Chapter 15 — The God of Mimicry

The ground beneath Veloria continued to tremble.

Mina, Nyxhen, and Yumiko stood together in the ruined courtyard of the castle.

None of them moved.

For a moment, there was only silence.

Then—

BOOOOOOOOOOM!

The ground exploded beneath the castle.

A massive dark shape pushed upward from beneath the ruins.

Stone flew through the air.

Dust covered the sky.

Mina raised one arm to protect her face.

“What is happening?!”

Nyxhen immediately grabbed the back of Mina's coat and pulled her away from the collapsing ground.

“Stay close!”

“I am close!”

“Closer!”

“I'm already standing next to you!”

Yumiko stepped beside them.

“Then nobody separates!”

Mina nodded.

“Agreed!”

The three stood shoulder-to-shoulder.

Whatever was coming...

They would face it together.

Another enormous tremor shook the kingdom.

THUUUUUUUUM!

The castle began collapsing from underneath.

Mina stared.

“Something is coming out.”

Nyxhen's eyes narrowed.

“I know.”

Mina looked at him.

“You know?”

“I've heard stories.”

Another portion of the castle disappeared into the massive hole beneath it.

Then something enormous emerged.

First came a claw.

Then another.

Then a massive armored body covered in dark scales.

Two gigantic eyes opened through the darkness.

Mina's entire body froze.

“...That's huge.”

Yumiko slowly raised her scissor-claymore.

“I don't think my sword is big enough.”

Mina looked at her.

“That's what you're worried about?”

“Yes.”

“Fair.”

Nyxhen didn't laugh.

His expression had become completely serious.

“That creature...”

He stared at it.

“I know what that is.”

Mina turned toward him.

“What?”

Nyxhen tightened his grip around Noctesgrave.

“It's from the Dark Continent.”

Mina blinked.

“The Dark Continent?”

Yumiko looked confused.

“What's that?”

Nyxhen didn't take his eyes off the creature.

“An enormous region beyond the known kingdoms. Almost nobody travels there.”

“Why?”

“Because almost nobody comes back.”

Mina's face went pale.

“Oh.”

Nyxhen continued.

“Most of the creatures there aren't ordinary monsters. Some are so powerful that entire armies avoid them.”

The enormous beast slowly lifted its head.

Its roar shook the castle.

ROOOOOOOOOOOOAR!

Mina's hat nearly flew away.

She grabbed it.

“Why is something from there underneath a kingdom?!”

Nyxhen looked toward the ruins.

“That's the question.”

Then he noticed something.

The remaining fragments of the ancient seals.

His eyes widened.

“Wait.”

He looked toward the Headless Crown.

The Crown remained standing among the ruins.

Still motionless.

Still wearing the floating crown.

Nyxhen's expression changed.

“...You.”

The Headless Crown looked toward him.

Nyxhen pointed his scythe.

“You weren't ruling Veloria.”

The Crown remained silent.

“You were guarding it.”

Mina stared.

“What?”

Nyxhen continued.

“The seals.”

He looked at the castle.

“They weren't powering you.”

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His eyes narrowed.

“They were keeping that thing imprisoned.”

The Headless Crown finally spoke.

“You understand now.”

Mina's mouth dropped open.

“So this whole time...”

Nyxhen finished the thought.

“You were guarding the beast beneath Veloria.”

The Crown gave no answer.

It didn't need to.

Mina looked at the enormous creature.

Then at the destroyed seals.

Then back at the Crown.

“So we weren't fighting the real enemy.”

“No,” said Nyxhen.

“We were breaking the locks.”

Mina's face went blank.

“...I suddenly feel really stupid.”

Yumiko raised her hand.

“I also feel stupid.”

Nyxhen sighed.

“Good. We're all stupid together.”

“HEY!”

The beast finally attacked.

Its enormous arm slammed toward them.

“MOVE!”

The three jumped together.

BOOOOOOM!

The ground shattered.

Mina immediately raised her hand.

Blood gathered around her fingers.

“Blood Shot!”

BANG!

The projectile struck the creature.

It barely reacted.

Mina stared.

“...Okay.”

She fired again.

“Blood Shot!”

BANG!

Again.

“Blood Shot!”

BANG!

And again.

“Blood Shot!”

BANG!

Nyxhen rushed forward.

His chained scythe spun around him.

“Noctesgrave!”

The blade struck the beast's limb.

Yumiko followed.

“Dream Blast!”

A massive cloud formed beneath the creature.

The beast's movement slowed.

“Now!”

Mina fired.

“BLOOD SHOT!”

The attack struck.

Still nothing.

The creature roared.

The shockwave sent all three sliding backward.

Mina slammed into the ground.

“Ow!”

Nyxhen immediately stood.

“Mina!”

“I'm okay!”

Yumiko helped her up.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes!”

Mina looked toward the beast.

“I'm just beginning to hate this thing.”

The creature attacked again.

The three moved together.

Nyxhen blocked.

Yumiko redirected the attack with her cloud.

Mina fired Blood Shot repeatedly.

They weren't defeating it.

But they were surviving.

Barely.

Minutes passed.

Mina's breathing became heavier.

Her arm was beginning to shake.

“Blood Shot!”

The projectile flew.

She breathed heavily.

Again.

“Blood Shot!”

Another.

Her vision blurred.

“Blood Shot!”

Nothing.

Mina stared at her hand.

“...Come on.”

She tried again.

“Blood Shot!”

A tiny amount of blood appeared.

Then disappeared.

Mina clenched her teeth.

“Come on!”

Nyxhen noticed.

“Mina, stop for a moment!”

“I can't!”

She raised her hand again.

“If I stop, it'll reach the kingdom!”

Yumiko landed beside them.

“We'll hold it back!”

Mina looked at both of them.

Nyxhen was breathing heavily.

Yumiko's wings were trembling from exhaustion.

Neither of them had given up.

Mina clenched her fist.

“...Okay.”

The three stood together again.

The beast roared.

And they prepared themselves.

Then—

The creature suddenly stopped.

Its enormous body began changing.

Darkness gathered around it.

Mina blinked.

“What?”

The beast began shrinking.

Not physically.

It was being pulled inward.

Its body transformed into black mist.

The darkness twisted.

The enormous creature became smaller.

Smaller.

Smaller.

Until—

WHOOOOSH!

It disappeared completely into a swirling void.

Silence.

Mina stared.

“...What just happened?”

Yumiko lowered her sword.

“I don't know.”

Nyxhen looked around.

The Headless Crown suddenly turned toward the empty space.

For the first time...

It sounded shocked.

“Who did that?”

A girl's voice answered from behind them.

“Me.”

Everyone turned.

A girl stood calmly among the ruins.

She wore a purple hoodie.

Two long bunny ears rose from her hood.

Her lavender hair fell down her back, long and slightly messy.

One eye was partly covered by her hair.

She looked strangely relaxed considering what had just happened.

Mina stared.

“Who...?”

Nyxhen immediately raised Noctesgrave.

“Who are you?”

The girl smiled.

“Kusuri.”

She casually stepped forward.

“Kusuri, the #31 God of Eternia.”

Silence.

Then she added:

“The God of Mimicry.”

Mina's eyes widened.

“A... God?”

This was the first time Mina had ever seen one.

A real God.

Standing right in front of her.

Nyxhen's grip tightened around his scythe.

Yumiko raised her weapon.

Kusuri glanced at them.

Then she looked toward the Headless Crown.

“I'll be taking that crown.”

The Headless Crown suddenly moved.

“You—”

Kusuri disappeared.

CLASH!

The Crown's body shattered.

Mina's eyes widened.

“What?!”

Pieces of the Headless King's body broke apart and fell across the ground.

The floating crown remained.

Kusuri caught it.

She examined it casually.

“Hm.”

She smiled.

“Clish Clash is a pretty useful ability.”

Nyxhen stared.

“You destroyed him that easily...?”

Kusuri shrugged.

“He wasn't very difficult.”

Mina couldn't speak.

Then Kusuri suddenly stopped.

Her eyes shifted toward Mina.

She stared.

For several seconds.

Mina noticed.

“...What?”

Kusuri tilted her head.

That girl...

Her expression remained playful.

But inside her mind, something felt strangely familiar.

I've seen her before.

Or...

Someone like her.

Kusuri narrowed her eyes slightly.

No.

I can't prove it.

She smiled again.

“Interesting.”

Mina frowned.

“What are you?”

Kusuri looked at her.

“I already told you.”

She lifted the crown.

“I'm a God.”

Mina's body tensed.

“Why do you want that crown?”

Kusuri smiled.

“It's my job.”

“Your job?”

“Something like that.”

Yumiko stepped forward.

“Mina.”

Mina looked at her.

“Stay behind me.”

Nyxhen also stepped forward.

“No.”

He raised his scythe.

“We don't know what she wants.”

Kusuri giggled.

“Oh?”

She looked at them.

“You're protecting her?”

Nyxhen didn't answer.

Yumiko tightened her grip.

“We won't let you hurt Mina.”

Kusuri smiled.

“That sounds troublesome.”

She raised one hand.

Then—

CLANG!

A red chain burst from the ground.

It wrapped around Yumiko.

“Wha—?!”

Another chain wrapped around Nyxhen.

He immediately swung Noctesgrave.

CLANG!

The blade struck the chain.

Nothing happened.

“What is this?!”

Kusuri smiled.

“Hell Chain.”

The red chains tightened.

Yumiko struggled.

“Let me go!”

Nyxhen tried cutting through them again.

Nothing.

Kusuri looked at Mina.

“Now then.”

Mina raised her hand.

Blood appeared around her fingers.

“Blood Shot!”

BANG!

The projectile flew toward Kusuri.

Kusuri simply stepped aside.

The attack passed her.

She looked at Mina.

“Oh?”

She smiled.

“You have a nice, interesting ability.”

Mina fired again.

“Blood Shot!”

Kusuri dodged.

Yumiko shouted:

“Mina!”

Kusuri looked toward Yumiko.

“So that's your name, huh~?”

She looked back at Mina.

“Mina?”

Mina's eyes widened.

She fired again.

“Blood Shot!”

This time Kusuri didn't dodge.

A strange mouth opened in the palm of her hand.

The Blood Shot flew directly into it.

CHOMP.

Gone.

Mina froze.

“...What?”

Kusuri looked at her palm.

Then smiled.

“Delicious.”

Mina's expression changed.

“What did you just do?”

“Nothing much.”

Kusuri began walking toward her.

Mina stepped backward.

She raised her hand again.

“Blood Shot!”

Nothing.

Mina blinked.

“...Huh?”

She tried again.

“Blood Shot!”

Nothing.

Her breathing became nervous.

“No.”

She tried again.

“Blood Shot!”

Nothing.

Kusuri continued walking.

Mina backed away.

“No, no, no...”

Kusuri stopped directly in front of her.

She smiled.

“Is this your Blood Shot?”

Mina's eyes widened.

Kusuri raised her hand.

Blood gathered around her fingers.

Mina froze.

“Wait.”

Kusuri smiled.

“Blood Shot.”

BANG!

The attack struck Mina and sent her crashing into a stone wall.

“Mina!”

Yumiko struggled against the chain.

“Mina!”

Nyxhen pulled against his restraints.

“Kusuri!”

Kusuri laughed softly.

“That ability is fun.”

She looked at her hand.

“It has a good knockback.”

Mina slowly pushed herself away from the wall.

Her body trembled.

She raised her hand.

“Blood... Shot.”

Nothing.

Her eyes widened.

Again.

“Blood Shot!”

Nothing.

She tried again.

“Blood Shot!”

Still nothing.

Mina stared at her hand.

“No...”

Her breathing became unsteady.

“No, no, no...”

Kusuri walked closer.

“Did you finally understand?”

Mina looked at her.

Kusuri smiled.

“I'm the God of Mimicry.”

She pointed toward herself.

“Everything I witness...”

Her smile widened.

“...can become mine.”

Mina trembled.

“You...”

She looked at her own hand.

The hand that had fired Blood Shot thousands of times.

The ability she had practiced since she was seven.

The first technique she had ever mastered.

The ability she had relied on during countless battles.

It was gone.

Kusuri had taken it.

Mina's eyes became watery.

“So that's...”

She swallowed.

“...the power of a God?”

Kusuri leaned closer.

“Now you're getting it.”

Mina couldn't move.

For the first time...

She was truly afraid.

Kusuri walked past her.

“Cute.”

Mina looked down.

Kusuri continued.

“You trained that ability for years, didn't you?”

Mina's hands trembled.

“...Yes.”

“And now?”

Kusuri smiled.

“You can't use it anymore.”

Mina's eyes dropped toward her palm.

She tried one final time.

“Blood Shot...”

Nothing.

Her voice became tiny.

“...Please.”

Nothing happened.

Years.

Years of training.

Years of practicing her aim.

Years of learning control.

Years of believing that Blood Shot was something she could always rely on.

Gone.

Taken in a few seconds.

Kusuri turned away.

“I've got what I came for.”

The crown floated beside her.

Her body began fading into darkness.

“See you again.”

Then—

WHOOSH.

Kusuri disappeared.

The Hell Chains vanished with her.

Nyxhen immediately dropped to the ground.

Yumiko rushed toward Mina.

“Mina!”

Mina didn't answer.

She simply stared at her hand.

Yumiko knelt beside her.

“Mina...”

Still nothing.

Nyxhen walked toward her.

Mina finally whispered:

“I'm weak.”

Nyxhen stopped.

Mina's eyes trembled.

“I trained it for years.”

She looked at her hand.

“And she took it away like it was nothing.”

Her voice cracked.

“I couldn't even stop her.”

Nyxhen slowly crouched beside her.

“Mina.”

She didn't look at him.

“I can't use Blood Shot anymore.”

Nyxhen held out his hand.

Mina stared at it.

“Come on.”

She hesitated.

Nyxhen's voice became firm.

“You're not done.”

Mina looked at him.

“You lost an ability.”

He kept his hand extended.

“You didn't lose yourself.”

Mina's eyes trembled.

Nyxhen smiled slightly.

“So get up.”

For a moment, Mina didn't move.

Then...

She slowly reached for his hand.

Nyxhen pulled her back onto her feet.

Mina stood unsteadily.

Yumiko stepped beside her.

“We're still here.”

Mina looked at them.

Nyxhen.

Yumiko.

Both exhausted.

Both hurt.

But still standing.

Mina closed her hand into a fist.

Her Blood Shot was gone.

But she was still Mina.

And somewhere far away...

The God of Mimicry carried the stolen crown.

While laughing softly to herself.

The encounter with God #31 had ended.

But for Mina...

Something had been taken from her that she could never simply forget.