"Do we have to bring them with us, they will only slow us down. They are just dead weight" Shinro spoke his attention shifting to Crinix and Takahishi "If we leave them behind they will buy us some time to escape"
. "We have to take them with us, but it's up to them whether they come or not," Shina said, her voice firm but measured.
Takahishi's eyes widened in panic. "You're insane! I'm not going anywhere with you freaks! " he exclaimed, his voice rising to a frantic pitch.
Shinro's frown deepened. "You bastard! As long as you're alive, the Soul Eaters will smell your aura and track you down," he growled.
Takahishi's face paled, and he took a step back, his eyes darting wildly around the group. Shina's voice cut through the tension. "There's no time. We must hurry. They're close," she urged, her eyes locked on the tunnel behind them.
Crinix nodded, his expression resolute. "Hmpf, you don't have to convince me. Let's get going," he whispered, his eyes fixed on the tunnel ahead.
The group took off, sprinting through the narrow sewer tunnels. Water splashed beneath their feet, and the air was thick with the stench of rot and decay. Takahishi's breath came in ragged gasps, his eyes fixed on the ground ahead.
As they ran, the sound of growling and scuttling echoed through the tunnels, growing louder with every step. Takahishi's panic intensified, his eyes darting wildly around the group.
"We're never going to make it! We're all going to die!" he shrieked, his voice echoing off the tunnel walls.
Shinro's face twisted in disgust. "Shut up, you whining fool! You're going to get us all killed!"
The group burst through a narrow tunnel, emerging into a larger chamber. The sound of rushing water grew louder, and a faint light glowed in the distance.
Shina's voice echoed through the sewer tunnels, her words a beacon of hope. "We must get to the end of the sewer. As soon as we reach there, I'll launch a divine portal to teleport us to the Shadow Realm."
The group pounded the wet earth, their footsteps echoing off the cold stone walls. Twenty minutes passed, and the Soul Eaters seemed to have fallen behind. Takahishi stumbled, his exhaustion etched on his sweat-drenched face.
"It's been twenty minutes, and I see no exit!" Takahishi exclaimed, his voice laced with desperation. "You're leading us to our graves!"
Shinro spun around, his eyes blazing with contempt. "You're gonna get us killed with your whining, fool! You should have stayed behind if you wanted to die!"
Takahishi's face twisted in rage, and he launched himself at Shinro, punching him in the face. Blood spurted from Shinro's nose, and he stumbled back, his eyes flashing with anger.
"You really are a fool," Shinro spat, his voice dripping with malice. "Now they've smelled the blood. Blood attracts them. They're going to kill us all!"
As if summoned by Shinro's words, a Soul Eater burst from underneath the ground , its eyes fixed on Takahishi. The group scattered, hiding in the darkness. Takahishi stood frozen, his eyes locked on the Soul Eater's twisted face.
The creature's jaws opened wide, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth. "Offer yourself to me, or I'll devour you the second you try to run," it hissed, its voice like a rusty gate.
Takahishi's body trembled, his sweat-soaked clothes clinging to his frame. He was too scared to move, too scared to breathe. The Soul Eater's hot breath washed over him, and he closed his eyes, waiting for the inevitable.
But it never came.
Shinro's sword flashed in the dim light, slicing through the Soul Eater's neck. The creature's head toppled to the ground, its body crashing into the water.
Takahishi's eyes snapped open, and he stumbled back, gasping for air. Shinro stood over him, his chest heaving with exertion.
"Well done, fool," Shinro said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You finally made yourself useful. Although I would have enjoyed watching you being ripped to shreds."
Takahishi's face twisted in a snarl, but before he could respond, Shina yelled, "I see the exit! Let's go!"
As they emerged from the sewer, the group's hearts sank. The exit was blocked by a horde of Soul Eaters, their twisted faces twisted in snarls. Shinro's eyes gleamed with a fierce light as he told everyone to get back. Takahishi was the first to obey, his eyes wide with fear.
"What are you going to do?" Crinix asked, his voice laced with concern.
Shinro's laughter sent shivers down Takahishi's spine. "I'm going to kill all these ugly bastards!" he exclaimed, drawing his sword.
Takahishi's eyes went wide. "That's insane, man! There are like twenty of those things out there!" he cried, his voice trembling.
Shinro stepped forward, his sword at the ready. One of the Soul Eaters laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. "Pathetic human, you think you can kill all of us?"
Shinro's face twisted in a fierce grin. "DIVINE TECHNIQUE NUMBER 3, WATER CYCLONE!!" he shouted, his sword flashing in the dim light.
Crinix and Takahishi watched in awe as Shinro's sword began to glow with a soft blue light. Water erupted from the blade, forming a massive cyclone that engulfed the Soul Eaters. The creatures' screams were drowned out by the roar of the water as they were slashed and killed.
Takahishi's eyes were wide with wonder. "What the...? How did he do that?" he breathed.
Crinix's face was pale. "I have no idea, but that was insane!"
Shinro turned to them, his chest heaving with exertion. "It's safe now, you can come out!" he yelled, his voice triumphant.
Takahishi stumbled forward, his eyes fixed on Shinro. "Man, am never gonna piss you off again!" he exclaimed, his voice shaking.
Crinix's eyes were still wide with awe. "What was that thing you just did?" he asked Shinro.
Shinro's grin faltered, and he stepped back , his chest heaving with exhaustion. "It's... a magical technique called Divine Technique," he replied, his voice strained. He exhaled hard, his breath visible in the cool air. "Our swords give us the ability to use such power, but it... requires a huge amount of energy to perform such techniques."
Shina's voice cut in, her explanation smooth. "Yes, and it seems Shinro has exhausted himself. I have to open the portal now."
As she spoke, Shinro's eyes rolled back, and he fell to the ground, unconscious. Takahishi's eyes went wide. "Is he okay?"
Shina nodded. "He's just exhausted. Now, let's get out of here."
She raised her hand, pointing her palm at the air. "Aperio portal!" she muttered, her voice low and mysterious.
A blue light erupted from her hand, and a doorway appeared in the air. Crinix and Takahishi stared at it in wonder.
"What is that?" Takahishi breathed.
Shina's smile was enigmatic. "That, my friends, is our ticket out of here. Let's go!"
The group's eyes were glued to the shimmering portal, their minds numb with wonder. But in their distraction, they forgot one crucial thing: checking if all the Soul Eaters were dead. And they left Shinro, still unconscious, unguarded.
Suddenly, one of the Soul Eaters stirred, its eyes snapping open. "My, my! A meal left for me to pick up, ha-ha-ha!" it cackled, its voice like a rusty gate.
The group spun around, their hearts sinking. The Soul Eater had Shinro in its grasp, tossing him up and down like a toy. Shina's eyes locked onto Crinix and Takahishi, her face twisted in anguish.
"I have to let go of the portal, but I'm afraid if I do, I won't be able to open it again," she said, her voice trembling.
Takahishi's eyes went wide, his face pale. "No, no!" he yelled, his voice shrill with panic. "Don't let go of the portal! We'll come back for Shinro!"
Shina's gaze was torn between the portal and her brother. "I have to let go of the portal and save my brother, or else he'll die. And you two can't even fight the Soul Eater," she said, her voice heavy with resignation.
But Crinix's face lit up with determination. "No, don't let go of the portal! We'll try to fight the Soul Eater!" he exclaimed, his voice steady.
Takahishi's eyes nearly popped out of his head. "Wait, what?! What will you try, and with who?! Because there's no way I'm gonna get myself killed!" he shrieked, his voice rising to a frantic pitch.
The Soul Eater, done toying with Shinro, opened its mouth wide, ready to devour him. Everyone felt helpless, but Crinix sprang into action. He sprinted towards the Soul Eater, his fists clenched.
Without thinking, he punched the Soul Eater in the face, sending it crashing to the ground. Crinix caught Shinro in mid-air, tossing him to the other side. "Take him and get inside the portal!" he yelled at Takahishi.
Takahishi, still panicked, grabbed Shinro and leapt into the portal. The Soul Eater, recovering from Crinix's blow, laughed maniacally. "Haha! You aren't human, yet you seem like one. And you managed to put me down with one blow. I'm gonna enjoy killing you!"
Crinix jumped back, his eyes locked on the Soul Eater. Shina yelled from the portal, "Crinix, hurry! You must come now, before the portal closes!"
Crinix's face set in determination. "One of us must stay behind to hold this thing. If I don't make it, you guys go on without me!" he shouted, but Shina had already jumped into the portal, unaware of Crinix's sacrifice.
Now it was just Crinix and the Soul Eater. The portal was closing, and Crinix knew he wouldn't make it. But he had no choice. He steeled himself for the fight, his heart pounding in his chest. The Soul Eater sneered, its eyes gleaming with malevolence.