Demon Eyes

Chapter 8: Desperation Fight

The west side of Kawazumi is where the rich live. Past Chisana Hill, a small district of luxurious estates stands in contrast to the architecture of the rest of the town. With its intricate light gray pavement, the large, complex buildings, and its numerous green spots, almost as many as there are houses, it gives off an air of nobility and opulence. Today, this lustrous district caught on fire.

When Noreyu and Hirisu arrive, standing on Chisana Hill as a vantage point, five, maybe six villas are already aflame. The fire brigade has been trying to extinguish the fire for a long time, but to no avail. The origin of the inferno lies at its center – a giant cloud of orange energy, larger than any building around, spawning flames in the air.

"That villa over there is Ishumai's," Noreyu says, pointing at the building behind the cloud. "Guess we had good reason to come."
"This cloud is pure energy, right?" Hirisu asks. "Is it from Ishuma's Demon Eye?"
Noreyu takes a close look at the cloud in the distance. "I can't make out the structure of the energy all that well. It seems like Fire energy, but there might be something else."

"Something else?" Hirisu repeats, trying to get a close look with their Demon Eye, too. "It looks like fire to me."
At the center of the cloud, Noreyu can just barely make out the silhouettes of two people locked in combat. "I suspect that Ishumai's opponent has a Wind eye."

Hirisu looks at Noreyu confused, but Noreyu quickly speaks up again. "Hold out your hand and emit some energy," he instructs Hirisu, who follows along. A small bubble of Water energy forms over Hirisu's palm.

Noreyu holds out his hand towards the bubble, releasing a small surge of Wind energy. As it drifts through the water, the teal energy takes on an indigo hue. The bubble disperses with the wind, but the Water energy is carried on through the air.

"Wind energy has a unique property – it's a potent carrier of other types of energy. Water, Electric, Fire... all of them can easily be carried by Wind."

Hirisu turns their gaze back to the cloud of Fire energy, burning not too far away from their vantage point. "So you think a Wind user did this?"
"Ishumai carelessly releases energy when he fights," Noreyu says, moving his hand away from Hirisu again. "His enemy is using that against him. If I were to fight him, this would be my strategy too."

Hirisu nods, confident thanks to their newfound understanding of the situation. Still watching the flames, the two notice how the breeze carries embers into the sky, threatening to spread the inferno even more.
"We should hurry up," Noreyu says with a frown. "If we let this get out of control, it could end up spreading to the rest of the town."

Sharing a resolute look, Noreyu and Hirisu leap down from the hill. Noreyu carries them both in a current of wind for a safe landing on the street parallel to the fire. They step over the intricate pavement made of stone bricks assorted in various patterns with little care, Noreyu's landing even breaking one of the stones out of the ground.

"Hirisu, I'm gonna need you to carve a path through the flames with your Demon Eye," Noreyu commands. "Once I reach the two, I'll split my eye between Wind and Fire so I can withstand the heat."

After taking a right turn, the cloud of flames comes into sight. The path is blocked by fire trucks.
"Does a Demon Eye give you resistance to its element?" Hirisu asks, trying to squeeze their way in between two trucks.
Noreyu jumps on one of them with a dash, bypassing the barricade altogether. "To an extent," he answers Hirisu. "You can breathe underwater, right? Demon Eyes have these little perks related to their elements. But it's not without limits. If you forget that, it can end badly."

The two reach the orange cloud, where Hirisu immediately gets to work. Forming a small wave of water, they manage to cut a small hole into the cloud.
"Go in!" Hirisu says to Noreyu. Both enter the small clearing as the energy already closes behind them, trapping the two inside.