Moving at a moderate pace and occasionally sniffing the air around her, Akane's red fox form ventured deeper and deeper into the forest. Meanwhile, Fatheema followed behind at a steady run.
"This fox girl really does have an incredible sense of smell, just like an animal. Foxes are known for being intelligent creatures. I'm starting to wonder whether she's actually an animal or an ethereal being like she claims. So what exactly is an ethereal being? Is it something similar to a jinn? But Akane has a physical body. She can get hurt, and she eats food too. Then why have jinn on Earth never been visible? And how does all jinn relate to the ghost sightings people always talk about? Huh... this is so confusing."
As they traveled farther into the forest, the two eventually arrived at an open area.
There stood a large hill with a wide river flowing beside it. Scattered throughout the clearing were clusters of bamboo-like trees whose leaves appeared reddish-brown under the faint light of the night sky.
Near the hill was a cave entrance nearly six feet high. The cave itself was unusual.
In front of the entrance was a terrace several feet wide with a floor as smooth as marble. Above it, the rock extended outward to form a roof supported by two large pillars at the front.
From a distance, it resembled the gaping mouth of a dragon-serpent.
Akane's red fox form came to a stop in front of the cave before transforming back into the girl dressed in red. Fatheema stood beside her, staring at the cave entrance.
"The creature's trail ends at that cave," Akane said, pointing toward it. "What do we do next, Fatty?"
"Wait. We need to be careful. I think you should stay outside, Akane. Hide behind those bamboo trees while I sneak inside. If everything's safe, I'll signal you with a whistle. If the creature tries to sneak out, you whistle too." Fatheema prepared to enter the cave.
"But isn't that dangerous? What if there are traps?" Akane asked uncertainly.
"It's fine. Don't worry." A determined grin appeared on Fatheema's face. "I'm going to beat the crap out of that bastard." She stepped toward the cave.
However, the moment her foot touched the marble floor—
A sharp whistling sound sliced through the air.
Reacting instantly, Fatheema shifted her body aside. Two objects shot past her head, missing by less than an inch.
The projectiles turned out to be throwing knives.
They flew past and embedded themselves in a tree outside the cave.
A growl echoed from within. Then two figures suddenly leaped out, attacking with clawed hands extended.
Having barely avoided the knives, Fatheema was caught off guard. She shifted again, grabbed one attacker's arm, and yanked it aside.
At the same time, she unleashed a sweeping kick with her left leg toward the arm of the second attacker.
The first creature was thrown sideways.
The second took the kick to its arm, followed immediately by a powerful punch to the head.
However, one of its claws managed to rake across Fatheema's arm.
She spun away and jumped back from the cave entrance to create distance.
Several fresh claw marks appeared on her right arm.
"Damn it, clawed again!" She winced from the burning pain.
The two creatures stood before the cave. Both were identical to the Face-Stealing Ghost's true form. Flat-featured faces, Cotton-white hair.
Sharp teeth bared in threatening growls.
Then more figures emerged from the cave.
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
By the time they stopped coming out, there were six identical Face-Stealing creatures standing before them.
All six growled and immediately lunged at the two girls. Two attacked Fatheema, Two charged at Akane.
The remaining two lingered behind, waiting for an opening.
Already prepared, Fatheema activated her Nirvanic Wind Technique. She infused every attack with inner force, channeling mana to enhance its impact.
As the enemies rushed her, she leaped high into the air and landed on one creature's shoulders.
Channeling inner force into her right fist, she smashed it into the creature's head. Then she launched herself forward toward two more enemies.
A rattan baton appeared in each hand.
The creatures never saw it coming.
THUD! THUD!
Each baton struck one of their heads. Without pausing, Fatheema spun around and sprinted forward.
As she passed one of the creatures she had previously engaged, she unleashed a devastating side kick into its back. Enhanced by inner force, the impact sent the creature flying dozens of feet through the air.
Meanwhile, Akane successfully evaded the attacks of her two opponents.
Sidestepping to the left, she thrust her short spear into one creature's abdomen.
Then she spun clockwise and delivered a wide horizontal slash from the right side of her body, cutting across the back of the second creature.
The creatures collapsed to the ground.
Working together, the two girls quickly defeated all six flat-faced monsters.
"Hah! They're all weaklings. They went down in no time. Hehehe!" Akane grinned as she rose and walked toward Fatheema.
Fatheema smiled faintly. Then her expression suddenly tightened.
"Watch out! Behind you!"
She lunged forward, grabbed Akane's arm, and pulled her toward herself.
Using the momentum, she spun completely around and unleashed a spinning kick with her right leg.
THUD!
The perfectly timed kick slammed into a creature that had been about to pounce on Akane from behind.
The monster was sent flying off to the side.
But when Fatheema looked ahead, the other five Face-Stealing creatures were already standing again.
Grinning.
Growling.
Completely unharmed.
"Oh my God, that was close!" Akane stared in shock.
"Why are they still alive? I stabbed them with my spear!"
"Be careful. There's something strange about these six creatures." Fatheema became even more cautious.
The monsters appeared perfectly healthy despite having taken direct hits.
Nor did they show the slightest hint of fear or concern. They were completely different from the creature she had fought earlier near the tent.
"I'll use them as training targets."
A grin spread across her face.
"Good chance to practice with my kusarigama."
"The more I use it, the better I'll get."
"Their movements aren't very complicated."
"They're almost like robots."
Fatheema drew her twin kusarigama.
She spun one of the blades in her right hand, crossing it from left to right. Then she advanced several steps.
Suddenly, she hurled the blade toward the nearest creature. Channeling inner force into both the blade and chain, she released a precise attack.
The blade shot forward like a missile. Its pointed tip pierced straight through the creature's chest.
A hole opened in the monster's body, spilling dark red blood.
Fatheema immediately yanked on the chain. The blade snapped back through the air. With practiced precision, she caught the handle the instant it returned to her hand.
***