Kaijin Fighter: So I Have to Make Monsters, So What?

[Alright, screw it. Lets just take a quick peek and hope to the gods that we don't get our Cores sucked out.]

[Aye...oh! Idea!]

Understanding that they were about to do something incredibly stupid, by their standards, Springerdermain thought to incorporate some safety precautions.

Namely, he manifested one of his phantom hands and grabbed Razorstella by the waist.

The only reason why she knew this happened was because she felt the hands wrapping around her.

[Okay, what the fuck are you doing and why?]

Razorstella wasn't just about to amputate her fellow kaijin's hand, but she was going to if he didn't have a damn good reason.

[Remember those old rescue scenes from the movies? I'm gonna act as your lifeline,] Springerdermain explained. [If things go sideways either at the pit or outside it, I'll pull you back faster than you could probably run.]

[Wait, what? You're not going up there with me?]

[There's a non-zero chance that while we're checking it out that another enemy Kaijin shows up and one wrong move could lead us both tumbling into that pit,] Springerdermain elaborated. [That or whatever the fuck is in that pit might lash out as soon as either one of us get close to it. At least this, way, I can guarantee your safety without either of dying... probably.]

[Death is a nebulous concept to us,] Razorstella retorted without skipping a beat. [But fine, you better not accidentally crush me when you pull me back.]

[I know, I know.]

With the plan now set, Razorstella began to make her way over to the freaky pit in the middle of the cavern, while Springerdermain kept his hand firmly around her thin waist.

Now, one would think that such a set-up would inevitably lead to Springerdermain and Razorstella accidentally knocking over one of the petrified kaijin with the former's spring-like arm, but that wasn't the case.

Unlike a normal spring, which could only stretch in a single direction, Springerdermain's arms were able to snake around and move well...like a snake.

As such, the duo were able to sneak around the petrified kaijin without arousing any suspicions or causing any incidents that would definitely attract unwanted attention.

That said, they kind of wish they had a reason to bail the closer they got to the pit.

[Ugh...why is this pit making my skin feel...icky?]

[To be fair, we have been running into things that have been making our lives kind of hellish,] Springerdermain attempted to answer in a way to see Razorstella's growing anxiety. [Besides, we need things like this in order to keep our skills sharp. Normal aether warriors can't touch us, so we might as well face these hardships with joy...or something like that.]

[Fair enough, but I feel like this is different from that fucking otter, those filthy robbers and...and...Springerdermain, are you hearing whispering too or is it just me?]

[Beg pardon?]

[Oh, that's a bad sign.]

Razorstella had managed to close the distance between herself and the pit by about two-thirds from their initial starting point.

However, once she got to that last third, she stopped dead in her tracks.

The reason why: she started hearing whispers in her head.

As Kaijin, they were used to voices being in their heads, but these voices were accompanied by a feeling of familiarity and the ability to feel what the other speaker was feeling.

This whispering voice wasn't that.

This whispering voice sounded as if thousands upon thousands of voices were overlapping one another, expressing all sorts of emotions at once.

It was an embodiment of [Chaos] like she was, but focused on an aspect that she wasn't.

[Chaos] was the cradle of all creation, but it was also the abyss that wished to swallow all of creation back down into its depths.

As of this moment, Razorstella felt as if that abyss was calling out to her.

[Yeah, the whispers are telling me to join them,] Razorstella informed Springerdermain. [And I'm pretty sure it's getting louder as I get closer to it.]

[Is that because we're technically more Chaos than corporeal matter?]

[Think so, and that's why I'm just going to stop walking forward,] Razorstella stated.

[I don't think your legs are listening to you.]

[Oh, what the fuck?]

Despite making it clear that she didn't want to get any closer to the pit, Razorstella's legs had other ideas in mind.

Step by step, the star-bladed ballerina walked closer and closer to the pit, the whispers in her head getting louder and more insidious by the second.

Needless to say, Razorstella was kind of freaking out.

Mentally, she was trying to turn herself around.

Physically, her legs insisted on moving forward.

Making matters worse, as Razorstella got closer and closer to the pit, she began to see dark, slimy tentacles rising out of it and reaching towards her.

[Springer, please tell me you see the bad hentai reject limbs!]

[I do not.]

[FUCK!]

As the tentacles got closer, Razorstella didn't even think about slashing them with legs or claws in fear of causing some kind of chain reaction that would lead to her getting sucked back into whatever weird miasma was clearly in that pit. Instead, she did something she never thought she'd do in this lifetime or any other.

She asked for help.

[Springer, what the fuck do I do here?!]

[You do remember I am holding you by the waist, right?]

[Yeah?]

[Lift your legs.]

[Oh, right!]

Doing as instructed, Razorstella leaped into the air and grabbed her legs with her hands. The effect was immediate as Springerdermain's arm immediately retracted and yanked back the ballerina with ludicrous speed.

The tentacle didn't have time to reach out and ensnare Razorstella's legs before she was out of reach.

[Alright, let's get the fuck outta here. Self-yeet!]

Using the momentum of Razorstella's retraction, Springerdermain launched both himself and his fellow Kaijin out of the cave and into the exit tunnel, more specifically, towards the ceiling.

Once they made contact with the ceiling, and each other, Springerdermain used some of his [Chaos] to lock them in place and hide their presence.

[Eh? What was that?]

This turned out to be a good call, as shortly after they had got the hell out of dodge, another group of enemy kaijin were on their way to get their souls swapped out, or whatever the fuck that weird pit did.

[Eh. Whatever.]

Either way, Razorstella and Springerdermain couldn't help but let out sighs of relief once they had escaped.

[Well...that was heart pounding,] Springerdermain commented. [And we don't even have hearts.]

[Okay, I was about to compliment you on the lifeline idea, but that joke was terrible,] Razorstella retorted.

[Wasn't a joke.]

[Either way, I don't think we should go anywhere near that cavern without the Director with us. Agreed?]

[Agreed,] Springerdermain nodded. [How do you think his side of the plans are unfolding? I miss being able to see for myself.]

[I suppose now's a good time as any to ask Blazejudicator,] Razorstella figured. [Hopefully it's good news.]

Spoiler alert: it wasn't.

...Speaking of Zhen Liu though...

'Alright, I think we're far enough from the first batch of zakos. Time to...wait a minute...why is my connection with them getting funky?'

...Uh oh...

Several hours had passed since the hunting expedition left the [Mines of Malevolence], and nothing notable had occurred.

This was to be expected, since hunting was a sport of patience.

That stated, Zhen Liu still couldn't help but act surprised at this patient behavior. Especially when he compared to how they acted when they were in the mines.

[The Kaijin seem significantly calmer out here in the wilds than they do they at home. Why is that?]

^Its because there are no mortals around,^ Dante explained.^My Kaijin are empowered by the suffering of mortals. Whether they inflict or simply bask in its presence, mortal suffering empowers them in the same way a normal cultivator gets stronger in environments that suit them. As an added bonus, they seem to enjoy the suffering in the same way an addict indulges in drugs and alcohol.^

[I see...]

Silence fell over the two after this short exchange, as there was nothing more to discuss.

However, that was about to change.

[Wait a minute, hold,] a hound-like kaijin from [Those Who Hate], suddenly called out to the group. [Something's here.]

Once the alert went out, the entire parade of Kaijin stopped marching and imnedialy went on guard.

Or to be more precise, they readied themselves for the hunt.

No beast had ever been able to harm their hides, but Dante had informed them that this time their quarry was someone that was able to actually deal some damage to them...just like those weird mortals from the arena the other day.

As such, the kaijin couldn't help but be a little more cautious and a little more excited.

That is...until they noticed the power spike.

[Is that...Chaos?]