RYUKEN: W- what's going on?
MIE: ... there's a Demon.
RYUKEN: A- a Demon?! How did you-
MIE: The ringing earlier.
RYUKEN: ... the ringing?
MIE: It wasn't strong, but I have a feeling it's nearby.
RYUKEN: It's... somewhere here?
MIE: Maybe... I'll go out and check.
RYUKEN: Shou- should we call the others?
MIE: Kenzaki-kun and the rest are at Central right now, and phones are useless there. So...
RYUKEN: ...
MIE: ... I- I think I could handle it.
RYUKEN: Sa- Sawai-san?
MIE: It... it's probably just a couple of lost Level 1's. I'll get rid of them as soon as I spot them.
RYUKEN: Are- are you sure?
MIE: N- no worries! I'm an Exorcist after all. Time to do what I'm meant to do.
RYUKEN: ...
MIE: You- you should probably go back to your uncle.
RYUKEN: Ah, r- right...
MIE: ... alright. (walks away)
RYUKEN: Sa- Sawai-san!
MIE: (stops) Ah, yes?
RYUKEN: ... be careful.
MIE: Ah... (smiles anxiously) right... you too, Ishinara-san.
RYUKEN: (nods)
Mie steps away to find the stray Demons in Senko Street, looking focused, yet feeling uneasy.
MIE: ... probably more than just a couple.
Ryuken quickly walks to the magazines' section, searching for his uncle, who is nowhere to be found.
RYUKEN: ... Uncle Yuugi?
No answer.
RYUKEN: ... Uncle Yuugi!
...
Mie quickly runs out of the book store to the outdoor plaza, shuffling through the walking crowd. She frantically looks around, trying to spot any odd sightings. She walks further away to search for the Demon.
Sora and Aki step out of the book store, looking flustered.
SORA: Where... (looks around) where did she go?
AKI: Did... did we lost her?
SORA: She can't be that far.
AKI: She looks a little worried.
SORA: Grr... what did that boy said to her...?
AKI: M- maybe she just went to the toilet? We should just wait here and-
SORA: (furious) When I find that sucker... I'll punch him square at his noggin!
AKI: (sweats) Uh... maybe it's that time of the month, don't you think?
...
Walking among the noisy crowd, Mie struggles to be as observant as possible, trying to find the Demon with nothing but her five senses.
MIE: (sweats) Hmm... if only Kenzaki-kun was he-
Kikikikiki-
MIE: Ah!
A sharp squeak passes by. She turns to where it was before it faded away.
MIE: ... was that-
Kikikikikiki-
She turns to the sound again, but still couldn't catch up.
The sound of feet walking.
The voices of people talking.
The music from the speakers playing.
Everything is too loud to find a tiny squeak.
MIE: (overwhelmed) Gah! Just focus. Focus!
Standing still, she closes her eyes, takes a deep breath and tries to filter out the excess noises.
MIE: ...
... don't mind the footsteps...
MIE: ...
... don't mind the chattering...
MIE: ...
... don't mind the catchy tunes...
MIE: ...
Only listen... for what you seek.
MIE: ...
Kii!
Mie quickly turns to the sound. On the ground, she sees a dark-green scaly Demon, scurrying among the walking passers-by.
She hurriedly catches after it before it leaves her sight.
...
RYUKEN: ... where could he be right now?
Ryuken is walking aimlessly at the plaza, looking lost.
RYUKEN: (sighs) ... maybe I should go back to the book-
Kikikikiki-
RYUKEN: Wha?
He heard an odd sound passing by.
RYUKEN: ... what was tha-
Kikikikikikikiki-
RYUKEN: (turns around) Ah?
Kikikikikikikiki-
RYUKEN: Wha?
Kikikikikikikiki-
RYUKEN: Wha- where is that coming from?
The sound seems to circle around him, yet he can't see what is making it.
Kikikikikikikiki-
RYUKEN: Ah...
Kikikikikikikiki-
RYUKEN: ... I don't like this...
Kikikikikikikiki-
RYUKEN: ... what's going o-
The sound disappeared. Alarmed, Ryuken looks around in confusion.
RYUKEN: Wha... where... where did it-
IMP LIZARD: ...
RYUKEN: (stunned) Ah.
A green creature can be seen in the corner of his eye.
RYUKEN: (sweats)
Without a word, Ryuken slowly turns to it.
RYUKEN: ...
A small, scaly creature, hunching its back, with pointy ears, an edged snout, sharp teeth, black claws and yellow eyes, stares at Ryuken, with a filthy sneer.
RYUKEN: ...
IMP LIZARD: ...
RYUKEN: ... are you a-
IMP LIZARD: KII!!!
...
Mie chases after the lone Imp Lizard, running among the crowd. It quickly scurried into an alleyway at a distance. Mie hurries so as not to lose it.
She enters the bleak, quiet alleyway, but no Demon in sight. She goes in further to search for it.
As she slowly walks in deeper, a pair of glowing eyes crawls on the wall behind her, and jumps at her from above.
IMP LIZARD: KII!
MIE: (turns around) Gah!
She ducks, avoiding the attacking Demon that landed in front of her. The Imp Lizard turns around, growling menacingly.
Mie closes her palms, channelling the force within, and breathes in heavily.
The Imp Lizard runs after her again for another strike.
IMP LIZARD: KII!
Mie breathes out as bubbles blow out of her mouth. Stunned, the Imp Lizard got caught in the cloud of bubbles.
As the soapy bubbles pop away, we see the Imp Lizard, trapped inside a bubble of its size, muffling its screams, trying to escape.
The bubble floats near Mie's face, as she carefully inspects the Demon.
MIE: ...
IMP LIZARD: Kii! Kii!
MIE: An Imp Lizard?
IMP LIZARD: Kii! Kii! Kii!
MIE: ... where's the rest of your pack?
GAAAHHH!!!
A frightful scream from a distance. Mie turns to it, realizing who it's from.
MIE: Ishinara-san!
She takes out her metal button, swiftly transforms into her grey uniform, folds her sleeves and dashes to Ryuken, leaving the bubbled Imp Lizard floating away.
IMP LIZARD: Kii!
...
RYUKEN: Gah! Get off me!
The Imp Lizard latches itself on Ryuken's leg, screaming at him.
IMP LIZARD: KII! KII!
RYUKEN: Ah! Stop that!
He tries to shake it off, but realizes the commotion he made as the people around him starts to stare in bewilderment.
RYUKEN: Ah...
MAN: Boy... are you okay?
RYUKEN: Ah, no, I'm- I'm fine! I'm just-
IMP LIZARD: KII!!!
RYUKEN: Wha?
IMP LIZARD: Ki kii! Ki kii! Ki kii!
RYUKEN: Wha- what are you-
Four more Imp Lizards scurries to Ryuken and latches on to him.
RYUKEN: GAAAHHH!!!
He struggles to pull them out as they crawl all over him, only to push him down to the ground.
RYUKEN: AH!
IMP LIZARDS: KII!
RYUKEN: NO! STOP!
MAN: Boy...
IMP LIZARDS: KII!
RYUKEN: GAH! GET OFF ME!
MAN: Do you need help?
IMP LIZARD: (crawls onto his face)
RYUKEN: Ah?!
IMP LIZARD: KII!!!
RYUKEN: AAAAHHHHH!
White cotton strips quickly wrap around the Imp Lizards.
IMP LIZARDS: Kii?
From behind, Mie roughly pulls them and throws them away.
IMP LIZARDS: (flying) KIIIIII...
She quickly goes to Ryuken's aid.
MIE: Ishinara-san! Are you alright?
RYUKEN: Ah! Sawai-san?!
MIE: Are you hurt?
RYUKEN: But... but they'll- (looks at the people around him) -they'll see you!
MIE: They can't see me.
RYUKEN: Th- they can't?
IMP LIZARDS: (from afar) KII!!!
MIE: Gh! Ishinara-san, you have to go somewhere safe for now.
RYUKEN: Ah... I-
MIE: Just go!
RYUKEN: Ah... okay!
Mie runs off to the Imp Lizards, as Ryuken stands up on his feet.
MAN: Boy...
RYUKEN: Ah?
MAN: Are you sure you're okay?
RYUKEN: Ah, I'm sorry, I... I gotta go.
Ryuken bolts from the scene, leaving them even more confused.
As Mie runs towards the Imp Lizards, she forms a whip with her cotton strips and directly attacks them.
SNAP! CRACK!
IMP LIZARDS: KII!!!
MIE: ... you mad?
IMP LIZARDS: KII!!!
MIE: Then come get me!
She runs off with the Imp Lizards on her tail, away from the plaza.
...
After running fearfully from the scene, Ryuken stops to catch his breath.
RYUKEN: (pants heavily) I'm... still... not... built... for this...
He notices some of the people were staring at him, weirded out.
RYUKEN: (sweats anxiously)
He sees an alleyway and goes inside, away from the judging eyes. He goes in further to the back alley, filled with stinky garbage and empty boxes. He leans on a wall to rest alone.
RYUKEN: (pants) ... why today of all days?
...
Mie keeps on running away from the wild Imp Lizards.
As she reaches a store building, she leaps up high and safely lands on its roof.
She looks back to see the Imp Lizards still chasing her as they speedily scale up the building wall. She jumps off the roof and lands on the back alley.
As she forms her double whips, waiting for her demonic foes, the Imp Lizards steadily creeps on her, snarling a wicked growl. As they move in closer, she starts whipping, warning them.
CRACK! SNAP!
The Imp Lizards keep on crawling, unfazed.
MIE: ... you- you're not scared?
She whips them again.
SNAP! CRACK!
Some of them got hit, but they fearlessly get up and keep on moving.
MIE: Ah... what is with you guys?
They suddenly stop, and quietly stare at her.
IMP LIZARDS: ...
MIE: ...
IMP LIZARDS: ...
MIE: ... you- you done? You wanna go back home? ... I'm okay with that.
IMP LIZARDS: ...
MIE: ... wha- what do you really wa-
IMP LIZARDS: KI KII!
MIE: Ah?
IMP LIZARDS: KI KII! KI KII! KI KII!
MIE: ... what are you-
IMP LIZARDS: KI KII! KI KII! KI KII! KI KII! KI KII!
MIE: Can- can you stop?
IMP LIZARDS: KI KII! KI KII! KI KII! KI KII! KI KII! KI KII! KI KII!
MIE: I'm- I'm warning you!
IMP LIZARDS: KI KII! KI KII! KI KII! KI KII! KI KII! KI KII! KI KII! KI KII! KI KII!
MIE: Look, if you want peace, I'm fine with that... so, if you guys just leave, I think that'll be gre-
rrrrrr...
A rumbling sound.
MIE: ... wha-
rrrrrrrrr...
MIE: Huh?
rrrrrrrrRRRR...
Mie slowly turns behind where the sound comes from.
RRRRR...
From afar, a dark-green pool of sludge rushes towards her.
MIE: Uh...
It gets closer and closer.
RRRRRRR...
MIE: Wha...
As the sludge furiously zooms closer, Mie realizes that what she saw, was not sludge.
RRRRRRRRRRR...
MIE: Ah?!
A hundred Imp Lizards, ferociously accelerating at her path, running collectively as one, giant swarm.
IMP LIZARDS: KKKKKKKKKKIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MIE: ... uh oh.
CRASH!
MIE: AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!
Like a tidal wave, the Imp Lizards forcibly sweeps her up from her feet, lays her down, trapping her inside their swarm and continuously moves forward.
MIE: GAH! GET ME OFF! GET ME OFF!
Mie struggles to escape as the Imp Lizards prevent her from moving her arms and legs.
MIE: Errrggh!!!
With Mie in their clutches, the Imp Lizards keep running forward.
...
Ryuken is still at the back alley, resting.
RYUKEN: (pants)
IMP LIZARD: Ki kii!
RYUKEN: Ah?!
A lone Imp Lizard appears in front of him, staring menacingly.
RYUKEN: ...
IMP LIZARD: Ki kii!
RYUKEN: ... wha-
IMP LIZARD: Ki kii!
rrrrrrr...
The rumble gets louder.
rrrrrrRRRRRR...
Sweating fearfully, Ryuken cautiously turns to the sound.
RRRRRRRRRRRRRR...
From a distance but dangerously getting closer, he sees the wave of Imp Lizards, rampantly rushing before him.
IMP LIZARDS: KKKKKKKKKKIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
RYUKEN: ... oh, no.
CRASH!
RYUKEN: GYAAAAHHHH!
The Imp Lizards sweep him away and steadily runs forward.
RYUKEN: AAAAAHHHHHH!!!
MIE: ISHINARA-SAN!
RYUKEN: SA- SAWAI-SAN?!
MIE: Ghh... r- reach my hand!
RYUKEN: WHAT?
MIE: REACH MY HAND! I'll... get... both of us out!
RYUKEN: (struggling) Erghh... I... I can't!
MIE: Yes, you can!
RYUKEN: I... I can't move!
MIE: Reach out to my hand!
Mie struggles but manages to lift her right hand at Ryuken, opening up her palm.
MIE: You- you can do it!
Ryuken tries to lift his hand up.
RYUKEN: Errr...
He pulls his hand out as hard as he can.
RYUKEN: ... ahhh...
He reaches out to Mie-
RYUKEN: AHHHH!!!
-and grabs her hand.
RYUKEN: SAWAI-SAN!
MIE: I GOT YOU!
Mie struggles to pull her left hand free.
MIE: Ghh... I hope this works...
She lifts her left hand as high as she could, and fires multiple cotton strips from her arm to as many pipes, bars and railings she could aim at.
MIE: ... ISHINARA-SAN!
RYUKEN: AH?
MIE: Don't... DON'T LET GO!
RYUKEN: Ghhrr... I WON'T!
She tightens up her cotton strips, and with a hard tug, she pulls herself out of the swarm, free from the scaly masses.
She pulls Ryuken out, but at the last second, the Imp Lizards latches onto him and pulls him back into the swarm.
Ryuken's hand slips from Mie's, as she springs out on her own.
RYUKEN: AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
MIE: ISHINARA!!!
Ryuken is thrown back into the swarm, as the Imp Lizards traps him deeper, making sure he won't come out. They keep on moving forward, non-stop.
RYUKEN: Errgg... mmmfff...
From above, Mie dashes speedily on the shop lots, jumping from building to building, chasing after them.
As the swarm runs further and further, Mie sees a fiery portal appearing from afar, getting bigger and bigger.
MIE: NO!
Desperate, she leaps out from the building and using her feet, she kicks the air itself, launching herself forward.
As if running on air, with every step, she repeatedly leaps at a rapid pace, propelling herself further and further over the wild Imp Lizards below.
As she finally overtakes them, she keeps on leaping ahead, and lands on the ground, standing between the fiery portal behind her, and the Imp Lizards before her.
MIE: (takes a deep breath)
RRRRRRRRRRRRRRR...
MIE: (breathes out)
She closes her palms together, harder than ever, channelling the spiritual force within, feeling the energy circling inside of her, as she is ready to fight back, and save Ryuken.
The Imp Lizards gets closer and closer, with no intent in stopping.
IMP LIZARDS: KKKKKKKKKKIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mie closes her eyes, as she quietly concentrates.
From the bandage wrapped on her arms, hundreds of white cotton strips emerge, spreading outwards, reaching out as wide as possible.
She opens her eyes, determined than ever.
MIE: ... Cloth Snake.
The hundreds of white cotton strips begin to twist and intertwine with each other, forming dozens of thin cylindrical bodies.
From their lower half's, to the middle, and finally, to their heads, their final form starts to take shape.
Armed with sharp fangs and blood-red eyes, as they surround their magic caster, they sharply hiss at their incoming demonic foes, ready to strike.
MIE: Myriad... Mamba.
...
High above the plaza, the bubbled Imp Lizard floats in the air, still trying to escape.
IMP LIZARD: ... kii...
End of Chapter 19
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