Terror Infinity Side B
Chapter 38, HxH Greed Island
A little earlier before the decisive final battle against Abigail, Shin and Misaki separated from Hikari and Kisara back at the mansion and set off towards the castle of Capital City, Limeiro. The two ran through the streets of Limeiro towards the castle and fortunately the two didn't run into any players and successfully arrived. The two stood outside the castle and thought about where to begin their infiltration, but it was a pointless discussion. Dwun and List's study room was in the center of the castle on a higher floor and there were far too few enemies still within that it didn't matter where they entered from... so they entered through the front doors of the castle.
Misaki: "How is it even remotely sane to just enter the enemy fortress through the front doors, Shin? Really, I don't tag up with you a lot, but is this how you've always did things during the missions?"
Shin: "Yeah."
Misaki: "...We all need to take a new leadership vote after this mission."
Misaki while saying this, with a loud bang he kicked down the front doors of the castle with a fed up look. He agreed that it didn't matter where they entered, but he still couldn't get over Shin choosing to enter the front entrance. Misaki walked forward into the castle and Shin followed after him looking upset. The two carefully looked around for potential enemies despite having Hikari's Game Map app and in the end found their caution pointless. The inside of the castle was dark, yet one could make out its basic features and there were obvious signs of intense battles taking place not too long again. Destroyed furniture, craters in the floor from explosions, walls scarred by long blades and other weapon, and above all else...
Shin: "See Misaki. Nothing is wrong with entering the front door when all of our enemies have just killed each other before we arrived. There's a literal sea of bodies all around us. I don't know if it was the enemy leader, or they just got tired of waiting or working together and fought to the death to see who will be the ones to greet us, but look. They're all dead. I'm not going to run over to the other side of the castle and sneak in like James Bond when we both know everyone inside is dead."
Misaki: "Still, there's something wrong with us for entering through the front. Shit, you just don't get it because you've lost your common sense, Shin."
Shin: "Common sense went out the window when we learned we could create Anime character and childhood friends with Human Creation exchange and the floating ball of light we call God! Also, Misaki, why on earth are we arguing before the final battle and over something so pointless?"
Misaki: "Who knows? Shit, my common sense must be fading as well if I'm fine talking like this over this bloodbath... Shin, the Game Map!"
Shin: "What? Ah, I see it too. We must have been too loud just know... not my fault."
Misaki: "And it's mine!?"
Misaki actually feeling that he was at fault turned away from Shin and looked forward. There was a dark hallway before them littered with bodies, similar to the entrance hall of the castle, but Misaki and Shin both installed with the Game Map knew that they would soon have company of the still living kind. Although most of the players who entered the castle to wait for the holder of the 100 Designated Pocket Cards had died from infighting or at the hands of Abigail, there were a few players still alive hiding within the castle. According to Hikari's Game Map the largest remaining group of five were heading for the front entrance of the castle where Shin and Misaki were currently.
Misaki: "So what do we do? Avoid them?"
Shin: "Avoid? Why? There are only five weak Nen Users after us. Also I need to warm up a little in case we encounter Team Germany's leader Abigail. No, I want to run into her to get revenge for our fallen comrades. There was never good or evil in this battle, but I still won't forgive her. I need to prepare myself. I gave Kisara Gravity Blade and the Lesser Fenrir Coat, so I need to change my fighting style a little."
Misaki: "Will you be alright? You've been exclusively using that sword to attack and the magic armor to tank hits recently."
Shin: "Don't worry Misaki."
Shin saying so channeled Ki into one of his two Na Rings and retrieved his favored handgun he received from Aqua, the infinite ammo Berretta Auto 9 from Robocop. In addition, the skin around the back of the waist was dyed back and moments later four blood red Kagune tentacles erupted to the surface and wiggled around him. Shin's left eye, now black with a red iris, the Kagune revolved around him, and with the addition of the Auto 9 in his hands gave Shin a dangerous and above all disturbing look from where Misaki stood, yet Shin didn't mind it at all. With Ki Energy now flowing through his body as well Shin felt that he was at his strongest and could handle anything this castle could throw at him.
Shin: "I was never a real swordsman like Kisara and against that strange glowing string attack of Abigail’s my magic armor is useless unless I pour all of my Ki into it. My recent style of fighting won't be too effective against Abigail. Her attacks are also too dangerous to tank, so it better to just get rid of the coat so I don't think to try in an emergency. I'll miss the stats that I receive from wearing it, but that's about it. You know, Misaki, I was originally someone who killed Btooom Soldiers, Btooom Commanders, and even that Btooom Lord Ryuta Sakamoto with my bare hands, and I couldn't afford to ever take a critical attack if I could help it, so this is for the best. Its also a good opportunity. Against Abigail who fights at midrange the Kagune are the better weapon to use. I'll go back to basics and try out some new things as well."
Shin said this with confidence and looked forward as the group of enemy players finally arrived. Five players stealthily tried to approach from the corners at the opposite end of the hall with Zetsu, yet it was no use. Even with Zetsu it was impossible for Nen Users to escape the scope of Hikari's scan. Shin didn't know about the greater application of Nen's "In", but not Zetsu. With the tactical reconnaissance advantage of the Game Map Shin and Misaki could pick off the enemy as they liked, but Shin chose a frontal assault to challenge himself as he raised the Auto 9 in his hands and opened fired on the opposite wall of the hallway to show he knew of the enemies’ presence. Shin fired continuously for ten seconds and then a few moments later the five players ran out from cover and down the hallway. They coated themselves with powerful Aura to tank any shots from Shin, but to their confusion he just let them approach.
Shin: "Misaki, I want to try some things out. Just take out one of them and I'll handle the rest."
Misaki: "...Fine, but don't play around too much. We're not here to fight the trash mobs."
Misaki sounded a little annoyed, yet he was all smiles as he began to accelerate down the hallway to meet the enemy. Misaki was a little annoyed at Shin's easygoing attitude, but was excited that Shin didn't even ask if he could handle the enemy and he too wanted to show his strength. Misaki and the five enemy players ran down the hall and were about to crash into each other at the center, yet Misaki with a sudden burst of acceleration by burning flames under his feet, reached the enemy. His body blazed with flames and he crashed into the player at the center of the enemy formation, his fist crushing the chest of the enemy, and sent him flying in ablaze towards the end of the hall he came from. The remaining four players were shocked at the scene, yet they had problems of their own to worry about behind them.
Shin: "Tch, showoff. Dude has no right to complain about me."
Shin stealthily approached the enemy while they were distracted by Misaki and entered into Unlocked Mode. When the four enemy players realized that Shin had approached and looked back they were scared speechless at what they saw. The four Kagune tentacles around him were wiggling, both shrinking and expanding, and morphing into all kinds of shapes. The four players looked at Shin with his one black/red eye and Kagune as if he was a monster, but the person himself was pleased. Entering Unlocked Mode and into the Second Stage allowed him absolute control of the body, but more importantly it was what allowed an individual to being to use Liquid Muscle that was one's Kagune to its full potential. Shin discovered this back in previous battles, but never fully tested it out due to relying on the Gravity Blade and Ki skills.
Shin: (First... Sharp blades!)
Shin in the Second Stage of Unlocked Mode morphed the ends of his Kagune into sharp blades reminiscent of a grim reapers scythe. Additionally, for greater strength and sharpness the ends of his Kagune were reinforced with Silver Dragon Scales. The Kagune tentacles reflecting a deadly red and silver light were then at last sent towards the enemy players at lighting speeds.
One player appearing to be the leader holding onto a sword managed to escape with a shallow cut across his chest, but the others were not so lucky as the second most skilled had his right arm cut off and the remaining two were beheaded while standing. Shin took a moment to marvel the sharpness of the Kagune blades that just cut right through the Nen of enemy players, yet the battle was not finished.
The remaining two players overcame their fears of facing the humanoid monster before them and charged forward. Shin jumped back to avoid a slash from the enemy leader and then side stepped to avoid an emission attack from the player with one arm left attached. The enemy thought they were pressuring Shin, but it was the opposite as he was more focused on his next attack.
Shin: (Next, blunt weapons!)
Shin's four Kagune next morphed into the shape of hammers and immediately dropped down onto the one armed player and smashed him into the castle floor. All that was left was a crater, flesh, and a blood stain on the floor. The last surviving player witnessing the death of all his comrades flew into an uncontrollable rage and lunged at Shin. Shin, unbothered by this, opened fire at the enemy to stall for time as his Kagune lost its shape and merged together into one mass.
Shin could morph his Kagune into anything that he wanted, but the more complex the form, the more time was needed for it to stabilize. Five to ten seconds were needed for what Shin had planned and then it appeared. Shin's Kagune resurfaced, but not as four thin tentacles, but one large tentacle with the thickness of three grown men with its tail end in the shape of a mutated hand. This large tentacle reached out with speed unbecoming of its size and captured the last enemy player. The enemy had one free hand to use and attempted to hack at the large blood red tentacle, but even reinforced with Nen it could only cut into it a few inches and would quickly regenerate as good as new.
Shin: "Amazing. I've hadn't even applied Ki or any skills to it and it's so powerful. Yes, with this I can definitely defeat-"
Misaki: "Shin, stop playing around and just end his life! Look, the grip of that scary red hand is so strong he's throwing up blood."
Shin: "Fine."
Shin agreeing with Misaki that it was both cruel and a waste of time to mess around any longer had his Kagune throw away the enemy in its grasp... yet it was more than either Shin or Misaki expected as they saw what happened next. The enemy player thrown away by the Kagune hand crashed through a wall of the castle, lost his human shape, and what remained was a mangled corpse with not one intact bone left in his body.
Shin: "..."
Misaki: "...Shin, never touch me with that thing... ever."
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Shin: "...Let's just go."
Shin having no words to say in the defense of his inhuman actions could only suggest to finally get going. Their destination... Dwun and List’s study room at the center of the castle.
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Shin and Misaki traveled through the castle in silence as they made their way towards Dwun and List's study room. So far they hadn't encountered any enemy players or Team Germany's leader Abigail. They had Hikari's Game Map active so they knew where all the few people within the castle were located, so they didn't have to stay as quiet as they were to avoid the enemy, yet they did. Not because of caution, but because of Shin display power not too long ago that left Misaki frightened and in awe. Misaki knew Shin was strong, yet despite handing over his gear to Kisara he still displayed tyrannical levels strength. Misaki believed that he too could have defeated the previous group of Nen Users they met at the front entrance, yet not as effortlessly as Shin had.
Misaki: "..."
Shin: "What is it Misaki? You've seen my Kagune before, so don't freak out every time you see it."
Misaki: "Ah, it not so much about that. Your ability is grotesque as always, but that isn't it. It's just amazing how strong you are without your best equipment. You were a normal youth like myself if you exclude my past as a biker gang leader. It's just amazing is all."
Shin: "Fighting with your life on the line over a dozen times and awakening your inner potential will do that for you. Also, my gear really has nothing to do with my strength Misaki. I obtained good gear because I earned them through my own efforts, and use them because it's there and reliable. Still, I'm no expert in martial arts or weapons as I've said. If I never exchanged for Gravity Blade or the Lesser Fenrir Coat my fighting style would adjust to what I have."
Misaki: "So you could have always controlled your Kagune like that? It isn't new?"
Shin: "Since I've unlocked the Second Stage for better or worse. I've just been relying on the equipment till now and haven't tried out what else I could do and recently I've found that to be a problem. I lent my equipment to Kisara for her sake, but it's also for mine, I think my One-eye Ghoul Mutation may have the better affinity than my sword techniques and Ki techniques against Abigail who fights from a range. It's a bit dangerous to try it out in a life and death struggle, but as I've been told that's where I shine the most."
Misaki: "Oh, wow, I never imagined that you would think about it that deeply Shin. I just thought that you gave away your gear to impress the Newbie chick Kisara without thinking. My bad."
Shin: "Huh!? What do you take me for? I wouldn't do such a thing without reason, you know... but so you think Kisara was impressed. Ah, as a leader I just wanted to make a good impression is all. No other reason. None whatsoever!"
Misaki: "..."
Shin, feeling the full effect of Misaki's stare that said "No respect whatsoever", got pissed off and promised himself to tell Mokoto that Misaki had been eyeing Kisara as well. Shin felt better having come up with the plan to get back at Misaki but also felt strange at the same time. Recalling that he had never had a male friend before to hang out with before entering God's Dimension gave him a strange realization. One that said Misaki had become his friend. Maybe what others would call a best friend in fact.
Shin: (Why am I thinking about this stuff now? Fuck, is this what they call a death flag and either Misaki or I are about to die? Nope, nope, nope, not happening fucking plot!)
Thinking this Shin became extra alert to his surroundings and looked for anything and everything suspicious. It was paranoia born from his foolish otaku mindset, yet he was not wrong to do so. Shin and Misaki should have been doing this from the beginning, checking around every corner carefully and suspicious of whats hidden within the shadows, yet the advantage of the Game Map allowed the two to let down their guards and that could be a fatal mistake. It was then that Shin noticed it as they reached the center of the castle with three ways to go from here. According to the Game Map down hallway to the left leading to the dining room, down a hallway to the right lead to the throne room, and up the stairwell and then up to the third floor Dwun and List’s Study Room could be found.
Misaki: "...Shin, I know that you personally want to kill the enemy leader and all, but we should just end this mission now that we're at -0 Team points. I'm no coward and want to get back at her for the deaths of Kampa and Renji, but it's an unnecessary risk for us. Team Germany is at -10 Team Points, a -20,000 Point penalty, so she and anyone else still alive will be erased from God 100% when their mission is complete or expires. Let's ignore her and-"
Then just as Misaki was about to take a step forward someone forcefully stopped him. Grabbing his neck from behind and flinging him back was Shin. Misaki fell backwards onto the castle floor and looked up at Shin furiously. Even if Shin wanted to fight Abigail that much he thought it was too much for him to forcefully stop him like that.
Misaki: "Shin, you looking to die!? Don't just throw others to the ground like-"
Shin: "Like you could, but you're misunderstanding here Misaki. I didn't stop you because I absolutely wanted to fight the enemy leader, but because you were about to die."
Misaki: "Huh?"
Shin: "Just look through there."
Shin pointed at a tile of the floor just in front of them, yet Misaki still had confusion on his face as he didn't see what was wrong. Misaki had Observation Haki that increased his perception and Mantra Haki which was an improved version of Observation Haki and allowed him to read the surface thoughts of other if he concentrated. He didn't see or feel anything wrong, but all the same his observational abilities told him that Shin was serious and not just messing around for fun.
Shin seeing that Misaki was still not getting what he meant, bent down to the floor over the tile he had just pointed at. Shin then took out a survival knife from one of his Na Rings and cut at the edges of the tile. Misaki was confused by this action, but even more so by what he saw underneath the tile. Under the tile the floor had been dug up and what was there in the newly free space was a metallic device.
Shin: "This is definitely a bomb alright. I think a pressure sensor type. You didn't notice this Misaki because there was no direct killing intent. Your Haki abilities are amazing since in some circumstances your ability to sense danger is superior to my own, but its weakness is that you've relied on it and failed to notice a planted trap since there's no living opponent to pick up on. Well, I'm the same and we both relied on Hikari's Game Map too much. Psyche Force abilities don't pick up things like this. Well at least without a trap like ability in play which maybe we should have invested in getting her, and knowing that Abigail used it against us."
Shin then looked to the hallway to the right, towards the throne room, where Hikari's Game Map said Abigail was hiding out in. Shin didn't understand why the enemy leader wasn't personally guarding the way to Dwun and List’s Study Room, but putting together what he already knew and with another suspicion of his... Shin didn't want to admit it, but Abigail had them. She used her disadvantageous position of losing a Psyche Force User and Team Japan still having one against them. Shin and Misaki almost died from overly relying on the Game Map and their skills.
Misaki: "Shin, how did you notice this trap? Your observation abilities are below mine."
Shin: "Yeah, but I just looked at things differently than you is all. Suddenly I was worried about the possibility of a trap and looked around for anything suspicious and then for some reason I thought of Kampa. He's an expert at noticing things like this, so thought about how he would look at things and I discovered the trap just in time. I also noticed a few more trap around here."
Misaki: "That's all? You just asked yourself what would Kampa do?"
Shin: "That's right."
Misaki: "..."
Misaki looked at Shin as if he was strange creature as he then proceeded to point out all the hidden bombs around them. He thought it was strange. Misaki didn't notice the bombs at first, but now that he took a closer look he could locate them as well... but just barely. The traps set up were expertly done and left behind very small traces. Misaki could find them now, but it isn't something a normal person could find even if you were told beforehand. Additionally, Shin pointed to a few hidden traps that Misaki still failed to notice. Only someone like Kampa with extensive years military service could hope to notice such traps.
Shin: "...Misaki, we really might have to fight Abigail after all whether we want to or not."
Misaki didn't get it at first, but soon agreed after Shin pointed towards traps hidden in certain points on the walls directly under the ceiling, ones that they wouldn't step onto no matter what, and examined one closely. It was remote control bomb instead of the pressure sensor ones.
Shin: "The enemy probably planted additional bombs to destroy the castle if she needs to. I don't believe she believes that she can kill us with just that, but at the very least the study room of the castle where Dwun and List are waiting will be destroyed. There will either be a penalty or change of mission if that happens, and one that'll effect both teams."
Misaki: "And she's willing to do that?"
Shin: "Why not? She's already at -10 Team Points. Negative 20k points once the mission ends. What does she care about another penalty... but she still wants to fight us. If we had chosen to go after her, where I assume she's set something up for her advance in the final battle she'll gladly face us for the chance of surviving the mission. If we had proceeded to the study room while ignoring her she would have set off the bombs to destroy the study, accepting any penalty, hoping she killed at least one of us, and then she’d choose a new course of action. For someone in her disadvantageous position either plans work just as well for her. A cornered animal doesn't care how it survives long as it can live in the end... even if that means sacrificing half its limbs to do so."
Misaki: "...Any chance we can make it to the study room before she sets off any of the bombs? You can use Instant Movement and see the traps, and I can fly for a while with my flames with increased acceleration."
Shin: "..lt's s a risky gamble. We won't get lost on the way thanks to the Game Map, but if Abigail set something else up or she notice us we'll be risking heavy injuries and death if we fail to reach the room in time."
Misaki stood there in silence for a few moments and finally agreed with Shin. Team Japan was out of danger of wiping out from the Team Battle Score, yet a change in the mission, one that could benefit Team Germany more than Team Japan could change things for the worse. It was in Team Japan’s best interest to just get rid of the unpredictable threat that was her, Team Germany's cornered leader Abigail, and choosing to do so Shin and Misaki walked down the hallway to the right where the enemy awaited them.
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Authors Note:
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Proofread by Hoebagger
Here's what should have been tomorrow's chapter. I saw a lot of interest while looking through the comments and so I decided to post another chapter. Also, I won't be able to get to a computer for a while, so there won't be a post tomorrow. Two chapters left in this main mission and both will be posted the day after tomorrow and 8-12 hours apart from each other. Stay tuned!