Soul Merger

"Something's weird," Clara said, looking over the map.

Alissa finished putting away the morning's dishes and walked over. "How so? Looks like you're being sent down the same passage as before."

"That's the thing. They haven't moved," Clara said. "Bloodsense doesn't care that climbing halfway up a mountain is stupid, it'll just point you in that direction because it's the fastest route. But the only reason the fastest route's changed at all of us is because we're moving. I'm pretty sure I've been pointed in the same direction all this time."

"That's a little worrisome." The others gathered around looking down at the map. "You think they got stuck in bad weather?"

"It's been cold, but not enough for a blizzard," Akari said.

Kotori ruffled her feathers. "Yeah, flying should still be safe. Unless they're way ahead of us."

"That's not good," Fili muttered. "If they're staying still in the wilderness that means they've either been cornered by a monster, or they've got a hideaway."

"Now now, think positive!" Rosalina said. "Maybe one of them broke a leg and they're resting. My karma means we're due good luck."

Akari shook her head. "If it's based on your karma, that means a very dangerous monster has them cornered."

Alissa snorted as Rosalina pouted, before turning back to the map. "Have we moved enough for you to triangulate them?"

"No, but I'll see what happens today." Clara rolled up the map. "In the end we'll just have to be careful. At the very least we know they're around the bend so at least a few more hours out."

Alissa checked her blades. She'd be ready.

"We're good to leave?" Fili asked. When everyone nodded she tapped the ground with her staff. "Deconstruct Fortress." The earthen walls fell back into the ground, leaving just torn grass and rubble to show their passing. Even the latrine was covered. A useful trick, Alissa thought to herself as they moved on.

The rest of the trek near the lake was easy, but things got messier after that. The valley once again became a ticket of bad ground, bramble bushes, and mud. The only bonus was that with all the breaks they had to take to find a good path Kotori and Raiel could scout a lot.

It was getting towards noon when Raiel flew down next to her. "There's a clearing ahead with humanoids there."

Alissa looked back to Clara who pointed where her senses were sending her. Raiel nodded. "We couldn't tell what they were doing, but there's at least eight there."

"That's two more that are supposed to be there," Akari said. "Were any women?"

"One was," Raiel said. "They've got their backs to a steep hill as well."

Fili held her staff closer. "I don't like it. It's too convenient for us."

"Hm, seems like a mistake to me," Rosalina said. "If we were going to talk that'd be a problem. But we're planning to kill them all. I say we introduce ourselves with a long range barrage."

"Perhaps we should be a little more careful about killing the two people we don't know?" Akari said. "Do we have anything less lethal for the people who aren't on our list?"

"I can handle it," Fili said, pulling out her spellbook and flipping to find new chips. "It will decrease the amount of firepower I have to fling around though, so you'll need to hit the other's harder."

Alissa considered it. "I'll head out first. That will give us time. Rosalina, can you handle the mage like you did the one at the Hell Saint's Mountain?"

"Yep!" Rosalina said with a grin. Fili shivered. Having all your spell chips fried probably was a mage's worst nightmare.

"Okay. We all ready?" The others nodded in agreement. Alissa moved forwards quietly, Ibaraki following her with surprising grace. She paused as hints of the clearing ahead were visible through the woods, then held up her hand for a five count.

Her heart started to beat faster as she went through each finger. And then there was nothing left and she broke into a run.

The brush was thinner here, so nothing tripped her up as she rushed into the clearing, cloak billowing behind her. Eight pairs of eyes turned towards her. But she was the one who froze.

Standing next to a hooded figure was the succubus that she'd fought before.

"Hi~!" The demon said with a wave. "I thought I sensed you, sister. What amazing luck!"

Alissa drew her dagger as she sprinted forwards. It was good luck. She was going to destroy this monstrosity here and now.

"Hm, now now, let's chat first," the succubus said as she sprouted wings and took to the air. "Meat shields, keep them listening."

The robed figure lifted its hands revealing long and spindly fingers, and Alissa did a sideways roll. An axe swung through the air where she'd been standing before, the wielder moving with inhuman speed. Seeing the man's terror filled eyes she realized what they were facing.

"Puppeteer demon!" she yelled to her allies as she tried to get a better fighting position.

She felt someone moving behind her, but Ibaraki's laugh and a heavy crunch told her that problem was solved. So she focused on the man in front of her. He couldn't use any techniques, but any pain or minor damage wouldn't stop the demon controlling him from fighting. She'd need to land a killing blow.

And the puppeteer seemed to know that. The axeman was holding his broad headed weapon in front of him as a defensive barrier, refusing to commit to an attack. Alissa tried several feints and quick cuts, but she couldn't get a good opening.

"Anyway," the succubus yelled over the sound of battle. "My new boss let me hunt this trash in exchange for giving you a message so you really saved me a trip. Of course I was the genius who had us wait for better prey."

Alissa hissed in rage, leaving an opening to try to get the man to commit to a swing. Sadly he just did a weak poke that she had to dodge. Then a ball of mud smacked into the man, pinning his hands to his chest. "Press on!" Fili yelled.

She did just that, turning towards where the succubus had run. The damned bitch was on top of the hill, while the puppeteer demon was conducting their toys like a symphony.

"Agonizing Throw," Alissa muttered as she tossed her dagger at the puppeteer. It was in her way and it was going to suffer for it.

The creature managed to partially dodge, but Evil's Regret tagged its arm, and the scream it let out told her that the demon couldn't ignore pain like its puppeted bodies could. Alissa took the opportunity to rush forwards and stab its neck.

"That was way too fast," the succubus pouted as the puppeteer started bleeding out. "Hey you pathetic dogs, go berserk for me."

The men that hadn't been killed by Alissa's friends already howled into the sky. An electrified crossbow bolt silenced one, but the rest rushed at Ibaraki, who was laughing.

One pulped corpse later, Alissa figured the oni had it covered. She turned her attention back to the succubus.

The creature was still taunting her. "Anyway before I tell you the message, I have to say I really am glad we can chat like this. Would have been fun to fuck your brains out, but I've started to have more sophisticated needs you know?"

"Black Wings," Alissa intoned, savoring the rush as she ascended. She thrust her blade forwards to give her own regards to the succubus in front of her.

The creature barely managed to step aside and deflect the thrust. As it was Alissa managed to draw first blood from the thing's wing. She landed and faced off in a proper dueling stance against the enemy.

"Crap. Ugh, you're infuriating. Getting my heart rushing by acting so cool while interrupting my plans." The succubus hopped away from another stab to Alissa's annoyance. "Anyway the Arena. You need to go there. And now-!"

Alissa tried another stab towards the demon's sword arm, but it shifted, taking a cut to the breast instead. Stars exploded in her head as a leathery knot hit her temple. She staggered then fell as the succubus punched her with the other wing.

The sky above her twisted and roiled as she tried to get her body to obey. She had to stand! To get up and kill that thing! She couldn't just lie here and die.

She struggled against her own body more as the bitch leaned over her. The creature said something, but Alissa didn't care to make out the words.

And then there was a sprinkling of blue feathers as Kotori hit the succubus with both talons out of a dive. Well that was nice, now to-

Alissa blinked and found herself being held up by Clara as Rosalina was healing her. "Wha-?"

"Are you okay?" Fili asked. "How many fingers am I holding up?"

She blinked again. "Two," she said, trying to get a grip over the pounding in her head. Fortunately it was quickly receding. "Uh, think I have memory loss."

Clara grimaced. "Welp. The fact that you recognize that is a sign the healing is working well. What can you recall?"

"Last I remember I was about to duel the bitch," Alissa tried to remember more and winced in pain. "She said something about an Arena? Then she punched me in the head and... I owe Kotori a favor I guess."

The pain subsided as Rosalina finished. "I think that'll have to do. And yes, she drove the succubus off before it could do any more damage."

"Where is she now?" Alissa asked, looking around. Akari and Raiel were missing as well.

"Not sure. It flew off," Clara said. "And we weren't up for chasing it."

Alissa carefully shook her head. "I meant Kotori. I'd love to hunt and murder that fucking succubus, but we've got no leads." And the damn thing had more tricks up its sleeve that Alissa was ready for right now.

"Kotori? She's eating the brains of the bounty," Fili said with a shudder. "Not a pretty sight, but it's apparently partially our fault she thinks it's a great idea."

Alissa blinked a few times. "Do I want to know?"

"No but we'll tell you anyway!" Rosalina said. "Later though. First we gotta piece together what happened here, confirm everyone who's dead is supposed to be dead, then plan on getting the hell out of here."

"I like this plan," Alissa said, carefully letting go of Clara's arm. "Especially the getting the hell out of here part."

Alissa was pretty sure she wasn't done with the bullshit from this mess. But she'd deal with that when she was safe and warm at home, thank you very much.

Or at least when she wasn't trying to recover from a concussion. That damn thing's wings hit hard.