Episode 9

We got on our guards as the figure kept inching nearer and nearer, until...

"Hahaha! You kids are so pathetic I could puke!" The general popped up right in front of us, gun in hand while a psychotic expression appeared on his face...

"We're going to kill you just like we killed the rest of your soldiers!" I threatened while pointing my sickle straight at him.

"Oooh, scary! I'm shaking in my boots!"

"Yeah, you really should be..."

I charged towards him and effortlessly slashed him through the stomach causing him to fall straight onto the ground. Just when I thought the job was finished, I turned to see that the wound miraculously closed up. The general then got up, showing no sign of any pain whatsoever.

(Regeneration abilities? But how...?!)

" Hehehehe... I thought I wouldn't have to resolve to this but you leave me no choice..." The general spoke in a low voice.

"Guys, what's happening?!" Nagi cried out from behind.

That very instant, the ground began to shake violently, and cracks started to form all over the walls. The bars of the cells became disordered as everything started to collapse. Suddenly, the general started... transforming...?

His nails turned razor-sharp, easily able to slice anything, and fangs slowly protruded out of his mouth. Along with that, his eyes glowed pure crimson while patches of fur began covering his body.

"Hahaha!!! So much power!" He roared, and the noise rang throughout the whole dungeon.

"What...?" Momoi was at a loss for words.

Nagi simply stared, also speechless. But I knew we had to do something fast or we'd be dead meat soon.

I decided to take charge of the situation and ordered, "Momoi, Nagi, run!"

"Wha-What?" Nagi still remained fixed in place.

"I said, run!!!"

They both then soon realized what was going on and began speeding away.

"Hah, is that what you're going to do, run away like the bunch of cowards that you are?!" The general shouted as he howled like a deranged lunatic.

I plainly ignored him and followed the other two since actually, I did have a plan in mind. I continued running until I finally saw Momoi and Nagi standing in the distance.

"Now, what's the plan? He could be following us right now." Momoi questioned as she came to a halt.

"I know. Just leave it to me, I have an idea..."

As I said so, I began scrummaging through my bag. After a while of searching, I spotted the perfect tool. It was a bomb that was labeled as 'emergency'. I grabbed the bomb and attached it to the wall with the help of some tape and then, I took a rope which I used to tie around a detonator. I knotted the rope between the hallway while the detonator was tied in such a way that if the rope would be pushed, it would trigger it to activate, enabling the bomb to explode.

"Okay done... Come on, let's go!"

We fled the area and headed for the exit. After a bunch of running, we finally managed to escape the mansion.

"*pant* *pant*" Momoi and Nagi both panted as we all arrived outside.

Just then, the entire mansion blew up.

"What the..." Nagi gasped as he and Momoi spun around and stared at the crumbled mansion, a look of confusion on both their faces.

(Hah, I knew that would work...)

A smirk appeared on my face as I looked at where the mansion was once built, which was merely a pile of debris and rubble now.

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Back to Haruka's POV

It has been a couple of hours since I disagreed to go into that forest. I was actually starting to get worried because it had been a long while since the others went inside. I was just standing outside the forest, anticipating their arrival.

"Guys, where are you...?" I kept on repeating that question to myself over and over again.

That's when at last, I saw two figures heading towards my way.

"Haruka!" Momoi called as she waved her hand with Nagi walking alongside.

"Oh, guys! You finally arrived! I was getting worried since you were starting to take so long! Oh, what a relief you're all alright. So did you manage to free the trapped spirit?"

"Ahh, about that. Actually, we didn't..." Nagi replied.

"What?! Then why did you guys take so long?"

"Well you see, Tokiya managed to get captured." Momoi explained.

That moment, Tokiya popped up from behind the two.

"Wait, what...? You, 'the' Tokiya, ended up getting captured? What?!"

To think that Tokiya, of all people, actually got caught from just simple humans. That's honestly pretty hilarious if you think about it. Like, the cool, strongest, most annoyed, and hot-headed person from the team just got imprisoned.

Before I knew IT, I was bursting with laughter, "Hahaha! I would've never thought that could actually happen!"

"Urghh...! I so wish I could punch you right now...!" Tokiya grumbled, an annoyed expression on his face.

"Haruka, it honestly wasn't a laughing matter. He ended up getting hurt really bad. You can't take this lightly." Momoi told with an earnest look.

That's when I looked and noticed all the bruises and scratches that covered his whole body.

"Oh... umm... Sorry." I apologized, feeling genuinely ashamed.

"It's fine..." He muttered.

I got startled at his response so I blurted out, "Wait, did you really just accept my apology right now?!"

"Oh, come to think of it, Tokiya, what was that you were going to say earlier when the general rudely interrupted?" Nagi asked.

That moment, Tokiya looked like he suddenly remembered something.

"Nothing..." He spoke as a hint of red tinged his cheeks all the way up to his ears.

"Come on, I think I heard you thank us, hmm?" He continued in a teasing tone.

"Hey, leave me alone...!" Tokiya shouted.

"Nagi, I guess that's enough. Also Haruka, I wanted to ask you something. Would you mind if you come and try freeing the spirit in the forest? " Momoi asked as she faced me.

Before I was even able to give a reply, a loud scream from the forest rang out.

"Aaaaahhhhhhh!!!"

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