When the symbols flash, all the dead leaves that were scattered over the surface of the teleport formation are instantly disintegrated. So are the nearest overhanging branches from the surrounding trees.

Everything that was inside the radius of that circular platform at that moment suddenly disappears.

Which includes the oni.

Half of him, that is.Continue reading

The waitress leans down – not enough to give me the view down her neckline I’d been hoping for, unfortunately – and refills my glass.

In lieu of thanks, I let out a short, ill-tempered grunt, then turn my gaze to the window again, thoroughly ignoring the attractive young woman in favor of looking at the city gates standing forbiddingly shut, down at the end of the street.

I went through those gates and entered Rayyan Fortress two days ago.

Once I was in, I shapeshifted again, for safety, into my current appearance, that of a grim old woman, who, after a little investigation, appeared not to have any friends nor even, for that matter, anyone she ever talked to. She also happened to frequently patronize this bar, with a very good view of the city gates. That suited my purposes just fine, so I killed her in her home and took her place.Continue reading

Rayyan Fortress.

It’s quite a lot bigger than Hardron Fortress. I can see the great gates, standing tall and forbiddingly shut, and the high, thick walls, guards patrolling atop them, all armed and armored. Assaulting the fortress by my lonesome would be little more than suicide, obviously.

So how am I supposed to get inside?

There is a squad of guards in front of the door itself, to regulate passage, and from what I’ve seen in the past few hours, visitors need to show some form of identification to be allowed through.Continue reading

It was quite laborious, but eventually, after more than two weeks of efforts, I did manage to find the stairway to the 52nd floor. My success was largely due to the presence of the black spider. I would periodically lie down under it and allow my body to heal all the damage the wind dealt to it.

And now, I’m alone again.

Phineas has already entered dormancy.

Well, the black spider is with me, but it is a poor conversation partner, probably owing to the fact that it doesn’t even have the organs necessary to produce speech.Continue reading

“I have a visual. She just reached floor 52. And I’ve regained control over floor 51.”

As soon as the words leave my mouth, it’s like the tension that hung in the air for the past few weeks is suddenly gone. All the researchers sitting around the conference table visibly relax. Hershey even sags in his chair, like a puppet whose strings have been cut.

How undignified…

But I have to admit that I didn’t exactly feel relieved for a while, there, either.Continue reading

Before I can even think to struggle, to escape, the lightning hits.

I barely have time to notice the black spider stretching one of its legs forward before my sight disappears again in a flash of white. All my muscles clench up as a great electrical current runs through my body.

The sound of that thunder once again shakes my insides.

I spit out more blood. My thoughts are fuzzy. The only reason I haven’t lost consciousness yet is thanks to the pain – or is it because of the pain? I suppose it’s a matter of perspective.Continue reading

300 years…?

He may as well not have appeared in the first place. It would have spared me the disappointment.

But yes, it’s fine.

I’ll be fine. I’ve already been through sixteen years like that. What are a few more?

Continue reading

Things went much smoother than I’d feared.

That little girl – Akasha – is a bit taciturn, but she’s more amenable than her demonhood might suggest. Submissive, even.

It’s actually quite a surprise. I expected to have to fight tooth and nail and negotiate and debate and convince in order to earn my place inside her dantian. But I guess being the one to free her from her loneliness played in my favor.

And so, I got settled in.Continue reading

I rush across the valley. No spider is following after me, yet, but I want to put as much distance as possible between me and that nest.

Hmm… I didn’t plan my route too well, though, did I?

The way I took is a dead-end, barred everywhere by tall, sheer cliffs. I should have been more careful. As it is, it won’t be too much of problem, I think, but something like that might prove fatal the day I’m actually being chased by something nasty.

I continue running, heading straight for the cliff in front of me.Continue reading