Kenji instinctively stepped in front of Vieira, raising his sword, his body tense. Vieira, fists clenched, felt a cold sweat run down his back.
This Shadow was different.
It stood upright, unlike the writhing creatures they had seen before. Its form was almost human.....a tall, slender figure wrapped in a black, shifting cloak, its features obscured by a swirling mass of darkness. But its voice... its tone was laced with something Shadows shouldn't have...annoyance.
The Emerged Shadow tilted its head slightly, as if studying them. Then, with an almost lazy motion, it flicked its wrist.
A shockwave of force blasted outward.
Kenji barely had time to react before he was sent crashing through a hospital bed, metal screeching as it skidded across the floor. Vieira dug his heels in, his body instinctively bracing for impact, but the force still sent him staggering back.
"Shit...Kenji!" Vieira called out, but his voice was drowned out by a low, amused chuckle.
The Emerged Shadow took a slow step forward.
"Pathetic. Are these the exorcists they send now?" it mused. Its voice had a distorted echo, as if it was speaking from somewhere far beyond this world.
Kenji groaned, pushing himself up from the wreckage. His grip on his sword tightened. That was a casual attack... He knew right away...they were not ready for this.
Vieira exhaled sharply. Even though his body wasn't aching like Kenji's, he could feel it. This Shadow was different. It wasn't mindless.
It was thinking.
And that meant it was dangerous.
"Kenji, what do we do?" Vieira whispered.
Kenji's eyes locked onto the creature, scanning for an opening.
"We need to fall back."
The Shadow let out a disappointed sigh.
"Tch. How boring."
Then...it moved.
One second, it was standing in place. The next, it was in front of them.
Kenji barely had time to parry. His sword clashed against the Shadow's bare hand, sending a burst of soul energy outward. The force rattled through Kenji's arms, but he didn't let go.
"Vieira, move!" he gritted out.
Vieira lunged forward, throwing a full-force punch at the creature's side.
It connected.
But instead of flesh, his fist passed through empty air.
A cold sensation crawled up his arm.
The Shadow turned its head slightly, as if uninterested. Then, with a casual flick, it sent Vieira flying backward.
Vieira hit the ground hard, coughing.
Kenji clicked his tongue. They were completely outmatched.
The Shadow raised its hand...and then, suddenly...
"Thread Bind!"
Thin, glowing threads shot through the air.
The Shadow's body jerked violently. Its movement halted.
From behind them, Aya stepped into view.
Her fingers were curled, each one attached to a thread of pure soul energy. The golden strands glowed against the darkness.
"Sorry I'm late," she said, eyes narrowing.
The Shadow's form twisted violently, trying to break free. But Aya flicked her wrist, and the threads tightened.
"Kenji, Vieira.....move!" she shouted.
Kenji didn't hesitate.
"Vieira, we're regrouping...NOW!"
Vieira coughed, pushing himself up. He wasn't about to argue.
Together, they bolted down the hallway, Aya following behind as the Emerged Shadow's furious screech echoed through the hospital.
They had one chance to escape.
And they weren't about to waste it.