Volume 5 – Chapter 131Mary Skelter: Nightmares(Part 3))
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Author Note:
[ ] = When Twilight is speaking.
{ } = When talking through Telepathy.
' ' = When thinking in your mind.
<< >> = When talking with your Pokémon or Tamed Beast.
--- --- = When describing a certain period OR Another place.
** ** = Point Of View, i.e., POV
/// /// = In Call
" " = System and when talking to it.
「 」 = Thoughts being heard
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Seeing Red Riding Hood, Alice, and Jack running towards her, the corner of Lumine's lips started twitching.
'Lumine: Should I blow them, Should I blow them, or Should I blow them?'
As that thought went through her mind, the three noticed her standing at her spot and looking at them.
Red Riding Hood: Hey, you there! Don't just stand there! Run! Do you want to die!?
Still, the blonde ignored her and looked behind them.
She saw a grotesque or demonic-like entity following them in some distance.
The creature was wearing a small circus tent over its head, which covered it to its chest. Below, it was wearing a clown-like outfit and a red-purple stars-filled cape behind. Its hands and feet looked like that of ducks.
At that tent's top-end was its face where its two blood eyes and bloody mouth could be seen. And at that tent's tip was a golden emblem shaped like a pointed eye inside of a crescent moon.
'Lumine: Ok, now what's that?'
She questioned herself and waited. A second later, a surprised expression appeared on her face.
If it was another time, whenever she thought about something like Jail, Marchens, or Blood Maidens, the information appeared in her mind on its own. It was like she had that information but was recalling it. But this time, there was nothing.
Yes. She was not remembering anything, as if she was seeing it for the first time.
Red Riding Hood: Hey! Are you too afraid to even move!? Run already!
By now, the three people had reached Lumine and shouted at her before running past her.
The sound of their footsteps behind was getting further and further. Yet the blonde didn't look back as her attention was now on the creature that was right in front of her.
The creature was at least 15 feet tall and looked down at the Traveler menacingly.
Too bad. While others might have been intimidated by it, Lumine was not one of them. She even dared to look directly into the eyes, meeting its gaze head-on.
???: Aaaahhhh!!!
Though it seemed that the creature didn't like it, it swung its claw with the full attention of killing the blonde in one go.
SCATH!!
Ducking, the Traveler dodged it.
But the creature was not done. Noticing its attack missed, it used its other claw.
SCATH!
BAM!!
The claw smashed into the ground, creating a crack on the floor. However, Lumine was no longer on her spot.
She jumped towards the left side of the wall and used her foot to touch it, supporting her to jump higher. She reached the creature's head before punching it right in the face.
BAM!!
???: Gah!!
The force behind that punch turned the creature's head sideways—still, the blonde had no intention of stopping there. She used the wind to prevent herself from falling and twisted her body before giving a hard kick on its face again.
BAM!!
???: Goh!!
The kick turned its head in the opposite direction this time. Then, the silver sword appeared in the blonde's hand, and she did a back somersault while slashing at the creature's head.
SLASH!!
SPLURT!!
A vertical cut appeared in the middle of the creature's face, and blood started gushing out of it.
THUD!!
Landing on her feet, Lumine knew it was not over and continued. But the creature had no intention of letting her do so.
Its claws came again, to which the Traveler responded by rolling to the side, dodging it before slashing at the creature's leg.
SLASH!!
SPLURT!!
Its leg bent to the side, making it fall to the left.
Using this opportunity, she rolled again, using the time before it touched the ground, and reached behind it.
Next, she jumped on it. Placing her feet at the sides of the circus tent, she looked at the face from above before holding the handle of her sword with both hands and stabbing it right into its head from above.
THRUST!!
???: AAAAAAHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The creature screamed in pain and started shaking violently, trying to throw Lumines off. However, this was useless, as the blonde held it tightly and embedded her sword even deeper.
???: AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After a few seconds, the Traveler frowned as she noticed the creature showed no signs of weakening or falling. On the contrary, it was screaming and struggling with the same energy.
'Lumine: Does it have endless power?'
Suddenly, she sensed some energy being gathered inside the creature. It also twisted its head backward to look at Lumine despite the pain of the sword embedded in its head. It then started to open its mouth slowly.
Some steam started leaking out of its mouth, and the blonde realized what it was doing.
'Lumine: Oh no, you don't.'
The wind's power started gathering in her hands, and she directed it toward the tip of the sword, which was still inside the creature.
Soon, the energy gathering inside the creature touched the wind at the sting of the sword, and the steam coming out of its mouth turned into an orange light. Seeing this, Lumine realized that her plan worked, and she pulled out of her sword and jumped away.
While still in the air, she saw that even more light was coming out of the creature's mouth, and then it exploded.
BOOOMM!!!!!
The explosion sent a shockwave around. The Blonde hurriedly used her wind to protect herself before landing on the ground.
THUD!!
When she did, the creature also fell.
Seeing that the upper half of the creature's body had utterly exploded into pieces, she nodded inwardly.
When the creature gathered energy inside it, sensing the rise of temperature and the steam from its mouth, Lumine concluded it was about to release something like a breath of fire. Hence, she concentrated her wind at the tip of the sword. When wind and fire come into contact with each other, the wind increases the intensity of the fire even more, making it explode inside.
Smoke, heat, and steam were still coming from its remaining charred body. Just when Lumine was about to step forward to check, she heard something from behind.
CLANG!
CLANG!
Hearing this, she looked back and saw the three people who should have run away already.
All three looked dumbfounded, and their jaws fell to the ground. They were too shocked that both Red Riding Hood and Alice unconsciously let go of their weapons.
Just like Lumine thought, they would have left already, but some Marchens stood in their way. As a result, they had no choice but to kill them before continuing.
By the time they were done, they looked back to see how close Nightmare had reached them. However, they were greeted by the spectacle of Lumine and Nightmare's confrontation, in which she shockingly emerged victorious.
This shocked them so much that they stood rooted on their spot, forgetting to run.
Jack: A-Amazing.
The blue-haired muttered, snapping the other girls out of their thoughts.
Alice: Y-Yeah. So Strong.
Red Riding Hood: Y-You, how did you do that?
Titling her head to the side, the blonde responded.
Lumine: What do you mean? I clearly killed it.
Red Riding Hood: No, no, no. That's impossible. Nightmares can't be killed. They are immortal.
Lumine: Immortal?
Frowning, she turned her head and looked at the burnt Nightmare. Then, a surprised expression appeared on her face as she noticed that the burnt parts were slowly healing themselves.
'Lumine: What a strong vitality.'
Red Riding Hood: See. I told you.
By now, the three had also approached her and looked at the fallen Nightmare.
Red Riding Hood: Nightmares are special creatures that can be considered boss monsters. They keep on reviving even if they're knocked down. There is no way to defeat it. Hence, we can only run when it appears.
Lumine: ....
Red Riding Hood: Hence, we should hurry and run while it's still down.
Sighing inwardly, the blonde nodded.
Lumine: ...….Ok.
'Lumine: Though there is no need to be hasty because, with the speed at which it's regenerating, it will at least take a day to recover fully.'
She thought while following them.
.
.
.
While they were making their way towards the exit, Red Riding Hood spoke.
Red Riding Hood: Let me introduce myself. I am Red Riding Hood. It's nice to meet you.
The brown-haired girl spoke with a smile on her face.
Red Riding Hood: You can call me "Sis" if you'd like.
Hearing this, the blonde raised one of her brows.
'Lumine: Sis? Even though I don't know my age, I have a feeling that I am the older one here.'
Alice: My Name is Alice.
The Black-haired girl introduced herself without much expression on her face.
Jack: I am Jack. By the way, Alice and I are childhood friends.
The boy also spoke with a smile.
At first, the Traveler nodded, but a quote unconsciously appeared in her mind as she heard his later sentence.
'Lumine: Childhood Friends Never Wins.'
But then she hurriedly shook her head and threw that thought away before responding.
Lumine: I am Lumine. Please to meet you all too.
Red Riding Hood: Um. So, Lumine, where are you from?
Lumine: .........…I don't know.
Red Riding Hood: Eh?
Alice: Huh?
Jack: Wha…
As they looked at her with a surprised expression, she continued.
Lumine: The moment I opened my eyes, I found myself in the prison. Then, I broke through it and escaped. As for why I am here or who put me there, I have no memories.
Jack: Is it Amnesia?
Alice: Then how can you fight so well?
Lumine: While I don't have memories, the knowledge and experience of the fighting have been engraved into my body. Like I have fought a lot before.
Red Riding Hood: Hmm…Maybe Dad will be able to help you if you tell him.
'Lumine: I don't know who this Dad of hers is, but I have a feeling that even he can't help me.'
Jack: It must be hard on you, Lumine.
Lumine: Huh? Well, you are right.
'Lumine: Not really.'
Red Riding Hood: Today really is my lucky day. I come to save one blood maiden but to think I will find another one. And this one is so strong that she can take on a nightmare alone. Everyone in "Dawn" will be elated.
Alice: Yeah. Some like you will really help us a lot in escaping the Jail.
Jack: Um. Glad to have you, Lumine.
While the three were showing happy expressions, Lumine startled and spoke.
Lumine: Sorry, you are mistaken. I am not---
However, at this moment, Alice paused and widened her eyes.
Jack: Alice?
Alice: Aaaaahhhh!!!!
Suddenly, a burst of power erupted from Alice before Marchen's blood started surrounding her.
Jack: Alice!
Alice: Aaah… Aaah…
Others stepped back and kept some distance from her.
Red Riding Hood: Shoot! She entered Blood Skelter! Let's get out of here, Lumine, Jack!
The brown-haired shouted.
'Lumine: When Blood Maiden is exposed to a great deal of mental stress combined with being covered in Marchen blood, it causes her to enter a berserker state. That state is called Blood Skelter.'
She thought while recalling her memories.
'Lumine: A Blood Maiden in Blood Skelter gains an even greater power boost than their other state, but because they are berserker, they recklessly attack friend and foe alike without any restraint, and their vitality will sharply drop every passing second until they succumb to their death.'
Jack: But Alice! She looks like she is in pain! I need to help her!
'Lumine: Of course, she is in pain because, in this state, Blood Maidens are almost close to becoming Marchen themselves. However, their Human body can't handle such a significant boost in strength, putting too many stains on them.'
Red Riding Hood: Not now! Alice isn't her usual self anymore! Stay here any longer, and it'll be a good night for you!
Jack: What's happening to her!? Alice!
Alice: Heh, heh…Hahaha…!
Red Riding Hood: She's not going to snap out of it! She'll attack everything until she dies… even you!
Jack: It can't be… Alice…!
Lumine: Stay back, Jack. Right now, she was very dangerous to both of you.
Red Riding Hood: I was hoping she won't end up like this so soon…
Alice: Ahahahahahahaha!
Red Riding Hood: There's nothing we can do for her! This isn't the Alice you knew before!
Jack: No! I must help her somehow!
Lumine: And how are you going to do it!? By giving her a deep wet kiss to wake her!?
Jack: ...….
Red Riding Hood: .......
Both of them stumped hearing this and looked at Lumine with a baffled expression. None of them expected that the blonde would answer like that.
Before long, a blush crept on both of their faces.
Jack: N-No! That was not what I was t-thinking.
Lumine: Good, because you will die before reaching her lips.
Jack: I-I said that's not my p-plan.
Red Riding Hood: Ahem.
Doing a fake cough, Red Riding Hood collected herself, but a red tint was still on her face.
Red Riding Hood: A-Anway, the only thing we can do is end her right here and now…
Jack: I won't let you! Alice…!
Shouting, the boy ran towards Alice, but he couldn't go more than two steps as his shoulder was grabbed.
Lumine: What are you doing!?
Jack: Going to help her!
Lumine: And I am asking again, how!? Do you even have a plan?
Jack: I will think of something!
Lumine: That's suicide!
Jack: But I must be by Alice's side! Let go of me!
Veins appeared on the blonde's forehead, and a furious expression appeared on her face. In the next moment, she raised her hand and…
PAT!!
The sound of a slap resounded as Jack came to a standstill. Too shocked at what just transpired. Even Red Riding Hood was surprised but didn't say anything as she also thought Lumine did the right thing.
Lumine: Why are you such an idiot!? Alice has been fighting non-stop to protect you! So that you can escape this place. But if you die because of your stupidity, all her efforts till now will turn in vain. And do you really think she will be able to forgive herself for that ever again!?
Jack: That's....
Lumine: Don't insult the sacrifice she is making for you!!
Her words really hit the boy's chord as he trembled and lowered his head.
Jack: B-B-But… I don't want her to d-d-die.
Red Riding Hood: Jack…
The brown-haired was looking at the boy with sadness. She also knew what he was going through as she had experienced the same before.
Lumine: Who said she is going to die?
Jack: Huh?
Red Riding Hood: Eh?
Lumine: Stay here and stay put. I will bring her back.
Jack: R-Really?
Red Riding Hood: That's impossible. Once Blood Maiden enters the Blood Skelter, there is no turning back.
The blonde didn't reply. Looking at Alice, who was laughing hysterically, she took a deep breath and dashed towards her.
Red Riding Hood: Wait. What are you doing!?
The Traveler kept running and soon reached Alice, who noticed her and swung her sword at her.
Narrowing her eyes, Lumine side-stepped, making it miss. However, sensing the force behind that slash made her narrow her eyes.
'Lumine: As expected, the strength of Blood Maidens in Blood Skelter surpassed even that of Nightmare's.'
Deciding to think about it later, she moved her hand and touched Alice's neck from behind.
'Lumine: Now let's hope it works.'
In the next moment, golden Adeptal power came out of her hand, touching Alice's neck.
Suddenly, Alice's movements stopped. Lumine frowned as her Adeptal power was decreasing sharply.
By the time only 10% of her Adeptal energy was left, Alice came out of her Blood Skelter and fell into Lumine's arms.
'Lumine: Phew. Looks like the gamble really paid off.'
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*A/N: Please throw some power stones.
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