"Heh, you weren't wrong," I said, smiling faintly at the captain, my lips pulling back in something halfway between amusement and bloodlust.
The captain froze for a heartbeat, his dagger still raised. His eyes widened, the confidence draining from his face as he staggered a step back. "How are you still—?" His voice cracked in disbelief. He took two more steps away as if distance alone could explain my survival.
"Who knows?" I said, rolling my shoulders. I let the shrug hang heavy, deliberately casual, though blood still ran warm from my wounds. The air around me responded to my pulse, frost bleeding outward across the rooftop. My mana strangled the evening's warmth, causing shards of ice to spread like spiderweb cracks and white steam to rise.
The cultists nearest me stiffened, their shadows quivering against the slanted roof tiles.
"Get away!" The captain barked suddenly, panic sharp in his tone. He leapt backward in a blur of black smoke, retreating before the frost could crawl up his boots. Two of his subordinates weren't so quick. The rime reached their legs, racing upward until their forms locked solid. Their bodies froze mid-motion, expressions twisted in surprise and fear. They became statues in the span of seconds, breath crystallized in their throats.
"Heh, so that's how you guys did it," I muttered, coughing blood into my palm. My lungs burned. "Shadow magic."
I tapped one of the frozen men with my scythe. The ice shell cracked like glass, splitting into shards. Both sculptures broke apart, collapsing into glittering chunks that scattered across the roof. What little flesh showed beneath was pale blue, stiff, and lifeless.
"Sigh… cough… such a pain," I mumbled, tugging the swords out of my chest one by one. Each metal scrape made my teeth grind. I flicked the blood away and tossed the blades onto the roof tiles, where they clattered, still slick with my ichor.
"Captain, what is she? How did she survive that?" One of the devil cultists whispered harshly. His hands trembled as he gripped his weapon tighter, eyes darting between my wounds and my steady stance.
"I don't know," the captain admitted low, his voice edged with frustration. He glanced at me, then back to his men. "But she might not be that simple. We still can't give up. We still outnumber her by a lot."
Outnumber me by a lot? I tilted my head, bemused. The math didn't exactly feel comforting in their favor.
Whistle!
Instinct screamed a half-second before impact.
Stab!
An arrow punched clean through my raised arm, slicing flesh and leaving a hot sting. My face twisted, but I forced the smirk to stay.
"Hmm, so this is what you meant," I said calmly, holding up my bleeding forearm where the shaft jutted out.
The captain's jaw clenched. "She… she could react to that." He sounded almost insulted, as if my survival of his ambush was an affront to their entire order.
"Why are you surprised?" I asked, gripping the shaft and yanking it free with a wet sound. The blood ran, but my voice stayed steady. I tossed the arrow aside like trash.
"That—"
"Was it because they used shadow magic while shooting it?" I guessed, quirking a brow.
The nearest cultist's eyes widened. "What? Are you saying you can see us using our magic?"
I blinked at him. 'Are they dumb or something? The sun might be setting, but it's still light out. Even if it were night, I'd still be able to see their damn shadows move.' I dragged a hand down my face, smearing blood and irritation together.
"Sigh, you guys aren't very smart, are you?" I said flatly, twirling my scythe in a lazy arc. Six more arrows hissed from my right. The blade spun in my grip, ringing as steel kissed steel. Sparks danced as I batted every shot away, shards of ice exploding in their wake.
"Tsk. We'll need to distract her," the captain growled under his breath, his eyes flicking to the archers still hidden among the shadows.
"You first need to worry about staying alive," I retorted. In a blur I vanished from their line of sight, reappearing behind the captain with my scythe already sweeping sideways. The blade hummed, eager for flesh.
"Same to you," the captain hissed before dissolving into black smoke. My scythe cut only air.
"Tch." I spun, scanning the rooftops. "Zagan, you are quite useless with your shadow magic," I muttered, leaping forward as three cultists' swords rained down where I'd been. My boots slammed against the tiles with a sharp crack as I dodged out of the way.
"Damn, she still dodged that," the captain cursed, re-forming behind me. His breathing was heavier now, chest rising and falling with exertion.
"When I see Zagan again, I'm going to put him through the wringer for not using his shadow magic this well," I mumbled, batting aside another arrow with the flat of my blade.
"Dammit! The intel didn't say she was this strong. We'll need to go all out on her," one cultist muttered, sweat beading his brow.
"Hey, mister captain," I called, spinning my scythe slowly in one hand. The edge shimmered faintly with frost. "I'm curious—where did you guys find out about me?"
Silence. Their eyes flickered nervously, the captain's jaw tight.
"Sigh, what's it going to hurt telling me?" I said, rolling my eyes. "I'll be killing you either way."
The captain's lips curved faintly. "...That's true. The people you tortured gave us the intel."
I froze for half a heartbeat. Confusion knotted my thoughts. 'If that is so, then it seems they can transfer memories or something along those lines. That would also explain why they didn't know about my regeneration ability,' I reasoned quickly, recalling the first group I'd clashed with.
"I—" My words cut off as I tilted my head just in time. A harpoon whistled past, grazing my cheek before embedding itself in the roof with a heavy thud. I stared at it incredulously. "Seriously, a harpoon?"
"What? They are useful," the captain said with a shrug that almost seemed smug.
"If you say so," I muttered, letting the scythe melt into twin katanas. Their lighter balance felt better suited to the flurry of projectiles coming my way. With a flick of the blades, I deflected another arrow and a second harpoon, sparks showering across the tiles.
"Distract her at close range," the captain ordered his men under his breath. "I don't think she can handle long-range fighters."
He might not be wrong, but this kind of long-range was laughable to me. I blocked his next sword swing with ease, sparks biting my arms as steel screeched.
"Are you sure, Cap? She can use multiple weapons quite well," one of the cultists muttered, clearly unnerved.
"That's why we're going to need to distract her. And don't worry. We have backup," the captain said, his voice low and confident.
As if summoned, seven more shadows burst onto the rooftops around me.
'Hmm, well, shit.' I flash-stepped away, the roof splintering under the barrage of a dozen harpoons and a single blade thrust. The air behind me detonated as projectiles tore through it.
"Well, I enjoyed our little scuffle, guys, but I've got to go," I said, giving them a mock salute before turning tail. My boots pounded against the rooftops as I ran, scarf snapping in the wind.
"She's running away!" The captain barked, fury twisting his face as he chased.
"What a coward," one cultist jeered, spitting blood.
"Yeah, all talk, no bite." Another cultist sneered, although his voice shook faintly.
"She's a fox, right? Then why do I see a scary—ugh!" A third started, but his words died in a scream as something struck his head.
Boom!
The explosion lit the dusk sky, hurling the man's body in pieces across the rooftops. Smoke curled upward, mixing with the smell of burning flesh.
"Now you are pissing me off," I growled, materializing an ice bow in my hands. The translucent string shimmered as I pulled back, an ice quiver forming at my hip. Dozens of black-ice arrows hummed within, crackling faintly with sparks of trapped lightning.
"A bow?" a few cultists muttered in confusion.
"Yeah, so fuck you," I snapped, loosing three arrows at once.
Augh! Augh! Augh!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Each arrow struck true, erupting into fire and frost, bodies flung into the air like rag dolls before they hit the tiles with wet cracks.
"Ugh! Watch out! They explode on impact!" The captain roared, shielding himself as another volley landed.
'Umm… they don't. I just got lucky, I thought, my smirk widening as I jumped to another rooftop. Another harpoon sang toward me, but I twisted, sighted, and released. A fire-and-lightning-infused arrow streaked across the distance.
Boom!
A scream split the air. An archer's shadow twisted and vanished forever, his body obliterated into cinders.
"Shit, why can she—" the captain began, only for his world to end in fire.
Boom!
Flames engulfed him, and his scream tore through the night before silence claimed him.
"Ha-ha, that's what you get, you fool. Hahaha!" I laughed, eyes wild as the bow pulsed in my hands. My chest heaved, blood soaking my torso, but adrenaline drowned the pain. More arrows appeared between my fingers, and I drew them with glee. "The fun only started."
Boom!
"Ha-ha, get fucked!"
Boom!
"Ooh, that one was bloody, hahaha!"
Boom!
"Come on! Didn't you guys say I was a coward? Look at you now—all pissing yourselves in fear!" I roared, loosing arrow after arrow. My scarf snapped like a banner in the heated wind.
"Kitsuna, calm down right now!" Kayda's voice pierced the haze like cold water.
I blinked. My vision cleared. My arms were wrapped in writhing black fire and lightning, crawling up my skin like living veins. The bow pulsed with the same unstable energy, dangerous and hungry.
"Fuck. I knew I shouldn't have used those elements," I hissed, clamping down, forcing the power to die out. Slowly the flames guttered and faded, leaving only the stink of scorched cloth.
Shaking my head, I turned. My eyes widened. "Holy fuck, what happened? Are you okay?" I ran to Kayda, her robes torn and soaked red. Blood clung to her skin in streaks.
"I should be the one saying that to you," Kayda said, her brows furrowed in confusion as she studied me.
"What do you mean by that? You are full of blood," I shot back, already pulling her arms up to check her wounds.
"You are also full of blood," Kayda countered calmly, tilting her head, her eyes steady despite her state.
"Yeah, but it's usually a thing, isn't it?" I muttered, inspecting the cuts on her arms.
"Hey, stop doing that. This isn't my blood anyways," Kayda said, pulling away and sighing.
"It isn't?" I asked, head tilting.
"No. With this much, I would have passed out," Kayda explained, her voice steady despite her exhaustion. She exhaled slowly, then pointed behind me. "Anyways, aren't you forgetting something?"
"Huh? Oh—oops." I turned and saw what she meant.
One of the remaining cultists was crawling backward on his hands, eyes wide, face pale. "M-Mo-Monster," he stammered, staring at me as if I weren't human at all.
"Sheesh, that's so mean," I whined, though the pride in my grin betrayed me.
"They seem less strong-willed than the last group," Kayda observed, her tone thoughtful.
"I am not in the mood," I muttered, rubbing my head. My eyes flicked to the right, spotting familiar silhouettes. A smile broke across my face. "Luckily, my apprentice is here for that."
"Apprentice? What do you mean?" Kayda asked, her brow furrowed.
"I mean the dumbasses have finally shown themselves," I said, just as multiple figures leapt onto the surrounding rooftops, their cloaks snapping in the night wind.
"Huff… I finally made it," Sammy said as she landed with a thud in front of me.
"Oh, it took you long enough," I teased, reaching out my hand to rub her head.
"Hmph, like I would let you," Sammy snapped, swatting my hand away and stepping back.
"Ugh, so mean," I said, clutching my chest with exaggerated hurt.
"Sammy, stop being mean to her," Wendie scolded, walking forward with her usual measured steps.
"Yo, Wendie. "It's been a long time since I last saw you," I said with a grin.
"Hello, Nova." I can't honestly say that I'm thrilled to see you," she said dryly.
"What!? But you just—? You guys are so mean," I sputtered, looking between the two of them.
"Says the one who plants bombs into people," Wendie replied flatly.
"So, I have trust issues. Stop being so sensitive," I muttered, shrugging. Everyone gave me the same look: part exasperation, part disbelief.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Wendie said, waving me off dismissively.
"Don't just wave me off," I growled, narrowing my eyes.
"So, what should we do with them?" Wendie asked Kayda a question, completely ignoring me.
"You have a base?" Kayda asked, glancing at the sixteen cultists who had been bound and gagged.
"Of course," Wendie answered.
"Then let's go there."
"Wait," I cut in, pulling a massive demon rock from my storage and setting it down with a heavy thud. "Leave four of them tied to this."
"Why?" Kayda asked, brow furrowed.
"That bishop won't stop looking for me. This will distract him and let me slip away," I explained, patting the stone.
"That sounds like your problem," Sammy said sharply, arms crossed.
"You are with me, so it's our problem now," I countered, locking eyes with her.
"She does have a point," one of the crimson bandits muttered.
"Tim, shut the fuck up," Sammy snapped, her voice like a whip.
"Sigh. Hey, Kayda, can you carry me?" I asked suddenly.
"Are you tired?" she asked, raising a brow.
"Yeah, the backlash is getting worse," I admitted, my voice quieter now.
"So, it did activate," Kayda said, walking closer.
"Just for a minute or two, luckily," I muttered. My chest ached with every breath.
"What are you guys talking about?" Sammy demanded, stepping between us, her eyes sharp.
"Nothing for your ears, Sammy," I said, giving her a gentle push aside.