Ch 76: Surroundings

Flicker began to wake from the debris she had crashed into, clutching her staff and holding her stomach. She gasped for air, each breath a sharp, painful rasp. Her vision swam, the sights around her blending into a chaotic swirl of burning village, crumbling debris, and raging battle. Through the haze, she spotted Zass and Benimaru locked in a deadly dance, their movements a blur of desperate power.

The sight overwhelmed her. Flicker's eyes welled up with tears as she tried to push herself up, each movement sending waves of pain through her body. "I can't take it anymore," she cried, her voice trembling as tears streamed down her cheeks. She struggled to her feet, each step a battle against the agony in her midsection.

Through the smoke and ruin, Flicker saw a figure lying still amid the rubble of a nearby house. Her heart sank. "Kanade!" she screamed, her voice breaking with fear. She stumbled towards her, the world narrowing to the single desperate goal of reaching her fallen comrade.

"Kanade, Kanade, are you okay?" she pleaded, her voice barely a whisper as she reached her friend. Kanade lay still, her face bruised and swollen, her breath coming in faint, ragged gasps. Flicker's heart shattered. She collapsed beside Kanade, her tears mingling with the blood and dust on her own face.

"I'll heal you, just hold on," she vowed, her voice raw with emotion. She channeled her remaining strength, her hands glowing with healing light as she poured her magic into Kanade. The effort tore at her already exhausted body, but she pushed on, driven by desperation and love for her friend.

As Kanade's breathing stabilized, Flicker felt a wave of relief. But her own body was failing. Blood bubbled at her lips, and a new wave of debris fell from the crumbling house above. Flicker gasped, a sudden breath of terror escaping her as she instinctively raised a barrier. The shield shimmered into existence just in time, fending off the falling stones with a dull thud.

"It's going to be alright," Flicker whispered, her voice hoarse and weak. She cradled Kanade's head in her lap, gently brushing the hair from her face. The noise of battle faded into the background as Flicker focused on the rise and fall of Kanade's chest, the faintest sign of life that gave her hope. She continued to stroke Kanade's hair, her own strength ebbing, but her resolve unbroken.

The acrid smell of smoke filled her nostrils, mingling with the metallic scent of blood. The heat of the burning village pressed in on her, and the taste of iron lingered on her tongue. Yet, amidst the chaos, there was a fleeting moment of peace in the gentle rhythm of Kanade's breath, a fragile promise of survival in the midst of destruction.

Meanwhile, Benimaru and Zass continued their fierce battle. The air crackled with energy as their weapons clashed, creating shockwaves that echoed through the burning village. Zass, with his twisted grin and wild eyes, taunted Benimaru, his voice dripping with mockery.

"Tough boy, hahahaha," Zass sneered, his laughter like nails on a chalkboard. "But your strength is going to fade in the end, along with your friend Exodus. Hahahaha!"

From the sword, Hina's voice resonated with calm determination. "He's bluffing, Benimaru. Look at him—he's taken a lot of damage. His strength is waning too. We've got this."

Benimaru's face lit up with renewed optimism. "Right, we got this," he said, his voice firm and confident. He tightened his grip on Exodus, feeling Hina's power coursing through him.

Zass's eyes narrowed, a dangerous gleam sharpening in his gaze. "I'm going to wipe that smirk off your face along with your life," he growled, drool dripping from his lips as he leered at Benimaru.

The two combatants moved with blinding speed, each attack a blur. Benimaru swung his dual swords with precision, the combined power of Excalibur and Exodus creating a dazzling display of light and energy. Zass parried and countered with his dark shredder, the demonic blade humming with malevolent energy.

Their movements were a dance of death, a symphony of clashing steel and raw power. Benimaru could feel the strain in his muscles, the fatigue starting to set in, but he pressed on, driven by Hina's unwavering support and his own unyielding resolve.

Zass, despite his bravado, was also showing signs of wear. His attacks were becoming more erratic, his movements less fluid. Benimaru seized the opportunity, launching a series of rapid slashes that forced Zass on the defensive.

"Magic bullets, now!" Hina commanded, and Benimaru channeled her power, firing a barrage of homing magic bullets at Zass. The demon parried some, but others found their mark, causing him to snarl in frustration.

As Zass's body contorted and transformed into his ultimate form, the air crackled with dark energy, sending shivers down Benimaru's spine. He watched in horror as the demon consumed the bodies of the fallen, his laughter echoing through the charred remains of the village.

"What is that?" Benimaru muttered, his voice tinged with fear and disbelief. The sight before him was like something out of a nightmare—a grotesque amalgamation of flesh and tentacles, fueled by the suffering of innocent lives.

Flicker and Kanade, still recovering from their injuries, were the next targets of Zass's twisted hunger. His tentacles lashed out towards them, hungry for more fuel to feed his monstrous form. But Benimaru refused to let them fall prey to the demon's grasp.

With a swift motion, he parried the tentacles with Exodus, the blade slicing through the air with precision. Each strike was like a beacon of hope amidst the chaos, pushing back against the darkness that threatened to consume them all.

Zass roared in frustration as his attacks were deflected, his body morphing further into a nightmare of limbs and eyes. "You will pay for that!" he bellowed, his voice reverberating with raw power.

But Benimaru stood firm, his resolve unwavering. He raised his swords defiantly, ready to face whatever horrors Zass unleashed upon them. With Hina's power coursing through him and his friends by his side, he knew they could overcome even the most overwhelming of adversaries.

And then, just as Zass launched another devastating attack, Hina's senses heightened, her focus sharpened by the urgency of the situation. With a surge of determination, she pushed herself beyond her limits, channeling her divine power into Exodus, the wand sword clutched firmly in Benimaru's grasp.

As Zass's movements blurred with lightning speed, Hina's perception of time seemed to slow. She anticipated each strike, guiding Benimaru's hand with precision as he wielded Exodus with expert skill. With each clash of blades, they formed an impenetrable barrier, deflecting Zass's relentless assault.

Benimaru, though battered and weary, found renewed strength in Hina's unwavering resolve. With her guidance, he channeled the power of Exodus with unmatched prowess, each swing of the blade striking true against their formidable foe.

Together, they formed a formidable team, their movements synchronized in perfect harmony. Despite the overwhelming odds, they fought with unyielding courage, each blow exchanged fueling their determination to emerge victorious.

As they reached the pinnacle of their struggle, bathed in the crimson glow of battle, Hina and Benimaru stood as beacons of hope amidst the chaos. With every fiber of their being, they vowed to press forward, facing whatever challenges lay ahead with unwavering resolve.

Benimaru's movements grew sluggish as Zass seized the advantage. With a malicious grin, Zass taunted him, reveling in his perceived superiority. As Benimaru spun helplessly in midair, each strike from Zass landed with bone-jarring force, testing the limits of his endurance.

Meanwhile, Hina's efforts to defend Benimaru grew more desperate with each passing moment. Despite her best efforts, the meteor shield barrier strained against the relentless assault, cracks spiderwebbing across its surface under the onslaught of Zass's attacks.

In the chaotic dance of combat, the air crackled with tension as Zass's laughter echoed ominously. With Benimaru and Hina struggling to hold their ground, the outcome of their clash hung in the balance, teetering on the edge of victory or defeat.

As Benimaru hurled the rocky debris, Zass merely chuckled, his ominous laughter reverberating through the air like a dark omen. With each step forward, he exuded an aura of malevolence, his twisted form radiating with newfound power.

Undeterred, Hina unleashed a barrage of spells, her Exodus form pulsating with energy. "Magic net, times ten!" she exclaimed, her voice determined but tinged with desperation. "And magic bullets, times ten!" But to her dismay, the attacks seemed feeble against Zass's overwhelming strength.

"Do you really think you can defeat me?" Zass taunted, his voice dripping with malice as he continued his relentless advance. "Look at me in this form. I've become more powerful than before, capable of standing on par with my master, Phobio, the demon lord," he sneered.

Benimaru, though battered and weary, refused to yield. "We can't give up now," he urged, his voice strained but resolute. "We have to find a way to overcome him."

Hina nodded, her expression grim as she surveyed the unfolding battle. "We must keep fighting," she agreed, her determination unwavering despite the overwhelming odds. "There has to be a way to defeat him."

As Benimaru launched another attack, his sword slashing through the air with a resounding battle cry, Hina focused her energy on casting a healing spell. "Keep attacking," she instructed, her voice steady despite the rising tension. "First, I must form a plan."

Benimaru nodded, his determination evident as he pressed forward, his strikes fueled by resolve. "Haaaaaaaaa!" he shouted as he swung his Excalibur at Zass, aiming for a decisive blow. But to his shock, the impact of the hit seemed to have little effect on the demon, who remained unfazed amidst the chaos.

Zass, with his grotesque form and twisted grin, seized the broken half of Excalibur embedded in his flesh, relishing the taste as he devoured it with a disturbing satisfaction. "Delicious," he mused, his voice dripping with malice. "Scrumptious."

Benimaru recoiled in disbelief, his eyes wide with horror. "Impossible," he muttered, his voice tinged with disbelief. "Excalibur, the strongest sword ever, destroyed?"

Meanwhile, Hina, in her Exodus wand sword form, watched in shock and horror at the scene unfolding before her. "How unnerving and creepy," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "Even divine metal can be destroyed by him?"

The system's voice echoed in her mind, offering a grim explanation. "Due to the immense dark energy, the divine metal was overwhelmed and corroded," it informed her. "It's possible that you, in this form, could be corroded by him too. Please be careful, master."

Amidst the chaos and uncertainty, the trio faced an uphill battle against an enemy whose power seemed boundless, their resolve tested with each passing moment.

Zass's taunting laughter echoed through the battlefield, his voice dripping with malicious glee. "Is the prince about to cry?" he jeered, his tone mocking and cruel. "Boho cry baby! Hahahahaha!"

His words cut through the tension like a knife, adding insult to injury as the heroes struggled against his overwhelming power. Despite the gravity of the situation, Zass reveled in his sadistic delight, finding amusement in the distress of his opponents.

As the scene unfolded, Benimaru's stunned disbelief was palpable, his body shaking with the weight of the devastating revelation. "You know what, I've had enough of this," Zass declared, his voice filled with malicious intent. Benimaru, unable to accept the destruction of Excalibur, stood frozen, his mind reeling with the implications.

Hina, realizing the gravity of the situation, snapped Benimaru out of his shock. "Snap out of it or we are going to die!" she exclaimed urgently, her voice tinged with desperation. But before they could react, Zass teleported dangerously close, delivering a devastating blow to Benimaru's stomach. The impact was so powerful that it echoed with a sickening crack, leaving Benimaru sprawled on the ground, unconscious and grievously injured.

Witnessing Benimaru's fall, Hina cried out in anguish, her voice choked with tears. "No!" she exclaimed, her heart breaking at the sight of her friend's pain. Transforming back to her human form, Hina felt her own strength waning, the toll of the battle taking its toll on her weakened body. Turning to face Zass, she questioned him through her tears, "What is so fun about killing other people? Is that fun to you?"

Zass paused for a moment, a twisted smile playing on his lips. "Um, I mean yes," he replied casually, his demeanor betraying the cruelty beneath the surface. As Zass moved to retrieve Hina, she defiantly asserted her identity. "My name is Hina, not Exodus," she declared, her voice firm despite her fear.

Zass chuckled in response, his amusement evident. "Woah, feisty. I like it," he remarked before addressing Phobio's looming presence in the sky. "Yes, I am having fun killing humans," he admitted, his tone gleeful. "And I felt using my full strength for the first time."

Phobio's response was approving, promising Zass a promotion for his efforts. "Wonderful. If you can retrieve Exodus now, I can promote you to be a right-hand minion," Phobio's voice boomed from above, his satisfaction evident. As Zass knelt before his master, the battlefield fell silent, the air heavy with tension and despair.