Chapter 16: Contact

The Lady approached with measured steps."Seems we've found ourselves a little spy," she remarked,

Before she could say more, Saya's body vanished in a puff of smoke. The Lady's eyes widened in surprise. "A clone?" she muttered.

From the shadows, a command rang out. "Run, Shadow Phantom!" Didi echoed with authority. Her blade had transformed moments ago, releasing her sword magic stealthily enough that the Lady hadn't sensed it.

The real Saya emerged from the shadows, holding her blade aloft. "Tear, Frolash!" she cried out. In an instant, her sword dissolved, encasing her hands in solid ice and transforming them into powerful claws. Her newfound strength and agility mimicked the ferocity of werewolves, her movements fluid and savage.

The big black werewolf, Cerebro, snarled and lunged at Saya, their claws meeting in a resounding clash. To his surprise, Saya's icy claws held firm against his powerful strike. She pushed back, her strength matching his, her attacks a blur of slashes and crushing blows.

"You think you can challenge me with that?" Cerebro growled with anger.

"I don't just think—I know,” Saya retorted, launching a fierce counterattack that forced Cerebro to stagger back.

The Lady watched the battle unfold with annoyance. "Cerebro, don't underestimate her," she warned.

Cerebro snarled “I’ll tear her apart!" he vowed. Aftewards, he charged at her. Saya held the same idea and launched a flurry of icy claw strikes against the Beast’s own savage strikes. Didi, watching from her hidden vantage point, whispered a spell under her breath.

"Mystcry Arts #7: Twilight," she intoned softly. A dark haze enveloped the area, reducing visibility and casting shadows everywhere. The Lady and Cerebro blinked, momentarily disoriented.

Saya seized the opportunity. "Mystcry Arts #9: Aegisl," she called out. Cerebro’s claws became surrounded in dark energy which was used to strike at them, but a barrier formed shaped like a shield around her, absorbing the brunt of Cerebro's next attack and allowing her to press forward with an icy slash which landed on him.

Didi moved swiftly, taking advantage of the confusion. "Mystcry Arts #18: Shadow Step," she whispered. She blurred out of sight and repositioned herself closer to the Lady. She was almost within reach of the divine blade.

Cerebro roared in frustration, but Saya shouted, “Mystcry Arts #12: Titanic Rage!” She growled. Her muscles bulged and her eyes glowed with a reddish tint. Her strikes became more powerful with each blow now capable of releasing shockwaves through the air.

"Enough of this,” The lady said while raising the blade high, but before she could unleash its power, she heard something from right behind her.

"Mystcry Arts #21: Agrin Chains," she chanted. Dark chains erupted from the ground, wrapping around the Lady and immobilizing her. The Lady struggled against the spell momentarily.

"Didi, now!" Saya shouted while deflecting a savage swipe from Cerebro with her icy claws.

Didi lunged forward with her hand reaching for the divine blade. She grasped it, the blade's divine energy pulsing under her touch.

"You!" the Lady snarled. "You dare!"

Didi's heart raced, but she didn't hesitate. "Mystcry Arts #32: Severing Bolt," she cried out and sent a bolt of energy directly at the Lady. The Lady deflected it with a snarl, but Didi used the distraction to dart away, ending up right beside Saya.

Saya and Didi stood their ground, the divine blade now safely in their possession

"You've done well to retrieve the divine blade," the Lady said. "I commend you for that. But let me introduce myself properly. I am Yokuni, the Lady of the Lycan Senodokidatsu."

"Yokuni..." Didi whispered. While they both knew she was likely the leader of the Lycans from her actions and what had been said before, something still bugged Didi.

Didi's eyes narrowed. "Your energy... Are you a human?"

Yokuni regarded Didi with a hint of amusement dancing in her eyes. "Yes, I am—or was—a human," she acknowledged, "But I no longer see myself as such. The Senodokidatsu have shown me a path of power and purpose that humanity could never offer."

"Why would you side with the Senodokidatsu?" Saya questioned while eyeing Cerebro. "They're creatures of darkness, infecting the w

orld and corrupting souls!"

Yokuni's composure cracked, and she spoke with an edge of anger. "You speak as if you know the truths of their existence," she retorted sharply. "The Divine Blade Society sees only what they choose to see—a world where they hold dominion over all creatures. The Senodokidatsu fight for survival, for a place in a world that has rejected them."

Didi, sensing the tension escalating, stepped in cautiously. "But Yokuni, turning against your own kind—"

"My 'kind' turned their backs on me long ago," Yokuni countered in a bitter tone. "I was cast out, branded as a monster for embracing what I am now. The Senodokidatsu accepted me when humanity did not."

Yokuni continued. “When I was on the brink of death, humanity turned away from me. It was the Lycans who found me, who saved me. I was bitten, but unlike most, I did not completely turn. Instead, I found myself drawn into their world, their culture. I learned the truth behind the Senodokidatsu, their struggles, their aspirations."

She paused and momentarily. Her gaze then flickered between the two before her. “The Divine Blade Society and their ilk have painted a false image of the Senodokidatsu as mindless beasts, a threat to humanity. But they do not see the individuals among them, those who have retained their human consciousness, like Miffet."

At the mention of the name "Miffet," recognition sparked in Saya and Didi's eyes.

Yokuni observed the flicker of recognition in Saya and Didi's eyes at the mention of Miffet. She nodded with a measured tone. "Ahhh so you do know of Miffet," she remarked. "The Senodokidatsu who retained her humanity and became known as the Mother of the Senodokidatsu. She has succeeded in many of her experiments."

"Experiments?" Didi interjected, her curiosity piqued. "What kind of experiments?"

Yokuni regarded Didi thoughtfully before continuing. "The mission of the Senodokidatsu is unified now, working towards a single goal: the transformation of high-ranking officials into Senodokidatsu. There are various methods, but the primary approach involves a symbiotic merging where the Senodokidatsu becomes one with the host. Over time, the host is consumed by the Senodokidatsu within, living out their days under its influence."

"Lycanthropy, however, offers a more... sociable outcome," Yokuni added. "It allows for companionship, forging bonds that transcend mere control. It is why I prefer this method. Now, I should let you know the joys of being a Lycan…"

Didi turned to Saya with a look of urgency in her eyes, signaling her desire to leave. The two began to try and sneak away while she was speaking on about the Lycans, but before they could make their exit, Yokuni said, "Leaving so soon? Don't you want the divine blade?"

Didi glanced down at the blade in her hands. "I have it right here, don't I?" she replied sharply.

In that moment, the divine blade shattered into countless pieces. Shock washed over Didi's face at the fragments in disbelief.

Yokuni's lips curled into a smirk. I can replicate an object of my choosing, albeit partially. It’s one of the many things I am capable of."

With a flourish, Yokuni produced the real divine blade, Its presence filled the area with an aura of power, causing Saya and Didi to tense instinctively.

"You led us here on purpose," Saya said with frustration. "You were never going to let us leave, were you?"

Yokuni nodded calmly, “Indeed. Cerebro detected your presence from the start. I orchestrated this meeting from the moment you crossed into our territory. You were drawn here by my design."

Yokuni lowered the divine blade to the ground, and as it touched the earth, a faint purple aura began to emanate from it. Her eyes hardened towards Saya and Didi.

"Do you remember when I said I am no longer human?" Yokuna stepped back from the blade, and all of a sudden, she was beginning to change. Fur sprouted along the top part of her body, and a Lycan-like mask formed over her face. Claws emerged from her fingers, elongating into deadly talons.

"Perhaps a demonstration is in order," Yokuni continued with a strange echo appearing in her speech. "You will soon join me as companions in the end."

Saya and Didi felt the shift in Yokuni's energy. It began to resonate with a dark, Senodokidatsu-like aura, pulsing with power and menace.

"Yokuni..." Didi whispered with fear.

Saya squared her shoulders, “We won't let you do this," she declared with a growl.. "We'll find a way to stop you!"

Yokuni's eyes narrowed, the Lycan mask contorting into a predatory grin. "Bold words, but words alone won't save you now."

With a sudden burst of speed, Yokuni lunged towards Saya and Didi.

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On Soujin’s Front, the team stood their ground against the Red Senodokidatsu. Rocks and dust settled around the group while they caught their breath. Their gazes were fixed on the red Senodokidatsu hovering ominously above.

Xero stepped forward after a moment. "Alright, listen up!" he called out to the team over the echoing roars of the Senodokidatsu. "We can't keep dodging those energy bombardments forever. We need to get that creature back on the ground where we can finish it!"

Soujin nodded. "How do you propose we do that, Xero?"

Xero grinned confidently. "I've got a plan. Bellar, I need you to channel your lightning into a focused beam. Soujin, use your wind magic to create a powerful updraft. We'll create a vortex that will disrupt the creature's flight pattern and force it to land."

Bellar nodded, gripping her sword tightly. "I'm ready."

Cera suddenly stepped forward with a scowl. "Yo, what am I supposed to do then? Stand here and look pretty?"

Xero glanced at her. "Cera, this part requires precise control and timing. We need Bellar's lightning and Soujin's wind to create the vortex. It's not something you can just charge in and swing at."

Cera's scowl deepened. "I ain't just some decoration, you know. I can handle myself."

Bellar stepped in firmly. “Sorry honey, this just ain’t a brute force job."

Cera's frustration boiled over. She stepped in front of Soujin, blocking his view of the Senodokidatsu. "Come on, Cap. Give me a chance to show what I can do. Cmon...I can do this..."

Soujin sighed inwardly. He knew this was a risky move, but…

"Alright, Cera," he agreed reluctantly and then folded his arms. "You can join in. But after this battle, you're going to say thank you to me in front of the entire squad."

Cera's cheeks flushed bright red, caught off guard by Soujin's condition. "Wha— you... ugh, fine," she stammered, flustered. She then shot a glare at Xero and Bellar, daring them to comment.

Xero chuckled under his breath, while Bellar hid a smile behind her hand. "Looks like you've got yourself a deal, Cera," Xero remarked teasingly.

The Senodokidatsu in the air sneered down at them. "You've lasted longer than most, but it's time to end this game," it taunted. It began to gather a swirling blue energy ball in its maw.

At that moment, Soujin, Bellar, and Cera exchanged nods. Bellar focused her concentration, her sword glowed with lightning energy. Soujin raised his blade, chanting quietly under his breath to summon the wind vortex, while Xero prepared to fire his Cutting Lights to disrupt the Senodokidatsu's concentration.

Xero's beams shot up towards the creature, but it shrugged off the attack, undeterred. Bellar, using the wind vortex created by Soujin, launched herself into the air with a shout, “Don’t mess this up, monkey girl!"

Cera snorted. "Shut up!" With a swift motion, she activated her sword magic. “Ignite, Raika!” Flames erupted from her blade, enveloping it in intense heat. Without hesitation, she directed the flames to surround her body, forming a blazing jet around her.

The Senodokidatsu observed Cera's fiery approach with disdain. "You must be stupid to send that one at me," it mocked. It released the charged blast of energy, splitting it into several smaller projectiles raining down upon them.

Cera maneuvered skillfully through the rain of blasts. Her flaming aura also deflected some of the energy around her. She closed the distance to the Senodokidatsu, swinging Raika with all her might. Yet, like before, her attacks did no visible damage.

The creature laughed triumphantly. "Pointless," it declared.

Soujin's eyes narrowed. He pointed his sword skyward confidently. "Galeforce!" he called out. Wind energy surged from his blade, augmenting the vortex around Bellar and boosting Cera's flaming jet.

The Senodokidatsu recoiled in surprise as Cera surged forward with increased speed and power. The combined force of wind and fire intensified her attack, catching the creature off guard.

"Now, Cera,” Soujin shouted.

Cera seized the opportunity. Her flames blazed brighter with the added wind energy. She unleashed a furious assault on the Senodokidatsu. The creature struggled against the onslaught. It’s tough hide was finally beginning to show signs of damage under the relentless barrage.

"We've got it now," Soujin declared with satisfaction.