She didn't see any monsters prowling about, but she would hear the occasional howl or roar in the distance. "Did you know that there were rumors of a monster that is really psychologically terrifying that it plays tricks on people's minds? Far monster cries means that it was actually close, and close cries meant that it was far. But no need to worry, that type of monster hasn't been sighted here." Jirosho had said while he was staring out from the entrance of the cave. "Well, we should probably venture further into the caves. Just know, we will be facing our family from here on out, my parents, your grandparents, are ruthless. I wouldn't put it past them if they had some other subordinates or lured some monsters down into these caves for good measure. If you are truly ready to face these threats, just give the word."
Yuna took a deep breath. She really felt like they were coming to the end of this nightmare. She just hopes that she has enough power to tell her father what is transpiring tonight. Taking a look around the cave, it was weird to see such a thing illuminated, and yet... mesmerizing. The temperature here was only a little bit warmer than the outside, but it didn't stop from people to entirely escape the cold, as she seen an ice sculpture on a frozen bridge. Walking over, she would see a person who was dressed in slightly different era clothes as they stared up at one of the many holes that would lead out of the cave.
The waters down below were as dark as the sky with no stars, and was it her imagination, but did she see a human skull floating in the water? She pushed the thought out of her mind. She has to deal with people actively trying to kill her over the fact that she's in the world's creepiest place. She nodded to Jirosho. They soon headed deeper into the caves. What felt like an eternity has only been an hour and a half before they came across the first signs that they were not alone down here. It was a camp site. And judging from the number of supplies, Yuna had guessed about ten people. She looked over at Jirosho and he nodded, understanding that they were outnumbered and were in close quarters with enemies in which they don't know they don't know what these people are capable of.
Walking for about thirty more minutes, they finally made it. There were ritual postings along with several men with scimitars who were scanning the area around them, two gunmen patrolling the areas, two what looks like actual ritualists, and two old people. If Yuna were to guess, those old people are her grandparents. That's... nine people. So, where is the tenth person? Her focus was broken when her uncle dragged her out of the way just in time for them to both dodge a barrage of blood shuriken.
She looked up at the ceiling to see a person with bloodified eyes performing handseals. Of course, now that she can't hear blood flows, she didn't notice another Chigokai waiting to ambush them. Jirosho had thrown his blood spear at the other Chigokai and they engaged in fighting. Yuna had to believe that her uncle can take care of himself in a fight as she focused on the small fries. The gunmen pointed their guns at Jirosho, but Yuna was faster. She flipped through her handseals and made five sharks out of water crash and explode on them, killing them instantly.
Jumping down, she formed water tendrils around her arms and engaged combat with the swordsmen. She was doing good, great even. This all seemed to be going well, that is, until she heard Jirosho scream out in pain. As she defeated the last of the swordsmen, she turned her attention to Jirosho to see that the other Chigokai had wrested his spear from him and skewered Jirosho with his own weapon. Yuna shouted, but instead was hit in the back of the head by something hard.
Wake up! Her mind stirred. Wake up! Opening her eyes, she could feel the cold steel that she now finds herself laying on. Get the hell up Yuna. Your crazy relatives are going to sacrifice us!" Yuna's mind was muddled, but she was aware that Jashin's Beast was speaking to her. As she got up, her vision blurred badly, and she held her forehead, screaming out. "Jeez, hey demon, where are we?" She asked the demon inside of her. Same place where they knocked you out at, but they put us into a cage.
When her vision finally cleared up, Yuna took in the surroundings. Her cage was suspended above the whole ritual area, more specifically over a vat of that mystery black water. She smiled, these people really are stupid for doing this, but then again, they don't know what she's now capable of. Forming some hand seals, she released some chakra, but nothing happened. That and she has a wicked migraine from being hit in the back of the head. Great, she can't even use her own chakra. Looking down at the ritual table, she seen Jirosho laying there, barely breathing. She really hates ritualists, ever since Jashinists took her and thrown this demon inside of her, she has a personal hatred against cultists. Today only strengthens that hate. She knows that Jirosho is already a dead man, but he was risking life and limb for her, she doesn't want to see the man die after finally redeeming himself from his interactions with her father.
The cultists were chanting as Jirosho started to scream out in agony. She could see part of his soul being ripped away from the body that he had possessed. She tried to think of a way to help, but her power was both too devastating, and reckless. If she did it wrong, she'd bury herself along with all the bad guys. That and they still outnumber her five to one. She really was losing hope, with no idea what to do next. But it was in that moment, that the unexpected had happened. Something was crawling on the ceiling towards her. "Heya. Seems like you're in some real trouble now, huh." Azo did his best to whisper.
"You don't know the half of it." Yuna replied, she peeked around to make sure that none of the cultists, nor her grandparents were aware before speaking again. "Hope you have a plan. I'm real desperate right now. Outnumbered and out powered. I need the best plan you got."
"I got one, yeah. But it will be a big stretch. It'll involve meditating and willing to separate from your demon that makes you a jinchuurikki." He replied back at her.
He let that sink in. Yuna had a feeling what he was suggesting. Become an archsage, to gain access to natual chakra, to be able to use chakra more easily, but losing Jashin's Beast, which it will most definitely want to kill her the first chance that it gets. But she has an idea. Right now, they share a common enemy. She didn't share these thoughts with Jashin's Beast, since she knows the demon will most definitely want to shred her to pieces at first chance that it gets. Taking a deep breath, Yuna sat down in a meditative state and began clearing her mind.
In all of the chaos that has happened these past few months, Yuna had to find inner peace. She had to get rid of all of her worries and regrets. Her worry of her father going the extra mile to do missions. She felt as if something small in her has changed. Her worry that she can't control the demon inside of her. Another change. Her worry of an already dead man. Another. As she sifted through her own thoughts to organize herself, she felt as if she was unlocking a door full of secrets about her that she didn't even know about herself. She knew her emotions and her ideals better than anyone else.
She also felt something else. Yes, the wicked environment of Water Country seemed to always pull the life force of everyone in it, but she felt the chakra coming out of whatever left of this place that was natural, giving her natural chakra. Soon the water that was beneath her cage slowly rose up in a spiraling torrent to come crashing down onto her captors. People were yelling when they realized that Yuna still had some fight in her. Others were yelling about a new figure in the room, a ten-foot-tall creature made entirely out of blood. But as she stood in the now broken cage as it gave way to her natural chakra, staring at her grandparents as they stared back, noticing her change of appearance as she took on one similar to a demon, but not...
