[Bonus chapter] {Shuten Doji}

The scientists in the room all immediately stopped what they were doing, eye-pads frozen in their padded hands. Though all of their faces were covered under their hazmat helms, it was pretty easy to tell by their fear stiffened body language that Shuten Deoji was not exactly an expected presence.

Nor a welcome one.

"Do you all really have to dress up in this gear?" Shuten Doji narrowed his eyes as he looked around. "You all look the same! And it covers up my little Emi's pretty face!"

Shuten Doji's voice was naturally loud, but in the soundscape of the almost completely silent lab, it was positively disturbing. And the contained ring thought so too, chaotically fluxing like it was grating under the noise.