Awakening Alliances

-Masa's Perspective-

I wake up, floating in midair within a dark, ominous dimension. Instantly, I recognize this as Kurayami's domain.

A swarm of gray shadows materializes in front of me, swirling together until they form Kurayami from head to toe.

"Hey, Masa, welcome to my place," he says, his voice dripping with dark amusement. "How can I assist you today?" His eerie laugh echoes through the void.

"Oh hey, you're the last person I expected to see today," I say, now accustomed to his eerie aura.

Suddenly, I notice a pair of glasses floating in the darkness. It's the Magical Glasses I stole from the store. Kurayami reaches for them and places them over his eyes.

"How do I look, Basa?" he giggles, striking a ridiculous pose with the glasses.

I can't help but smack my forehead, momentarily losing my train of thought. Shaking off the distraction, I refocus. "Who are you, really? And what's your connection to my family?" I ask.

Kurayami rubs his bony chin thoughtfully. "I am Kurayami, one of the beings you humans call 'Abyssal Creatures.'" He pauses before continuing, "It's a long story, but centuries ago, I granted my powers to a man named Machi Yoshikawa. After he died, his last wish was to continue serving his descendants."

"My great-great-grandfather was the original wielder? How is that possible? I thought Abyssal Creatures were powerful, bloodthirsty beasts that thrived on terror," I say, my curiosity piqued.

Kurayami chuckles darkly. "Ah, the lies they feed you—"

Suddenly, the world around me dissolves, Kurayami's words cut off mid-sentence.

I blink against a bright white light stinging my eyes. As my vision clears, I realize I'm in a hospital bed, surrounded by unfamiliar machines. A chair sits nearby, and a plate of food rests on a tray beside me.

Wasn't I just with Kurayami? What happened? I think, still disoriented.

I glance down at my right thigh, where the arrow had struck. The wound is gone, replaced by a tightly wrapped bandage. The bleeding has stopped, but my muscles ache, and a sharp pain lingers as if the arrow were still lodged inside.

As I try to stand, a nurse enters the room, her face lighting up as she sees me awake. She says something I can't quite process, then gestures for me to sit back down before hurrying out of the room.

I wait for what feels like ten minutes, my patience wearing thin. Just as I'm about to get up again, the door opens, and a woman steps in.

She's tall and powerful, with a muscular build that speaks of countless battles. Black leather armor clings to her frame, designed for swift movement. Twin katanas rest on her back, their scabbards ornately decorated. Her jet-black hair is pulled into a high ponytail, exposing a sharp jawline and piercing brown eyes. A scar across her left cheek hints at her battle-hardened past, and the fierce determination in her gaze tells me she's not someone to be taken lightly.

Our eyes meet, and she starts speaking in a surprisingly refined tone, like she's some kind of noblewoman. I sigh, and motion with my hands that I'm deaf, signaling I can't hear a word she's saying.

I sit up straight in the hospital bed as she pauses, clearly confused. But then, realization dawns on her face. Lifting a finger, she begins writing in the air with her magic, red letters forming in the space between us.

That's clever, I think to myself. No one else has tried this.

I reach into my cloak and create a small portal to Kurayami's dimension, pulling out those ridiculous Magical Glasses I'd swiped earlier. I slide them on, focusing on the words she's writing.

Greetings, my name is Elara. My group and I found you unconscious, bleeding in an alleyway. I believe I saw you at the guild today. You must be the new guy, correct? We were on our way to do a quest when we found you.

Thank the heavens, I was saved by her. As I think this, the glasses automatically translate my thoughts into text in front of me. I mimic her gesture, letting magic flow through my finger as I write in response.

My name is Masa. I joined the guild yesterday and almost died. Thank you for saving my life; it means a lot.

She smiles, just as two others rush into the room—a girl and a boy. They look at me, then at Elara, chattering among themselves. I assume she's giving them a quick rundown about me.

The boy steps forward, lifts his finger, and begins to write.

Hi, nice to meet you. My name is Riku.

I smile and nod at him. Riku is lean and agile, with short, tousled brown hair and sharp green eyes. He wears dark green, lightweight gear designed for stealth and mobility. A dagger rests at his waist, and a crossbow is slung across his back.

The girl steps up beside Riku, lifting her finger to write as well.

Likewise, I'm Kaede.

I nod at her too. Kaede has a graceful presence, her slender form draped in deep purple robes adorned with silver runes. Her silvery-white hair frames a delicate face, and her violet eyes glow with arcane power. She carries a staff topped with a glowing crystal.

Elara steps in front of them, exuding confidence. She writes again.

Great, you've met everyone. I'm the leader, Kaede is our mage, and Riku is our scout. You must be hungry. Let's eat and then talk about joining our quest.

Quest? They want me to join them? Before I can even think of protesting, Elara grabs my arm and drags me to a nearby restaurant.

As I catch my breath, I notice it's the same place I first visited when I arrived. I lift my finger to write.

Is this place popular or something?

Elara sighs and replies.

How are you this oblivious? This is one of the best restaurants in town!

As we enter, I spot the head chef at the cash register. In a flash, he's at my side, cigarette in hand, giving me a playful slap on the back and a loud laugh.

I start writing.

Thank you, sir. You really helped me get back on my feet. I owe you.

He gives me a big smile and a thumbs-up before chatting with Elara, leading us to a table in the far corner of the restaurant.

Elara writes again.

So, kid, we're about to take on a pretty tough mission, and we need all hands on deck.

She hands me a small poster that reads:

Quest Name: The Curse of the Blood Beast

Reward: 400 Coins

Difficulty: ★★★★☆

Objective: Investigate and eliminate the mysterious Blood Beast terrorizing a remote village. The beast is connected to an ancient curse that has begun to resurface, causing villagers to disappear and the land to wither.

I gulp. That's a lot of coins, but it sounds dangerous. I'm not sure if I should take it or not.

-Kajiwara's Perspective-

"You all need to accept your impending doom and repent for your sins!" the cult member shrieks, struggling against the vines that Kajiwara has wrapped around him.

"Where are you hiding?" Aimi demands, her aura growing darker and more menacing.

"Like I'd ever tell you, you pathetic brat!" the cult member hisses.

Aimi stomps her foot, her patience wearing thin. "I'm done playing games with you." Her bloodlust begins to seep out.

Suddenly, the cult member's arm jerks up, then snaps in half with a sickening crack, as if it were nothing more than a fragile branch.

A bloodcurdling scream rips from his throat, and then his neck begins to twist, slowly, as though it's about to break. "Stop! Stop! I'll tell you!" the cult member cries out in terror.

I exchange a glance with Sora. We don't really agree with Aimi's methods, but it's hard to argue with the results.

"Spit it out, you maggot!" Aimi yells.

"We—we're building an artificial body that represents the Abyssal Wyrm, and its heart will power the machine," he stammers, clearly frightened.

Aimi sighs, and suddenly the sickening sound of bone snapping echoes in the room.

"My thumb!" the cult member screams, tears streaming down his face from the pain.

"Why didn't you tell me the location?" Aimi growls. "If you can tell me why, then you know where."

"It—it's north of Aethoria, in the abandoned ruins of Velandris. There's an old lab there, and we've made it our hideout." He starts to laugh, a crazed look in his eyes. "But it's too late. The body is already in its final stage."