Three Spheres

Chapter 121 - Weapons

On the promised day, Rongyao is forsaken. The demonic army left for a city to the east, at the base of the mountains, Sangiji. The sun slowly migrates to its setting.

Fumio, wearing a red mask with a huge nose, flies over the ruins. He is terrifying as he thinks: "After we parted, I went to Albam to find Amadeo, but he wasn't there... It took me a whole day to discover that they took him to the Court of Paragons... And now... this? It's been only 2 and a half days since we invaded the castle. That means she had anticipated our actions..."

On the outskirts of the city, he identifies a group of Priests helping people. The Cavalry had been called up for the containment army, therefore, only the Priesthood could fulfill the sacred mission of protecting the common folk. A black woman, in clothes stained with darkened blood, explains:

_ They went that way. They must be heading to Nigrum through the strait beyond the mountains, see. _ She plucks the tips of her nails with her teeth _ It seems that the rift sticks close to their General... A man in a black cape and a cat skull on his head. _ She spits her nails _ The army increases as they kill. We've already lost. If you're crazy enough to go there, take this...

She hands Fumio a belt with Gorgon grenades, explaining that perhaps it gives him a chance to pray before he is killed. The Tengu thanks her, unsmiling, and resumes his path.

"The "General"... No, no... He's just the first victim", he thinks, confident that his selfless colleagues will also be heading for the epicenter of combat.

He moves on: Piled bodies, collapsed structures, blood-stained tiles is all he see on the road to Sangiji. Fumio reconsiders his goals. Is there salvation there? Is his curiosity enough for him to risk his life? If his theory about "what" is special about Amadeo is right, he will experience something phenomenal soon. "Oh, and of course, it's important to save as many people as possible, even if I don't like fighting...", he concludes.

He sees hordes of formidable beasts running in a frenzy. Most are quadruped or bipedal, with some human aspects and animal elements. An explosion devastates the northern part of the city, where important buildings once stood. The immense amount of spiritual energy that culminates in that location is terrifying. He flies away, aware that the enemies there are invincible. "I'll leave the bigger fish to a certain "special one"... I'm more useful if..."

His thoughts are interrupted by a screech and a swoop. A pair of flying monsters approaches, causing him to crash into a wall and fall. On the ground, he draws his sword, but the creature is voracious and does not allow him to attack. "I. Need. A. Plan", he thinks as he resumes his flight. His speed is reduced by the narrow space around him, but he still performs a series of acrobatic maneuvers to flee from his pursuers...

"FUMIOOOO HEEEEERE!!", a voice echoes in his mind; he's startled. A few meters away, he sees the little otter waving. With some trepidation, he dives toward the open window, retracting his wings. He trips, rolls, and crashes into a bookcase, whose dusty books fall on him. Looking upside down at the entrance, he notices Dijana waiting with a huge bat in hand. As the monster approaches the window, its head is crushed by a hit worthy of a home-run. It collides with the one behind and they both fall. Dijana closes the window then. Fumio had never seen she looking so grim before. Only one of the Drekavacs is nearby, but he recognizes that both spells has already been activated.

_ Fumio! I'm glad you're here! _ Sayuri celebrates _ Are you hurt?! Can you help us?!

He says he's fine, that he was taken by surprise and didn't have much room to maneuver around town. Besides, he doesn't like to face unknown enemies, unlike those who are passionate about exciting encounters. The Kawauso continues: