Chapter 167 - Husk

"Shit. How're we supposed to find a damn thing in this fog?"

"That's what I've been wondering; what the hell is this stuff anyway? It seems like it's following us around or something. I just can't wrap my head around it."

"...I was having the same thought. It could be the work of magecraft."

Sharing in their thoughts, the two men pondered the nature of the veil hanging around them, falling silent for a moment before Sora clapped his hands together, rubbing his palms against one another with a confident smirk. 

"Did you think of something?"

"If this really is the work of magic like you say, then we should be able to dispel it, right?"

"Assuming it isn't a spell woven beyond our paygrade; yeah, I suppose. Do you remember the seal that Beatrice taught us?"

Sirius shared in the confidence of his partner, cracking his knuckles as well as his stiff neck, lowering down to the ground.

"Of course I do! That witch made sure to drill it into all of our skulls!"

Sora met Sirius' position, the two began to carve lines into the brittle soil; running a line around into a clear circle. Working in unison; the seal was finished in the form of a seven-pointed star with an array of lines within its interior. 

Standing back up, Sirius brushed the veil of nature from his pristine gloves while Sora didn't bother with the dirt that clung to his fingers. 

"Who's going to do it?"

Sirius asked, looking down at the surprisingly cleanly put-together seal. In the time it took to create, the ever-present fog seemed to amplify, taking away more of their sight as it clung to the forest. 

"I'll leave the honors to you."

Pinching his fingers together with a closed-eye smile, Sora left it to Sirius, who let out a brief sight before raising one hand to the air. 

--Bastard probably doesn't remember the invocation words, Sirius thought with a smile. 

"Like a bloomed flower, as a life not yet lived, the graces of old can be plucked. Mana signature--ON."

Following his calm, commanding words, Sirius conjured the dirt-drawn seal to illuminate with a purple haze. 

"Ubi Minus!"

Yelling out these words that spurred on mysticism, the subtle glow from the magic deal unleashed into a light that consumed their vision temporarily, leaving a blinding flash that obscured their vision completely for a few moments. 

--Did it work? Sirius thought. 

Removing his hand from the front of his vision, the scenery of fog was still present, trailing through the forest like sunken clouds. 

"Did we mess up the seal?"

Sora scratched his head, squatting down as he inspected the handiwork put into the hastily put together symbol. 

"No, that's not it. The dispel went off--it was unleashed without a doubt. I felt as much."

"So, this isn't magic then? The hell--"

Before Sora could continue talking, a hand was brought in front of his lips swiftly. Sirius held his index finger in front of his own lips, giving the man a "Shh"--a highly-alerted look came over his hawk-like eyes. 

There was no doubting Sirius' keen senses, Sora didn't attempt to ask him what it was he had taken note of, only trusting his comrade's senses completely as he focused on his surroundings. Falling silent, the noise that drew this reaction now met Sora's ears for the first time. 

It was the rustling of bushes; not just from one direction, it came from the left, right, and directly ahead. Even if the dense fog wasn't completely blocking their vision, the bountiful foliage would result in the exact same lack of sight. 

No chances were taken; Sora manifested his mystical armor over his body, holding his hand out as his greatsword came into existence directly within his grip. Sparks of purple electricity coiled around Sirius' hands; the two men pressed their backs against each other, watching each other's flanks. It was the result of years of comradery; no words had to leave their lips. 

--Goblins? No; they're too cowardly to approach a strong release of mana. Could it be tribesmen? I don't recall there being any in this land, Siris thought. 

His eyes scanned the area, waiting anxiously as the sound of rustling bushes continued, frantic footsteps heard from all sides. 

The fast-paced steps picked up, hearing it intensify before suddenly they drew near; the form of one of these mysterious figures coming into view as it sprinted through the fog directly towards him. No doubt; it was a human, or used to be. 

Its skin was rotten, covered in scabs and pus, left with cracks against its dried-out, grayed skin. The glazed-over eyes filling its sockets held vibrant, magenta irises as it held its mouth open wide with a snarl, no lips to be had as only its blackened teeth were on display. 

The decrepit being threw itself in the air, hurling towards Sirius with its teeth chattering rapidly. In response to the clear aggression from the foul creature, Sirius masked his hand in a stream of electricity, swiping his hand down through the enigmatic winds as he used a string of lighting like a blade; severing the bald head of the deathly being from its bony shoulders. 

As soon as its head departed from its body, its snarling ceased; falling inanimate while its body landed on the soil like a sack of potatoes. 

On Sora's end, another of these rotten entities sprinted towards him on all fours, baring its meat-stained teeth at him with its low-hanging jaw hung on with a single strand of muscle. It moved like a feral animal, swiping its sharpened fingernails against his waistline before he slammed his enormous slab of steel down upon its head, the powerful force behind the brutal slash bursting its skull with a repulsive squelch as an explosion of crimson splattered against his armor and the prime evergreen. 

"More coming!"

Sora called out, retrieving his greatsword as it was lodged within the matter of the deceased creature, lifting it as crimson leaked from its form. 

Multiple now came at once; sprinting with their hungering jaws snapping at the sight of the two men, howling at with harrowing screams. 

--If these are what I think they are, I can't let them close! Sirius thought. 

Sirius raised his hand in front of his gaze, pointing his finger out as if playing with finger guns. When it came to being in such close proximity to an ally; he was left with few options as his magic was devastating to wide areas--leaving friendly fire to be a possible threat if he wasn't careful. Taking aim with his index finger pointing to one of the heads of these foul, repugnant beings that smelled as if they crawled out of sewers, Sirius unleashed a condensed bolt from the tip of his finger. 

Traveling at a speed far surpassing a bullet, the small bolt cracked the air, completely pulverizing the skull of the approaching hostile as it came into contact. Repeating this process with the incoming reinforcements, Sirius shot out these tiny, yet sharp bolts at them--destroying their heads before they could draw near him or his companion. 

Sora did not possess the same finesse; swinging his enormous sword around like a gorilla as it brought with it a wind pressure that dazed the rotting bodies of his foes. Bringing the dense blade up in a heavy upward slash, the impact flung the hungering being's body into the air as it was bisected, leaving a brief rain of guts onto the once serene green. 

Brought back to back again, Sora and Sirius looked around the field now covered in rotten flesh, still hearing the sound of surrounding entities. 

"...We have to find Lucas, if he's alone with these--"

Sirius huffed out, allowing his lightning to wrap around his forearms, his hair starting to stick up from the static. 

"He's tough! He's an Outlander, just like us! Have some faith!"

"I know! I know!"

"We have to worry about our own asses, for now, Sirius!"

As he assured his companion, Sora dragged his blade against the flesh of the world, flinging the blade against a rapidly approaching foe, parting its snarling head from its body.