Aftermath of the Battle of the Temple of the Abyss: The Abyss Opens

Atsuko, captain of the Seishin no Senshi, watched in horror as the shadow creature spread its corruption through Mega, the magical flesh-eating plant of Wizard #4206. She knew she was crippled in her current state, but Atsuko had to try to do something. Her leg was shattered and she was bleeding from the wound that Wizard #6318’s scythe had created across her chest. Even more than the loss of blood, that wound had seemed to sap the essence of her strength itself.

She tried getting to her feet, but she simply could not muster the energy. Her body wouldn’t listen. She was defeated. She could do nothing but watch as Mega writhed and let out a piercing wail. Aiko clutched the sides of her head, it seemed the corruption was affecting her too.

Mega’s vines loosened. Setsuko got free and tumbled to the ground gasping for breath. With her remaining energy, she created a cloud of steam to hide her movements. She was escaping. Atsuko was helpless to pursue, but she would not rest until this attack was avenged. She would hunt Setsuko and her gang down when she regained her strength.

But as for now, all Atsuko could do was watch the events unfolding. Aiko was removing the sack that held her familiar and had a look of resolution upon her face as she looked into the sacred flame. She took grasp of Mega’s trunk and ran into the flames upon the altar.

Immediately the shadow tendrils corrupting Mega dissipated and the smoke formed back into the shadow visage which cackled and faded away. It seemed it was vulnerable to the sacred flame. Or perhaps it had already accomplished its dark mission.

Aiko was in the flame now. She had collapsed down to her knees and hugged Mega’s trunk as all of her vines and tendrils caught aflame. A white shape leaped from the ground into the fire. It was Oscar, Aiko’s familiar, joining his master. She held him in her other arm.

Atsuko could see her sobbing as the flames consumed them all. And then, the sacred flame flared, went out, and they were no more.

The flame has been extinguished.

The gravity of that realization began to fill Atsuko’s mind. Many generations ago the Yureinochi left the safety of The Fey to start a new colony here in these bamboo forests and mountains. The reason they came was to stand guard over the Abyss. Spirits were attracted to Fey, and many a violent spirit had emerged from that Abyss seeking the sweet taste of Feykin blood. They brought with them a sacred flame, which was installed at the altar as a ward against the Abyss, which was an entrance to a dark realm that many spirits called their home.

Now, that flame was gone, and they had none available to replace it. Even worse, all the defenders of the temple lay slain or injured. There was nothing to stop the spirits who wanted to get out.

Atsuko began to hear them coming. Yureinochi was no longer safe.

Entered by: 0xecfe…D269