Chivalry of a Dark Knight [Batman x Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry]

CH8: The Worst One and the Tenkousei (prt 4)

It was strange experience when they totally submerged, it felt like they were in an inky black ocean yet he could breath and above them, he could see holes carved in different shapes where light shone through a rippling surface as you'd expect underwater; Bruce guessed those where probably the other shadows they could access on the surface above them.

Nagi ended his demonstration when he swam towards one of the above hole with Bruce in tow until they both emerged back where they sunk from.

"Just like that." Nagi said. "If you're having trouble, I'll use my Mana emission to help you out."

"You mean like sharing your Mana? I didn't know Blazers could do that."

"I wouldn't call it sharing. It's more like giving you a push if needed."

Luckily, Bruce didn't need that push when it was his turn. He visualized what he wanted, gave a silent command to his Device and yes, even waved it for effect despite him feeling silly doing it but it did actually do the trick. Unfortunately, it was after they had sunk into their shadows when Bruce realized that it was too good to be true.

"That's odd. This place seems so different compared to when I've accessed it." Nagi mused.

At first glance, the inky black ocean looked like the same 'Shadow Space' that Nagi often frequents but this time they could see that they were surrounded by some kind of boundary. It was faint and blurred within their murky environment but they see it, it looked like jagged red cracks that seemed to pulsate. Not only could they feel the throbbing vibration but there was a horrible foreboding feeling; something was definitely wrong.

"Arisuin..." Bruce addressed with his usual deadpan tone. "Why does it feel like the walls are closing in?"

It wasn't just that, Nagi's fearful eyes noticed that the two of them were continuing to sink and didn't seem to be stopping.

"Swim." he whispered.

Bruce turned a questioning glance at him.

"What?"

Nagi whipped towards him with a panicked expression.

"SWIM!"

He immediately got the message as Nagi began to frantically swim upwards, the loud echoing throb from the boundaries only heightened their urgency. The two males kicked their feet and moved their arms furiously but no matter how much they tried they weren't able to ascend and it felt like the red cracks were getting closer!

"Shit!" Bruce cursed under his breath. Of all the ways he imagined going out, this was definitely not one of them.

Just as their limbs burned from the fatigue, a sudden torrent of water flushed through the opening above and spiraled like a whirlpool. It caught the two males with its watery grip and to their surprise, the strong current swept them upwards until they were forced out of the shadowy portal they had sunk into, unceremoniously falling to ground in the process.

"Alice!" Shizuku called out in worry as she ran towards her roommate's aid.

Bruce spat out the water in his mouth and noticed that the girl had her Tanto in her hand, it was apparent to him that she was the one who saved them using her power over water. Nagi coughed a little as Shizuku helped him up, he seemed to have taken the whole ordeal in a good natured way despite being a bit shaken.

"Oh my, that was quite an experience. My heart's still racing." he chuckled, albeit with ragged breaths.

Bruce picked himself up and approached the two.