The warm sun shining below, hitting the red mist flowing through the land. Animals scratching at it, others fleeing from its terror.
On top of a mountain standing proud, through the many trees and the waterfall. At the peak, a shrine at its center. Its enormous size spanning the place, details from the old ancient days inscribing throughout.
From the gate, a young woman with long violet hair and eyes of the sea coming in. Her white shirt and long red skirt, the person’s sleeves revealing her arms.
“No doubt something will go down tonight, I should inform Lord Deimos.” Her serious eyes to the sky.
A shrine maiden serving underneath a powerful being, performing her duties to his specifications.
The person shortly entering into the building, making her way along the fine decors from the old times, soon finding her lord in a room by a table to the floor. The entity in a red shirt with long sleeves, his pants stretching to his feet.
“I take it you are here to make a report, Lunara.” Deimos lifts the cup with his right hand.
“Yes, but before that. I would like to bring to your attention, that a red mist has begun flowing through the land. At the current pace, the world will be shrouded in an eternal night once the sun sets.” Lunara’s hand to her chin.
“In that case, please investigate it. Now what about for your report?” the deity sets the cup down on the table.
“Nothing much to report, the target was eliminated, but I did notice something. There appears to be some work around the area that made it easier for me to subdue the threat.” The young woman’s uncertainty.
One venturing below to the humans, tackling their troubles. The shrine maiden’s attention on some patterns, some pieces secluding in the shadows.
“Then think, any clues on who may have been interfering with your work?” his serious eyes on her.
“The only thing I can think of, is that the people appear to avoid talking about it. I would have pressed the matter more, but the mist took my priority.” Biting her lower lip.
“Your job is to handle all tasks, I expect to get clearer answers next time.” The god’s slight anger.
“You are right, I will do better next time.” Lunara’s unrest with her hand to her chest.
Two standing on the same land, yet their worlds far apart from one another. A shrine maiden doing her job, performing to the best of her capabilities.
At the time, in a town miles away. A person in shrine clothes walking through the red mist, her black and white patterns on her shirt with her arms showing, her long black skirt below.
“Where is that client...?” the young woman enters into an alley.
One secluding herself in the shadows, working from underneath the nose of another. Her long auburn hair flowing in the breeze, the person’s red eyes brilliantly shining.
The maiden shortly standing still, a message catching her attention. The young woman kneeling to it, picking it up, soon taking out the message from inside.
“Sorry for not showing myself, Amita. It is just that I’d worry the person I want you to save. I heard you do all sorts of weird under the ground stuff, so can you head to the abandoned Rose Garden tonight? My sister will not appear until then, if you don’t save her in time, she’ll become a sacrifice for the Overlord. The one who will shroud the world in the Scarlet Dusk the coming night. If you’re worried about the money, I already placed it in your underground bunker.”
“What a weird client, but so long as I was paid, then whatever. Still, the Scarlet Dusk. I guess I can just save her without bringing Deimos’ attention to me. When she is safe, I can just disappear again.” Amita’s hand to her chin in some uncertainty.
The thickening red mist around the maiden, her vision on her surroundings, soon rising to her feet.
An individual heading down the shadows of her path, slipping behind the gaze from many. The young woman making her way onward, eventually arriving at a shop in the town.
“Thank you for your help, but I should warn you. Word has it, that a shrine maiden is looking for you.” An old woman behind the shop putting her hand to her chin.
“A shrine maiden? Was I too reckless?” Amita folds her arms as she uneasily looks below.
“Maybe a tad bit, but not to worry. No one will tell. To be honest, you helping us out has been a huge help. Though, with this red mist coming in, I doubt you can get involved without attracting Deimos’ attention.” The person sighs.
“Yeah, that would certainly put a target on me. On the other hand, I doubt I can handle it. I am not strong, you know.” The young woman’s hand behind her head.
“Maybe not, but you got a good head on your shoulders. I’m sure you could figure something out.” The elderly individual’s hands behind her back.
One hiding in the darkness, evading the watchful eye of a god. The maiden’s unrest at drawing his attention, carefully proceeding down her route. Some passing time, Amita arriving at the Rose Garden at night.
The flower bushes spanning a wide maze, the harsh crimson mist pulsing in the area. Echoing sounds in the place, scraping noise not far from her.
“Over there.” Amita launches a card with a red pentagram on it to her right.
The card flying down the path, colliding into a dark gremlin. Fire surrounding the foe, shooting its flames far into the sky. Its screams sounding in the dusk, a black essence flowing high.
“That person better be somewhere nearby, this is outside of what I can handle normally. If what that old woman said was true, I really do not have time to mess around here.” The maiden frowns a bit.
A dying flame feverishly resisting the cold depths, refusing to fade away into the reaches of time. One watching underneath the red dusk, their vision on the maiden making her way forward.
“A heart scorned by a god, yet still persisting to stay above the ants. What will your journey bring, Amita? How will your cruel fate go? Will you fall into the abyss, or soar beyond the heavens?”
The woman’s soft voice in the night, one bearing witness to the maiden’s direction, seeing its many uncertainties. Amita rushing through the maze, leaping around the field. Terrifying black waves speeding past her, blasting the bushes around her.
The scattering fragments and debris, a few cards in her hand. The maiden leaping high into the air, throwing down her cards at them.
A gigantic circle surrounding the enemies, soon harshly unleashing electrical waves in each direction. The waves splashing far, frying the foes within the red mist. Amita shortly landing below, her attention to a path with several flower gates.
“Wait...is that her...?” Amita closely looks ahead.
A person floating on an altar in a brown top, her black dress wrapping below her waist. Malice harshly surrounding her, releasing a red energy into the air.
“Dammit...I gotta hurry...” The maiden rushes onward.
A ritual draining the life from its victim, flooding the sky in a crimson force. The young woman racing up the stairs, locking onto the person, seeing their long shining silver hair. The maiden leaping above, reaching forward her hand.
A massive black wave rapidly bursting out, blasting her back, slamming her into the earth. Amita enduring the pain, soon rising to her knee.
Her vision on a man standing at the front of the altar, his crimson hair and blood red eyes. The being wearing black tyrant’s armor, his arm burning in a great fire.
“I cannot exactly allow you to interrupt the process. To maximize my power, and make this truly a thrilling night. All of this woman’s life must be offered up to the Scarlet Dusk.” His slight smile.
“You must be the Overlord, huh.” Amita rises to her feet.
“That is right. I am Arch, the one who will usher in a blissful era of the night.” The being bows to her.
“I just cannot catch a break. Sorry, but that person is coming with me.” Amita steps forward as she swings out her hand.
“And what makes you think you can defeat me? Though, I suppose I can amuse you for a bit.” The Overlord chuckles.
Two within the red mist, their crossing paths with one another. The maiden rushing forward, revealing two cards in her hand.
The young woman slipping behind him, launching her assault at him. Flames bursting against his back, spreading the smoke far.
The Overlord emerging out of it, instantly towering over her. His fiery fist coming down at her, slamming into her. Amita flying across the field, crashing into a pillar. The large pieces falling to the earth, piling around her.
“Enchanted cards are not a substitute for real power, be grateful that I held back.” Arch folds his arms.
“He is right, all this can manage is small stuff. Though, if I stop here...” Amita painfully rises to her knee.
“Are you still resisting me? Why are you so concerned with this woman anyway?” a sigh leaves him.
“A client, nothing more. A certain person would be crying if I failed now.” The maiden rises to her feet.
“And is that worth your life?” his hand behind his neck.
“Maybe not, if I had a life to begin with.” The maiden stands on her side as she takes out another card.
“Oh? Now you have me interested. Someone who doesn’t hold any value in her life, but still goes out of her way to live.” Arch steps forward a bit.
A lost soul standing in the deepest shadows, feeling the cold trying to snuff out her dying fire. An individual proceeding forward, holding onto the slimmest warmth.
The maiden bursting onward, her enemy coming at her. The Overlord slamming his fist against her card, an explosion ripping through, sending Amita back on her feet. The young woman scowling above, seeing him descend on her.
The Overlord piercing down, his fist crushing the earth, narrowly missing her. Rubble flying far, some cutting the maiden’s cheek. Arch’s immense flames spreading wide, trapping them in a fire arena.
“A divine field...” Amita steps back as she looks around her.
“I see you are aware of this. While I was having fun, I should really wrap this up, no hard feelings.” The Overlord’s smile to her.
The intensifying flames, the barrier drawing it in, increasing the pressure on Amita. The young woman watching the Overlord’s body harshly ignite fire, shortly seeing him release it.
The maiden quickly casting her cards around her, enduring the immense power. Fire crashing into her, incinerating the area, spreading its inferno to the sky. The soon clearing force, Amita on her knee, her hand on top of it.
“I should have known...” The maiden heavily breathes, her great injuries.
“I am impressed that you endured that, but you have entertained me long enough.” Arch bows to her.
A great being depleting her cards, leaving her on the brink of falling. The Overlord raising his hands, gathering the fire in the garden, rushing it above to an ancient tablet in the sky.
“Am I seriously going to die here...? Hah...I suppose I lived long enough...” Amita’s shaking body.
A soul’s quickly fading fire, falling deeper into the shadows. One at the depths floating above an alter, her slowly opening eyes, catching the dying flame in her hands.
The person expanding her light, spreading it far. A pure energy releasing from the young woman at the altar, catching the Overlord’s attention.
“What in the world...?” Arch’s surprise at them.
“Ugh...now is my chance...!” Amita stands up, immediately charging at the Overlord.
The maiden attaching her last card to her fist, letting out her dying soul in the crimson dusk. Arch facing her, feeling her fist collide into his face. The harshly exploding force, blasting him back on his feet, blood spreading in the place.
The Overlord’s attention quickly to the altar, seeing Amita lift the person in her arms. Their eyes meeting with one another’s own, the maiden soon leaping far away, fleeing into the night.
“Hah...well done. I guess I will have to wait for you to come to me with that woman, until next time, strange shrine maiden.” Arch’s hands behind his back.
The being’s regenerating wound, soon erasing his injury. From outside the garden, Amita standing by the entrance, looking down at the young woman asleep in her arms.
I am not sure what you did there, but you saved my life. As for this mist though, it does not concern me. I have done my job...
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