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Kuro stood still, tightening the grip on his dagger, his chest rising and falling as the hot wind stirred the dust around his boots. The faint flicker of a translucent blue screen hovered in the corner of his vision, however his focus was locked on the puppet.
It hadn't moved since the last attack. It just floated there, with its cloak trailing slightly behind. The glowing red eyes behind the mask didn't blink..they just stared.
'Just great...' Kuro's brows pulled together, raising his dagger a bit higher, holding it in front of him. His arms trembled slightly, not out of fear, but from the leftover shock that still echoed through his bones. That swing... it wasn't just powerful, it was stronger than anything he'd experienced before.
He thought back to the boss of that E-rank dungeon. That fight was hard, with him almost dying. But this…? It felt similar to the E-rank boss's strength, that same pressure behind the hit felt overwhelming. But the puppet's attack was a little weaker.
Though it felt as though that first blow should've taken his head clean off, but it didn't. The blade had stopped just short, slowing down before the impact but enough that he'd felt the rush of air split across his face. It felt like the thing or more accurately, whoever was controlling it was measuring them.
If this thing was a puppet, then the boss controlling it had to be nearby, hidden just out of sight. And if that was the case, then there was only one real way to win this fight, which was to cut the strings at the source. Taking down the puppet wouldn't mean much if the one pulling the strings was still alive and could possibly send in another.
Still...something about all this was starting to feel off, he couldn't quite place it, but he had a bad feeling about this. Though it could just be his imagination.
He thought the quest interface away and brought up his status screen, looking at all the unused points he hadn't used yet. All thirty-five of them just sitting there.
Although he could dump them all into strength and try to overwhelm this thing with brute force. But once those points were used, there was no going back. If he guessed wrong...if strength wasn't enough... then it'd be game over. Not just for him, but for all of them.
One bad call could get his entire team killed.
Kuro sucked in a slow breath, held it, and let it out through gritted teeth. His heart was racing, but his thoughts were racing even faster. He turned his head slightly, just enough to catch a glimpse of Airi and Sugari at his sides..tense, but ready. 'But if we all team up... together, we'll be able to take the puppet down,' he thought.
"So if it's a puppet... then all we have to do is kill the boss and our problem's solved, no?" Sugari asked, shifting his stance as he kept one eye on the hovering figure ahead.
Kuro didn't take his gaze off the puppet. "You're right," he said, before continuing. "But I highly doubt it'll be that simple."
Airi stepped in closer beside them, her twin daggers gripped tightly. "Then what's the game plan? What do we need to do?"
Kuro didn't answer right away. His mind was already working through possibilities, each one more dangerous than the last. Finally, he spoke. "Two of us distract the puppet," he said, "while the other tracks down the boss and takes him out."
A beat of silence followed.
Sugari let out a soft grunt, ready to say something, his mouth just beginning to part, "I thin-"And then the air shifted.
A sharp burst of wind ripped across the ground, throwing dust and debris into the air as the puppet lunged forward without warning.
The puppet moved like a phantom, silent but terrifyingly fast. Its eight arms flowed behind it like threads in the wind, but only three were cocked back. Its red eyes flared through the slits of its mask.
Kuro's eyes snapped wide as he barely had time to ground his feet before his arms flew up, crossing in front of his face. A heartbeat later, the puppet's arms shot forward slamming into him with the weight of a charging bull.
The sheer force behind it launched Kuro like a ragdoll.
He flew backwards, crashing through two worn-down red tents, before his back slammed against the cold stone of the castle's outer wall. A cloud of dust and fabric debris burst out from where he hit, leaving a faint crater in the stone. Kuro slumped down, coughing, his arms trembling as he tried to push himself up.
Before anyone could react, the puppet was on Sugari next. It snatched him mid-step, with one of its long hands wrapping around his torso like a snake. However before the puppet could do anything Airi lunged in, her daggers flashing as she swung at the arm that held Sugari.
But just before the blade could pierce it, the puppet spun... With a swift, fluid twist, it swung Sugari like a club, the boy's body crashing into Airi as they both went flying to the ground.
Then one of its arms shifted with a creak, and a long blade extended out, before it then charged again, gliding across the dirt like it weighed nothing.
Airi and Sugari barely had time to scramble to their knees.
But just as the blade was about to slice through them...
CRACK!
A kick slammed into the puppet's jaw from the side, so fast it left a gust of wind trailing behind it. The puppet flew back across the yard, crashing against the base of a crumbled tower.
Kuro stood where it had been moments before, chest heaving, with blood trailing down his lip. "One of you go," he managed between breaths. "Find the boss. We'll hold this thing off."
Sugari looked toward him, hesitating..but Airi was already pushing herself up.
"I'll do it," Airi said, as her eyes started to scan the area, thinking. A puppet master needed a clear view of their puppet, somewhere elevated, far enough to stay hidden, but close enough to control it.
Her gaze stopped on the broken-down castle up ahead. It stood tall over the field, crumbling, but still intact enough to offer that kind of advantage. The more she thought about it, the more it made sense.
Airi pushed herself off the ground, wiped the dirt from her face, and took off running toward the worn down castle. She didn't know for sure if the puppeteer was up there, but her gut told her it was the best shot they had.
Kuro readjusted his grip on his dagger, watching the dust settle where the puppet had landed.
"You ready Sugari..?," he called out, turning his head slightly to look behind.
Sugari got up beside Kuro, As he dusted his hands against his pants and gave a firm nod. "Yeah, I'm ready," he muttered, squaring his stance as he firmly held his mace.
The air hung still for a moment as the dust from where the puppet was sent flying, hovered in the air like smoke, twirling lazily under the fractured sunlight peeking through the broken fortress walls. And then...
A blinding red flash cut through the cloud, just for a second. But it was enough. It pulsed like a heartbeat, then dimmed.
Another smaller flicker came next, a thin curl of smoke forming midair before a loud pop echoed outward. From the fading dust, something launched forward..fast. The puppet broke through the dust cloud, its body gliding like a blade in motion as its long arms whipped behind it as two snapped forward. From the center of its wide palms, glimmering blades shot out and above it, another puppet burst through.
A much smaller puppet, a child-sized thing, but hideously shaped. Its body was wrapped in a dark cloak that fluttered unnaturally as it hovered. Its head was stretched like a football, painted in disturbing devil-like patterns. Crimson eyes blinked to life in its mask-like face, and a sick grin was etched across its unmoving mouth.
Then the mouth opened.
With no sound, just a burst of heat, a fireball erupted from its throat and fired towards them.
Kuro and Sugari broke apart instantly. Kuro rolled left while Sugari dove right, the fireball tearing through where they had stood, leaving a blackened patch of earth and a lingering trail of smoke.
Catching themselves, both Kuro and Sugari circled wide, before making a diagonal charge in. Kuro's eyes locked on the larger puppet while Sugari glanced between both enemies.
"Sugari! Get rid of the small one! I've got the big one!" Kuro shouted.
Sugari nodded as he bit his thumb, pulling out a scroll, and slapped it against the ground. In a puff of smoke, the scroll unfurled, releasing a storm of weapons...swords, katana's, shurikens, sickles, and various other types of unique weapons. He dropped his mace and grabbed the sickles and took off toward the child puppet.
Kuro meanwhile charged the larger puppet, chakra surging through his legs as he leapt into the air. His dagger raised high, as he came down like a bolt of lightning aiming for its head, but he was met by the flat end of the puppets blade as it intercepted the blow with a sharp clang, knocking Kuro off balance.
He hit the ground and slid back on one knee, and immediately ducked as the puppet's second blade whistled through the air, missing his head by inches.
Before he could catch footing a wooden foot slammed into his gut, lifting him off his feet and sending him flying into the ground, bouncing once before he rolled to a stop.
Kuro dropped to one knee, coughing hard as the sharp taste of iron filled his mouth. He wiped the blood with the back of his hand, his breaths short and shaky. He forced himself up, his body aching as he moved. Gritting his teeth, Kuro brought his hands together, as he formed a series of handsign.
[ACTIVATING BASIC CLONE JUTSU] Lv.12
A puff of smoke exploded around him, masking his figure in a thick white cloud. When it cleared, three Kuro's stood side by side before they each started sprinting out in different directions, fanning out to circle the puppet.
While the real Kuro stayed back, performing a second set of handsigns.
"Vacuum Blade..!" he bellowed.
[ACTIVATING VACUUM BLADE JUTSU] Lv.5
Kuro tightened his grip around the dagger, as chakra coiled around it before it burst into a thin, invisible edge of compressed wind. With a running leap, Kuro slashed horizontally as a compressed arc of wind burst from his blade with a sharp whistle, slicing clean through the air. In an instant, three of the puppet's long, jointed arms were cut clean off..snapping mid motion and dropping down in a metallic clatter across the dirt.
But the puppet didn't even flinch as It didn't stumble or slow down, and it just kept charging forward toward Kuro.
Meanwhile, Sugari was holding his own.
He ducked under a small fireball that flew past his shoulder and struck a tent behind him. The flames caught fast, crackling behind him as he whipped out the chain-linked sickle and with one strong throw, the curved blade spun through the air and wrapped around the smaller puppet's leg mid flight.
The baby-faced doll twisted unnaturally, its wide mouth creaking open again with a bright orange light glowing from inside.
However Sugari didn't give it the chance to fire another fireball...
He yanked the chain hard, slamming the puppet into the dirt. As dust kicked up around it, Sugari reached into his pouch and pulled a kunai, with a single explosive tag wrapped tight around the hilt.
"Here...eat this...!"
And chuckled it at the pinned puppet.
The kunai landed right next to the pinned puppet, beeping once before a burst of flame exploded outwards, kicking up smoke and debris.
BOOM!!
'Is it dead…?' Sugari thought, squinting through the rising cloud of smoke.
The moment the thought crossed his mind, a small shadow moved behind the smoke, almost too quick to see. The little devil-faced puppet flew out of the cloud of smoke, with one of its legs torn off. Its eyes glowed red before its mouth snapped wide open and fired another fireball.
"Shit!" Sugari cursed, throwing himself into a roll just as the fireball tore past and exploded behind him. Quickly, his fingers scrambled for another scroll at his waist.
Slapping it against the ground, the paper flared, releasing a burst of chakra smoke. From it, a long wooden bo staff spun up into the air. Sugari snatched it mid air, his grip locking tight as he twirled it around to build momentum.
His feet dug into the dirt as he charged, his eyes locked on the twisted little thing.
"Stop running you little midget...!" he muttered, swinging the Bo at its head.
Back on Kuro's side, the larger puppet continued its charge.
Even with missing limbs, it launched itself forward, its remaining arms spinning like a buzzsaw. Kuro used his clones to bait it, each one taking a hit before vanishing in clouds of smoke.
However it didn't seem to slow it down whatsoever as it rushed forward once more, as one of Its bladed arm shot straight for Kuro's chest. He stepped aside, the blade grazing his side and slicing into the edge of his green flak jacket. He winced but he bore through the pain.. pivoting hard, he brought his dagger up in a diagonal arc. The blade cut into the puppet's shoulder joint, but the damn thing didn't even flinch and swung another wild swing at Kuro.
Kuro ducked beneath the swing, the puppet's blade arm cutting clean through the air above his head. He didn't get a moment to breathe as its other arm, now blunt and jagged where the wind blade had sliced it off, came swinging around like a club.
He raised his dagger just in time to parry, the force still strong enough to push him back. His feet skidded across the dirt, tearing up the ground beneath him. He caught himself, grounded his stance, then rushed forward.
Kuro ducked low and slid across the ground, letting the puppet swing wide again. He used the momentum to come up on its left side, jabbing his dagger into its exposed joint..however it didn't do anything.
He jumped back as one of the severed arms twitched on the ground.
The puppet then turned, before two more of its arms stretched out from its sides, folding out from beneath its cloak like hidden blades.
Kuro bit his bottom lip, 'Damn...who the hell needs eight arms!"
He made a quick hand sign and a puff of smoke appeared beside him, and two of his clones came charging out of the smoke before circling around the puppet from behind. One went high, leaping toward its head, while the other rushed from the ground. But it was pretty much useless as the puppet spun rapidly, spinning its new arms in a sweeping motion, knocking both clones out in a puff of smoke.
However, Kuro knew using those clones would've done nothing.
He dashed in low, before kicking off a rock, and aimed his dagger straight for its center. He slashed again with his wind-infused dagger. The blade caught its side and cut deep, but once again it didn't even flinch.
The thing twisted midair and backhanded Kuro with its blunt elbow. He flew back, rolling across the dirt before he could get his feet under him. His chest burned. His arm stung.
Still, he forced himself up, blood trickling down from the cut on his cheek. "This thing just doesn't stop..."
He looked around and no sign of Airi yet. Which meant she was still inside.
He clenched his fist tighter around the dagger, his breath uneven. He just had to hold on long enough for Airi to take the boss out.
Then it would all be over.
Meanwhile, not far off, Sugari chased after the devil doll, as it ran it every time he got close.
The devil-faced doll zipped back and forth, floating just out of reach. It was fast, way faster than Sugari wanted to admit. It fired off small, concentrated fireballs every time it found an opening, forcing him to stay on his feet. He ducked and weaved through the flames, his bo staff spinning as he used it to deflect and dodge the incoming attacks.
One fireball came too close, singeing the edge of his pants.
"Alright," Sugari muttered through clenched teeth, "no more playing around."
He slammed another scroll to the ground mid-run. A flash of smoke and a short spear materialized beside him. With a deep breath he grabbed the spear and sprinted toward the puppet, feinting left, then darting right. The little thing took the bait, opening its mouth to fire again.
But Sugari was already in the air.
He brought the spear down with everything he had, yelling as the dagger nudged itself straight into the puppet's head. The wood splintered against the doll's skull, and for a second, everything felt still.
Then the puppet shattered.
Bits of polished wood and jagged metal flew in every direction as the doll was smashed into a pile of broken pieces. Sugari hit the ground and slid to a stop, breathing hard, as a wide grin spread across his face.
"FINALLY! FUCK!!" He celebrated a little, looking down at the puppet in pieces.
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The puppet swung its blade down at Kuro's neck with a sudden burst of force. But Kuro ducked just in time watching as the blade sliced past his nose, missing him by inches.
He planted his foot hard into the ground and launched himself forward, ramming the sole of his boot right into the puppet's chest. The impact let out a deep dull thud, followed by a loud crack. The force sent the puppet stumbling back, its feet dragging across the dirt.
But just as it looked like the puppet was about to go down, it jerked forward again, unnaturally fast. It caught itself mid-fall and then lunged with a sudden burst of movement that seemed impossible. Only this time, it wasn't heading for Kuro.
Kuro's heart jumped. "Damnit...shit!" as the grip on his dagger tightened before he charged after the puppet.
The puppet moved in a blink as its bladed arm snapped outward as it inched closer to Sugari.
'Should I invest everything into speed? No... even if I did, I'd still be too slow to catch up in time...' Kuro mused.
"Sugari, GET OUT OF THE WAY!" Kuro yelled, voice breaking from the panic swelling in his chest.
Sugari didn't even have time to fully react, just enough to start turning his head. His eyes widened when he caught the shadow darting in behind him.
The blade came down, just inches from Sugari's neck...
"Shit...!" Kuro barked, his jaw clenching tight.
Without wasting another second, he shifted his grip on the dagger and pulled in a deep breath. Wind chakra rushed through his arm, gathering at the blade like coiled pressure. He focused, then slashed the air sideways in one clean sweep.
[ACTIVATING VACUUM BLADE JUTSU] Lv.5
A compressed arc of wind burst from the edge of his dagger, slicing through the space between him and the puppet as it ripped toward it with a sharp whine.
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