SOUL-SEEKER || (On Hiatus)

(Chapter 8) Horror Womb.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows that stretched across the desolate industrial landscape, Arthur and Lucas stood before the towering gates of the abandoned metal refinery. The air hung heavy with a metallic tang, and the silence was punctuated only by the occasional creaking of rusted machinery and the distant howling of a lonesome wind. The refinery, a relic of a bygone era, loomed before them like a cathedral of decay, its once-shining steel structures now corroded and warped. Arthur walked forward and entered inside the facility to try and scout the area. Lucas notices Arthur having difficulty casting his technique.

ART: Tsk, well, this situation is rather frustrating.
LCS: What's wrong, something off?
ART: These shadows are imbued with some sort of technique that disrupt my shadow manipulation. Whatever is hiding inside of this place knows its' ways in soulcraft.
LCS: Then that's the more reason to exterminate it. If we succeed, that's one less strong devil to cause chaos among the innocent.
ART: (From first sight he already looked pretty blunt, but now that I get to know him more, his eyes are burning with a sensation to kill those abominations.)

As they cautiously scan their surroundings, an unsettling sensation creeps over them, the distinct impression of unseen eyes observing their every move. In this tense moment, Lucas inadvertently treads upon an unexpected discovery, feeling a small, metallic object beneath his shoe. Bending down, he retrieves it and is surprised to find a discarded lighter resting on the ground.

LCS: (Smoking isn't allowed inside, so why is this lighter here..?)

As he turned to ask Arthur about it, panic began to set in as his eyes scanned the surroundings, desperately searching for his friend. The once familiar surroundings now felt alien and eerie as the realization dawned on him that Arthur was nowhere to be found. His heart raced, and a chill ran down his spine as fear gripped him, causing his body to tremble uncontrollably. Every shadow seemed to conceal a lurking threat, and the silence felt suffocating, amplifying the dread that had taken hold of him. He called out Arthur's name, but his voice trembled, barely more than a whisper in the haunting silence of their now-deserted location. Lucas feels something grab his foot and he kicks it away to see an abnormal creature burning into ashes.

LCS: (A devil, but it's already dying?!)

As Lucas takes a step back, his heart races, and a chill runs down his spine. The dimly lit room suddenly feels suffocating as an ominous aura envelops him, casting eerie shadows that dance across the cold, metallic surfaces of the machines. He can sense a malevolent presence lurking in the darkness, and every instinct in his body tells him to flee. But before he can even form a coherent thought or take another breath, a powerful force slams into him, propelling him mercilessly against the unforgiving metal contraptions. The impact sends a shockwave of pain through his body, and he gasps for air as the wind is knocked out of him. Coughing up blood, Lucas pulls himself back onto his feet and notices the devil in front of him and the weird shape of its' body structure. A human girl was trapped inside its' stomach, maybe using them as a power source.

LCS: That must be the girl, master was talking about!

The devil in front of him bore a malformed humanoid structure and a sinister smile. Lucas focused his senses and concentrated on the fight. He dashed forwards and ducked under the punch that was thrown, before landing a direct hit on the devils' gut, but it had no effect due to its' strong flesh.

LCS: (Just like he taught me! Control the flow of the essence of my soul that courses through my body!)

Lucas, determined and fueled by his will, refused to back down. With newfound resolve, he harnessed the essence of his soul, channeling it into his fist once more. This time, as he struck the devil, he could feel the power surge through him, leaving a noticeable bruise on the demon's sinister form. Infuriated by Lucas's resilience, the devil lashed out, delivering a powerful slap that sent Lucas tumbling across the battleground. Undeterred, Lucas swiftly rolled away to avoid a barrage of fireballs that the devil hurled his way. With agility, he managed to evade each one. In a daring move, Lucas seized the opportunity to counterattack. As the devil loomed overhead, he slid beneath its towering figure, his body moving like a shadow across the battlefield. With a graceful leap, he soared into the air, his leg extending with incredible speed and precision. The devastating kick found its mark, connecting with the devil's neck in a thunderous collision, momentarily staggering the malevolent creature, but it wouldn't last as the devil turned back and concentrated its' essence into its' palms, releasing it in one beam of raging fire. Lucas, still airborne was unable to dodge, but with the single contact the tip of his foot had with the ground allowed him to evade a fatal wound. He clutched his burnt arm and endured the pain.

LCS: (It's got me on edge and I haven't even dealt significant damage yet. This is looking bad.)

But Lucas' hope was restored when the walls behind the devil crumbled and fell onto it, revealing Arthur standing atop one of his constructs.

ART: Status report, rookie.
LCS: It's pretty strong if you ask me.
ART: Then let's do our job.

Rubble scattered in various directions, creating chaos as the devil emerged from the debris, its fury evident. With a thunderous roar, it unleashed a barrage of fire beams towards Arthur, who skillfully evaded them, determined to reach Lucas.

LCS: Your technique is back, how'd you manage that?
ART: What we're in right now is quite difficult to explain but to put it in simple terms, we're fighting the devil in its' own turf.

As Lucas charged forward, his determination fueled each step. The opponent, a menacing devil, braced itself for the impending clash. Meanwhile, Arthur's technique came into play. With a flick of his wrist, he summoned a legion of humanoid constructs, each with the same intent, to aid Lucas in this intense battle. The devil's eyes darted around, trying to discern the real threat. Every time it shattered one, Arthur's technique weaved more constructs into existence, leaving the devil in a state of confusion. Lucas, seizing the opportunity, emerged from the swirling chaos behind the devil. His essence flowed through him, a torrent of energy converging into his clenched fist. With unwavering determination, he thrust his fist forward, aiming for the devil's stomach. His strike was swift and powerful, the essence-infused punch piercing the devil's defenses. Yet, as the punch connected, his hand became trapped within the devil's stomach.

ART: (What's he planning on doing?! That's suicide!)

Lucas stood with determination, his palm resting on the girl's chest as he concentrated intensely, attempting to draw forth the essence of her soul. Meanwhile, Arthur, recognizing the impending danger, summoned a formidable barrier of shadows to shield himself from the impending chaos. The devil, in a relentless onslaught, delivered a barrage of punches upon Lucas. Despite the excruciating pain, Lucas persevered, enduring the torment as time seemed to stretch endlessly. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the girl's once-lifeless eyes burst open, emanating a scorching blaze. The surrounding area transformed into a searing inferno, an eruption of the unleashed soul's power. In the midst of the inferno, Arthur's quick thinking came into play. He latched onto the ceiling, snatching both Lucas and the awakened girl before creating a breach in the facility's structure. Outside the facility, Arthur's strength waned, and exhaustion overcame him. He dropped to the ground, after managing to exit the barrier. Kaito observed the scene, squatting down with a worried look on his face.

End of Chapter 8
"Horror Womb"

[ Lucas & Arthur exterminate a B-Class devil and save their soon-to-be group member. ]