Hollows Eve

Eve of the Magic Ribbon

.: HOLLOWS EVE CHAPTER 24 :.

Continuing where we left off, Kaila & the rest of our heroes managed to barely escape dying at the merciless hands of the demon princess, Blood Rose. Blood Rose had everyone cornered in the dark and evil black castle with her overwhelming magical power. That is….until Kaila awakened and took on the princess herself. She somehow managed to gain control over her zetsu release and held fate right in her hands….now she’s working to gain an even greater control over her zetsu release, as she meets her father…her REAL father in the non-existent world of Eien no Hakaba. A dimension that Lord Death has total command over that acts as a limbo on its own, a place where black spirits exist, eternal spirits that wander around in total damnation.

Also, it seems that Amuki's worst fears are coming back to haunt her as well. Princess Blood Rose's lust for vengeance leads her to believe that she may inhabit her homeland of Tejiran, where gorgeous lights dance across the sky in an effort to conceal magical energies. As a result….Amuki will have to go back to where everything started.

The story begins in the sacred chamber of the sacred stones, as Jack begins writing inside the stones in order to summon Arceus, the creator. Amuki sat back on the wall holding her knees together, she was afraid of what the possible answer was, as the overseer of all wouldn't lie about where the demon princess might be.

Jack began to pray in front of the sacred stones and a pillar of blue-white energy began forming in the middle, Arceus intercepted and his entire being formed as an astral image inbetween the old & new testament.

Jack bowed before the god of all creation and began to speak to him. “M'lord, a pleasure to see you again. We seek the truth regardin' where that she-devil witch went.” Jack said while folding his arms.

“I suppose you've failed in apprehending her?” Arceus said with a very loud and booming voice. “Yes sir….she slipped away from us. The clever wench….” Jack looked to the left in disgust over Blood Rose's escape.

“Hmmmm….perhaps she is more of a formidable foe than we thought.” Arceus said.

“She didn't leave a bloody riddle this time, so we got nothin' to go on m'lord. We came to you last time in order to try and find out where she's been hidin'. Now we have a slight idea where she could be…… but one of us fears for the worst.” Jack said as he looked to the little witchling princess on the ground.

“I feel her sadness…..this is a dark time, and we cannot let Blood Rose & Dracula's plans come to fruition. I may regret telling you this….but I can tell you where she might've gone.” Arceus said.

“Hmmm? Where is she?”

“She's beyond the norther lights of the Tejiran kingdom…..In the place where the crystals shine brightest. Her evil is reflecting off of those crystals…..As she has inserted her dominance over the entire kingdom….bringing it into a state of chaos. Witches are hiding…..some are scared….they are very scarce…..and in the aftermath of past mistakes…..the destroyer's wrath seems to have affected them too.” Jack scratched his head slightly, as he pondered over the creator's words…..but then he remember the story that Amuki told him.

“……..I see m'lord…..thank you. Praise be to the great creator.” Jack bowed once more before Arceus.

“Thank you very much my children…..I trust that this time you will be able to stop them from completing their plans? I do not want to have to come down there myself and-“ Jack bravely interrupted Arceus.

“Don't worry your holy-li'le head m'lord. This time….they'll be kickin' the bucket when we're done with 'em. They will NOT succeed…..i'll make sure to savor every moment that I get to zap the life out of ‘em, especially ol' bats…..he and I have a li'le score to settle.” Jack said with a smile on his face.

“……Very well. I do not approve of the way you approach the situation…..but I have no choice but to accept it. If anything goes wrong….then this may be the beginning of the fight for all existence.” Arceus said with a slight tremor of regret in his booming voice, as it lowers in pitch.

“And why is that Lord Arceus?....Is there somethin' you're not tellin' us?” Jack questioned.

“I am bound by the rules of the new testament not to get involved in underworld affairs, for if I did, the very fabric of the netherworld would crumble under the holy influence of my people. But…..something is coming, and its up to you and the others to stop it. Under no circumstances must Princess Blood Rose & King Dracula be allowed to complete their plans…..is that clear?” Arceus asked.

Jack bowed before Arceus one last time. “Crystal m'lord.” Jack said while closing his eyes.

While Jack was bowing, Amuki stood up on her feet, and began to walk the other way. She exited the chamber and closed the doors behind her with a loud *SLAM!*.

Jack turned around after leaning upwards from bowing and went right after her. “’Scuze me m'lord.” He said while walking off to find her.

Amuki climbed up the stairs leading to the sacred chamber and stopped at the top, her feet were hurting like hell but she didn't really care…..she simply sank down the wall, and started sobbing intensely…..She knew what the creator meant…….

She couldn’t help but continue to cry and sob harshly at her current situation. The tears streamed like waterfalls down her face as her hands covered her eyes and grimacing visage. She felt like all of the bottled up feelings she's had…..all of her rage….sadness…anger…and distress were coming out and she didn't know what to do about it.

But then….she heard footsteps…..Jack was walking up the steps, and after a lot of climbing, he finally reached her. Amuki was still sobbing into her knees when Jack came right in front of her. She stopped for a second and looked up at him slowly without saying a word…..

Jack simply stood in front of her frowning down on her and uttered the words… “Get up.” Amuki did as he asked and stood up on her two feet, with her witch hat falling off onto the floor.

Jack raised his hand at her as if he was about to slap her for being pathetic, causing her to brace herself in preparation for it….but he simply put his hand on her shoulder. In fact….he put both his hands on her shoulders…..and brought her close to him, as if he was….hugging her. Amuki was rather….stunned by this. Since when does Jack actually show affection towards her?

She blinked twice, but then started crying again in his arms. Jack was offering his shoulder for her to cry on, as Amuki wrapped her arms around his waist and cried. Jack had a straight face the entire time, showing virtually no emotion…..but you could tell, he felt for her situation. He knew she was hurting, and he did indeed show that he at least…..somewhat cared about her by providing her with some kind of comfort. During a time where she needed him most….Amuki didn't say it…..but she had come to love and appreciate him even more for how he provided her with a shoulder to cry on….

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It seems the time has come for the next adventure to begin. As Kaila re-joined her friends in Lord Death's throne room after they had figured out where Princess Blood Rose might've fled too. It was her, Amuki, Jack, Wolf & Steinman in Lord Death's throne room, as Kazuyama had returned and re-assumed the mantle of Lord Death in order to continue presiding over the kingdom of nightmare.

“So that's the situation master….” Jack began to explain to Lord Death.

“I see……then you must hurry to the kingdom of Tejiran immediately, and confront Blood Rose before she has a chance to enact whatever heinous plan she's concocting. And this time….DO.NOT.FAIL.” Lord Death's voice sounded even more serious than before.

“Yes m'lord. I promise you we will not fail this time.” Jack said, as he, Steinman, Wolfie & Amuki bowed before their master.

“And Kaila…..” Lord Death spoke to his daughter as she looked at him.

“Yes?” She said, acknowledging him.

“Remember…..i'll be watching. I expect to see you improve….make me proud out there Midnight.” He said, offering words of encouragement. This made Kaila smile and grip her fist in the middle of her chest. She then looked at her father with a new sense of determination in her eyes. “You bet! I promise I won't let you down Lord Death.” She said before bowing to her father.

This caused Jack to look at her strangely at first, but then he smiled at her. “Looks like someone's finally stepped up to the plate.”

If you're wondering where Tomomi is, he was still downstairs, as was given instructions by Kaila to stay in the lower parts of the castle of nightmares, where the effects of the castle wouldn't affect him as much. He sat around twirling a black marble about, which is the seigan Kaila was given when she first entered the castle of nightmares. That would explain how Tomomi was able to enter the castle without losing his mind….

“Oi! Human.” Jack called out to him as he entered the room with the Tsuhashima bed. “Let's go, we got a job for ya’. We could use your skills on this one. She's quite the doozy….you in?” Jack requested of him.

“About time.” Tomomi said as he got up from the stone bed. “I’ve been waiting down here for hours! Let's do this! Time for another adventure!” Tomomi said while heading out and grabbing his sword.

“Don't get ya' hopes up scales.” Jack said, as the two of them began to head out.

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The gates of the castle of nightmares began to open and letdown a drawbridge leading to the stone pathway that led into the nightmare kingdom. A dark looking carriage being pulled by black, boney, undead hollow horses began to ride out towards the city.

“HIYAH!!!” Steinman said, as he whipped the horses in order to make them run faster and faster. They were pulling the carriage out towards the western direction, where the Tejiran kingdom lies, and where the northern lights that danced across the sky were seen from afar.

Kaila peeked out of the window and sat next to Tomomi, as he simply looked out of the window while waiting to get there. “Whoa….look at those colors! Kaila you seein' this?!” Tomomi looked out at the far away kingdom, specifically the brilliantly colored sky.

“I see it Tomomi…I've already seen it…..It's beautiful.” Kaila said while peeking out her window to look at the sky. She brought her head back in as did Tomomi, who looked at her and blushed, feeling a little flustered over her beauty. “Uhh….yeah. Right. Beautiful….” Tomomi said.

Jack sat quietly on the other side of Tomomi & Kaila with Amuki, who had her hands resting on her knees. Both of them were too nervous to speak….well mostly Amuki was nervous, but Jack decided to remain calm for most of the carriage ride there.

Tomomi notice Jack's calm demeanor, and Amuki's rather alarming depressed state. “Hey…..you guys alright? You look kinda down.” Tomomi questioned.

“None of ya' business scales. Just shut ya' trap until we get-“ Jack was about to say something rude, but Amuki grasped his hand and looked at him as if to say “Don't make things worse.”

Jack looked back at her and then closed his eyes. “Neva' mind…..we're fine. Don't worry about us.” Jack said, folding his arms.

“Oh….ok?” Tomomi blinked and whispered to Kaila. “Did we miss something?” He said to her.

“Yeah I think we did……But trust me it's best not to question them about it. It's something personal for Amuki.” Kaila whispered back to him.

“Alright…..” Tomomi said, before asking another question. “Ok soooooo…..anyone know where we're going? Cause I'm kinda going in blind here.” Tomomi said while scratching behind his head, causing Kaila to make a“Seriously?” face of annoyance.

“I thought I told ya'to shut ya' trap-“ Jack was about to say.

“We're going to a magical place.” Amuki interrupted him. “My home….that's where she is. So…..you'll get to see the most non-threatening place in the entirety of Purgatory!” Amuki put on her mask of cheerful smiles again in order to dissuade the grimness of the situation.

“Really?” Tomomi said excited.

“There are non-threatening parts of Purgatory?” Kaila said as a joke.

“Hahahah! Yes there are Kaila. You don't remember passing the northern lights on our way to the black castle?” Amuki said as the carriage went over a bump.

“Well yeah. So…..”

“Sooooo….now you get to see where magic comes from. First I have to make a stop once we reach the kingdom's boundaries……” Amuki said while looking down slightly.

“We ain't got the time love.” Jack retorted.

“But Jack! I have to know if there are any survivors. I have to know if any other witches are alive! I want them to know that their princess has come back to save them.” Jack narrowed his eyes as the carriage continued to head outside of the nightmare kingdom's limits and approached the kingdom of Tejiran.

“*sigh* ….Your so goddamn annoying.” Jack said as he folded his arms and the carriage approached the outbound gates of the kingdom……

The carriage stopped at the gates, which looked a little decrepit and rusted. The kingdom's gates had intricate designs similar to that of a royal fairy tale palace, but they looked run down and destroyed……

“Mutt! Go open the gates for us would you?” Steinman demanded of his partner. “I'm not your f*****g steward y'know.” Wolfie angrily said to him, but regardless he got off of the carriage and pushed the gates open with all of his might.

“RRRRRRRRGGGHH!!!!!” Wolfie growled as the gates hurled open and revealed something that everyone else did not expect…..

“There! The gates are op- …..ohhhh……” Wolfie grunted and then looked upon the kingdom of Tejiran in dismay.

“What is it mutt?! What are you looking at?! EVERYONE OUT!!! I THINK WOLFIE'S FOUND SOMETHING!!!!” Steinman said, as he got off the carriage first and anchored the horses to the gates so they wouldn’t go anywhere.

Everyone else exited the carriage and went up to the gates to see what Steinman meant…..what they saw was much, MUCH worse than anything Amuki could've expected.

“What……what happened to this place?” Tomomi said out loud.

Amuki dropped to her knees in shock…. “My kingdom……” She said, as she looked upon a rundown version of what was once a beautiful kingdom brimming with life.

The kingdom was washed out with soot, destroyed buildings and desolate stone pillars and temples that were broken down, almost like it was abandoned. This was only a glimpse of what our heroes would see later on.

They continued to walk through the kingdom, seeing the castle far off in the distance and taking in the horrible damage that the kingdom had suffered from Blood Rose's attack. “Whoa….this place looks nearly abandoned.” Tomomi commented on the situation.

Kaila elbowed Tomomi in order to shut him up. “OW!” Tomomi rubbed his shoulder and glared slightly at Kaila. “What?”

“We have to find survivors. I have to know if anyone is here or not.” Amuki said as they continued to keep walking.

“I toldja love, we ain't got the time. Look out there…..” Jack pointed to the castle in the distance….that was Tejiran castle, a large crystal-like castle that was once gleaming and flowing with intense magic power, but was now greyed out and covered with black rose vines.

“*gasp* …..no…..” Amuki said. Kaila patted her friend’s shoulder in order to try and keep her sane.

“That's where she's at…..we ain't gonna' do much walkin' around 'ere lookin' for survivors. We got a princess to escort out of existence. So let's get to it. Right NOW.” Jack said as he continued walking off.

Amuki stood on her two feet and had shadows over her eyes. “…….no.” Kaila looked at her like she was crazy.

Jack also ended up stopping abruptly… “What the hell did you just say……?” He slowly turned to her as his fearsome aura started to come out…..he didn't like being denied.

“I told you…no. I am the witchling princess! And I want to know if my people are alright…….It's my duty as the heir to the throne….I owe it to my father….my mother….my people. So I’m not leaving until I know my people are safe.” Amuki said with Kaila at her side.

Jack turned around and started to walk towards them both, looking rather angry. This caused them both to step back, as well as Tomomi to get in front of them and draw his sword. But before things could get out of hand…….murmurs started going around. Everyone began hearing voices, and heads started peaking around from the destroyed and charred buildings.

“Is that her?”

“Could it be…..?”

“The princess…..?”

“Has she returned……?”

“I thought she was dead?”

Talks of Amuki returning began to go around, as several witchlings came out of hiding. They came in droves, some from the ground, others from the sky…..as it began to glisten and shine through the twilight of the eternal night.

Tomomi & Kaila covered their eyes, as they had been blinded by the northern lights in the sky. Thousands of witches began descending from the sky seemingly out of nowhere, as they all dropped down to meet the princess and her group with a renewed sense of joy.

Amuki looked at all of her subjects, there were all kinds of witches of all shapes and sizes running to her so they could greet their princess. “I think you should say a couple of words to your subjects princess….” Kaila whispered.

Amuki smiled at Kaila and stepped forward, making her magic wand appear and lighting it up with magic power to let the people know that it was indeed her. “Everyone…..you no longer have to hide. The witch princess has returned…..I promise, me and my friends will free you from the torment that you've suffered over the many millennia. I'm sorry I have not been with you….but I'm not dead! I am alive!” She valiantly said.

“And I promise you, we will free you from the demon princess’s grasp on this kingdom!!! This I swear to you, we will fight for you till the end!” Amuki raised her wand in the air, inciting hope and strength into the other witchlings. They began to cheer her and the others on as Kaila stood by her side and Tomomi wrapped his arm around both of them and smiled.

Amuki looked back at Jack and smiled as well, while Jack folded his arms and closed his eyes. Even he couldn’t help but smile, as Amuki gave her people the desperate amount of hope they needed.

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But while they were busy hyping up the spirits of Amuki's people…..Enemies on the other side were watching from afar. The image of our heroes and the witchling people were seen through a purple crystal seigan that was being presided over by none other than princess Blood Rose.

“So….she's finally returned……Then I guess it's high time we gave her a proper welcome home…..” Princess Blood Rose said as her fingers twiddled around the crystal seigan ball. She left it alone however and turned her attention to something else….

Dracula….who remained stuck to the wall by Blood Rose's plants and rose vines. Her hell thorns were driven through his arms and legs as penance for his failure to defeat Tomomi Takuro.

Blood Rose used her rose vines to elevate herself up to Dracula and grab his chin…. “Oh my king…..it is time to awaken……” She said to him.

King Dracula looked up at his mistress and began to ask…. “My mistress….please….may I finally have your forgiveness?” Princess Blood Rose savagely smacked Dracula across the face.

“Foolish vampire lord…..I do not give anyone forgiveness…..fortunately for you, the peanut gallery has arrived just in time. So the next phase of my plan is about to come to fruition. However…..I can't afford to have them interfere this time. So promise me you'll be able to take care of them for me….will you?” She said while grabbing his chin tightly.

“I promise my mistress…..I will show them no mercy….if you let me call upon the forces of the night…..I can eradicate them before they have a chance to put a stake in your plans.” Dracula said.

“Good…..because if they do…..then I am going to put a stake through your heart. Do you understand?” She gripped his chin so tightly it was almost as if she was choking him by the neck.

“GGH!...Y…Yes mistress….I understand!” Blood Rose dropped him and let him go, releasing him from his vine-like prison.

“Excellent……now….while I prepare the proceedings to begin the salvent……let's give them a surprise they will never forget.” Blood Rose went over to a large, crystal-like throne and stood in front of it. In the middle was a pagan circle used for summoning and large magic spells. Only the most powerful of witches could possibly use it.

“So…..my liege…..would you kindly greet the lowly tresspassers?” Blood Rose seemed to be talking to someone. That someone stood right in front of the summoning circle with her back turned to Blood Rose. She also had shadows over her visage so you couldn't see who she was, but you could tell….it was a woman.

“Yes….princess.” The woman declared, as she began to head out through the castle’s throne room doors and turn purple & white, seemingly fading away from the scene.

“This'll make for the perfect warm-up….won't it you little pink-haired brat? Hmhmhmhmhmhm……” Blood Rose laughed malevolently as she continued to scout out our heroes and their situation, eager to watch the fireworks happen.

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Back with our heroes, Kaila and the others went back on the carriage and rode it up towards the castle. They took the long, rose vine covered path towards the bottom entrance of the humongous castle.

Amuki’s cheer had finally returned as she felt much better knowing that the witch race of hollows hasn't exactly died out. “Thank you Jacky! I'm so happy knowing that my people are safe.” She hugged Jack lovingly as a little heart popped in the air.

“I neva' agreed to let you do it.” Jack said with a beat of sweat dropping down his head. This elicited a chuckle from both Kaila & Tomomi. “OI! Belie that there chucklin' ya' bogans!” This only caused Tomomi to chuckle even more. “If you keep talking like that all I can do is chuckle!” Tomomi tried to hold back his laughter, but Jack silenced all of that real quick.

“YOU WANT ME TO MAKE YOU STOP CHUCKLIN’?” He said with a deep, fearsome voice, red glowing eyes, and his scary aura coming out. Tomomi frantically waved his arms around wanting no trouble. “Alright man you win I'll stop please don't kill me!” He said with a beat of nervous sweat dropping down his forehead.

The girls laughed at this as the carriage kept going forwards. Steinman whipped the horses to make them go faster. “HIYAH!” He said while Wolfie began sniffing the air…..he smelled something suspicious.

“WAIT! Stop the carriage!!!” Wolfie said, causing Steinman to stop it abruptly. The horses whinnied and stopped right in their tracks after going wild for a second.

“What the hell mutt?! Why did you have us stop?!” Steinman asked him.

Wolfie took two more sniffs of the air….. “The scent of the air……it has changed…..before I smelled nothing but blood…..now I smell a rather….enchanting fragrance.” Wolfie said. “Sniff the air and see for yourself!”

Steinman did so and took two big whiffs of the air. “Hmmm…..your right…..it smells like iris……” Steinman said, now he was rather suspicious.

“Hey! What's the hold up! We're almost there!” Kaila said while leaning out of the window on her side, as did everyone else inside the carriage.

“The air has changed! Something isn't exactly right here…..Can't you smell it?!” Wolfie would be proven right, as the purple particles of magic that were seen before in the black castle began twinkling in the sky without anyone knowing…..they seemed to be invisible to the naked eye……

“Whaddya mean?! The bloody castle's right there.” Jack said while leaning out of the window.

“Maybe I can see what's going on…..” Kaila closed her eyes and re-opened them, activating her mortis eyes so she could hopefully see what was happening. She began to see all of the magic particles around everyone, floating through the air.

“Guys….I see magic particles floating in the air! The same magic particles from before!” Kaila said, alerting every one of the situation.

“Ok….everyone out. We can't risk our ride gettin' butchered.” Everyone immediately exited the carriage and Jack joined Steinman up front.

“Stein…get this carriage back to the city of Tejiran immediately. Find a close spot and then regroup. We’ll take care of whatever bollocks is goin' on 'ere.” Jack ordered.

“Right, you've got it. HIYAH!!!” Steinman whipped the undead horses and turned them around so they could go back towards the kingdom, taking Wolfie with him.

“Keep your guard up lads…..we've got company.” Jack made his pumpkin swords appear in his hands, Kaila made her reaper claw appear, Tomomi drew his Zakurein sword, and Amuki made her magic wand appear. All of them were back to back ready for whatever could come their way as the suspiciously looked around, waiting for the enemy to strike.

But for a short while….nothing happened. “Nothing's happening…Kaila you sure you saw magic particles floating in the air?” Tomomi asked her.

“I'm sure of it….my eyes wouldn't lie to me.” She responded.

“Then…where the hell is the person that's controlling them?” Tomomi asked.

Tomomi was about to get his answer, as something broke through the middle of the group, destroying a spot on the drawbridge and diving each of them. “AHH!” Kaila, Tomomi & Amuki fell down while Jack slid backwards, ready for whatever came his way.

In the spot that left a gaping hole in the bridge, a white ribbon-like strip of magic with a purple glow wiggled in the air. “What is that thing?!” Tomomi uttered out loud.

“I don't know, but prepare to fight it off!” Kaila immediately got up and ran towards it, intending to cut it down to size. “HIYYAAAAH!!!” She successfully sliced it in half, but it instantly re-formed itself and smacked her aside. “AAGH!!!”

“Kaila!” Amuki & Tomomi said simultaneously. More magic ribbons came from underneath the bridge and grabbed Tomomi & Amuki by the legs.

“What the?! AAAAAHH!!!” Amuki screamed.

“HEY! GET ME DOWN!!!” Tomomi yelled, as he was being held upside down by his legs, while the magic ribbons wrapped around Amuki's body completely in order to restrain her.

Kaila rubbed her cheek and got right back up. “Hold on you guys we're coming!!!” Kaila got right back up and ran towards the magic ribbons, but even more burst through the bridge and stormed on her all at once.

*s***h* *s***h* *s***h* Jack stood in front of her and cut them down to size using a sword stream technique…. “Sword Stream: Pumpkin Seed.” He cut all of them at once easily.

Looking back at Kaila he said “Keep ya' head in the game midnight! The party's just gettin' started.” Kaila nodded. “Right! You take care of the ones that burst through the bridge, I'll free Amuki & Tomomi.” Kaila said.

“Sounds like a plan.” Jack then turned his attention to the re-forming magic ribbons right in front of him. “I can't cut down magic ribbons…..but I can use a li'le darkness to dispel them. Egh….This is gonna’ be a pain in the neck.” Jack imbued his hands with darkness, as well as his swords and began cutting the magic ribbons to pieces, several of them struck down on him, bashing more holes into the bridge, but Jack avoided said ribbons and continued cutting them down.

“Jack! WHOA!” The bridge shook a bit from all the destruction causing Kaila to wobble a little. “Be careful! You'll destroy the bridge!” Kaila ran at the ribbons holding Amuki & Tomomi hostage. “REAPER….CLAW!!!” She called forth her reishi and cut through the ribbons in one swift attack, causing Tomomi to hit the floor face first, and Amuki to land on her feet.

“Thanks Kaila!” Amuki immediately sprang into action as more magic ribbons appeared seemingly from all sides! There was no end to these things.

“You okay Tomomi?” Kaila asked while helping him up. “Uhhhh yeah I'm okay….” Tomomi said in a dazed tone with his eyes spiraling.

“*gasp* TOMOMI LOOK OUT!” One of the magic ribbons was headed right for him. Tomomi smirked and then sliced it to ribbons upon it getting close. “Don't worry about me! Just get rid of these things!” Tomomi sprang into action and jumped up to cut several more down, but ended up getting struck in the stomach by one of them. “GAH!”

“Tomomi!” Kaila was almost struck by even more of them, but she managed to dodge in time. “These things are really f*****g annoying….REAPER CLAW!!!! She unleashed a wave of her powerful reishi in one giant wave. The wave took out some of the ribbons on the left side of the bridge, but no matter how hard they tried, they always came back.

“Dammit! These things just keep coming! RRAGH!!!” Tomomi sliced plenty more and dodged an assault from others on the right side.

“That's because they're made of some kind of magic! Someone's manipulating them!” Amuki ran to dodge several magic ribbons that were dive bombing her. “Magic Spell #6: Crystalline Wings!” Amuki used her magic to gain her crystal wings and fly high into the sky. The magic ribbons then chased right after her.

She raised her magic wand forward, as it emitted an icy blue light. Instantly the magic ribbons were frozen solid. She could use her own magic to freeze magic itself!

“Jacky!!!” She called out to Jack, he knew what to do next. “Got it….y'might wanna take cover rugrats….things are gonna get hot.” A hellish fire started to light up in Jack's eyes and spew from his mouth.

Amuki flew down to Kaila and grabbed her by the shoulders, while Tomomi grabbed Kaila's leg as she flew back upwards so they wouldn't be affected by Jack's next move.

Jack breathed inwardly and let out a frighteningly monstrous roar… “RRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAGGHHHH!!!!!!” He spewed hellfire out of his mouth and caused a nearly atomic explosion, melting all of the ice-encapsulated ribbons and destroying part of the draw bridge in a fiery blaze…

“Damn! I didn't know he could do that?!” Tomomi said in surprise.

“There's a lot that Jacky can do….that's what makes him so terrifying.” Amuki said while flapping her wings.

Jack walked through the flames completely unaffected, as he relished in the destruction he just caused and took a big whiff of the air…despite not having a nose. “Ahhhhhhhh…..I love me the smell o’napalm in the mornin’. Heheheheheh……” Jack chuckled to himself.

Amuki flew right back down to Jack and landed, setting Tomomi & Kaila back down. “Nice Job Jacky!” She started to run over to him in order to hug him.

“Who knew fire and ice would work so well together?” Kaila said while looking at Tomomi. “I know right? It's so weird.” He said while they both smiled at each other.

Amuki was about to run over and hug Jack, but unfortunately whoever was controlling the magic ribbons wasn't done yet.

“Jacky you did it! Come and give me a…huh?” Amuki felt the bridge rumble beneath her feet, as more magic ribbons burst through what was left of the far side of the bridge beyond its broken boundaries. The ribbons then grabbed Amuki’s arms and legs and restrained her completely.

“AAAHH!!! Jacky help me!! GET ME OUT OF HERE!!!”

“AMUKI!!” Kaila & Tomomi both said before being grabbed by their own legs by more magic ribbons and being restrained as well.

“Damn….looks like no matter what we do….these pesky ribbons won't go away. Looks like I gotta find out who's responsible for bringin’ these ribbons too-“ Before Jack had any time to react, several of the magic ribbons pierced through certain parts on his body.

“MMGH!! What?....What the bloody hell is goin' on…..?!” Jack angrily said as he was getting pissed off now.

The person controlling said magic ribbons lifted her hands in the air and brought her victims upwards. They couldn't see her….but she could see them. “Magic Spell #2: …..Zanketsu Bunkatsu.” The magic ribbons began to lift everyone up into the air and hold them by their joints, as the ribbons went for Amuki first.

“*Gasp* ………” Amuki gasped sharply, as the ribbons formed what look like purple & white demon tails in the sky, intending to split her in half!

“NO!” Kaila called out.

“LET HER GO DAMMIT!!! SHOW YOURSELF!!!” Tomomi yelled.

However…..it wouldn't be too long before the cavalry would finally arrive…. *s***h* *s***h* *s***h*

The hidden figure's expression changed sharply, as her mouth communicated confusion. Amuki, Tomomi & Kaila began to fall from the sky, but Amuki quickly flapped her crystalline wings and caught both of them before they fell.

Jack was also released from the grip of the magic ribbons, as they faded away from his wounds, which instantly healed themselves. “Hmmm….ain't that a bit o' serendipity? Took you blokes long enough.”

Steinman & Wolf came just in time, with Steinman carrying a sharp shovel made out of reishi, and wolf slashing the ribbons down with his claws. “Go get 'em wolfie.” Wolfie grinned and immediately made a break for the far side of the bridge. “RRRRAAGH!!!” He seemingly punched the air, but Wolfie knew what he was doing. Someone uttered an audible grunt and it was clearly seen that an invisible figure was sent rolling on the ground.

Wolfie landed after punching the said figure.” GOT YOU! SHOW YOURSELF COWARD!!!” Everyone got up and joined Wolfie on the other side, as the magic hiding said figure began to wear off.

The woman's figure began to come back into light, as her invisibility faded away, and her entire body was seen amongst the shadows….She got up from the ground and stood up on her feet.

“……What?.....Who….*gasp*” As the woman came into view…..she wore a purple dress, as well as a purple witch hat, had black hair, and a silver crown on top of the hat.

“No way……It can't be!....” Amuki was shocked…..more shocked than she's ever been before….. “You're supposed to be dead……MOTHER?!?!”

.: TO BE CONTINUED :.