The Detective's Sidekick (A Hololive Fanfiction) Book 2

Chapter 22 - Two Individuals Within Cages

William Bismarck stood there, aiming his pistol at Ina, who is controlled by the Ancient Ones. There was silence between them, staring each down, like two predators preparing to tear each other down.

Ancient Ones: "William Bismarck. What drives you to fight back?"

William: "I don't know, what I do know is that you need to be stopped before you cause harm to anyone else."

Ancient Ones: "No drive. No motivation. Fighting because you thought it was right. Your thoughts are subjective, and has no value to the world. What makes you think you can stop us?"

William: "Nothing at all. But it doesn't hurt to try."

William then fires a shot, hitting the right shoulder, making the right arm fly off, though it regenerated back immediately. The duel between two monsters had begun. William charges forward while the Ancient Ones spread out tentacles to attempt him to be entrapped, but he managed to slide under it all and appeared in front of Ina's face, firing a shot. The shot exploded Ina's head, though the body reacted by attacking, but he countered by grabbing the arm and flipping her over himself, slamming her into the ground and he leaped back to get some distance. Ina got back up, head fully regenerated and the Ancient Ones was not taking this lightly. Starting to release a barrage of tentacles along with magical beams of light, however it just wasn't enough to prevent him from being able to move. He dodged everything with ease, figuring out a way to outsmart them.

Asher: "It seems that physical combat ain't going to cut it."

William: "That I am aware of. There has to be a way to reach Ina perhaps. Though it sounds dumb, but do you have anyway to reach inside her head?"

Asher: "There might be one way...."

The silence made William anxious but he had to focus on the fight, firing off shots to move out of the way of the attacks while landing some clean shots on Ina's regenerating body.

Asher: "It might be possible, but there is a possibility that I might end up getting killed in the process."

William: "What!?"

William was shocked to hear this kind of risk coming out of a demon. 

William: "Why take that kind of risk?"

Asher: "I have noticed something about Ina'nis... It is like she is similar to you due to me... Perhaps I could reach her without the Eldritch realizing. All you have to do is keep them occupied."

William had no other ideas in mind, but he strangely thought that he hoped that Asher succeeds. Asher heard the thought and made him realize that even though he had such a rough past, he put others before himself, which to him is stupid and yet admirable. Asher then started the transfer into Ina's head, hoping that he could reach. Asher manages to enter inside Ina's head, seeing a blank void all around himself. He hated that he was doing this for a mere human but he looked about in this empty abyss of a mindscape for Ina. 

William continued to fight back against the Ancient Ones, though since he couldn't do the same thing the whole time, he planned to set up a trap. He then outreaching his hand, which the Ancient Ones was confused by, but was then trapped in chains. The chains were burning away at Ina's body, releasing steam. They struggled but couldn't break free.

William: "Those chains are not easy to break. Had to just let you know."

Ancient Ones: "Such binds cannot hold us back mortal."

William then started to notice giant hands, which he didn't expect, but he manages to dodge around them.

Asher continued searching through the mindscape, but ends up finding a book randomly.

Asher: "A book...?"

He reaches for it but was sucked into it, falling into a spiral of images. Images of Ina's past, which he was confused by until he reached the bottom, an empty white void. Each step felt like he was walking on water, he looked around until he saw Ina, being in a form of a young child. He was confused but he knew that had to be her. Ina noticed him while still curled up.

Ina: "W-Who are you..?"

Asher realized that she was scared.

Asher: "You scared of me little one..?"

He tries to reach out for her, but she curls up even more in fear. He knew that this wasn't going to work, so he had to do something else.

Asher: "I am Asher. Do you remember what happened to you to end up in this situation?"

Ina: "A-Asher..? The Chained Demon...?"

Asher: "Yes.. I am here to rescue you. Though it might be hard to believe and we ended up on bad terms the first time we met but.. Bismarck convinced me and now I am here to help."

Ina seemed to uncurl a little, not as scared as before, but just a little confused more than anything else.

Ina: "You'll really h-help..?"

Asher: "Yes."

Ina: "But how can I even get o-out..?"

Asher: "What do you mean?"

Ina: "Ao-chan used me... Betrayed me... And trapped me in here. I searched and wondered aimlessly, but I couldn't see the way out... I fear the safety of my friends..."

Asher: "Betrayal and fear is what happens to us all. We are always blinded by trust, though they can turn on you if they needed. But fear is normal as well, we fear the unknown and those above us. But once overcame, you can accept yourself as who you are. Ninomae Ina'nis, you are more than you think."

Ina looked on puzzled on what he meant while still having tears in her eyes.

Asher: "William Bismarck had nowhere to go. Worked for mainly himself, not trusting others. But he believed he had no meaning to live for and fell into a depressed state due to feeling abandoned. However when you Myths came into his life, it changed him. He was able to open himself up. But there was one thing he never changed for himself, he always put himself on the line for others, helping others instead of himself. He was once stuck in a cage like you, but you can overcome it. You have the power to do so. That Eldritch bastards don't have full control, it is your body, your rules. They can't do everything since they don't understand you. I may be the least trustworthy, but believe me when I say this, I know the feeling of betrayal. Just believe in yourself."

Ina didn't know what to say. The demon she thought was an enemy, was actually a misunderstood individual. But back with William right now, he was getting tired since he wasn't used to this power of his just yet. The Ancient Ones was starting to get tired of this charade and was deciding to get their hands dirty. One moment Ina appeared in front of him, the next he was grabbed by the neck. Though he fired many shots, it didn't work. He was struggling to break free from it due to the overwhelming difference. But then suddenly, Ina's body stopped, letting go of William.

William: "W-What the..."

Asher: "Finally, I am back..."

William: "Asher..? What happened..?"

Asher: "I reached Ina'nis. It is now up to her." 

All William could do was watch as Ina's body started to struggle against itself. However he also started to notice that the black inky substance that encompassed her was starting to slide off of her as Ina was slowly gaining control. Until it was completely off, flowing back into the book, but Ina fell on unconscious, but William caught her before she could fall. 

William: "Asher.. Ina.. You both did good today.."

William smiled genuinely in a long time, feeling like the world can at least be feeling better from here on out.