Raising The Stakes

~Three~

  (Formidable is a Komahina song and I will fight anyone who says otherwise)

 "Ah, Master Shirogane-san is invading your village." Komaeda remarks dryly, stepping outside as well and standing just behind Hinata.

   The brunet whips his head around to face him. "WHY?!" He demands.

   Komaeda shrugs back, uncaring. "I have no idea. Perhaps you should listen to what else she has to say."

   Hinata turns his attention back to the hovering she-demon, who is smirking at the cowering villagers. 

   "So it's safe to assume that this village isn't safe anymore?"

   "Unless you can beat Shirogane! And you're certainly welcome to try."

   Hinata darts back inside his hunt, grabbing his gun fully-loaded with blessed bullets and two blades. Once he's geared up, he hurries back outside. 

   "EVERYONE, EVACUATE, NOW! I'VE GOT THIS!"

   The blue-haired demon grins. "Oh? You've got this? Really? You really think a weak, powerless hunter like you can best me?"

   "I don't know," Komaeda mumbles, "If you couldn't beat me, there's no way in hell you can beat Master Shirogane."

   "Fuck off."

   The blue-haired demon forms a ball of bright blue energy before shooting it at a random shop, making it burst and crumble into pieces. All around Hinata, villagers run in the opposite direction, screaming and yelping in fear.

   "Unreliable Hinata-kun, do something!" Koizumi shrieks as she passes by him.

   "Right!"

   Noticing that at that moment the demon didn't have their attention on him at the moment, Hinata takes aim and fires his gun. Shirogane hisses as the bullet skims her arm and she turns around angrily.

   "You!"

   "Me?!" The brunet returns in a mocking tone before firing his weapon once more.

   "Stop that!" Shirogane shrieks, "You're too distracting!"

   "No, I won't let you destroy my village. Get out! I'll kill you! Come down and face me, you coward!"

   The blue-haired girl rolls her eyes. "Please. I'm not here to fight. . .yet. I'm just here to send a warning!"

   Hinata frowns. "Bullshit. You said this was the beginning of our ends!" He fires two more of his four remaining bullets.

    Shirogane rolls her eyes. "The beginning, you fool, you're all fine!" She blows up another shop before soaring high into the air, addressing the villagers cowering near the village exit, "So heed my warning; soon your worlds will be turned even more upside down! Prince of Bel-Air style! Stay away from the forest if you don't want to die! And soon, the entire world will be plunged into the most hellish despair!" She cackles. 

   "Des. . .pair?" Hinata repeats, "What?"

   "Mmhmm," Komaeda hums, "That's their overall goal."

   "Well," Tsumugi considers, "That's enough destruction for today. Ciao for now!"

   The demon vanishes, leaving Hinata and Komaeda standing alone in the middle of the village. Once the other villagers assure themselves that the demon is gone and isn't coming back, they'll return and start making plans to rebuild immediately.

   Hinata turns to Komaeda. "Despair?" He repeats.

   Komaeda shrugs. "Master Enoshima is the Demon King's right-hand man. I don't know the specific details but he ordered Master Enoshima and Master Shirogane to plunge the Earth into despair," His eyes narrow, "But that's not what this place needs. What the world needs is hope."