Chapter 5- Beneath The Crimson Eclipse

It is already evening, and the blood moon is slowly creeping closer to the horizon. We are just moments away from the arising eclipse. The city once full of life, is now a battlefield. Blood has stained the streets and the lifeless bodies are scattered everywhere. But I know, there is no time to mourn.

The survivors have been evacuated to safety, thanks to the help of other Vorixas and the clans. Most of the giant Oscuros have been taken down. For the moment, things seems under control, but the silence is feeling heavier than ever. We all know this uneasy peace won't last long. The real fight is just about to begin.

I am exhausted. But I csn't afford to let it stop me now. The danger that is coming—whatever it is—is too much to ignore. Currently, Kaito-san is on the ground, being healed by Shizuka-san after a fierce battle we fought against an Oscuro earlier.

As for Shizuka-san, she isn't doing much better. She has been healing everyone non-stop with no rest at all. Sure, she can instantly heal her wounds and regenerate stamina, but even she has her limits right? She is slumping, barely staying conscious. Her eyes are half-lidded as if any moment, she might collapse.

On our way, we were also joined by Hayato Shō, a peer from my school. He is a Vorixa that don't belong to any clan. He is another one of us who wields power, and like us, he fought alone to keep the peace. Despite his calm demeanor, his presence brings an unspoken confidence to our team. He is definitely a force to count on.

We all have our roles, and I can't let them down now.

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Soon enough, the night finally takes over, with the sky slowly darkening. A crescent moon begins to rise from the horizon. It's casting a faint red glow over the city. This is it. The storm after the calm has finally arrived. There is a heavy feeling in the air—like the earth itself is holding its breath.

The city seems to darken more and more as the moon rises higher. It is casting long shadows everywhere. It feels like something is about to happen. And then it happens.

Suddenly, the air grows heavier. And then, numerous dark, round portals appear out of nowhere, each about the size of a human. From them, countless smaller Oscuros—the ones we are familiar with—begin to flood the streets. It is as if they are being summoned, teleported from one realm to another.

Kaito-san glances at the portals. "So, this is what Crimson meant," he says with a hint of concern in his voice.

"Well, isn't this just perfect. So Crimson's prophecy was spot on after all. What a surprise." Shizuka-san says.

"We've got to be careful. This might just be the beginning. We don't know how many more of these things are going to pop up." He adds.

"Great. Because fighting one of these is such a walk in the park. I'll be honest, I'm not sure I'm up for a repeat performance," I say.

"None of us are, but we don't really have a choice now, do we?" He replies.

"Time to move," Hayato says, pointing toward the swarm of Oscuros gathering in a distance. He unsheaths his sword, ready for the fight.

"Right."

I glance at Shizuka-san. "Take it easy, Shizuka-san. We'll handle things from here," I say, making sure she can recover.

"Take care," she replies, smiling.

And with that the three of us charge forward. I unleash flames from my hands and send a barrage of fiery blasts through the swarm. Kaito-san follows suit, his magical projectiles flow fast and knock out enemies from a distance. Hayato is moving like lightning with his sword crackling with electricity. He cuts through them with the blade with each swing precise, quick and powerful. Together, we tear through the swarm, taking down Oscuros one by one.

But the more we take down, the more they keep pouring out. No matter how fast we fight, the spawning rate is way higher than the rate they are going down. It feels endless. Like every swing, every blast, is barely putting a dent in their numbers. The portals keep opening, one after another. It is like a never-ending wave of shadows.

"At this rate, we'll never finish them off," I say, dodging another attack. "We need to slow down the portals somehow."

Kaito-san's eyes flicker as he fired another set of projectiles. "If only we could find the source... But we're getting swarmed too fast."

I clench my fists. "We keep fighting, one step at a time. We can do this."

And then..,

Amidst our fight, I sense an overwhelming presence suddenly loom above us. "What the—?" I look up, and there he is. "Crimson!"

Crimson has appeared. A dark figure that's silhouetted against the haunting red of the blood moon. That is Crimson. He has large shadowy wings spread wide, black as the void. They are shimmering with a scarlet, ethereal glow. It feels like he is wrapped in an aura of darkness. It's like... like the devil himself.

He is hovering gracefully in the air, as though the moon itself has given him life, casting a blood-red halo around his form. The air has thickened with tension as his eyes gleam, reflecting the crimson glow.

We stop in our tracks, staring up. "You've got to be kidding me," I say. Kaito-san adjusts his glasses. "Well, that's... unsettling." Hayato glances up with a firm grip on his sword. "Interesting," he say.

Seeing his inhuman presence, "He's certainly not human... or maybe a human twisted into something else," Kaito-san say but with a hint of doubt in his voice. "Almost feels like he's a... humanoid Oscuro."

"A humanoid Oscuro? Well, after seeing so many Oscuros in all sorts of forms, I guess a humanoid Oscuro is totally possible now." I reply.

"A humanoid Oscuro will be no joke," Kaito-san adds in a serious tone. "They'll have a human mind with a body of an Oscuro. That mix will make them way more dangerous than anything we've faced. They'll think like us, fight like them... a real nightmare combo."

"My dear earthlings," Crimson's voice echoes with an distorted tone. "It seems the moment has finally come. The beginning of the end, as you would say. You might've noticed, I've already sent swarms of Oscuros across your quint little planet. Quite a sight, isn't it? And oh, the effort you Vorixas have shown—commendable, truly. But alas, playtime is over. You've had your fun, now I shall begin mine. Please sit back and enjoy the show. You won't be around long enough to regret it."

And in an enchanting voice, he speaks,

"Aeternus Eclipsa Lunaris."