The city had shifted from calm to tension in minutes. Ruby and Aqua followed Megumi and Toge through the narrow streets of a crowded district, neon signs flickering and rain-slicked asphalt reflecting the chaos. Ruby's chest still throbbed from the previous encounter, but her senses were sharper now. Every heartbeat, every flicker of fear or jealousy in the crowd radiated like threads through the air.
Megumi's eyes scanned the area with precision. "This district is a hotspot," he said quietly. "Too many strong emotions concentrated here. Multiple Fléaux could manifest at once. Stay alert."
Ruby felt the pulse of negativity immediately—a dozen discrete points, each brimming with panic, envy, or aggression. They're growing… fast. Aqua's constructs flared around his arms, jagged and ready.
The first Fléau emerged from a cluster of frightened bystanders, twisting and writhing, its hollow gaze fixed on Ruby. Almost simultaneously, others appeared from adjacent streets, each fueled by a different emotion: rage, despair, jealousy. Ruby's heart pounded; this was unlike the isolated Fléau at the concert. This was an onslaught.
Toge stepped forward, his words sharp and deliberate: "Stop. Now." Each utterance forced the nearest Fléaux into hesitation, buying precious seconds.
Megumi's shadows moved like predators, coiling around multiple Fléaux at once. Their movements were precise, constricting and striking, but there were too many. One tendril lashed toward a group of civilians, their fear feeding the Fléau further. Ruby reacted instinctively, her energy pulsing outward in a shimmering barrier, dispersing the tendril before it could reach its target.
Aqua moved beside her, merging his constructs with Ruby's energy. Their aura formed a lattice of light and jagged edges, slicing and repelling multiple Fléaux at once. Yet every attack fed back into the swarm, each Fléau adapting and splitting. The streets became a storm of shadow and energy, screams echoing off the buildings.
Ruby's mind raced. If we don't neutralize them quickly… the emotional accumulation will trigger a Horseman. She focused, sensing patterns in the Fléaux's formation, guiding Aqua where to strike, predicting the splits before they happened.
Megumi's voice cut through the chaos. "Divide and contain them! Prioritize control over damage!" Shadows erupted, forming barriers and restraints that herded the Fléaux into confined spaces. Toge's cursed speech further slowed their movements, forcing the creatures to hesitate before striking again.
The fourth Fléau, larger and more grotesque than the others, twisted violently in the center of the swarm. Its form pulsed with collected panic and jealousy, almost sentient in its awareness. Ruby and Aqua exchanged a determined glance. We have to hit it together.
They combined their powers: Ruby projected an aura of focused energy, amplifying the emotional patterns she had sensed, while Aqua's constructs pierced the Fléau's core. Megumi's shadows surged to bind it, and Toge's voice reinforced their attack. The Fléau screamed, writhing violently before disintegrating into dark smoke.
The remaining Fléaux faltered, disoriented by the loss of their leader. The four of them moved swiftly, clearing the remaining creatures with coordinated strikes. Ruby's energy barriers protected civilians as Aqua's constructs cut precise paths, Megumi's shadows restrained, and Toge's cursed speech disrupted the Fléaux's cohesion.
As silence settled, Ruby felt a chilling awareness in the back of her mind. A Horseman had sensed the surge of negativity, brushing against her consciousness. The first stirrings of awakening had been felt.
Megumi exhaled sharply. "You handled yourselves well. But remember, multiple Fléaux in a concentrated area are far more dangerous. Emotional energy can be a weapon, but it can also be a trigger."
Toge nodded. "We'll need to move quickly to prevent further escalation. More Fléaux will appear if the energy remains unchecked."
Ruby and Aqua exchanged a glance, determination blazing. "Together," Ruby said softly. Aqua's constructs shimmered, reflecting her resolve.
The district lay quiet now, neon lights flickering over wet asphalt. But the threat was far from gone. Somewhere beyond perception, the Horseman's presence lingered, a shadow over every street, a reminder that the balance between human emotion and catastrophe was delicate. Ruby knew the fight was only beginning, and the streets themselves had become a battlefield where control over emotion meant control over survival.