the way of the eclipse

upper Moon....

I dashed through the forest, my breath coming in sharp, controlled bursts as I strained to find any sign of life. The towering trees blurred past me, their dark, twisted branches reaching out like skeletal hands. The silence that pressed down on me was unnatural, oppressive. My instincts screamed that something was wrong—terribly wrong. Yet, despite the eerie quiet, I could feel a chaotic energy thrumming beneath the surface, like the distant roar of a tsunami just before it crashes ashore.

The unease gnawed at me, slowing my pace. I paused, listening intently, the faint rustling of leaves in the wind the only sound in the heavy, stifling air. No birds, no insects—nothing. It was as if the forest itself was holding its breath, waiting for something dreadful to happen.

Suddenly, I froze, my heart leaping into my throat. Through the thick underbrush, I had stumbled upon a scene so horrifying it felt like stepping into a nightmare. Wooden dragon heads, twisted and grotesque, writhed and snapped through the air as though they were alive, their gaping jaws snapping at anything within reach.

The sight sent a chill down my spine, reminding me of a mythological deity whose name slipped my mind in the moment of terror. “What was it called again? Sorry folks, I’m drawing a blank.” I muttered, forcing myself to keep my focus.

(Tsuki, I swear to god, this isn't the time for your usual commentary. Keep it together.)

In the center of the grotesque display stood a demon, its small frame and childlike appearance at odds with the darkness radiating from it. But I wasn’t fooled—demons rarely looked their actual age.

Nearby, Mitsuri was locked in combat with the demon, her pink and green hair a blur as she swung her weapon with practiced precision. She was holding her own, but the strain was evident in her every movement. Not far from them, a boy with burgundy hair, his face etched with determination, was shouting instructions to the two others trapped in the web of dragon heads. They were tangled in the mess, struggling to free themselves.

My grip tightened on my sword, and without hesitation, I launched myself into the fray. The burgundy-haired boy spotted me immediately, his eyes widening with a mix of relief and urgency. “Ms. Tsukuyomi! It’s an Upper Rank! That’s not the main body—it won’t die if you behead it!”

I cursed under my breath. Of course it wouldn’t be that easy. “Great. Just what I needed,” I muttered. Finding the main body was the only option.

With a surge of determination, I leapt into the thick of the battle, slicing through the nearest dragon head with a precise strike. Mitsuri’s eyes flicked toward me, a smile of relief breaking through her intense focus. “Tsuki!” she called out, her voice filled with excitement even as she parried another attack.

“I guess I’m a little late to the party,” I replied, dodging a dragon head that lunged at me from the side. My sword cut through the wooden beast, but more took its place, writhing and snapping with relentless aggression.

“A lot late!” she huffed, her breath coming in short gasps as she continued to fend off the attacking heads. Despite the dire situation, there was a glimmer of amusement in her eyes, as if she had been expecting me all along.

Before I could respond, a particularly forceful strike from one of the dragon heads sent me sprawling across the battlefield. I rolled to a stop right in front of the demon at the center of the chaos. The demon’s mouth opened wide.

“Ms. Tsukuyomi, watch out!” the burgundy-haired boy shouted, panic lacing his words. But I was too slow. A blast of sound, yellow and pulsing with malevolent energy, exploded from the demon’s mouth. It struck me with the force of a thousand waves, and I was flung through the air like a ragdoll. The last thing I felt was the rough bark of a tree slamming into my back before everything went black.

(Girl, seriously, how many times are you going to black out in this book? I lost count after the second time. Yes, I do this because I’m lazy and don’t feel like writing out a full fight scene. Will I fix it in the future? Probably not.)

When I finally regained consciousness, the world was bathed in the soft light of dawn. The sun was just beginning to rise, its golden rays filtering through the leaves overhead. My head throbbed, and as I slowly sat up, I became acutely aware of the dried blood on my face and the myriad of cuts and bruises that covered my body. Every movement sent a fresh wave of pain through me, and I was fairly certain my leg was broken. But there was no time to dwell on the pain. I needed to find the others.Gritting my teeth, I forced myself to stand, pushing the pain aside as best as I could. I limped out of the forest, using the rising sun as my guide. Each step was agony, but I couldn’t afford to stop. I had to know if the others were okay.

When I finally emerged into the open field, the sight that greeted me made my heart sink. Chaos had erupted in the clearing. The demon had been decapitated, its headless body still thrashing wildly as it chased after a group of fleeing civilians. My eyes darted around, searching for any sign of Mitsuri or the others.

The burgundy-haired boy was already racing toward the demon, his sword glinting in the early morning light. But he was too far away—he wasn’t going to reach it in time.Without thinking, I pushed through the pain and lunged forward, throwing myself between the demon and its intended victims. I collided with the civilians, knocking them out of the way just as the boy reached the demon and sliced it cleanly in half. The demon let out a final, bloodcurdling scream before disintegrating into a pile of ash.The boy collapsed to his knees, his sword clattering to the ground as he began to sob. The sound of his cries tore at my heart, and I knew then that we had lost something precious.

The AftermathI limped toward him, each step heavy with dread. “Where are Yuzu and that other demon girl?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. The boy looked up at me, his tear-streaked face a picture of despair. I understood in that moment why he was crying.

I felt the blood drain from my face, my legs trembling beneath me. The thought of losing them… I didn’t want to finish that thought.“Don’t tell me you’re going soft on me now,” a familiar voice cut through the tension, light and teasing. My heart skipped a beat, and I quickly looked up to see Yuzu and the demon girl standing in the sunlight, very much alive.Relief washed over me so quickly that my knees buckled, and I nearly collapsed. “Yuzu… you’re okay…” I managed to stammer out, dropping my sword to the ground in sheer disbelief.

Yuzu grinned, but before I could respond, the world around me began to spin. I could feel the strength draining from my body as the edges of my vision darkened. I tried to speak, to say something, but my body betrayed me, and everything went black once again.

(Girl, seriously. Is this going to become a thing? You blacking out every time something intense happens? Get it together, Tsuki.)