"….The energy is only growing…"
"Then it's definitely the trial…or another warrior in the tower. Those are the only two options."
"What are you guys sitting around for? We gotta hurry!"
Barghest moved forward toward the energy, the further the group moved the more they could make out the small structure that lied in the middle of the forest. She floated outside of it eventually, looking toward the three.
"This is the energy.."
A sharp ringing went though his head.
"I can feel it too...it's nasty."
"Matsumi. We need a plan before we run in, this is different from the Mittsu. It's definitely stronger even if it's not multiple floors up."
"A plan? Like sneaking around or something? Can't you just copy me again?"
"That's not going to happen everytime..and no I mean a battle plan."
"Can't we just punch them until they're knocked out?"
Despite Matsumi's odd talent in combat, he had no solid battle experience.
"That should work!"
"Hey no just-"
Barghest facepalmed.
"Hurry up and go inside."
At her command, Matsumi barged inside the structure, loud and obnoxious.
"Where's that energy coming from?"
Barghest grabbed the collar of Matsumi's shirt so he wouldn't get that far away from the three. They found themselves in an empty room, stone covering the walls and cracks seeping into the stone.
Barghest's grip would have Matsumi hanging a little off the ground, almost like a lost animal.
"I thought the guy was gonna be right here…It's kinda hard to feel around…"
"…No…he is here….I am one hundred percent sure of it..No doubt in my mind…"
"I believe you, I believe my magic sense too! Maybe he's under the floor, has to be."
Something akin to a projectile flew toward Matsumi. Barghest quickly blocked with her claws as her face got serious. She started searching around, keeping Matsumi and Kurai behind her.
He flinched at the sudden attack and Barghest's subsequent defense against it.
"What was that?"
"…Someone is watching us…they're trying to sneak attack one of us and make us dwindle in numbers."
"Seriously? Where is he?"
"My my…"
A taller figure stood across from them. A woman with dark piercing blue eyes stared at Matsumi, smiling to herself.
"I didn't know you wanted to find me that badly. And who might you lot be?"
Bishojō jumped down toward the ground landing, dust followed her as she broke a small center of the temple with her stomp. She stood tall. Brown Fur covered her entire appearance. She held a club with dark silver spikes that looked like they had been rammed inside from the top to the base of the weapon.
Not only that, but it was a larger weapon, far larger than what the common warrior carries. The energy that Kibō had sensed earlier was now more powerful than ever, as it leaked directly on to the four that stood in front of her.
"It's a woman! I thought it was gonna be guy...who are you?"
"Bishojō Honō…One of the sixteenHonō sisters. I see you've met my men..no point in arguing about it..they've already notified me of your presence..being here is one thing..but stealing the witch of hope with that dogBarghest is a crime of its own…Now you must die where you stand."
The door to the temple rolled and shut, a huge boulder covered in mana had enforced and molded itself into the wall.
"The Honō…so they still exist…but to think they took over Heldors Tower….Yes..it's all starting to make sense now."
Matsumi's eyes glared at Bishojō, his demeanor changing almost instantly. He let himself free from Barghest's grasp.
"What did you just say about Barghest?"
"You didn't know? Before she assumed a more human-like form she was the Goblin Dog of the night. She's nothing more than a pet, just like when you humans go to small jails and "adopt" one…to think a boy, a girl and a dog got in the way of my aunts revival..and you give me those eyes…It makes my blood boil.
Matsumi would now walk away from his group, getting closer and closer to Bishōjo while balling up his fist. Never once looking away from her eyes.
"You ready for an ass kicking, loser?"
"Hmph. A man who isn't afraid to back down. You don't exert any energy like the other three. I'll crush you and when I take that little witch from you and get rid of her..I'll make you apologize before you work for this tower and my father forever."
She held her weapon out, pointing it at him.
"M-Matsumi wait! Don't get too amped up and do something stupid! You can't handle her without us!"
"Shut it, Kurai. She doesn't get to talk like that."
Veins sprouting from his neck as he barked his words.
"I'm not afraid of someone in stinking rags."
"Oh?"
Veins of her own popped from her arms, she was muscular especially for her build, it resembled one of a bodybuilder upon a closer look.
"Why don't we pretend like youre going to stop me from talking like how I'd like? How would you go about it?"
She was definitely taller than he was, making him have to look up to speak to her.
"Depends how much I wanna embarrass you, hag. But right now, this way is pretty good."
An instant flash punch landing right to her teeth, just like before.
Blood from Bishojō's mouth flew as she stumbled backwards. She kissed her teeth and wiped her mouth.
"Impressive..but that's the last free shot you'll get."
She moved fast herself, throwing her club straight for Matsumi's side.
One straight hit from that and he'd be done for, he could feel it. If it wasn't for his practice with the flash step he would've had spikes right through his torso. He moved away from the attack but even then it wasn't clean, her attack was a little unexpected.
"Don't be a fool Matsumi. If you're going to beat her at least let us do it as a team."
Kurai slid in as she moved, her speed far more increased than before from the Mittsu and the Skeletons, a flock of crows followed her movement, and a trail of black mana spread onto the ground.
She pushed back against Bishojō, who threw the club once more, Kurai was able to dodge, as she got a small cut from the club.
That weapon was no joke, and it was clearly enchanted from whatever energy it was melting on to the temple ground, Kurai could sense that Bishojō wasn't even using her mana or Tokubetsu yet at a standard level.
The Honō family were known for this. They liked to warm up without their mana first before diving straight in. They loved nothing more than to torture their victims whenever they could, and every Honō were all in top tier physical condition.
Lifting small houses, entire trains with freight, large ships, they were notorious for these kinds of actions for hundreds of years. If she got her hands on Kurai or Matsumi, or if she landed a clean hit with that club it would likely be lights out for either of them.
Barghest silently watched on with her arms crossed, seeing what the two would do against her.