Cold sweat dripped from Hope's face, his breath coming in ragged gasps and grunts.

Each contact was a massive pressure as he gripped his shield, his bones feeling like they were on the verge of breaking. But just a little longer Hope thought. Even his shield felt like it had strengthened, matching Hope's determination.

Ignoring his body's protests, he fixated his eyes on the blade's reflection, the angle of the Awakened's chest and shoulders, as well as the vines slipping away-

Huh?

The vines…did slip away. But almost mimicking how Lady Mave commanded nature to her will-

Kwaang!

The last hit had both Hope and the Awakened rear back. Of course, Hope was more exhausted than he was, if not the only one. Tremors coursed through his arms; hands numbed; cold breath breathed through his nose as hot breath past his lips with each pant. He supposed all that training with his commanding officer before was worth spent after all. But a Master against a mundane human at that time was beyond brutal.

Hope quickly shook his head from the invasive memory. Obviously, not the right time. Not that he could control it much anyways…

But this damn Awakened wasn't going to let him go, was he?

As he and the stubborn Awakened stepped forward to start engaging in another fight, a sound echoed off to the side.

Qrrr- Qrrr- Qrrrr….

Creaaak-

"..."

"..."

The undercurrent Hope had felt earlier was more potent now. The building creaked again, however, tethered to one spot above as if a weight fretted it. Both of them stopped and simultaneously looked off to the corner of the room where there was a black sized hole gaped into the ceiling.

Then, a black misshapen shadow poured out.

No. Not a real shadow.

Shadows didn't vibrate as this did. Nor did they unnaturally unfold themselves.

But a purr emitted from it, and pale eyes clicked open.

'Away…' His instinct said. Run away.

'No shit-'

At that moment, a tendril vine whipped around the Awakened's sword as well as around Hope's shield, their items snatched away in an instant. And all of a sudden, before they could properly brace themselves, a slice of darkness lashed out and hammered in both of their chests. The room pulled past his eyes and the floor went from his feet as they hurled across, colliding into the shelved walls.

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Crash!

Qrrr- Qrraaaaaagh!

"Uggh…"

Hope tried to push himself off the ground, his hands feeling the grit and dust against his palms.

'Oh you and your fucking odds…' Hope thought to the Spell—if it was even listening—as his breath came in wheezing spikes.

It seemed that the hunting parties had missed a building of potential threat during their scavenging. Well, some monsters make their domains in whatever space they find suitable, Hope couldn't exactly fault them for not checking every single crook and cranny of ruined buildings. Logically speaking.

But the pain was leaning him towards that though.

Hope glanced up, alerted by a creeping sensation on his ankle. And amidst the vines that webbed across, some more shadowed ones slipped away.

Hope immediately kicked the feeling away, shaking his leg.

But the Awakened didn't have the same response.

Immediately, tendrils of black hooks tightly wrapped around the Awakened's leg. In a late panic response, he tried to grab the nearest thing around for support.

And he just happened to grab onto Hope's leg.

'Not me dammit-'

"Ack!"

Hope's body was dragged along; through the ceramic fragments, dry dirt, and dust, both of them slid across the room.

Hope gritted his teeth as he too tried to grab anything around him, even pulling on the metal shelves that scraped along the floor, the far wall growing closer and closer with the monster stretching out its claws in anticipation.

Then, a thought raced in Hope's mind.

If the damn Awakened won't let him go, then this would be his best shot.

'Tsk!'

"Swing me to you!"

Hope shouted while stretching out his hand.

Without hesitation, as if in synchronized thought, the Awakened pulled on Hope's leg and swung him to his feet. At the same time, Hope had dismissed his shield wherever the monster held it from and summoned it again. Whirl of sparks flew and fused itself, the Memory becoming tangible in time as Hope slashed down at the tendrils that clung to the Awakened's leg.

Qrrraaaaawgh!

Their drag finally slowed, and immediately they rolled back to their feet. Although, Hope had to hunch over a bit to ease the pain—a strong pain adding onto his side. But he blinked when he saw the monster clear before them. At first, Hope thought it was a great black hound…with burnished black skin and polished ebony fangs-

Those features alone had memories stream through Hope's mind, blinding him of the time when he fought the Awakened Demon in his First Nightmare: Fire Hound.

However, this one was different. But as if it were a similar breed. Instead of bristly strands of a mane, they were like tendrils, vine-thick, lengthened across like ropes. It growled, stretching itself down the ceiling, revealing its long body rippled with toned muscles, its black skin reflecting from the window's light.

'Huh…am I meeting its…cousin…?'

At that time before, Hope sensed that it was a young Demon. But this one…definitely was maturely grown. Taller than chest height. An aura that spoke more of its true class.

'Another Awakened Demon...'

Although, Hope could be wrong. Maybe it wasn't. But either way, they were in its domain now. At its mercy.

However, the advantage Hope had now was the proper weapons at hand.

Capable of delivering a killing blow.

There was no need for clumps of poisoned berries, or fractured bones as daggers.

The monster hound growled and sent its tendrils at them, each almost like a mind of its own. Noticing that the Awakened had done the same of dismissing and summoning back his sword, Hope had thought when he looked over—despite his ridiculous mask—that both of their eyes met. They quickly looked away, brandishing their weapons as the thick shadowed ropes came at them again—the Awakened and Hope acting simultaneously as they swung forward.