The shadows closed in around me, twisting and writhing like living things as the oppressive chill of the nightmare took hold. Darkness swallowed the familiar walls of the facility, distorting them into a hellscape of jagged, flickering shapes. The sensation should have been unsettling, terrifying even, but instead, an exhilarated grin spread across my face. This was a challenge—something worthy of my attention.
I glanced down at the black tendrils creeping toward me, their eerie glow reflecting in my dark blue eyes. My heartbeat quickened, not from fear, but from anticipation. The air buzzed with energy, and I could feel the sharp, electric thrill shoot down my spine. My messy, neck-length blonde hair fell over my eyes, but I pushed it aside, revealing the glimmer of excitement dancing in my gaze.
"Is this the best you've got?" I muttered, a smirk playing on my lips as I flexed my fingers. The Nocturnalis Imps emerged from the swirling black, their grotesque faces split into jagged, toothy grins. The diamond-shaped eye on their foreheads glowed a malevolent red, contrasting against the mechanical eye filled with intricate, blood-red designs. They surrounded me, dozens of them, each draped in tattered white wraps and moving with serpentine grace.
I could feel the tension in the air as they stared me down, clearly expecting fear or panic. But I wasn't like the others. I thrived in chaos.
"You're all so eager," I said, my voice ringing out confidently. "Let's play."
The first Imps lunged, claws gleaming like polished onyx in the dim light. I sidestepped with ease, the rush of air cool against my face. Chains, dark and serpentine, erupted from the ground at my command, each one glistening with an otherworldly sheen. They coiled around the creature mid-leap, binding it tight. The Imps's grin twisted into a snarl as it thrashed, but the chains held firm.
"Not so fast," I teased, giving the chain a tug and flinging the struggling creature into a cluster of its advancing comrades. They stumbled in a tangle of limbs and growls, momentarily disrupted. The thrill coursing through me intensified. This was fun.
Another Imps emerged from the corner of my vision, fast and silent, its lantern-like tail swinging with deceptive beauty. I opened a portal just as it leapt, and the creature vanished into it, reappearing behind one of its allies. The sudden, bewildered squawk they emitted as they collided was music to my ears.
"Oops," I said, chuckling, my grin widening. "Try harder."
They obliged. More of them surged forward, their eyes gleaming with a sinister hunger. One emitted a pulse of dark energy that rippled toward me like a wave. I raised an eyebrow, impressed by their tactics, but not concerned. Twisting my hand, I summoned another set of chains from the air, lashing them out to disperse the energy and strike them down two more Imps in one fluid motion.
Their screeches filled the air, and I couldn't help but laugh, the sound low and sharp. They surrounded me on all sides, their glistening claws catching the weak, flickering light. One dared to get too close, only for me to raise a finger and unleash Chain Reaver, spectral chains striking out in a swift, lethal dance. The Imps crumbled, its body disintegrating into dark wisps before it hit the ground.
"Getting tired yet?" I taunted, my voice echoing mockingly.
The remaining Imps hesitated, their eyes darting between me and the shattered remnants of their brethren. I could sense their fear—a delightful realization that the hunter had become the hunted. But they weren't done. They regrouped, drawing upon their most cunning tactics. The lanterns on their tails flared, and I felt a strange, numbing pull on my mind. Lantern of Deception.
The world wavered, the edges of reality shifting as if dipping in liquid shadow. I blinked, my vision blurring as the Imps seemed to multiply, their forms flickering in and out of view. The whispers returned, crawling under my skin, yet my grin only sharpened.
"You think I can't see through your parlor tricks?" My voice dropped, taking on a razor's edge. The Imps halted mid-step, uncertainty flashing across their eyes. Using the brief pause, I opened a Mirror Vortex, a swirling portal that absorbed the pulse of their illusionary power, bending the energy into my portal.
"Return to sender," I whispered, the vortex crackling before releasing the power tenfold. The Imps shrieked as the blast hit them, their forms disintegrating into nothingness. The nightmare around me trembled, fractured by their defeat.
With a low hum, the world solidified once more, and I found myself back in the facility, the oppressive weight of the illusion gone. I exhaled, letting the adrenaline ebb as I wiped a stray lock of hair from my forehead.
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of Katsuaki, his calm unshaken, and Mizuki, her purple and dark eyes assessing me with the usual impassiveness. A grin split my face, the teasing light in my eyes returning as I approached them.
"Well, look who's already out," I said, raising an eyebrow. "You two never cease to surprise me."
Mizuki's face didn't flinch, but there was the faintest twitch of her brow. Katsuaki simply stared, unblinking. I chuckled, the noise cutting through the stillness, waiting for the others to join us. The game wasn't over yet.
As the ice melted and the forest began to return to its natural state, the two cloaked figures disappeared into the shadows, leaving behind nothing but the memory of their terrifying presence. The Cryptic Slayers were back, and the world would soon know the true extent of their menace.
YOU ARE READING
One thing that started everything
Fantasia13,000 years ago, even before the age of Celestaras. the galaxy was ruled by only mere gods. However, one of them rose up and betrayed all gods. it was a horrifying fight, a fight only with sheer power and strength. however, their powers were so ove...
