Chapter 10: In Your Element

Cera's muffled voice could be heard from within the creature's slimy mass. "Get me outta here!"

Soujin gritted his teeth. "We need to break her out. Now!"

Bellar stepped forward with a confident grin. "I've got this," she announced.

She stopped right in front of the hulking brute, taking a deep breath. "Cera, just so you know, you look even more ridiculous in there than usual. That water is going to get all up in your body."

Cera, trapped inside Riza, managed to retort with a muffled shout, "Screw you, Bellar! You have the elemental advantage over this thing! Why haven't you done anything?! I know, it's because you're a slow pig!"

Bellar glared at Cera. "You tryna start somethin', girlfriend?"

Cera scoffed. "Yeah! I'd strike your ass down if it wasn't for this big slimy seaweed tryna cover me up!"

Riza, visibly offended, hissed loudly. "Seaweed? How dare you! You'll pay for that insult!"

Bellar rolled her eyes. "Alright, listen up. We've got water and fire here. Cera's fire got doused by Riza's water. But guess what, Riza? Water is weak to lightning, which is what I have."

She unsheathed her sword, the blade crackling with energy. "Clap, Inaminari!" Bellar shouted, releasing a surge of lightning from her sword.

The electric current arced through the air striking Riza with a brilliant flash. The Senodokidatsu screeched in pain, its body convulsing as the lightning surged through it. The slimy grip on Cera weakened and it dropped her.

Soujin stepped forward, catching Cera with one hand. He looked at the creature seriously, his eyes flashing green for a moment. "Kaze no Monogatari!" he called out.

With a swift motion, Soujin used Fujin Rasen, directing the wind with the tip of his sword to create a circular area of swirling air around Riza. The wind intensified and trapped the creature in a vortex of razor-sharp currents. Soujin pierced Riza with his blade and the creature exploded into a shower of water droplets.

The rain stopped abruptly, leaving the squad standing in the sudden, serene silence. Everyone looked up, relieved to feel the sky clear. Bellar wiped her face with a smug look, then glanced at Soujin.

"Cap, you can let go of her now," she said with some annoyance.

Soujin released Cera, who stumbled slightly but quickly regained her balance. He folded his arms and gazed into her eyes. "Do you have something to say to me, Cera?"

Cera looked away. "I... I appreciate the help. But I had it under control."

Bellar snorted, rolling her eyes. "Yeah, sure you did. Next time, try not to get yourself swallowed, rookie."

Cera shot a glare at Bellar but stayed silent.

"Alright, let's focus," Soujin said calmly. "We need to keep moving. That was only the first of many."

As they pressed forward, Soujin couldn't shake the feeling of satisfaction coursing through him..

"Damn, that was badass," he thought to himself, a sense of pride swelling within him. "I guess I am worthy of being a Captain."

His previous encounter with the dragon when he was first reincarnated had given him a glimpse of his potential, but now, in this new body, he was starting to realize just how powerful he truly was.

Bellar and Cera strolled side by side, the echoes of their battle still lingering in the air. Bellar couldn't help but give props where they were due.

"You gotta hand it to the Cap, Cera,and “Bellar started,” the man's got some serious muscle. He made that Senodokidatsu look like it was playing pattycake."

Cera cocked an eyebrow. "Yeah, he did. But what's with the sudden change, Bellar? Yesterday, you and I were dissin' him like there was no tomorrow."

Bellar let out a sigh, her eyes fixed straight ahead. "I gotta admit, his strength's no joke. Can't help but give credit where they're due."

"So that's what's up with you actin' all different lately?”

Cera paused for a moment, her usual bravado fading in the moment. "Strength ain't somethin' you can brush off," she muttered with a hint of sadness.

The group ventured deeper into the forest. The squad encountered greener Senodokidatsu and dispatched them with practiced efficiency. Each member moved with purpose and swung their swords fiercely in order to clear the path ahead.

Eventually, they stumbled upon a cave. Soujin felt a strange sensation prickling at the edges of his consciousness, a familiar tingle that hinted at the presence of something powerful lurking within.

Stepping forward, Soujin's gaze hardened. He looked around the cave's interior. He could sense it—a potent energy, pulsating with a strength that rivaled his own.

Bellar glanced at Soujin. "What's wrong, Cap?"

Soujin shook his head. "There's something in there… Something powerful."

Cera cracked her knuckles with a fierce glint in her eyes. "Well, what are we waitin' for? Let's go kick its ass!"

Soujin held up a hand. "Not so fast, Cera. We don't know what we're dealing with yet. Stay on guard."

The group ventured deeper into the cave. Shadows danced along the walls with each step they took.

"If there's a red Senodokidatsu down here, it has to be the leader of the others," Bellar said.

Cera nodded, her eyes darting around the cavern. "We got rid of every last one of em in the forest, but if that red Senodokidatsu is here, it can just get more. We get rid of him, and the mission’s complete!"

Soujin's mind raced as he pieced together the puzzle before them. The pieces were starting to fall into place, and he began to understand this united strategy of the Senodokidatsu.

Upon going deeper into the Cave, the squad found themselves within an area filled with Rock-like Senodokidatsu, although they were green colored.

Cera grinned and said " This'll be easy!" She charged foward at full speed aiming to cut one of them in half.

Cera swung her blade with all her might, aiming to cleave through the rock-like Senodokidatsu. However, much to her embarrassment, her sword simply bounced off its stony exterior with a loud clang.

"Ouch! Ouch!Ouch!Ouch!Ouch!," Cera muttered, rubbing her hands. "Why the hell?! They are only green-level Senodokidatsu!"

Bellar stifled a laugh, trying to hide her amusement at Cera's failed attempt. "Looks like these ones are gonna be tougher than you thought."

Cera shot Bellar a glare with her cheeks burning with embarrassment. "Shut up, Bellar! It's not like you're doing any better!"

This was true. Both Bellar, and a few squad memebers tried to pierce the skins of the green senodokidatsu rock creatures to no avail.

Soujin sighed, ready to draw his blade when Xero Shinmoto and a few other members of the squad stepped foward. "Leave this to us, Captain."

Xero thrusted out one hand and shouted: "Mystcry arts # 30, Cutting lights!"

A few other squad members utilized the same spell. As Xero and the others unleashed their Mysticry Arts, beams of blinding white light shot forth from their hands. They pierced through the rocky exterior of the Senodokidatsu with ease. The creatures let out pained screeches as they shattered into pieces, crumbling to the ground in defeat.

Cera couldn't help but grumble under her breath, "Damn strategist, showing us up like that."

"Sometimes, brute force just isn’t gonna be enough," Xero explained with a smile taking his face. "These rock Senodokidatsu might be tough on the outside, but they've got a weakness for direct magical power."

Cera folded her arms, still feeling a bit miffed at being outshone by the strategist. "Yeah, yeah, yeah, we get it. “

The group pressed forward into the cavern. Going forward, they soon encountered a group of spider-like Senodokidatsu skittering across the rocky terrain. Soujin's eyebrows shot up in surprise at the sight.

"Spiders?" he exclaimed in his mind."Back in my world, spiders were tiny things compared to these. Wonder if we can squish 'em or something…."

Soujin placed his hand behind the back of his head and chuckled. "Hey guys... I have an idea."

The rest of the squad looked at Soujin, waiting for his idea patiently.

"Maybe if we just leave them alone, they won't bother us," Soujin suggested with a shrug and a nervous laughter. He attempted to amuse the group, but the silence that followed his remark made it clear that nobody found it funny.

Cera raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "That's your big idea, Cap? Ignoring tha problem and hopin it goes away?"

Bellar shook her head, a smirk playing at the corners of her lips. "Guess we'll have to do this the old-fashioned way," she said, drawing her blade. "Ready for some spider-squishing, everyone?"

The group engaged the spider-like Senodokidatsu’s. The creatures moved with unnerving speed, their sharp fangs and venomous attacks posed a serious threat.

Cera lunged forward, but before she could strike, one of the spiders sprayed a sticky web that ensnared her, trapping her in place.

"Hey! What the hell? Let me go, you oversized bug! Just wait until I release my sword! All of yall will be cooked!” Cera shouted while struggling against the webbing. Suddenly, one spider spewed web all around her sword, preventing Cera from being able to use it.

”AW COME ON!”

Bellar chuckled at Cera's predicament, but her amusement was short-lived as another spider shot a web in her direction which covered Bellar’s body up to her head.

"Okay, okay, not funny!" Bellar said with her eyes narrowing.

Meanwhile, Soujin darted around the cavern, dodging the spider's attacks with agility. He somersaulted over one creature, landing gracefully behind it and slashed with precision through its thick exoskeleton, killing it instantly.

"These little buggers are quick," Soujin muttered. Spotting Cera trapped in a web, he dashed towards her, his blade poised for action. With a swift series of acrobatic maneuvers, he sliced through the webbing, freeing Cera and Bellar from their entrapment.

After Soujin freed Cera from the webbing, she remained silent unlike Bellar who thanked him. There were no words of gratitude. Soujin's glanced at her with a flicker of disappointment in his eyes. Without saying a word, he turned away and continued to engage the spiders.

Cera watched him go, feeling a pang of guilt gnaw at her conscience. She knew she had been relying on him to bail her out more often than not and her lack of knowledge was showing at every corner. She shook her head, trying to snap herself out of it.

As the battle went on, the strategic squad members fired off beams of mystcry, wounding some spiders. Soujin finished off others with his precise sword strikes.

Once they had regrouped and pressed on, Cera looked down, lost in thought. She contemplated the events of the day and how her actions had affected the squad.

Cera's contemplative demeanor caught Soujin's attention, but he knew he couldn't dwell on it for long. He had a mission to complete which demanded his full attention. Still, he made a mental note to check on her later.

As they reached the end of the cave, they encountered a red Senodokidatsu with wings. Its monstrous appearance sent a shiver of fear across some squad members with how much power it possessed, but Soujin remained composed.

The Senodokidatsu muttered to itself. "Mother Miff will be upset... no Divine blade here... searched for years... cave appeared out of nowhere..."

Soujin's brow furrowed with intrigue as he listened to the creature's words. There was something about the mention of a Divine blade and the sudden appearance of the cave that sparked his interest. He exchanged a glance with Cera, silently acknowledging her unspoken concern before turning his attention back to the Senodokidatsu, ready to hear more of its tale.

The Senodokidatsu's tears flowed out. The squad exchanged puzzled glances, taken by surprise to see the unexpected display of emotion from the fearsome creature.

"M-Mother Miff is gonna destroy all kinds of cities," it whimpered, "but there's one place we don't want her to touch... the theme park. We love the music... even if it's controlled by humans."

A squad member came up to Soujin. "Yo Cap, how we gonna proceed. "

Another came giggling."Yoooo that creature for reals? It's a damn monster! It shouldn't be tryna act like it's a human."

And then Xero came in. Unlike others who may have laughed he seemed to be able to feel something. "Senodokidatsu’s have emotions as well. They may be savage beasts that feed on humans but...."

Cera smacked Xero in the back of the head and then rubbed her fists against his cheeks. "We don't need ta know that stuff! All we need from you is the plan, strategist!"

Suddenly the creature turned around hearing the group behind them.

"Wait a minute," it growled. "That energy... it's the same as the one Guy Lord Trom killed a year ago."

Soujin's eyes widened in disbelief. "Wait, what?"

The Senodokidatsu's gaze bore into Soujin. "You... Your Soujin... You're the one who caused all this chaos! Mother Miff will have your head for this!"

Soujin tried to make sense of the situation. Could it be true? Had he inadvertently sparked the conflict with the Senodokidatsu? If so, how? Well, there was not much time to think as the Red Senodokidatsu launched its attack!