PHASE 7 - HOW TO GATE GUARDIAN… STEP 1: HUG

After the class, Tiara and I strolled around the whole campus, looking for signs of Eidolon. According to the Gate Guardian for Dummies notepad, one visible indication of an Eidolon’s nest is that people near it will have hollow black eyes and sometimes these eyes ooze black blood. Normal people can’t see these, only Gate Guardians can.

While we wander like an idiot on the sports grounds, I immediately remembered the Gate Guardian who saved me in Mirose Grande. Golden blonde hair and purple eyes. I had my guess on who is that woman, but I have to ask Tiara first.

“Do Gate Guardians transform when entering Yami?”

“Nope. You will retain your original appearance there.”

It seems like the Gate Guardian who saved me in Mirose Grande is not that runt Jeannette. Their face looks identical, and as far as I know, Jeannette is living and studying in Mirose Grande City. But that woman with submachine guns and boosters is too tall to be that runt. Besides, that beautiful Gate Guardian have watermelons. Jeannette is a chopping board. My guess was wrong.

Tiara started to chuckle like a princess. “Looks like you’ve watched too much anime, Rikkun.”

“Look who’s talking. You always mix your Japanese with your English.”

“I’m Japanese, y’know?” Tiara smiled so wide which made her eyes close.

“Well, I can speak Japanese too because I’m a proud otaku.”

“Nihongo mo hanasemasuka?” Tiara pushed her face with curiosity at me. Meanwhile, I was left dumbstruck and sweating.

I need to download subtitles.

Suddenly, I noticed a student who passed through us. His eyes are hollow like what I’ve been witnessing these past few days.

“There!” Tiara shouted, pointing at the old home economics building. There are a lot of students who have those creepy eyes, and most of them are leaking dark liquid from their eye sockets!

Suddenly, there was a loud roar from the skies. There was a shockwave that covered the entire campus, and the skies went dark.

I had an excruciating pain in my heart for a second, but it immediately disappeared. I looked around and saw everyone… had their eyes hollow.

“T-This power…” Tiara’s face was somewhat worried.

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I looked at the skies and saw the gigantic blood moon. There were no more people here, other than us, and the landscape has changed.

We are now in a floating island, and below this ground, is pure magma. It’s strange because I don’t feel toasted. The temperature is fine. Not so warm and not so cold. Yami sure is a strange dimension. There is a lot of floating earth around us too. It’s like a typical boss stage in Mario.

Tiara took out her upper uniform and revealed her white kimono-like those badass anime characters. So she’s wearing her shrine maiden dress all the time?

“Stay put. Can you see the white swaying tails over there?” Tiara pointed in the north, where I can see a white creature with nine dancing tails. “That’s an Eidolon.”

“Yeah, I know. I’ve been attacked a couple of times already.” I said with a forced smile.  I closed my eyes halfway to have my vision zoomed in. That creature looks like a gigantic silver fox with nine tails. “I-Is that Kurama?”

“Stop confusing the real world from anime!” Tiara shrieked for a moment and then calmed herself with a sigh. “I’ll be going then. Please watch me~”

Tiara jumped from island to island like a real ninja. I’ve read that once being baptized as a full-fledged Gate Guardian, a person will have his or her strength, agility, and intelligence increase by tenfold.

The silver nine tails roared and then leaped to intercept the shrine maiden! It used its razor claws to slash Tiara into pieces, but Tiara made it on time to block the attack with her arms! She was ejected to the air and crashed on a floating mini island! Because of the impact, Tiara’s body left a small crater on that land.

The fox then surged forward to smash its enemy with three of its tails. Tiara managed to put up her guard, but the Eidolon is more powerful in terms of strength! Because of the impact, the floating island was shattered to small stones! Tiara was put down again to the other lower island.

“Tiara!” I shouted. This is no good. The monster is completely gaining the upper hand here.

“Stay where you are, Rikkun!” She yelled back.

Tiara’s right arm was already covered by blood, and her shrine maiden uniform was already tattered and stained either by dust or by her own blood. Her body is full of scratches and bruises for taking up those blows.

“With determination, I refuse to give up!!!” She made a loud battle cry, and then kicked the ground to have herself flying towards the nine-tailed-beast!

She used her fists to make blinding blows to the fox’s cheeks! Three hook shots connected, but when she’s ready to finish her combo with a fourth attack, the fox roared, making a sonic boom! It launched Tiara away once again!

She crashed on another island, completely unconscious.

I got tired of watching my friend got beaten up! I rushed and jumped to the next island, even if my parkour skills were lacking. I need to get Tiara out of here!

The fox got its red eyes targeting me. It then formed a charging stance, having all its nine tails pointing on its mouth. It opened its mouth and a red electric ball materialized!

I know that its target is me, so I ran and jumped as far as possible. But I know it’s no good because the fox is carefully adjusting its aim for me! His crosshairs are already locked!

Two more islands until I reach Tiara! Please let me get there safe!

But when I was about to jump to the last island, the ball of electricity was launched. At that moment, everything went slow. The glowing projectile approached me with a lightning speed, and everything went bright.

…

“!!!”

Tiara… used herself as my shield, catching the attack I’m supposed to take! She’s using her bare hands to stop the gigantic ball of lightning from toasting us both!

“I...I won’t let you hurt my friend! Haaaaaaa!” Tiara shouted with full power!

Slowly, the ball of lightning became smaller and tinier until it was reduced to a cute atom of light! It seems like Tiara’s hands absorbed the attack like a sponge, without hurting herself!

When the lightning ball was completely gone, Tiara turned to me and held my shoulders. Suddenly, she lost her balance but she learned to me in order for her not to hit her ground. She looks completely exhausted.

“Let’s flee,” I said.

“N-No…” Tiara is having a hard time breathing. “I will not back out... “

“Tiara you idiot.” I made a smile. “Well then… Let me fight with you.”

“R-Rikkun…” Tiara had her puppy eyes watery. “A-Are you sure?”

“I can’t stand myself watching you get beaten up by a useless monster.”

Suddenly, her grip to my shoulders tighten. She regained the strength of her legs and pushed her face towards me.

And gave me the warmest hug I have ever experienced.