as always. A sea of tired salarymen and energetic students flows through the ticket gates. We move through them like ghosts. Inoe uses a subtle perception filter-a low-level mind trick that makes people look away from us. To the humans, we are just blurry faces in the crowd. Unremarkable. Invisible.

We find the entrance to the maintenance tunnels behind a locked janitor's door at the end of Platform 4. Yoshi places his hand on the lock.

"Open", he whispers.

The metal tumblers click and groan. The lock disintegrates into rust. Yoshi pushes the door open, revealing a dark, concrete staircase spiraling down into the earth.

"Ladies first", Muji grins, gesturing to the darkness.

"You are such a gentleman", Inoe rolls her eyes, but she steps onto the stairs without hesitation. Her eyes are already glowing a faint neon pink, cutting through the gloom.

We descend. The air gets colder with every step. The sounds of the station above-the announcements, the rumble of trains-fade away, replaced by the dripping of water and the scuttling of rats.

We reach the bottom. We are standing in a massive, cylindrical tunnel. It is lined with rusted pipes and thick bundles of cables. The floor is covered in puddles of stagnant water.

"Which way?" I ask, my voice echoing. I summon a small orb of holy light in my palm to illuminate the path. It casts long, dancing shadows on the curved walls.

Kenuji holds up the vial. The black dust inside is swirling violently, pressing against the glass. "That way. East. Toward the old Imperial bunkers".

We walk in formation. Muji takes point, his claws partially extended. Yoshi takes the rear, guarding our backs. Kenuji and Inoe are in the middle. I stay close to Kenuji, keeping my light steady.

The atmosphere is oppressive. It feels heavy, like the air itself is trying to crush us. My skin prickles.

"We are not alone", Inoe whispers. She stops. "I can feel minds. primitive minds. Hunger. Hate".

"Constructs", Kenuji confirms. "Like the assassin. But... less refined. Cruder".

"Ambush!" Muji yells.

He dives to the right just as a black spike shoots out of the darkness.

CLANG.

The spike hits the concrete wall where Muji's head was a second ago, shattering the stone.

From the shadows, they emerge.

There are dozens of them. They look like the Shadow Assassin, but deformed. Some have too many arms. Some have no legs, just dragging themselves along the ground. They are made of the same black, shadowy bandages, leaking purple miasma. They move with jerky, twitching motions.

"Failed experiments", Yoshi growls, stepping up beside Muji. "The rejects".

"Kill them all", Kenuji commands. "Do not let them surround us".

The fight begins instantly.

Three of the crawlers lunge at Muji. He meets them with a roar.

"Silver Claw: Cross Slash!"

Muji's hands blur. Shining silver lines hang in the air for a split second as he shreds the shadows. The crawlers screech and dissolve into ink. But more take their place. A massive, hulking construct with four arms swings a rusty pipe at Muji. Muji catches the pipe, twists it out of the construct's grip, and drives it through the monster's chest.

"Yoshi! Left flank!" Inoe shouts.

A group of fast, spider-like shadows is scuttling along the wall, trying to drop on us from above.

Yoshi doesn't even look up. He stomps his foot.

"Geomancer Arts: Ceiling Collapse!"

The concrete ceiling above the spiders ripples. Stalactites of stone shoot downward, skewering the spiders mid-movement. They fall to the floor, pinned and writhing.

"Disgusting", Yoshi spits. He clenches his fist, and the stone spikes explode, destroying the shadows completely.

But there are too many of them. They are pouring out of the side tunnels like a flood of black oil.

"They are trying to overwhelm us", Kenuji analyzes, throwing up a psychic shield to block a barrage of shadow-needles. "They are mindless. They just want to drown us in bodies".

"I will clear a path", I say. I step forward, past Kenuji's shield.

"Haruka, wait!" Yoshi warns. "Don't expose yourself!"

"Cover me!" I yell back.

I raise both hands high. I draw on the Divine energy stored deep in my soul. I think of the sun. I think of the purity of morning light.

"Sacred Art: Nova Flare!"

I clap my hands.

A sphere of blinding, white-gold light expands from my body. It is not just light; it is physical force. It hits the wave of shadows like a bomb.

The constructs scream. The light burns their shadow-flesh instantly. The front line of the horde vaporizes. The ones behind them stumble back, shielding their non-existent eyes. The purple miasma hisses and evaporates.

"Now!" I pant, the effort draining me. "Push forward!"

"You heard the lady!" Muji shouts. He charges into the gap I created. He is a whirlwind of violence. He is not fighting like a human; he is fighting like a tiger. He leaps, slashes, bites. He tears the constructs apart with primal ferocity.

We move down the tunnel, carving a path through the army of rejects. Yoshi uses the environment against them, turning the floor into quicksand, turning the walls into crushing vices. Inoe uses her mind control to confuse the ones that have a shred of consciousness, making them attack each other.

"Stop hitting your friends!" Inoe laughs, her eyes glowing pink as she forces a four-armed shadow to decapitate a crawler. "Actually, don't stop. It is very helpful".

We reach a large, open chamber at the end of the tunnel. It looks like an old maintenance hub. Rusted machinery sits in the corners. In the center of the room, there is a large, circular pit.

And standing on the other side of the pit is a figure.

It is not a construct. It is a man.

He is wearing a pristine white suit that stands out starkly against the filth of the tunnel. He has long, silver hair tied back in a ponytail. He is holding a black cane.

He is smiling.

"Welcome", the man says. His voice is smooth, cultured, and terrifying. "I was wondering when the famous Siblings would find my little workshop".

"Who are you?" Kenuji demands, stepping forward. His psychic aura flares, sensing the man's power. "You are not human. But you are not a Yokai either".

"I am an artist", the man says, tapping his cane on the ground. "My name is Kuro. And you have broken so many of my dolls. It is very rude".

"Your dolls tried to kill us", Yoshi says, his voice low and dangerous. "And they tried to kill our family".

"Tests", Kuro shrugs. "Quality assurance. And I must say, the results are promising. You five are... exceptional. Such raw, ancient power. You would make magnificent materials".

"Materials?" Muji growls. "I am going to turn you into materials. Scrap materials".

Muji lunges. He crosses the distance to the pit in a single bound. He aims his claws at Kuro's throat.

Kuro does not move. He does not dodge. He simply lifts one finger.

"Sit".

A massive weight slams into Muji in mid-air. It is not gravity. It is pure spiritual pressure. Muji crashes into the ground at Kuro's feet, pinned by an invisible hand.

"Muji!" I scream.

"Weak", Kuro sighs, looking down at Muji. "You rely too much on anger. Anger is sloppy".

Kuro raises his cane. The tip turns into a sharp, obsidian spike. He aims it at Muji's heart.

"No!" Yoshi screams.

Yoshi slams both hands onto the floor. "Geomancer Arts: Earth Dragon!"

The concrete floor of the chamber erupts. A massive dragon made of stone and rebar rises from the ground beneath Kuro's feet. It snaps its jaws at him.

Kuro is forced to jump back. He releases the pressure on Muji.

"Move, Muji! Get out of there!" Kenuji yells.

Muji scrambles back, gasping for breath. He rejoins us, looking shaken. "He is strong. He is... really strong. I couldn't move".

"He is an Onmyoji", Inoe realizes, her eyes wide. "A dark summoner. He uses spiritual commands. He binds souls".

"Correct", Kuro smiles, dusting off his suit. "And I have a new pet I want to introduce you to".

He taps his cane on the edge of the pit.

"Rise, Goliath".

The pit rumbles. Something climbs out.

It is huge. It stands at least ten feet tall. It is a humanoid shape, but it is made entirely of dense, compressed shadow matter. It has no head, just a gaping maw in the center of its chest. Its arms are thick trunks ending in massive hammers.

"Kill them", Kuro commands lazily. "But try to keep the girl intact. Her soul is bright. I want it".

The Goliath roars. It is a sound like grinding metal. It charges.

"Scatter!" Kenuji orders.

We break formation. The Goliath swings one of its hammer-arms. It hits the spot where Yoshi was standing. The concrete floor shatters into dust. The impact shakes the entire tunnel system.

"It is heavy!" Yoshi yells, sliding to a stop near the wall. "Physical attacks won't work well! It is too dense!"

"Then we burn it!" I shout. "Divine Light: Arrow!"

I fire a barrage of light arrows at the creature. They hit its chest, sizzling and burning small holes, but the shadow matter regenerates instantly.

"It heals!" I cry. "It is drawing power from the pit!"

"The pit is a well of cursed energy", Kenuji analyzes rapidly. "We have to separate it from the source. Yoshi! Wall!"

"On it!" Yoshi runs between the Goliath and the pit. He slams his hands together. "Great Wall of Stone!"

A massive wall of rock shoots up, blocking the Goliath's path back to the pit.

The Goliath turns, angry. It focuses on Yoshi.

"Muji! Inoe! Now!" Kenuji directs. "Inoe, disrupt its stability! Muji, cut its legs!"

Inoe focuses her mind. She screams, a psychic blast directed at the Goliath's core. "Destabilize!"

The shadow monster flickers. Its form wavers, becoming less solid.

Muji slides under the Goliath's legs. "Timber!"

He slashes with everything he has. His silver claws cut through the destabilized shadow ankles.

The Goliath topples. It falls forward with a thunderous crash.

"Haruka! Finish it!" Kenuji points. "Aim for the maw! The core is inside the mouth!"

I run forward. I jump onto the fallen monster's chest. I look down into the gaping maw. I can see a pulsing purple orb deep inside. The core.

"Eat this", I whisper.

I shove my hands directly into the maw.

"Sacred Art: Purging Sun!"

I unleash every ounce of power I have. I pour my soul into the blast.

The light explodes inside the monster. Beams of gold shoot out of its back, its arms, its legs. It glows from the inside out like a cracking egg.

The Goliath screeches. Then, it detonates.

A shockwave of light and shadow blows us all back. I fly through the air and land in Yoshi's arms. He catches me, sliding backward but keeping his footing.

"Gotcha", Yoshi grunts.

The smoke clears. The Goliath is gone. Only a scorch mark remains on the floor.

We look across the room.

Kuro is clapping. Slow, sarcastic claps.

"Bravo", he says. "Very entertaining. You destroyed my prototype. How impressive".

He does not look worried. He does not look scared. He looks bored.

"However", Kuro checks a pocket watch he pulls from his suit. "I have a dinner reservation. And the structural integrity of this tunnel is... compromised".

He points his cane at the ceiling.

"Collapse".

A pulse of dark energy shoots from the cane and hits the ceiling support beams.

CRACK.

The entire roof of the chamber groans. Dust pours down. Large chunks of concrete begin to fall.

"He is bringing the tunnel down!" Yoshi screams. "Run! Back to the stairs!"

"Until next time, kitties", Kuro waves. He steps backward into the shadows and vanishes.

"We have to go!" Muji yells, grabbing Inoe's hand.

We turn and sprint. We run back down the tunnel, dodging falling debris. Behind us, the chamber collapses with a roar that shakes the earth. The dust cloud chases us, a wall of grey choking darkness.

We reach the stairs. We scramble up them, lungs burning, legs pumping.

We burst out of the janitor's door onto the subway platform just as a tremor shakes the station.

The commuters stop and look around, confused.

"Earthquake?" someone asks.

We lean against the wall, gasping for air, covered in dust and sweat. We are alive. But we failed. Kuro got away.

"He... he toyed with us", Muji pants, clenching his fists. "He could have killed us".

"He is arrogant", Kenuji says, wiping slime off his coat. "That is his weakness. He underestimated our teamwork".

"He knows who we are", Inoe whispers, her face pale. "He called us the Siblings".

"We need to get stronger", Yoshi says grimly. He looks at his hands, which are trembling slightly. "If we face him again... we need to be ready to kill him. For real".

I look down at my hands. They are stained with soot. I feel a cold knot of fear in my stomach. Kuro was right. We are raw. We are unrefined.

But we are also alive.

"Let's go home", I say softly. "I need a bath".

We walk toward the exit, blending into the crowd of humans. We leave the darkness of the tunnels behind, but the shadow of Kuro follows us out into the lights of Tokyo.

The war has officially begun.