Red Vortex in the Darkness (2)
Darkness is scary. It makes you imagine things popping out of nowhere, or something watching you. You can't control it even if you try. It's like telling someone not to think of an elephant—they immediately picture one. I hate scary things more than anyone, so terrifying thoughts just keep creeping in uninvited.
Ziiing— An ultrasonic screech pierced the mine, stabbing into my eardrums like needles. Dizziness hit me hard, and I dropped to one knee.
"M-My ears... aaah..."
My vision swam like I was seasick. In this pitch-black void where I couldn't see an inch ahead, my balance was shot. I forgot how to walk, stumbling forward and crashing down.
"Oof."
I couldn't see a thing. No idea where I was standing, where my own body began or ended, or even where Ines or Airi might be.
"Airi? Ines senpai!"
I pulled my hands away from my ears. Thankfully, the screech stopped. But silence crashed in with the darkness—no sounds at all. No one answered.
Anxiety surged through me.
Everyone's okay, right? They didn't pass out, did they? Enemies could be right in front of us—it's too dangerous! No, they couldn't have been taken out already. They're both strong, not like me. But in this dark? Strength doesn't matter. Why'd the light go out anyway? That screech was definitely from a monster. Yeah, probably one that roams free even in this blackness. So aren't they both in danger? Can we even win? Or are they already...
I flailed my hands in the air.
"A-Anyone... there...?"
It felt like I was utterly alone in this suffocating dark.
"Kyahahahaha!"
Murphy laughed gleefully in the darkness. Look at those cocky agents flailing in panic now.
Thought you had the upper hand, huh? Thought it was in your favor!
Bloodbats were swooping in right now. The moment they arrived, victory was as good as hers.
"Airi! Yufir!"
"I'm fine."
Only Airi responded steadily to Ines's call. The two were spreading mana waves in all directions, sensing their surroundings.
"Yufir?"
"Probably behind us..."
Ines could tell Yufir— who hadn't even formed a single ring yet— was huddled in panic. She spotted her crouched down.
"Airi, got anything that can make light...?"
"Sorry. My magic affinity is terrible."
"No, it's fine. Makes me feel bad."
Ines chuckled self-deprecatingly.
"I'm a pretty extreme shaper-type mage..."
Even simple light emission was tough for her.
"Hehe."
"Senpai, cuteness won't save us."
"Urgh..."
Wings flapped in the distance.
"Here it comes."
"What do you think it is?"
"Only one possibility in a case like this."
"Right?"
Bloodbat— the bat monster. They were behind countless disappearances near deep forests every year. They lurked in abandoned mines too, prompting total no-go warnings.
"Airi, I'll use crows to evacuate the miners as best I can."
The floor was littered with collapsed workers— too risky to step carelessly.
"Meanwhile, you..."
"I'll handle the monster."
Roles assigned.
"Feed you all to the bats, then start over."
Murphy approached slowly through the dark.
"Pretend nothing happened here today!"
A bat three times a grown man's size entered their mana wave range.
"Hahaha! Kill them!"
Murphy shouted.
Kwachik.
"Wha...?"
The Bloodbat bit into Murphy's neck.
Drip. Blood trickled from her throat. Her face twisted slowly.
"W-Wait... why me?!"
Kwachik! Teeth sank deeper.
"Aaaah! G-Get off! Get off meee!"
Ines and Airi stared blankly via mana waves.
"What the hell...?"
"Wasn't that Bloodbat hers...?"
"Who knows... We'd need a closer look."
Kwaduk! Kwaduk!
The gruesome feeding unfolded right before them. Problem was, two more Bloodbats appeared, lunging at Murphy.
"No... nooo!"
Crack. A tearing sound, like limbs yanked apart. Murphy's screams ended there.
The three Bloodbats finished their meal and turned to the next targets. Airi steadied her breathing, nerves on edge.
"Kyaaak!"
The Bloodbats charged.
Kaang! Sword met claw.
Normally, Airi could solo these, but sensing only vague shapes while facing three at once was hell.
If only I had vision...!
Bloodbats moved freely in the dark; every action here lagged for her.
Kang! Kang! Kakak, kang!
Sparks flew occasionally, briefly revealing their forms. Blood smeared their faces from their gluttonous feast.
"Don't come at me looking that filthy."
Shwick! A wing tore.
Airi seemed pushed back at first, but she was adapting to this dark brawl. Her speed ramped up with each exchange— proof.
"Ha, haha..."
Ines marveled at Airi's stabilizing prowess while directing her crow flock to move miners.
"Every team'll be fighting to recruit her."
Active elite material right now. Calm under surprises, flawless in her role.
"Hurry and clear the area, assess..."
Thwack!
"Ugh!"
Airi groaned. She rolled across the floor. Darkness remained brutally unfair to humans.
"My turn to help."
Ines wrapped two rings around her wrist.
Miners mostly secured.
Airi needed backup now. Hand to the floor, mana surged in. Invisible to others, but she shaped crows perfectly— bigger than the bats.
"Kaaak!"
The massive crows charged two Bloodbats, tangling them in a rolling crash that shook the mine. Airi focused one, whittling it down.
Something more...?
One extra element in this dark could break through.
Then Airi's irritated voice cut in. They had an unused card.
"Yufir!"
Airi ringed her sword and smashed a Bloodbat into the wall. It thrashed from the impact. She rushed the crouched Yufir.
"Get up! Now!"
She yanked her up by the collar.
"A-Airi...?"
Couldn't see her face, but exhaustion dripped from Yufir's voice.
Normally too harsh for her personality, but no time for coddling.
"Snap out of it!"
"S-Sorry... can't hear you."
Yufir had to fight. Airi judged this their only breakthrough.
This scaredy-cat was dead weight huddled up, but if she exploded like when she saved them... breakthrough secured.
Ears busted...? How to convey...?
To regain balance and sense forms, she needed at least one ring. Circulate mana freely to preserve senses in dark.
"Airi, I-I..."
"Your heart, Yufir."
All mana methods shared one thing: control from the heart. Master the flow, weave a ring. Yufir had reached mid-stage at the entrance.
"You can do it."
"Huh? What?"
Airi pointed at Yufir's chest.
"Do it."
Poked her heart for the hint, then charged back at the Bloodbats.
Vibrations hummed through the floor. Airi's voice garbled like baby talk in my ears. She said something, then rushed off fighting fiercely.
My ears are messed up.
Eardrums probably ruptured. But even without words, I knew she wanted to tell me something. That poke to my chest lingered.
What was it? Wants me to fight?
"Can't see a thing..."
If only some landmark...
In this balance-wrecking dark, one clear target to charge...
Tszzt.
Even without light, I saw it. You always show when I look.
───.
Red lines.
The bats' death lines weaving through the dark flooded my vision. Death needed no light.
Why doesn't this reassure me?
The fact I see something? Or the lines themselves special to me?
No time for idle thoughts.
Three monsters... dire straits.
All with parasites crawling in their brains. Hand-sized larvae. Stopping the heart won't kill them. Like before— sever brain and parasite together.
All at once.
Staring the red lines, I sensed my high-speed burst was one-shot only now. I'd reaped lives to my limit getting here.
One move, everything on the line. Hesitate or err mid-way? Bat food.
No way...
Time to squeeze nonexistent power.
Eyes shut. Mana flow inside crystal clear. Mine full of mana stones? Denser than outside.
Easier to grasp. Circulate body flow to heart.
That dream lake was dark too. Tranquil shore. I chased only red there.
Same now. Dots then, lines now.
Mana gathered plenty. Needed image to weave ring.
The book by the lake had a red vortex.
Shaaa...
Rotated mana. Spin. Faster. Faster.
Blood raced. Nerves screamed. Senses hypersharp.
Mana waves rippling out faintly outlined surroundings.
Aha.
Wondered how Airi fought so well blind. This why. No exact shapes, but waves mapped terrain silhouettes real-time.
Amazing.
Airi was unreal. Beyond trainee level. 2nd Ring already, flawless.
I wanna be like her.
Shaaaa! Spin wildly. Make me faster.
Flow vortexed. Red vortex formed in chest. Dragged sensation to hands.
Eyes open, gripped dagger. Dusky ring swirled.
Blood Shadow Style (1st Ring) Achieved
Darkness has become your home as well.