Lara rushed to open the door, only to be met with the horror of a devastating sight. Her eyes widened in shock—blood was everywhere, forming red pools; everyone who had been on the ship's deck had already been killed.
Panic seized Lara, for the only thing on her mind right now was Narohime and her safety. Just as she tried to step outside the door, she heard Narohime screaming at her.
___Narohime___
No! Stop, Lara!
Lara was startled and confused, but at least Narohime was alive. Life returned to Lara the moment she heard her voice.
___Lara___
Sister Naro! Are you okay?! Where are you?!
___Narohime___
I'm fine, don't worry! Just don't go out to the deck!
___Lara___
The deck?! Why?! What's happening?!
___Narohime___
I don't know why, but everyone who tried to go out died immediately.
Both of them were confused about what was happening. Lara stayed frozen in place, while Narohime fell silent, leaving Lara even more puzzled… Time passed, and the ship shook again, but this time a huge strange creature appeared. They couldn't see it clearly because the fog surrounded it.
____Lara ____
Wh– what is that, what the hell?! (panic)
Suddenly, the monster struck the ship, shaking it violently, almost causing it to sink. But luckily, the ship's advanced technology prevented it from taking serious damage.
____Narohime____
Lara! … Go back inside!
____Lara____
Sister Naro!... No!... I won't go back until I make sure you're safe!... Where are you, what happened?!
____Narohime____
Don't worry about me! I'm fine, I'm trying to find a way to get rid of this thing!
___Lara___
No! It's strong! You're alone! I'll stay here!
___Narohime___
No! I can handle it! Don't worry!
___Lara___
But—
___Narohime___
No buts! I'll deal with it! I'm not weak!
___Lara___
….
Lara felt fear and frustration, but she had no choice but to listen to Narohime. She went back inside and closed the door, yet stayed right behind it, hoping she could do something to help Narohime.
As for Narohime, she was hiding in the ship's watchtower; in that small, high room, she observed the monster's movements. It was a giant black octopus with dozens of tentacles that released toxins—anyone who inhaled them would die, vomiting blood as if all their internal organs were crushed. Fortunately, it seemed not to have noticed her. Narohime was preparing to eliminate it.
She put on a gas mask, activated her magic—the sniper magic she rarely used due to the policies of the Supreme Magic Committee, which stipulated that powers were to be used only in emergency situations.
Using her ability, she formed her rifle; a sniper rifle. She prepared it stealthily so the creature wouldn't notice her, aiming it at its head through the small window surrounding the room, meant for the watchtower's scope, replacing it with her weapon; she looked at it through the rifle's scope. After locking onto the target, despite her trembling and fear—she was breathing heavily in that dark, cold room, in addition to the heavy rain leaking in through the weak wooden ceiling—she took a deep breath, reminding herself of her goal and that this was not the time to die.
She aimed the rifle at the monster's head, steadied it precisely on the target… and after making sure of her aim, she moved her finger and pulled the trigger, firing that magical bullet with tremendous propulsion. It was immensely powerful, and due to its intense glow and speed, it looked like a meteor cutting through the thick fog, pushing it aside to reveal the monster as the bullet pierced straight through its head, leaving a large hole.
The monster stopped moving and fell into the sea, sinking. Narohime felt hope, having succeeded in hitting and killing the monster. She waited several minutes, but there was no sign of it—it had indeed been defeated.
Narohime left the room and went down to the deck, exhaling in relief. She removed her mask, looked up at the sky, and smiled after long tension and exhaustion. Although she had been exposed to the danger of the Dark Circle, she had managed to endure against that monster.
Lara felt anxious; time had passed, the ship had stopped shaking, and there were no sounds coming from outside. She panicked and opened the door to see what was going on—only to find Narohime standing, looking at the sky, with no trace of the monster.
___Lara___
Sister Naro!!..
Narohime turned to Lara with a smile, feeling as if she were in bliss.
___Narohime___
I'm fine… it's fine now, there's no need to worry! (smile)
Lara's eyes widened and her expression shifted to fear and panic. She ran toward Narohime and grabbed her by the shoulders.
___Lara___
Sister Naro!
Blood was dripping from Narohime's eyes and mouth as she smiled. Her face was pale and yellowish, with some bluish marks; she looked as if she might faint at any moment. It seemed the effects of the Dark Circle had already reached an advanced stage.
___Lara___
(crying) … Sister Naro! Sister Naro!!!
___Narohime___
(smile) What's wrong, Lara! … Everything is fine, I already defeated it! Now we can leave!
___Lara___
No… no… you're not fine… Sister Naro!... you… come on… we'll look for a doctor… yes!... I'll save you! (panting and sobbing in panic and tears)
Lara pulled Narohime by the hand, rushing to look for a doctor or any other way to save her. As soon as she turned and took one step toward the door to enter the ship in search of help, she pulled Narohime's hand—but it didn't move. She pulled again… but it was useless; it seemed she didn't want to go… then Naro coughed, and Lara immediately turned to her to see the shock— a huge tentacle pierced through Narohime's chest… it seemed that thing… was still alive…
Lara panicked and screamed at the horror of the situation. In addition to the effects of the Dark Circle, she had just been stabbed by a poisonous monster. Narohime vomited more blood, the smile still on her face, as the monster pulled its tentacle out, causing her to collapse unconscious directly onto the shocked Lara.
Lara trembled in fear with Narohime on the edge of death, leaning on her shoulder. Lara tried to place her hands on Narohime's shoulders… but she was too afraid even to look at her. Her face turned pale, unable to comprehend what had happened.
Narohime then fell directly to the ground, as Lara could no longer hold her, while Lara remained standing in shock, tears falling from her eyes. It was as if she had given up on life itself, as if all will to live and every spark of hope had vanished from her eyes, staring into emptiness and nothingness.
The monster struck the ship again, and it shook violently.
Noticing Lara standing alone on the deck, the monster moved its tentacles rapidly toward her to kill her… but wait!... For some reason, it couldn't complete its movement once it got close to her. It tried to stab her, but to no avail—its tentacles were stuck.
Lara's face paled; rage, hatred, and a spirit of vengeance engulfed her. The killing aura surrounding her was visible.
Lara began chanting strange things in an incomprehensible language. Soon after, six glowing hexagram stars appeared, emitting an immense magical aura. Winds began to surround the area, and the atmosphere grew more turbulent. Her hair color changed from silvery white and her eyes from crystal blue to shining gold.
She had activated her magic; two magical guns of high magical density formed. Lara grabbed them and opened her eyes, finishing her chants. It seemed she had broken a seal placed on her magical power.
She opened her eyes and looked with hatred at that cursed octopus whose tentacles were frozen in midair, now clearly tense from the situation.
___Lara___
You fucking monster!
The monster tried to move and let out a scream heard by Gren, Silva, and everyone else still alive—a scream strong enough to rupture their eardrums—but it was useless; it had no effect on Lara at all.
The monster felt even more panic, but Lara ignored it and turned to Narohime, who was lying on the ground, perhaps even dead. She bent down to check if she was alive, then lifted her and carried her toward the ship's door, propping her against it.
___Lara___
Sister Naro (sad)...
Lara took out a dagger, cut her hand, and placed the wound against Narohime's mouth, using her blood while activating her magic to sustain Narohime's life. At the very least, this could keep her alive for some time.
She then stood up and focused on the monster. Turning toward it, she aimed her right gun at it. With eyes full of hatred, she walked slowly toward it, surrounded by a deadly aura.
Lara released the octopus's tentacles, disabling the spell on them. The octopus felt victorious and attacked again, but Lara dodged and shot its tentacles. It screamed in pain, a loud echoing scream, and she seized the opportunity to jump onto one of its tentacles and ran toward its head, aiming both of her guns at it.
But it wasn't easy; sensing danger, it moved faster and delivered a powerful strike. Lara couldn't dodge it and fell onto the deck in pain. But she stood up again; in her eyes: the spark of vengeance for her sister Narohime, who was near death. For her sake, she stood and attacked the octopus again, firing at its head. She jumped onto it once more and began running again, this time dodging all its attacks despite their speed. Despite all the monster's attempts to kill her and strike her, it couldn't touch her.
___Lara___
Die!!!
She reached near its head and fired several times. The octopus screamed… Lara kept firing. After a while, it stopped moving and fell into the water, sinking. Lara returned to the deck, panting from the intense use of magic in battle. But this wasn't enough to kill the monster. Lara knew that, so she decided to seal it forever.
But just as she began chanting the sealing spell, the ship shook again and something huge emerged from the water—it was the monster again. Its regeneration speed was tremendous; it had already fully healed. Lara continued chanting without stopping as the octopus attacked her and she dodged with maximum possible speed. But because she was focused on chanting, she stumbled and couldn't avoid a strike from one of its tentacles, causing her to vomit blood and be thrown violently, crashing near where Narohime lay, barely alive.
Lara continued reciting the sealing spell without stopping, enduring the pain with difficulty as she coughed up blood. She looked at Naro, unconscious beside her, a little distance away. She raised her hand, trying to reach her and hold her hand. She tried with difficulty and didn't stop despite the pain. She continued chanting and trying to reach her, never taking her eyes off her, as she was all she could think about at that moment. Lost in her thoughts, she forgot everything around her, reliving memories of the past—only to be struck again by the monster, ending everything.