The Second Mission: Down The Hole!

Kuro slid down the slope for quite a while until he dropped a bit and landed on soft soil. He just got up as Hinako came sliding down and fell directly onto him.

“Damn, I can’t see shit down here! Good thing, that there was something soft to land on…”, She said after getting up to her knees and looking around in the dark.

“Umm… Never thought I would end up in a situation, where I say this, but… would you please stop stepping on me?”, Kuro said from under her.

“Oh, shit. Sorry!”

Hinako quickly got up and off of Kuro. He then got to his feet and looked around.

“Hm, some sort of cavern that we slid into…”, Kuro remarked.

“You can see down here in the dark?”, Hinako asked confused.

Kuro touched her on the forehead with his finger and suddenly Hinako could see the outline of the surroundings.

“That’s handy.”, She remarked impressed.

“Come let’s go a bit deeper and check it out.”, suggested Kuro and began to move.

Hinako followed him. They crossed the small cavern they landed in and came to a small shaft. It seemed like the only other way out, so they followed it. After a while it opened up into a much larger cavern with dripping stones all over it.

“Woah! Look at those huge stalactites!”, Hinako said and pointed at the ceiling, “Or are those stalagmites? I always get those mixed up…”

“Stalactites hang and stalagmites come up from the ground.”, Kuro explained.

“You sure?”

“Yes. Stalactites have tit in them and we all know that tits hang…”

“That… makes kinda sense… somehow…”

“Look over there, that looks like a man-made tunnel. Let’s check it out.”

They crossed the cavern and noticed a lot of animal bones sprewn across the floor.

“Something lives down here…”, Hinako said.

“Better not disturb it then…”, Kuro added.

They reached the tunnel and followed it. Hinako began to have a strange feeling, that got stronger the deeper they went. After a few turns they arrived at a door.

“Can you feel that? It feels… evil… behind this door.”, Hinako asked.

“Yeah, I feel it too…”, Kuro agreed.

“What is it?”

“Probably whatever is responsible for the interference in our magical senses…”

“Should we really go in?”

“You can go back if you’re too scared.”

“Shut up! I’m scared of nothing.”

Hinako went to open the door, but Kuro held her back.

“Wait! Let me go first.”, He said and put his hand on the handle.

Kuro pushed it down and opened the door. Behind was a big room, but before they could enter, a strange noise occurred.

“Thought so…”, Kuro mumbled and quickly pushed Hinako, who was close behind him back.

Hinako let out a surprised shriek as green flames enveloped Kuro. He collected all the flames in his hand and then just closed his hand around it, extinguishing it.

“What was that?”, Hinako asked confused.

“A trap… somebody doesn’t want anyone to enter… or exit… Go and grab a few of the bones.”, Kuro replied casually.

Hinako was still very confused but did as order. Kuro took the bones from her and placed them on the ground in front of the door. He then waved his hand, and they burned down to ash in seconds, leaving a small pile.

“Let’s go.”, Kuro then said and went through the door.

Hinako stepped over the ash pile and followed.

“Oh, and one thing… Just in case we get into some scruffle… Best not to use huge fireballs with big explosions…”, Kuro mentioned.

“Why?”, Hinako asked.

“Enclosed spaces and fiery explosion can be a bit… troublesome… especially if you or someone on your team is still inside… trust me… been there, done that…”

The next room looked like a big laboratory. Big vats with liquids in them were on one side, in the middle were a few big tables. On another wall were some bookcases and desks. Further down was what looked like an altar, where something green glowing was on top. Kuro slowly went past the tables. On some were medical and surgery equipment, others had beakers and Erlenmeyer flasks with liquids in them. Kuro cautiously took one and sniffed. It reeked of rotten flesh. He put it back and went further to the altar. The thing on top turned out to be a humanoid skull. Green glowing runes were carved around the top of the head. The evil and sinister feeling originated from it.

“Is that a human skull? A bit big, isn’t it?”, Hinako wondered.

It indeed was nearly twice the size of a normal human skull.

“Must have been a smart guy…”, Kuro replied with a shrug

He had no doubt that the interference came from it. Kuro extended his arm, but as his fingers got close the runes began to glow more intensely and his hand went up in dark green flames again. He quickly pulled his arm back and shook it violently, extinguished the fire.

“Another trap?”, Hinako asked.

“More like it defended itself…”, Kuro mentioned.

“It defended itself?”

“Yeah… better not touch anything in here…”

Hinako nodded. Kuro went to the bookshelves.

That’s demon scripture, he thought as he tried to read the titles.

Kuro went to the desks. On top of one he found two daggers, quite similar to the one that was used to summon the demonic fiend back in Akihabara. Next to them was a yellowed sheet of paper with an exact depiction of the box, that was found in the incident back at the butchery.

“Huh… interesting…”, He mumbled as he looked on the other desks.

A book was open on top of one and Kuro took a peek.

Morthos, one of the many names the master of shadows and despair holds. Even among the big seven, his power is only rivaled by a few of his peers. When the day of his inevitable arrival cometh, his enemy shall be crushed and thrown into the unending maelstrom of despair, wherefore we his loyal servants shall be rewarded for all our sacrifices and be elevated into a new form of being. Rejoice in the coming of our master and the new world order he will bestow on this rotten world!

“Well, that sounds ominous…”, Kuro mumbled after reading a passage.

“Kuro! Come and look at that!”, Hinako called out from the other side.

She was standing on front of the many vats. Kuro went over to her and took a closer look at them. He was surprised at what he saw inside of them.

“Are those…”, Hinako began.

“Some of Nebu’s friends… and a few others…”, Kuro finished for her.

Inside some of the vats were Akaname and other yokais in the other ones. There were some Tengu, a few Kappa, and even a Kitsune with three tails. All creatures had weird growths on them, and some missed a leg or an arm. The other vats were empty.

“What the hell is this here?”, Hinako asked worried.

“I think we stumbled into a lab from a demon cult…”, Kuro answered.

“A dem-“

“Shhh!”

Kuro suddenly put his hand on her mouth and stopped her from speaking. Faint noises, like footsteps came from one of the other doors to the room.

“Quick we should hide for now.”, Kuro whispered.

“Where?!”, Hinako whispered back, slightly panicked.

“In there!”

Kuro pointed at the only closet, next to the vats, that seemed big enough to fit a person. He shoved Hinako in. The footsteps grew louder and voices could be heard now too. Kuro looked around but didn’t spot any other hiding place, so he got in with Hinako. It was barely big enough to fit them both, so he had to press himself tightly against her.

“What are you-mmmh!”, Hinako hissed, but Kuro put his hand on her mouth again.

“Be quiet now!”, He whispered.