kago no yuri

....

As they materialized in the depths of Caliginia, the group was met with an unsettling sensation, like a shroud of unease had been draped over the forest. 

The air was heavy with an otherworldly presence, and the sky above was a deep, foreboding void, as if the very heavens had been extinguished. 

But the light in the surrounding area was still present although dim

Akari's eyes widened in terror as she gazed up at the darkness, her scream piercing the stillness like a shard of glass. "Ahhhhh!"

The others turned to her, their faces etched with concern, as they too took in the dreadful sight. But Ryo's attention was drawn to something else entirely. 

His wrist seemed to be emitting a faint, dark glow, like a whispered promise of power. He recalled the Scenario he had chosen, the one that had called to him with an eerie resonance - "The Scenario of the Lich". A shiver ran down his spine as he realized that this was the manifestation of his newfound abilities.

He glanced down at his wrist, and his eyes narrowed as he took in the details. The write-ups on his wrist were a detailed explanation of his current traits: 

「Scenario of the Lich Aspirant」

Dark magic: stage 0, 

Lesser necromancy: stage 0,

Resurrection: stage 0, 

Threat perception: stage 1. 

The words seemed to dance on his skin, a reminder of the powers that lay dormant within him. Ryo's expression was inscrutable, but a hint of curiosity flickered in his eyes. He covered his wrist with his sleeve, the weight of his jacket suddenly feeling oppressive.

As the group continued on their journey, their footsteps quiet on the forest floor, they couldn't shake off the feeling of being watched. The trees loomed above them, their branches like skeletal fingers reaching out to snatch at their clothes. 

They avoided touching the plants, wary of the strange energy that seemed caused them to react. The only creatures they encountered were the Skarviks, those transparent, hovering insects with their insides visible, like tiny, glowing lanterns. The book had told them that these creatures were anomalies, without a danger level or any icon to indicate their threat.

But it was too quiet, the stillness oppressive, like the forest was holding its breath in anticipation of something. 

And then, without warning, a white wall of light erupted in front of them, a timer ticking away with alarming rapidity. 45 minutes left. The group exchanged nervous glances, their hearts racing with anticipation. They had to find a crawler-level beast, and fast.

As they pressed on, the forest revealed its secrets, like a slow-unfurling tapestry. They saw flowers that glowed in different colors, like the Nyxoria's Tear, that rare and enigmatic bloom. Its petals were a deep, iridescent blue, shaped like delicate, curved daggers, and the center of the flower pulsed with a soft, ethereal light that seemed to take on a different color depending on the person who approached it. The group's footsteps slowed, mesmerized by the beauty of the flower, but they knew they couldn't linger.

And then, without warning, they heard it. A rustling in the underbrush, a snapping of twigs, a low, menacing growl. The group's heads snapped up, their eyes locking onto the source of the sound. 

They had been prepared for this moment, crafting crude weapons from tree branches and Akimitsu's pocket knife. Whatever approached would have to face prey that would fight back, tooth and nail.

"We're not going down without a fight," Akimitsu muttered, his eyes flashing with determination.

"Let's do this," Tsukiko whispered, her voice barely audible over the pounding of their hearts.

Ryo's expression was inscrutable, but a hint of anticipation flickered in his eyes. He was ready for whatever lay ahead.

...

As the creature emerged from the shadows, its presence was like a dark omen, foretelling a terror that would haunt them forever. It was a monster unlike any other, with no eyes to speak of, just a head filled with razor-sharp teeth. Its body was about the size of a lion, covered in spiky, fiery protrusions that seemed to writhe and twist like living flames. 

The creature's back was adorned with huge, barnacle-like attachments that emitted a noxious gas, a trap that would ensnare its victims and render them helpless.

Kenzo's voice was laced with urgency as he warned, "Guys! Don't breathe in the gas, it will cause you to hallucinate, it's a trap!" 

But it was too late. The gas had already taken hold, and the group was enthralled, their minds ensnared in a web of illusions. 

Ryo, however, remained unaffected, his eyes fixed on the creature with a calculating intensity. He had anticipated this, and his preparedness was a testament to his resourcefulness. Mei, too, had grasped the stakes, her level-headed demeanor a beacon of calm in the midst of chaos.

As she gazed upon the beast, her eyes narrowed in on the icon etched into its forehead, a deep, rich purple that seemed to pulse with an otherworldly energy. 

Her mind racing, she recognized the significance of the color, her knowledge of the beast in the book Aetherion handed flooding back to her. The purple icon was a harbinger of a spectre-level threat, a classification reserved for entities that wielded formidable powers capable of manipulating the very fabric of human minds.

Although this particular beast was considered one of the weaker spectres, its abilities were still not to be underestimated. The power to mess with human minds was a terrifying prospect, one that could reduce even the strongest wills to rubble.THE KARDIA BEAST WAS A DARK PRUM" The icon's purple hue seemed to mock her, a reminder of how formidable the foe they were facing was, and the devastating consequences that awaited them if they failed to overcome it.

As the creature's influence took hold, the group's behavior became increasingly erratic. Akimitsu's screams pierced the air, his eyes wide with terror as he was forced to confront some unspeakable horror. The others, too, were trapped in their own personal nightmares, their cries and wails a haunting melody that seemed to delight the creature.

Ryo knew he had to act, but his options were limited. He hid behind a tree, gripping the stake in his hand with a determination that belied his fear. The creature's gaze seemed to bore into his very soul, but he refused to back down. Akimitsu, Koki, Tsukiko, Hitomi, and Akari were all at its mercy, their minds shattered by the gas's insidious effects.

Kenzo, however, was a different story. Despite his terror, he summoned a courage that was admirable, if not foolhardy. He dragged Akimitsu out of the gas's range, his actions driven by a desperation that was palpable. Why Akimitsu? Perhaps it was because of how much his character drew him in, or maybe it was just an instinctive response to the terror that surrounded them.

As the creature vanished into thin air, the group slowly returned to their senses, their eyes haunted by the memories of what they had seen. Tsukiko reached out for Akimitsu, and they embraced, their tears a testament to the trauma they had endured. The others watched in silence, their faces etched with a mix of horror and relief.

But the respite was short-lived. The creature reappeared, its attack swift and merciless. Akimitsu threw himself in front of Tsukiko, his body shielding her from the creature's talons. In a moment of inspired bravery, he grabbed the creature and stabbed it with the stake and his pocket knife. The others watched in awe, their terror momentarily forgotten in the face of Akimitsu's heroism.

As the creature's grip loosened, Akimitsu's voice was barely above a whisper. "Run, all of you, now! This is your chance, it's too strong for us to handle, this is the only way you'll be able to survive." The group was paralyzed, unable to abandon him to his fate. But Ryo was different. He turned to leave, his eyes cold and unyielding.

And then, the creature's mouth opened, revealing three glowing lights that seemed to hypnotize the group. They fell into a trance, their minds invaded by Akimitsu's memories. The creature's power was a dark and malevolent force, one that threatened to consume them all. As they stood there, entranced, the creature's grip on their minds tightened, pulling them deeper into a world of terror and despair.

....

Akimitsu and Tsukiko had been working at the same corporate company in Tokyo for several years. They were a power couple, with Akimitsu rising through the ranks of the marketing department and Tsukiko excelling as a talented graphic designer. But despite their professional success, their personal lives were beginning to unravel.

It started with small things. Their boss, Mr. Nakamura, would make suggestive comments to Tsukiko, trying to get her to laugh or smile. At first, she tried to brush it off, thinking that it was just a harmless joke. But as time went on, the comments became more frequent and more explicit. Mr. Nakamura would touch her arm or shoulder, making her feel uncomfortable and trapped.

Akimitsu noticed the change in Tsukiko's behavior. She would come home from work feeling anxious and stressed, her eyes sunken and her skin pale. He would try to talk to her about it, but she would just shake it off, saying that she could handle it.

But Akimitsu knew that she couldn't handle it. He could see the toll that the harassment was taking on her, the way it was eating away at her confidence and her sense of self-worth. He felt powerless to stop it, like he was watching his girlfriend being slowly destroyed by a monster.

One night, Akimitsu witnessed Mr. Nakamura making a particularly lewd comment to Tsukiko. He was standing in the doorway of her office, his eyes roaming over her body like a predator. Akimitsu felt a surge of anger and frustration, but he didn't know what to do. He didn't want to make a scene, but he couldn't just stand there and do nothing.

He took a deep breath and stepped forward, his heart pounding in his chest. "Excuse me, Mr. Nakamura," he said, trying to keep his voice steady. "I think you've said enough."

Mr. Nakamura turned to him, a sneer on his face. "Oh, Akimitsu," he said. "You're so sensitive. Can't handle a little joke, can you?"

Akimitsu felt his anger boil over, but he tried to keep his cool. "It's not a joke, Mr. Nakamura," he said. "It's harassment. And it needs to stop."

Mr. Nakamura laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. "You think you can tell me what to do, Akimitsu?" he said. "I'm your boss. And I'll do what I want, when I want."

Akimitsu felt a chill run down his spine. He knew that he had just made an enemy, and that his career was on the line. But he didn't care. He was willing to risk everything to protect Tsukiko, to make sure that she was safe and happy.

One day, Tsukiko came home from work in tears. Mr. Nakamura had called her into his office and made her sit through a meeting where he berated her for her work, telling her that she was incompetent and that she would never amount to anything. Akimitsu was furious, but Tsukiko just shook her head, saying that she couldn't take it anymore.

As the days went by, Tsukiko's suffering worsened. She would wake up in the middle of the night, her heart racing and her sheets drenched in sweat. She would have nightmares about Mr. Nakamura, about the way he would touch her and the way he would talk to her. Akimitsu would try to comfort her, but she would just push him away, saying that she was fine.

Akimitsu felt like he was losing her, like she was slipping away from him and he couldn't catch her. He would try to talk to her about it, but she would just shut down, saying that she didn't want to talk about it. He felt powerless, like he was watching his girlfriend being consumed by her own despair.

The final straw came when Mr. Nakamura called Tsukiko into his office again, this time to tell her that she was being demoted. He said that she wasn't performing well enough, that she was a disappointment to the company. 

Tsukiko came home from work that day, her eyes empty and her face pale. She just sat on the couch, staring blankly at the wall, like she had given up on life.

Akimitsu was devastated. He felt like he had failed her, like he had let her down. He didn't know what to do, how to make it better. He just sat next to her, holding her hand, feeling like he was losing her forever.

As the night wore on, they found themselves standing on the Tokyo waterfront, the neon lights of the city reflected in the dark waters. They were holding hands, but it felt like they were a million miles apart.

"I'm sorry, Tsukiko," Akimitsu said, his voice cracking with emotion. "I'm so sorry I couldn't protect you."

Tsukiko looked up at him, her eyes filled with tears. "It's not your fault, Akimitsu," she said. "We were both trapped in that nightmare. But I think we've been holding on for too long. I think it's time to let go."

Akimitsu felt a surge of despair, like he was losing everything that mattered to him. But he knew that Tsukiko was right. They had been holding on for too long, and it was time to let go.

And then, without saying a word, they made their decision. They would attempt to take their own lives together, under the cover of night. It was a tragic and desperate decision, one that would have far-reaching consequences for those who knew them.

But just as they were about to take the final step, something strange happened. A faint glow appeared on the horizon, like the first light of dawn. It was the mirror, its presence both captivating and unsettling. Without a word, they felt an inexplicable pull towards it, as if it held the answers to all their questions.

Together, they took a step forward, into the unknown. The mirror's power enveloped them, and everything went black.

.....

"What was that?" Ryo asked, his voice barely above a whisper, as if he feared the answer.

 "That was... Akimitsu's memories?" 

The words hung in the air, a haunting echo that seemed to reverberate deep within their souls.

As they slowly emerged from the trance-like state, they were met with a wave of emotions that threatened to overwhelm them. 

Tears streamed down their cheeks, a testament to the depth of their connection to Akimitsu and the horror they had just witnessed. The memories they had shared, though not their own, had left an indelible mark on their hearts.

Ryo, who had been prepared to abandon Akimitsu just moments before, felt a pang of guilt and shame. His body, as if betraying his initial intentions, refused to move, as if rooted to the spot. 

The others, too, steeled themselves, ready to face the beast head-on, their resolve strengthened by the bond they shared with Akimitsu.

Even Ryo, despite his initial hesitation, felt a surge of determination course through his veins. He knew he couldn't abandon Akimitsu, not now, not after sharing in his memories and experiencing the depth of his pain. 

Akimitsu, however, seemed to be running out of the adrenaline that had fueled his bravery just moments before. 

His strength was beginning to fade, his grip on the monster weakening, as the reality of his situation began to sink in. The beast, sensing its chance, tightened its grip, its talons digging deeper into Akimitsu's flesh, threatening to snuff out the life that still flickered within him.