Ch 65: Nightmare!!

Hina awoke with a start, her surroundings unfamiliar and unsettling. The air was thick with the acrid smell of smoke and ash, mingling with the faint, metallic scent of blood. She found herself in what seemed to be an abandoned kingdom, the once-majestic structures now crumbling and aflame. The oppressive heat from the fires made the air almost unbreathable, causing her to cough as she took in her surroundings.

"Where am I? What is this place?" she muttered, her voice trembling with fear and confusion.

The ground beneath her feet was littered with debris and scorched earth, each step she took crunching against the charred remnants of what had once been a thriving city. Her eyes darted around, wide with terror as she tried to make sense of the devastation that surrounded her.

Suddenly, her gaze was drawn to a mirror standing amidst the ruins, untouched by the chaos. Compelled by a force she couldn't understand, she moved closer. As she peered into the reflective surface, her heart pounded in her chest.

"Is that... me?" she whispered, her voice barely audible over the crackling of the fires.

In the mirror, she saw a version of herself she scarcely recognized. Her eyes, once filled with warmth and kindness, now glowed an unholy crimson. Her body emanated a dark, malevolent aura, tendrils of black miasma swirling around her like serpents. This reflection of herself floated above the ground, exuding a terrifying power.

The figure in the mirror cackled, its laughter echoing eerily through the desolate kingdom. "Hahahahah! Die, you insolent fools! Grovel before my feet!" it screamed, raising a hand to unleash a torrent of red lightning upon the ruins.

The sound of the lightning crackling and tearing through the air was deafening, a violent symphony of destruction. Each bolt struck with a thunderous roar, reducing what little remained of the kingdom to rubble. The smell of ozone mixed with the stench of burning wood and stone, creating an overwhelming sensory assault that made Hina's head spin.

She felt a sharp, bitter taste in her mouth, as if the very air was tainted with the bitterness of her own power turned against her. Her body trembled, not just from fear, but from the visceral horror of seeing herself as this monstrous entity, relishing in destruction.

"No... this can't be me," Hina whispered, tears welling in her eyes as she watched the mirror image continue its rampage. The sight of herself laughing maniacally, eyes glowing with a sinister red, was a nightmare made real.

The figure in the mirror turned its gaze upon her, those crimson eyes locking with hers. "You cannot deny what you are, Hina," it hissed, the voice a distorted, twisted version of her own. "This power is yours. Embrace it, or be consumed by it."

The words echoed in her mind, a haunting reminder of the darkness she had felt within herself. She closed her eyes, trying to block out the horrific vision, but the sounds, the smells, the overwhelming sensations of this twisted reality pressed in on her from all sides.

With a shudder, she opened her eyes again, determination flickering within her despite the terror. "I will not become you," she whispered fiercely, her voice shaking but resolute. "I will not let this darkness consume me."

Hina's resolve wavered as her dark reflection continued its taunts. "You are already consumed," the sinister version of herself sneered. "Stop denying it."

"Stop it! Stop it!" Hina shouted, covering her ears in a futile attempt to block out the voice. Her other self stepped out of the mirror in a grotesque, horror-movie fashion, its movements jerky and unnatural. The sight made Hina's blood run cold, her heart pounding in her chest.

"Fight me," the dark Hina commanded, a malicious grin spreading across its face. "Or are you afraid of yourself?" It laughed maniacally, the sound echoing off the crumbling walls and filling the air with a chilling, eerie resonance.

Before Hina could react, a bolt of red lightning shot from her dark twin's hand, striking her with a searing pain. The smell of burnt fabric and singed hair filled her nostrils, mixing with the already pungent odors of smoke and ash. The impact knocked her off her feet, and she hit the ground hard, the taste of blood filling her mouth as she bit her tongue in the fall.

"What's the matter? Afraid of your own power?" The dark Hina taunted, advancing on her with slow, deliberate steps. "Become one with me!" it demanded, laughing as it unleashed another bolt of lightning.

The crackle and roar of the lightning were deafening, a brutal symphony of chaos. Each strike left the air humming with energy, the ground beneath her trembling with each impact. Hina struggled to her feet, her body aching from the relentless assault.

"No," she gasped, trying to summon her strength. The air around her was thick with tension, the pressure almost unbearable. Her vision blurred, her senses overwhelmed by the sensory assault of light, sound, and pain.

Her dark self lunged at her, and she could feel the raw power emanating from it, an almost tangible force. The stench of ozone was overpowering, mingling with the metallic taste of blood in her mouth. As it reached out to grab her, Hina felt a surge of desperation.

"Stop it!" Hina screamed, summoning every ounce of her willpower. Her hands glowed faintly, a flicker of her divine power struggling to break free. She managed to deflect the dark Hina's hand, but the effort left her gasping for breath.

The dark Hina's laughter grew louder, more mocking. "You're weak," it sneered, eyes glowing with malevolent joy. "You can't fight me. You are me!"

Hina's vision cleared for a moment, and she locked eyes with her dark self. "I am not you," she said, her voice firm despite the fear gripping her heart. "I won't let you win."

Her dark twin lunged again, and this time Hina was ready. She sidestepped the attack, her movements fueled by a mix of fear and determination. The ground where she had stood exploded in a shower of sparks and debris, the force of the lightning leaving a deep crater.

"You can't escape me!" the dark Hina shrieked, its voice a twisted echo of her own. "You will become me, whether you like it or not!"

Hina's senses were on high alert, every nerve in her body screaming as she dodged another bolt of lightning. The heat of the energy crackled around her, and she could feel the raw power coursing through the air. The sounds of destruction filled her ears, each explosion a reminder of the stakes.

"I won't give in!" Hina cried, her voice rising above the chaos. "I will fight you with everything I have!"

As she braced herself for the next attack, she felt a strange sense of calm amid the turmoil. Her divine power, though diminished, was still there, a small but resolute flame within her. She closed her eyes, focusing on that inner strength, determined to reclaim her true self from the darkness.

As the evil Hina flew back into the sky, the real Hina heard a sinister, mocking laugh. "It's you, Phobio," she said, recognizing the source of the malevolence. Phobio, the demon lord, appeared in the sky, holding the red-eyed, evil Hina on his shoulder.

"How does it feel to become weak, Hina?" Phobio taunted, his laughter echoing through the desolate kingdom. "I've been waiting for you, Hina."

Suddenly, Hina was jolted awake. She found herself back in the castle, her heart pounding. Beside her, a glowing red system interface hovered in the air, visible only to her. The system's voice broke the silence, urgent and serious. "Warning: You were almost taken by the demon lord. I cut off the connection. He was planting a malicious influence in your mind."

Hina's eyes filled with tears. "System, you're back," she said, her voice trembling with relief.

"Yes, indeed," the system replied. "Thank you for worrying."

Hina glanced to her side and saw Lefa lying next to her, sleeping peacefully. Relief washed over her as she realized Lefa was alive, though still unconscious. Tears of joy streamed down her face. "Lefa," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. "You're okay."

The room was silent except for the soft sounds of Lefa's breathing. Hina gently held her hand that friend she call sister, her heart swelling with gratitude and determination. She knew the battle was far from over, but at that moment, she was just grateful to have Lefa safe beside her.

*To be continue *