Chapter 28: Chapter 21 - The Shrine of Ruins
> "This was my family's pride.
Now it's just my trophy case."
Scene – The Shrine of Aegira
The crew ascends an ancient mountain trail, led by Enme through a mist-covered forest. After hours of trekking, they reach it:
A massive shrine temple — floating slightly off the ground, pulsing with violet barrier seals. Lanterns hover in the air, untouched by time. The entire structure breathes sacred power.
Max (in awe):
"It's... beautiful."
Karl (scanning with his nanite HUD):
"Active spiritual field. Reinforced seals. This place is still alive."
Shojiro:
"And it feels like it's watching us."
Enme's Flex
As they walk through the massive engraved gates, Enme taps the inner sanctum wall. Names are etched into its stone like a war memorial.
Enme (grinning, eyes glowing softly):
"Every name? A demon I sealed.
Fourteen arch-demons. Forty low-class."
She slowly walks along the wall, tracing the engraved names with her fingers like she's remembering past lovers.
"No help. No Primordial. Just me. And this shrine."
She looks back over her shoulder with a smirk.
"Bet that's hotter than whatever you boys have done."
Morgz (jaw dropped):
"Wait wait wait... you sealed how many?!"
Max (laughing):
"Bro I died fighting a sentient lightning bolt and I'm still not over it."
Karl (quietly):
"I got disintegrated by my own machine."
Shojiro (sulking):
"...I suplexed a Berserker Demon once. It killed me."
Enme (shrugging, tossing her hair):
"Lame.
Try juggling two exorcisms while singing a stage solo in front of 20,000 fans wearing heels and a corset."
The Fragment of Araé
Enme pushes open the last gate. In a sealed chamber deep beneath the shrine, they find a hovering shard of crystal-black matter — glowing faintly red, like a bleeding heart.
Shojiro (stepping back):
"What is that?"
Enme (arms crossed, voice husky):
"That's our family's burden.
A piece of ARAÉ — the real one."
Karl (serious):
"You've been protecting a fragment of the World-Eater?"
Enme:
"Nobody touches it. Nobody knows what it does.
One guy tried, like 200 years ago.
He turned into a statue. Still out back."
She steps closer to it, letting the red glow dance along her silhouette.
"Tempting, isn't it?" she says with a smile. "But deadly things usually are."
The shard pulses. The air buzzes with corrupted VYTHRA. Even Max instinctively grips his chest like it's making his lightning fizzle.
Morgz (backing away):
"We're... not taking it with us, right?
Enme (smirking, voice dangerously smooth):
"Only if you want your soul turned inside out. Or you're into that."
The Backstory Drop
They set up camp near the shrine that night.
Enme (nonchalantly by the fire, lying on her side like a temptress):
"When I died sealing demon number 54, it was funny.
I had a date the next day."
Shojiro:
"You dated people after doing this stuff?!"
Enme (twirling a strand of her hair, voice featherlight):
"Of course. Sealing demons doesn't mean I skip flirting.
I'm not dead inside, you know. Just... very picky."
She winks, letting the firelight dance across her eyes.
Max (whispers):
"...I think I love her."
Morgz (jealous):
"Nope. She's mine. Dibs."
Karl (deadpan):
"You're both idiots."
Enme (stretching like a cat, voice lazy and warm):
"You're all simps. Let's move." "I'm not your shield.
I'm the reason you're still alive."
Scene – The Creator Demon's Assault
The forest behind the shrine erupts as a twisted Creator-class demon claws its way from the ground — manifesting weapons mid-battle — glowing swords, spears, blades from the void. The Chosen squad launches a coordinated counterattack.
The air warps with speed, power, and energy — but each time they make a move, the demon adapts.
Shojiro's Blitz Attempt
Shojiro growls, his body rippling with raw power.
"Muscle Reconfiguration: Left Leg Overdrive!"
His entire muscle mass compacts into his left leg, tripling its size. The sudden burst launches him forward like a human missile.
The demon senses him too late—until suddenly...
CLANG.
A phantom blade had appeared behind Shojiro — ready to pierce through his heart mid-air.
Before he can even react—
Barrier Dome: Activate!
A glowing green hex-shield intercepts the blade just inches from Shojiro's spine.
Shojiro (in midair, jaw clenched):
"ENME—!"
And then — BOOM! Shojiro slams into the demon midflight, sending it spiraling into the air, chunks of its armor torn off.
Max's Thunderfall
Max looks up at the sky, eyes glowing black-violet. He extends one arm as clouds twist above, gathering a storm.
"Let's see you handle a storm made just for you."
Black Lightning Surge — Skywrath Mode
He begins summoning a focused lightning spear from the heavens… but in that vulnerable charging moment—TEN daggers form behind him and fly toward his back at killing speed—
But then…
Barrier shield! It erupts from the ground — forming a wall between Max and the daggers, shattering them mid-air.
Enme (serene):
"Max. You dropped your guard again."
Max (grinning):
"Yeah… and you saved my ass. Again."
The lightning spear slams into the airborne demon, burning half of its form to ash — but the monster still isn't dead.
Karl's Nanite Finish (Almost)
Karl charges forward, morphing into his semi-mech form, drones circling overhead. He sends his Nanite drones flying, blasting concentrated beams into the demon's weakened side while his forearms shift into dual Nanite swords.
Karl:
"Full burst. Precision slice."
He slashes through the demon's chest — but suddenly, the demon reacts with a last-ditch mutation, growing dozens of razor spikes out of its body.
Karl (too close):
> "Sh—!!"
But—
Spiraling dome of seals wraps around him and absorbs the strike.
Enme (annoyed):
"Seriously, Karl? How many times do I have to save you?"
Karl (panting):
"I lost count at four."
Morgz's Final Slice
Morgz (calmly walking forward):
"Move. My turn."
He extends both arms, and from his palms, torrents of high-pressure water condense into razor streams.
"Ocean Fang: Compression Jet."
A blinding flash — and the demon is cleaved in half with a piercing hydro-blade, the top half spiraling into the ground.
Enme's Finishing Move – "Crushing Bloom"
But even halved, the Creator Demon twitches, trying to reform—
Enme calmly walks forward.
"Enough."
She creates a floating barrier orb around the demon's remains. Then another. Then six more. They interlock, forming a glowing green sphere.
"Seal Art – Aegira Bloom: Cage Compression."
The sphere begins to shrink. The demon panics, its weapons falling apart inside the seal.
A horrifying mush sound echoes as the entire demon is compressed into nothing but a wet red pulp.
Power Awakening: "Barrier Conversion — Armament Mode"
Enme's shield glows. A new glyph burns itself onto its surface.
New Ability Gained: "Barrier Armament"
Convert any barrier into a temporary melee or ranged weapon
Defensive seals can now detonate on contact
Can summon floating sigils shaped like chakrams, spears, even whips
Synergizes with her current sealing combos for hybrid offense
Aftermath — The Simpocalypse (Fully Seductive)
As the blood mist clears, Enme turns slowly. Her shield retracts into glowing lines across her arm. She walks toward the boys, steps smooth, sway hypnotic, the battlefield steam curling around her like a stage fog.
Her smile is slow — dangerously soft.
"Thanks, boys..." she says, voice dipped in velvet.
"You gave me everything I needed to unlock that next level."
She steps into Shojiro's space first, eyes narrowed playfully.
"Especially you, Musclehead. That last move? Chef's kiss."
She leans in closer, voice lower. "But next time, scream my name louder. I barely heard it mid-air."
Shojiro nearly faints.
Then she's at Max's side, trailing a finger along the arc of his collar.
"And Max..."
She circles him once, deliberately slow. "That lightning... it tingled."
Max's brain shorts out.
Next is Karl. She taps his chest twice.
"You tried so hard not to die. Good boy."
Karl (whispers):
"System... overheating..."
And finally Morgz. She walks past him — then doubles back, brushes his chin upward.
"Water boy," she whispers. "You cut cleaner than I expected."
She backs up a step, raises both arms, spins on her heel like a stage exit.
"Guess I'll protect you all a little longer."
Her voice turns sultry. "But only because I'm having fun."
All four freeze.
Shojiro:
"I think I'm in love." Karl:
"I think I'm malfunctioning." Max:
"She's gonna kill me and I'd be okay with it." Morgz:
"We're all gonna die simping, aren't we?"
Enme (already walking ahead, hips swaying):
"Let's go, losers."