Chapter 10

"There's no one here- " Douma got up and saw the mess in the restaurant, chairs and tables were toppled over with some leftovers on the ground. Isaki must've had dinner here before the rampage of some sort happened. But who could've done something like this?

"Now you know so let's get out of here!" Isaki snapped brushing off the dirt from his kimono and dark hair.

"Why are you the only one here? Shouldn't you be running too?" That was going to keep Isaki off his feet and quit being a brat.

"I should ask you the same thing."

"I just got here." Douma narrowed his eyes at Isaki, unamused at his snotty antics.

Suddenly a loud crash erupted from the deeper end of the restaurant, it sounded like some pots and pans in the kitchen, someone was definitely still around.

"Those things are still here we need to leave now!" Isaki started trembling as he looked at the path that Douma came from and giddily walked towards it in desperation, without even answering Douma's questions which were important.

The blonde male watched as shadows loomed over the walls of the restaurant, they didn't look human, there were at least three of them rummaging through the mess they made. Echoes of growls and monstrous screeches filled the air which almost made Isaki trip from the fear evoked.

"Oh dear it's those things again. They sure are scary but a little clumsy too." Even though they gave off a terrifying impression, Douma remained calm, this was nothing compared to what he had seen, these were just oversized pests.

"Don't just stand there run!" Isaki didn't understand why the Shrine's leader didn't show any sense of urgency it was strange.

"Come on Isaki don't tell me you're afraid of some pests." 

"I have every right to be they attacked the town!"

"Now that's the answer I've been waiting for but you still didn't answer all of them."

Isaki froze, he couldn't figure out what the blonde was trying to imply not at a time like this. What does this scrap want now? There's no time for games! The hints were starting to irritate him the once loyal follower was about to insult the young founder, the consequences didn't matter to him anymore as long he was safe.

"Why are you still here after everyone left?" It seemed Douma could read his mind somehow.

"I came here to get my bike that I sent for repair, when I was about to enter the shop everyone started running and screaming," Isaki looked down at the ground in terror he just wanted to leave the town already.

"That's when I saw them those mean bugs! Passed out twice!"

"You're a funny guy now's not the time to pass out alright?" Douma found this amusing it's not the first time he encountered these 'bugs' which he assumed Isaki was talking about.

"Ugh this is a waste of time I'm getting out of here!" Isaki took off running disappearing into the quiet night.

"Isaki sure is helpful." Perhaps this was the last time Douma would ever see and hear from him again.

The three creatures emerged from the cracks made in the walls of the restaurant with the moonlight reflecting their shape and form, their familiar features coming to view. 

Douma took a step back, it was no surprise that people were terrified when they saw these things but still, they weren't the most frightening organism being inferior to some Earthly creatures out there.

Claws and spikes were flickering in his vision. The smaller one was of a size that was comparable to animals like leopards. The creatures' veins glowed in the dark which made it easier to track their movements.

"What a bunch of pests it's too bad I have to exterminate you guys right now." Douma said in a mocking tone.

Walking up to him, one of the creatures tried to slash his side narrowly missing which made the blonde chuckle for their efforts were futile. It seems the creatures could barely attack their opponent right in front of them. This was going to be easy and Douma was confident that he'll be the last one standing in this town tonight.

More of those walking fish started approaching him as Douma moved away from the restaurant and took out his fans, useful tools that were also his best friends in combat. The lotus art on each fan reminded him of his duties as The Hasu Mountains' well-known Shrine leader. He was going to prove his determination once again.

Douma positioned himself, getting ready to strike any walking fish that dares attack him, it was going to be a bad move on their behalf. It looked as though the monsters knew what Douma was trying to do and started screeching among themselves like they were communicating with each other. At some point Douma felt outnumbered, these monsters seemed to be fairly intelligent, knowing they were shorthanded when it came to weaponry they decided to think of a strategy which left Douma with some questions about their next move. It sure was bugging him.

Moments later the creatures started lunging towards him with their sharp claws unsheathed. Douma dodged one of them but the other two were still running towards him it was becoming a race against time they wouldn't back down until they could land a successful hit. The blonde stepped back regaining his stance as he struck one of the aquatic monsters that jumped at him leaving a large gaping wound on the side of its ribs.

Looking at his fan which was unharmed, the blonde smiled in relief he looked up and watched the damage that slowly vanished on the alien. There was no longer any visible damage on the surface he struck, it appeared unscathed. The impact from landing a hit on the alien didn't do much damage like last time, Douma fanned himself in embarrassment he forgot the monster's skin wasn't any ordinary metal he needed to put in a little more effort into slicing it open. Douma reminded himself to start taking this fight seriously he couldn't delay any longer.

His opponents were the embodiment of living steel, the position of an attacker wasn't going to do anything much to these creatures he'd have to go full on defense mode and that's something he didn't want to resort to just yet.