[What a landing!]
Fubuki had visited Kaiser's secret lab before, so she knew her way around quite well, even with the thick woods closing in around them. Still, in city A, they parked their vehicle at the base of the hill and then set off on foot to navigate through the forest.
The cheerful chirping of birds drifted down from the tall tree branches, creating a lively backdrop. Even the gentlest breeze would send a few leaves fluttering down from the shady trees, adding to the serene atmosphere. There's something truly special about the peace that washes over you as you step into a forest. Yet, despite that, they found it hard to fully relax.
Every now and then, they'll catch a glimpse of one or two pairs of eyes peering out from behind the bushes. Most of them belonged to curious animals, but occasionally, they'd be taken aback by the sudden appearance of monsters that would launch an unexpected attack.
"I reign over this forest, and I won't allow humans to trespass here. So prepare to meet your end and become a meal for the king!" The monster let out a thunderous roar, its eyes growing more and more feral with each passing moment. The creature had an upper body that looked like a brown-furred monkey, complete with a long tail curling right above its backside.
"Fubuki-sama, please be careful..." Lily stood at the front, her expression filled with concern as she gripped the Three-section Staff tightly in her hand. She swung it towards the monster's legs without a moment's pause, and to her surprise, it curled up in pain.
Despite its impressive size of over 3 meters, the monster that proclaimed itself the king of the forest turned out to be far less formidable than everyone had imagined. After enduring a relentless assault from Lily, with Lin-Lin lending a helping hand, the creature quickly found itself begging for mercy.
"Please, I'm sorry... just don't hurt me again..."
His pleas fell on deaf ears as Mizuki, having gathered speed from a distance, took off without hesitation. The small stick she brought extended smoothly, transforming into something that resembled a vaulter's pole.
Her fit and athletic body soared high into the air, a moment of grace and power before she came crashing down quickly. She poured every ounce of her strength into her legs, and with a surge of determination, she executed a flawless landing right on top of the monster's head.
In an instant, the monster's head seamlessly blended into the ground beneath it. When Mizuki landed, she made a mark, creating a massive crater in the area. The impact was definitely something to take seriously.
Ignoring the blood and crushed brains squished beneath her shoes, Mizuki raised her fingers in a playful V-pose and asked, "That's a perfect landing, what do you think?"
"Good job, Mizuki," Lily said, her smile slightly strained, but the other two just brushed it off, seemingly indifferent to the whole situation.
"Are you sure we're heading in the right direction? Please tell me we're not going to waste our time just wandering around this huge hill," Lin-Lin said, annoyed. Even though she didn't point fingers, all eyes turned to Fubuki, waiting for a response.
Surprisingly unfazed, Fubuki just gestured towards a cave not too far away and said, "We're here."
Just as they were about to move ahead, an explosion suddenly echoed in the distance. As the ground trembled beneath them, a sense of unease washed over the group. Each person instinctively donned a cautious expression, realizing that the threat they faced was far more formidable than the monsters they had battled just now.
The explosions went off one after another, and to make matters worse, the once clear sky quickly transformed as dark clouds began to swirl ominously above them. A massive bolt of lightning suddenly slammed into the ground, cranking up the tension that was already thick in the air.
"Everyone, don't stand still in one place!" Fubuki called out a warning as she stepped away from her spot. Before they knew it, a fierce storm unleashed a torrent of lightning that lit up their surroundings.
"What's going on this time? This hill is really strange," Mizuki said, her earlier joy fading away. A serious expression took over her face, reminiscent of the intensity she displayed when facing a formidable opponent.
Lily, not quite as quick on her feet as the others chose to dash from one tree to the next. She skillfully dodged the lightning strikes that rained down around her, but once the chaos settled, her expression revealed a deep well of emotion, as if she was on the brink of tears.
"I notice something over there. What should we do?" Lin-Lin called out from her perch on the tree branch. No one had the chance to wonder how she ended up there; they were too busy staring at the ominous dark clouds that had started to roll in above them.
"We don't have any other option here. If this is all because of some monster, we just have to find a way to put an end to it," Fubuki said with a sharp snort. Her once steady emotions had shifted, now bubbling with a simmering anger that felt like it could erupt at any moment.
With her arms spread wide, Fubuki enveloped herself in a vibrant green psychic energy, granting her the ability to hover gracefully in the air. She didn't wait for the others and began heading in the direction that Lin-Lin had pointed.
They stumbled upon an open field pretty quickly, or at least that's what they initially believed. However, as they took in the sight of the numerous fallen trees scattered around, it became clear that this wasn't just a natural event.
"Grahkkk... Aghkkk... Grrrk..."
A creature that looked strikingly similar to the one they had battled not too long ago loomed in the center of the open field, and to their shock, it wasn't just a single beast but a whole swarm of them. The intensity on their faces, with sharp teeth bared in a menacing display, sent a chill down the spines of Fubuki's group, leaving them shuddering in anxiety.
Across from the cluster of monsters, there was a woman dressed in a traditional kimono. Her back was adorned with eight Tomoe drums, which added a unique flair to her appearance. She seemed totally unbothered, even with all the creatures' eyes fixed on her.
"Isn't she involved with the Monster Association? What's she doing here?" Lily was the first to recognize the figure of Maiko Plasma. Bit by bit, everyone started to recall their memories of the monster that had those shocking electric powers.
Even though they are enemies, Lily couldn't shake off her worries about her situation. Just as she was about to finish her thought, something unexpected occurred, "What are we going to do? She might not make it if we just leave her like this-"
As the monsters charged forward with their powerful, muscular forms, Maiko Plasma calmly raised her hand, elegantly draping her long kimono sleeve over half her face. Just then, the lightning above her intensified, crackling with an even more ferocious energy.
As the lightning crackled and illuminated the sky, Fubuki's group instinctively covered their ears, bracing themselves for the thunderous roar that followed the strike on the monsters. Their hearts raced as they came to the unsettling realization that this lightning strike was not just stronger, but far more dangerous than the one they had faced previously.
Despite being struck by a fierce lightning attack, the monsters managed to stay on their feet. However, the relentless bolts from the sky seemed never-ending, and ultimately, after taking several more hits, they were forced to succumb.
"What happened? Why did they go after her? Don't they recognize her as being from the Monster Association?" Lin-Lin questioned, her brow furrowed in confusion. She had never anticipated encountering such a formidable monster out here in the heart of the wilderness.
"I'm not sure, but to play it safe, we should just keep an eye on it for now," Fubuki said, sharing her thoughts. It looked like everyone was on the same page, as no one budged from where they were standing.
"Grahhhk... Grrrhhh... Ghakkkk..." The last three monsters let out a thunderous roar all at once, their voices echoing in the air. With a surge of energy, they launched themselves toward Maiko Plasma's slender form, ready to strike with everything they had left.
Maiko Plasma wasn't really the kind of fighter who thrived in close combat, so she definitely struggled. The monster managed to snag her kimono more than once, leaving it tattered and torn. But after a fierce battle, she finally brought it down with a powerful lightning strike that ended the fight.
"Something feels off here. Those monsters are supposed to have some level of intelligence, but they just seem like wild animals acting purely on instinct," Mizuki remarked with a hint of curiosity.
Fubuki, Lily, and Lin-Lin seemed eager to share their thoughts as well, but just then, an unexpected laugh escaped from Maiko Plasma. What she said next came off as so condescending that it put them on edge.
"Is that the best you can do? I always thought you had a little something special but it seems that's only because you managed to buy everyone's mouths by selling your body, that's perfect for a whore like you."
Fubuki's group stood there, completely at a loss for words. They exchanged puzzled glances, unsure who Maiko Plasma was addressing, but one thing was clear. They could sense the intense hatred radiating from her. As Lily, Lin-Lin, and Mizuki turned their gaze toward Fubuki, their expressions filled with anticipation, hoping she would guide them on what to do next. However, a different voice, dripping with condescension, suddenly broke into the moment.
"Hahahaha, you Bitch, you think you've accomplished something by taking down these weaklings? Just wait until I get serious with you and strip away all those pretentious masks you hide behind."
"Now it all makes sense," Fubuki muttered, her gaze fixed on the woman emerging from behind the trees. "If those two are here, then that bastard must be lurking nearby as well."
Do-S, who had just shown up, radiated an intense bloodlust. Each time she cracked her whip through the air, her smile widened, revealing her excitement. But just as the two were about to start another battle, an unexpected figure intervened, halting their confrontation.
"What a landing!" Mizuki whistled, watching as someone dived from the sky and landed smack in the middle of their group.
The woman clapped her hands softly, yet it was as if everyone around her was effortlessly drawn in by her presence. Once the dust settled, they were finally able to make out the figure of a tall, slender woman with gorgeous and captivating face.
The delicate, transparent wings of the insect-like creature behind her gave her an enchanting, fairy tale vibe, yet her laid-back outfit grounded her in reality. With a gentle tone, she then made an announcement:
"That's a wrap for today's training session! Kaiser is waiting for you all, so I need you to follow me without any fuss... Ohh, I almost forgot. That goes for you guys watching from over there."