Evil God

[Lisianthus]

Michiko stared at her bank book, a frown appearing on her forehead. Her fingers curled, and her lips pursed as her eyes bored into the numbers that glared up at her from the page, taunting her.

It had been a year since her father went bankrupt and had his assets seized. Drowning in a huge amount of debt he could not pay off, she dropped out from college in order to help her parents. But with no proper qualifications, and branded as a college drop out, the only way for her to earn some quick cash was through hunting monsters. Well, it was either that or prostitution, and she was not quite fond of the latter.

She placed her faith in her archery skills. She had after all, spent years practicing the bow. The calluses on her hands were evidence of her dedication. She was certain she could keep herself safe.

Thus, she delved into the world of monsters, joining teams that hunted in lower ranking dungeon raids. Without the blessing of a god, one could not hope to try the higher ranking ones. It spelled certain death. A lover of life, she did not want to unnecessarily risk it.

But looking at the book in her hands, the amount of money she had saved up could only put a little dent in their debt. She clicked her tongue, and tapped her foot. There was only one solution, but if she played it right, she could survive. And that was a hella optimistic thought for her.

For a few days afterwards, whenever she had free time, she'd lurk in the hunter's website, watching it like a hawk. Each time the notifications pinged her, she'd jump on it. On her fifth day, she struck gold. A group of hunters was going into a lesser high rank dungeon, and they were all mostly either already received a god's blessing. She couldn't believe her luck. All of them were famous enough to be easily recognised, for their faces were all over the media. All they needed was someone to fill the quota. Without a second thought, she signed up for the remaining spot.

​

Oddly excited, Michiko arrived at the meeting place ahead of time. As the team members slowly trickled in, she'd greet them, one after the other, and introduced herself.


She walked at the back of the group, ready to bolt if anything were to happen to them. Dungeons were unpredictable, and even the veterans were always careful. Clutching her blow close to her, she took a deep breath as she plunged into the dungeon.


She'd gasp at the enormous interior, almost tripping on herself due to her shock. Steadied by a hunter near her, she flashed him a smile before shuffling forward along with them.


They didn't walk for long when they stopped by the slow heavy rhythmic thud. Weapons at the ready, they stayed rooted at the spot, muscles tensed.


As the speed of the thuds increased, everyone moved as close to the center with the tanks bracing themselves. But it was not enough. In the blink of an eye, 3 huge shelled creatures burst out, their spiked tail swinging at the tanks. The formation broke and chaos reigned.
And in the midst, Michiko was nocking her arrows as fast as she could, using others as her shields she released her arrows, aiming for the neck and eyes. She needed to survive, and if it meant having to let someone take her place and be sacrificed, let it be. She ducked behind her teammates whenever the creatures got too close, using the time they were preoccupied with to let loose another arrow.

 

[Peregrine]

The dungeon was located far in the countryside, nestled in a little valley surrounded by rolling hills and mist. Once upon a time, it had been an almost deserted piece of rural territory, with nothing but a small community of farmers who grew rice on the hillside to take notice of the emerald hills. However, all of that had long since changed.

The valley was now filled with buildings, squat constructions built heavily with dark concrete, and inscribed with a collection of unknown symbols that would occasionally flash with a mysterious light. The place was a modern fortress, filled with walls half a meter thick, and little decoration. However, despite the lack of appeal the place presented, it was still bustling with activity.

Towns like this, colloquially known as Hunters Towns even if they were all given official names, had long since sprung up all over the world. The Hunters Towns had originally been built for exactly the purpose they looked, in a desperate attempt to slow and control the flood of monsters that might occasionally break out of the dungeon. But they'd since come to serve another purpose, as a thriving community designed to cater to the needs of hunters.

Long enough had passed since the dungeons had appeared in the world that they'd become a business. Large corporations relied upon the materials that hunters brought out of the dungeons to create their new technology, hunters relied on the payments of the corporations to make a living, and the common people relied upon a hunter's spending to be able to eke out an existence in the new world. Therefore, it was practically inevitable that both desperate and savvy businessmen would move their way into the fort, risking the potential danger of a flood in exchange for a taste of a dungeon's profits.

In front of the dungeon's entrance, a team of hunters had gathered. They were dressed in high-end equipment. Shining silver weapons gleamed on their waist and back, and they were covered in tough armors of various colors. They shifted with restless excitement, occasionally murmuring among themselves, or casting dirty looks at a group of dark armored men who were standing in front of the dungeon's glowing blue entrance.

When the last person finally arrived, the entire group turned, as though on some silent signal, and approached the dungeon guards. This time, they let the group pass without comment.

---

The team entering the dungeon now was the most promising rookie team of the Jade Plague, a guild based in the Chubu region of Japan. For the last year and a half, they had been training with senior teams, but when they'd finally gotten the opportunity to make their debut…

"I still can't believe that bastard ditched us for another guild," a black haired woman burst out. A pair of red, curved daggers were at her waist, and her step was light and almost silent. However, when she stamped her foot in a moment of poorly suppressed indignation, it caused a sudden burst of dust.

"Enough." A man wearing heavy plate armor and carrying a shield calmed her. "We don't need that asshole. Focus on clearing the dungeon."

A man with a morningstar held firmly in his hands laughed slightly. "He'll come back begging when he sees our clear record. That's when he'll realize exactly how dumb he was for letting himself be poached."

The entire group moved quickly, their actions professional. However, all of them ignored the young woman with a wooden bow that was following along behind the group. They'd already made their expectations clear to her. Follow along quietly, don't get in anyone's way, and don't get yourself killed. As long as she could meet those expectations, they'd give her five percent of the money from the dungeon clear. It was an irresistible offer, if it wasn't for the fact that she was now having to follow them, all but unguarded, into a lower high class dungeon.

No one noticed a figure standing in the shadows, peering at them through a crack in the dungeon's cave-like wall. It leered at their backs as they passed, long red tongue lolling out of its mouth as it silently laughed at them. A second later, and the gnarled, wooden stick in its hand was lifted into the air, and the unnatural being was swallowed by the shadows.

Further ahead in the dungeon, a shadow began to tug itself out from beneath the rocks. It stretched and spread across the soil, before seeming to physically heave itself up out of the ground. As the shadows flowed off the emerging monster like mud, a giant, lizard-like creature emerged from within the goop. Heavy shells plated across its back, providing it armor-like protection, before rising up from its spine in giant spikes. After the first, two more creatures pushed their way out of the shadows. They swung their tails uncertainly for a moment, sniffing at the air, before suddenly seeming to hone in on something.

Nostrils flaring, all the creatures' heads turned to look down the corridor, in the direction of the party of hunters. A moment later, and they set off, each heavy step causing the ground to tremble slightly, tails swinging back and forth like sledgehammers.

---

For all their supposed preparation, the rookie team still froze the instant the monsters barreled into their view.

"What the bloody fuck is that!" the man with the large shield shouted in shock. He quickly braced himself, sinking into a low stance and moving his shield forward. But, he'd never get the chance to figure it out. The instant the lizard's tail swung towards him, his shield crumpled like paper, and his arms shattered under the blow. Eyes wide in shock, he flew backwards, crashing heavily into the cave wall. The dagger wielding woman screamed.

And then chaos ran rampant. The monsters ignored every blow that struck against them, as only the most devastating could cause anything more than a little scratch in their heavy hide. Their tails swung wildly, sending the hunters flying through the air. In the shadows, the watching monster silently laughed to itself again, mockery and disdain in its eyes. It didn't even bother to stay and watch its pets finish cleaning up the humans. There was no reason to bother.

But another pair of eyes lingered on the fight, watching with interest as the fight drew towards its inevitable conclusion. However, his eyes weren't on the hunters, who still struggled to fight as their comrades toppled one by one around them. Nor was he interested in the monsters, whose heavy steps hadn't seemed to falter despite the blows that reigned down on them. No, his eyes were focused on a single woman, who darted through the battlefield, resolutely shooting her arrows from the back lines, even though the mortal wood and iron barely left a mark on the monster's scaly hide.

"Scatter!" someone finally shouted. "They can't chase us all!"

The hunters turned and bolted down the corridor, their speed barely able to outrun the monster's rampage. However, all of those Blessed by a god possessed traits at the peak of human capability, or even beyond. They'd stand a chance at survival if they could break free. They quickly took off down the passageway, ignoring the grating roar and thuds that came from the chasing monsters.

And certainly ignoring the one mortal among their midst.

 

[Lisianthus]

You have got to be kidding me. Michiko could not believe this. More so, she did not want to believe that this was happening. They were supposed to be one of the best. They were the most anticipated upcoming rookies, known to have the highest potential. But what in the world were they doing? Was this all that they amounted to? Not even one of them spared her a glance. How laughable.
What was meant to be an easy jackpot for her, had turned into a nightmare. She was the one that was supposed to leave them behind to deal with the creatures. She was the one that was supposed to flee. But here she was, left alone in the cave. In their haste to save their own hide, one of them had knocked into her, successfully pushing her down onto her arse as he ran with his tail tucked firmly in between his legs.
The only good thing about what happened? They brought along with them the lizard like creatures, leaving her with only one to deal with. With her arrow still nocked in her bow, she raised her hands, aiming it towards its open mouth as it charged at her. She let loose when it was near enough, tossing a haste prayer.
I don't care which god you are, but whoever is listening, freaking help my arrow fly true. I'll do whatever you want after this. If she could survive this, she could definitely claim the loot, couldn't she?
This would be her lucky break if she survived, and she couldn't exactly miss the chance. Besides, it was already too late for her to run away. And if she were to lose her life, she'd rather go off with a bang, instead of dying alone in this dark cave. But if that was to be the case for her, then she curse the ones who ran away, and the one who forced her to take up this job in the first place.
Man, she actually already had her life all mapped out. She had aspirations and dreams. And this was not it. She would not have chosen this path if she could. She honestly found this moronic. Why would anyone want to risk themselves for this.
But here she was, ironically. Throwing her life away for the sake of quick cash. Her stupidity was causing her her life.
How freaking amazing.

 

[Peregrine]

There was no telling whether or not any god was paying attention to Michiko's prayer, but her arrow flew true all the same. As the beast's head swung from side to side with every step, the arrow seemed released with perfect timing. It almost seemed as though the arrow was drawn towards the beasts beady little eye, which was half-hidden on the side of its head within several folds of heavy, leather-like hide.

Struck by a sudden burst of pain, the beast reflexively reared backwards, letting out a screeching howl of pain. When its feet fell back to the ground again, the whole cavern began to shake, and a stone was suddenly dislodged from the ceiling.

Irate, the beast's tail swung wildly, striking randomly against the walls. However, just as abruptly, the monstrosity seemed to collect itself again. It froze for an instant, before erupting into a forward charge, hurtling towards Michiko as though it wanted nothing more in the world than to trample her to death.

In that moment, it was probably true.

The thundering beast grew closer and closer with irresistible momentum, the stone-like protrusion on its head held steadily forward to prevent any more arrows from striking its delicate places. Behind it, its tail lashed quickly back and forth, ensuring that anyone or anything that attempted to dodge its charge would be sent flying from an equally powerful blow from the side.

However, as the beast began to draw closer, something strange began to happen. The cave behind it began to distort, the heavy stone twisting and warping under invisible pressure. Like the waves of an echo, it rushed forward, sneaking up behind the monster's back, before finally flooding over the scene like a tsunami.

The charging beast began to slow, every step becoming increasingly burdensome. Its entire body seemed to tremble for a moment, before it finally came to a full stop. Miraculously, two of its feet were in the air, the beast clearly still mid-charge. However, it did not move an inch.

The wave of power didn't slow as it passed over the beast, instead approaching Michiko. The power wormed around her skin, freezing her in place, as though every muscle in her body had suddenly transformed into stone.

"What a disappointment."

A rich voice, deep as the earth that surrounded them, echoed sourcelessly from within the stillness. "If those cowards hadn't run, the test would not have been brought to a close so soon."

For a second, silence reigned, uninterrupted. Then, the heavy voice rose again.

"Fine. I shall finish it myself."

In the space between Michiko and the frozen monster, shadows began to congeal like swamp water. They trembled, moved by an unknown source, rippling in the same kaelidoscope of motion that still stirred the walls around the moment. A second later, and the shadows rose, forming the shape of a man.

With black shadows draped around him like a heavy cloak, the man's face was only barely visible. A sharp, chiseled jaw, fine bow-shaped lips. Brilliant, golden eyes that pierced out from the blackness.

"Now we can begin. Answer my questions, girl."

Divine Interrogation.

It was not a common event, but not unheard of either. When gods took a particular interest in some of the mortals who came to pray at their shrine, seeking Blessing, sometimes the god would speak to the seeker in person. No one knew what answers would please a god, but one thing was clear. Those who succeeded a Divine Interrogation would always gain stronger powers. Those who failed, would likely never receive a blessing again.

The stillness that froze Michiko in place released as quickly as it had come, but the golden eyes of the divine didn't stray from her.

"Do you hate them? Those fools who abandoned you here to die?"

 

[Lisianthus]

Fucking Bastard. Michiko was not impressed. Nor was she humoured. The display of power? It was unnecessary. His condescending tone? It made her eyebrow twitch. His entrance? No thank you.
She kept her mouth shut, her teeth gritted behind closed lips, as she reigned her temper in. Her skin crawled when his power washed over her, and she wanted to bash a head in when she couldn't move. She stared at him, sharp black eyes against his.
What a Pompous Arse. She eyed the frozen creature behind him warily. Would he release it on her if he found her answer unsatisfactory? Well, he fucking would, she'd reckon. He was one of the gods, after all. And they were all fucking sadistic. They had no regards for human life.
The fuck do they think they are? A god that everyone worshipped. Fucking stupid ass fucks. They're worshipping fucking devils. It was dumb. And she hated how they looked down on humans. How they trampled over lives like it's fucking nothing.
Yet here she was, prayed to one. What the fuck was she even thinking, coming here in the first place.
Good fucking lord, please help me calm.She cleared her throat, her dark, indignant eyes staring into his.
"No." It was her most honest answer, one which she did not expect herself.
I still hope that they get their arses smited though. Fucking ridiculous, useless idiots.

 

[Peregrine]

Behind the unnaturally dark cloak, the god's lips parted, and laughter spilled out from within his mouth like rolling fog.

"Look at you."

If Michiko's rage was buried behind tightly pressed lips and furrowed brows, then the sudden appearance of disdain in the god standing in front of her was as overt as the sun crossing the horizon. His golden eyes stared at her, narrowed in emerging ridicule, as her body once more froze under the pressure of his presence. Like a small animal locked in the gaze of a predator, which could do nothing but freeze in place, and pray it was overlooked.

"So furious. So. Arrogant. Yet, without even the tiniest pittance of strength to back it up, look at how useless you become. Able to do nothing but grit your teeth and curse in your head."

He stared at her a moment longer, before shaking his head.

"What a disappointment."

The god had been watching her since the moment she'd entered the cave. There were few without a Blessing who were willing to enter a high rank dungeon, although whether it was bravery or foolhardiness always remained to be seen. But he'd always loved nothing more than watching weaker beings struggle against seemingly inevitable destruction.

Those who had led the way had not yet perceived their own weakness, so when they struck against a strong wall, they could do nothing but crumble. But this little archer had dared to fight against a foe her arrows could barely harm, and had been willing to put her own companions in the dangerous position to ensure her safety while she battled. She fought like a beast, intelligent and vicious, and for a moment it had charmed him.

"You ask the gods to strike out against those you aren't even willing to act against yourself. You spit at those who are stronger than you, yet you beg for their assistance when your life is on the line."

His eyes seemed to be burning, impossible wisps of light momentarily illuminating the depths of his hood. A straight, rounded nose, and high brows.

"For the sake of my interest in your fight, I was planning on giving you a chance to earn your survival. Right now, you don't deserve it. I'll give you one more chance to prove to me you do. Speak your mind."

The bonds holding her released once more.

 

[Lisianthus]

Is it too late to hope for another god to answer me? Because he honestly did not exactly grant her prayers. But here he was, yapping his arse off. She aimed to kill, not to maim. In fact what she aimed for was its open mouth, where she could pierce its throat, and not its eyes. Can't even grant a prayer right. And still trying to act all high and mighty.
Then again, all gods have inflated egos and love to throw their tantrums, don't they.
What a shit load of bull crap.
She looked at him with an eyebrow raised. She'd have scoffed if she could. Aye, she would definitely continue to curse at him in her mind.
grant her a chance of survival? If her arrow went where it should have been? That shit would have been dead by then. And, she knew her aim was not crappy enough to have that arrow fly off its intended course.
This would probably be done did if I have not prayed. Goodness. How dumb could I get? Gods are useless. I forgot. A taunt, more likely.
Can't even kill a creature right? My aim is definitely better than his.
She continued on her tirade in her mind, a smile upon her face as she stared at him, not intending to speak.
Dear god, if you can't do your job right, don't speak to me, thank you.

 

[Peregrine]

The god stared at Michiko's smirk, silent, no expression on his face. But there was no god that would maintain their patience indefinitely, especially not in the face of such blatant provocation.

"You won't even open your mouth to save your life?" he asked, before letting out a sudden laugh. In the next instant, his voice had changed from disdain to outright disgust. "Fine, then. Die with your worthless pride."

His figure melted back into the shadow, no longer blocking her from the figure of the wounded monster. The rippling swirling of the cave walls began to fade once more, returning to rock-solid reality, and the lunging figure of the monster once more began to move. Whatever force had held it frozen was clearly fading away. Gradually, it grew from a movement so slow as to be imperceptible to a snail-like crawl to a slow walk. In a few more moments, it would break free from the restriction completely and there would be nothing left to prevent it from crushing Michiko into paste.

In the silence of frozen time, a different voice sounded. Unlike the first god's voice, which had been deep and resonant, full of the virulent strength of young masculinity, this one contained no such strength. Instead it was ancient and scratchy, as though its speaker had suffered through the cataclysmic tides of life's constant vicissitudes. It was the voice of an old man, who might only have a few years left to live.

All the other gods have turned their backs on you now. They see no reason to support you.

It was impossible to guess what this voice thought about the matter. He simply sounded tired.

Perhaps it is only natural. When faced with the might of a towering oak, who would ever want to treasure an acorn?

The charging monster was speeding up more and more, but the voice didn't speak again. Instead, words appeared in Michiko's mind.

[You have received the blessing of █▉▄▆▅▍: The God of Seeds]

It was impossible to tell if she heard something that wasn't there, or if they somehow formed immaterially in her mind, but what was undeniable was that they were there. She would never be able to doubt their presence as some sort of strange hallucination.

[The Arboretum has been unlocked. One nursery is available for use]

[One time gift has been activated: Kindness for Seeds]

[A seed has been planted in the nursery and is developing rapidly]

[Please choose an idea to nurture the seed]

 

[Lisianthus]

Collab post:

Him leaving was not an unexpected reaction, but to have her heart becoming heavy was. Instead of the satisfaction that was supposed to come with, guilt and regret settled in. While she was not someone who'd act before thinking, her temper tend to get the better of her,often leaving her in disastrous situations as a result. Her mother used to tell her to reign in her temper, but gave up after realising that it was too much to ask of her. No matter how hard she tried, she could never control her fiery nature. And thus, she'd always be left with an aching heart as a consequence.

As such, she learnt not to dwell on the things she couldn't control. What had passed could not be undone. To harden her heart, and erase the lingering regret was not a hard task. She simply needed to give all of her focus in handling the consequences. And this time, she truly had to pour in all of her efforts. It was quite a life threatening situation. She raised her bow, her hands trembling as the beast slowly regained control over its muscles. She kept her eyes trained on the beast. Every being should have more than one weakness. If she could only find it, she should be able to extract herself out of the current situation. Where else lie its weakness? Concentration and clarity had always been the key point of archery. If she looked hard enough, surely.

Her concentration was disrupted, and she cursed under her breath. Her eyes rolled and she clicked her tongue, glaring daggers. All the better for me. I do not need their support. Her grip upon her bow tightened, and her forehead creased. A scoff escaped her lips as she recalled the god.

I would rather die than have a god toy with my life. If that's all you want to say old man, just… Ugh. A bitter note could be heard, laced through her words. The ego of the weak, she'd assume. And his mockery of it bruised that ego of hers.She would not have it trampled upon.

With her emotions disturbed, Michiko could no longer focus on the task at hand. Perfect. She'd sigh, the corners of her mouth twitched. Another being seemed to have decided to grace her with their presence, without permission. She would really love to have her arrow pierce the flesh of a living being to elevate her ever growing annoyance. Her frown deepened as the nonsensical voice in her head continued.

God of Seeds? What or where is this Nursery? What idea are you talking about? Who or what in the world are you anyway? Can I even trust you? Will this even get me out of here alive? Questions filled her mind rapidly, one after the other, desperately seeking answers as the creature loomed ever close.

[Each nursery is a space to develop one seed. A seed is a piece of untapped potential, which can be cultivated to produce a result, based upon the idea that is used to nurture or develop it]

[Whether or not you choose to trust, and whether or not you survive, lies squarely in your hands]

[The seed is developing rapidly, under the influence of Kindness for Seeds]

[Please choose an idea to nurture it]

The situation was really driving her up the wall. The urge to scream and tug her hair from the roots was getting stronger. She truly wanted the day to be over and done with at this point.

"You're really not helpful, are you? I am asking, what or who are you?
Untapped potential? How the hell should know what this untapped potential is? Can you be clearer? Will any vague idea do? Will hoping that the ground will grow spikes strong enough to pierce the beast work? No? Then what are you looking for?"

[Idea has been granted: Nurturing the seed with the potential of Piercing]

"...What. You…"

[The Seed of Piercing is almost mature]

"You guys just loooove doing what you want, don't you?"

[Congratulations! The Seed of Piercing is fully developed]

[Grand success. Nurtured with extreme care and devotion, the seed yields the concept of Absolute Piercing]

[This great accomplishment has unlocked one additional nursery]

[Concepts available for use:

Absolute Piercing​

Open Nurseries: 2]

[Would you like to use an available concept?]

"Yes yes yes. Just use it. Whatever." As long as she could make it out of the dungeon alive, with loot that could save her family.

[The only available concept is Absolute Piercing. Selecting. What would you like to apply the concept to?

"What do you think? Myself?"

 

[Peregrine]

[Applying 'Absolute Piercing' to Takeuchi Michiko]

"Course n—" But before she could even finish her sentence, the system had already logged her words.

"System! Nonon—"

Like lightning, tingles raced through Michiko's body, flowing from somewhere in her head to suddenly cover her entire body. Compared to the creature running in front of her, which appeared to be moving through thick ooze, it might as well have been instant. It was faster than even Michiko could move at that moment, making it seem as though the flash of sensation was completely immune to the effect of slowed time that the mysterious god had placed before.

But there was no time left to think about such complications. In the moments that Michiko had been communicating with the system, the haze of time that had gathered around Michiko and the monster was trickling away like water flowing down a drain. When the electric jolt shivering through her body finally faded away, so too did the last of the slowed time. Michiko's body was once more free from the confines of the god's bonds.

Unfortunately, so too was the monster.

Unaware that anything had taken place in front of it, the wounded beast rampaged forward, head and tail swinging wildly, each step causing a burst of thunder that shook the ground. There was no time left to plan, or to strategize. There was only time to react.

Michiko's natural reaction was to fight.

However, as she raised her bow, preparing to nock an arrow and fire, everything began to go wrong. The tips of her fingers dug into the bow as though it was made of soft putty instead of solid wood. The bowstring immediately gave at the touch of her nails, breaking with a sharp twang as all the tension holding it shattered in an instant. What had once been a fine weapon was reduced to mere firewood in an instant.

How the hell? She stared blankly at her hands, completely thrown off by the event.
"System? What's happening? I am not imagining things, am I?"

[The Concept 'Absolute Piercing' was applied to Takeuchi Michiko]

However, the rapidly approaching monster did not slow its charge in courtesy of Michiko's uncertainty. In the time she had taken her eyes off the beast, it had closed the distance between them that had once only been separated by the presence of a divine figure. With a bugle that could just as easily be rage as joy, the massive beast swung its plated head at Michiko, intending to ram her away with the same heavy impact that had sent the team's previous tank flying into the wall like a kicked ball.

The system paid no mind to Michiko's looming catastrophe.

[Therefore, 'Takeuchi Michiko' is now capable of 'piercing all things']

She had no time to listen to the system, upon realising that the distance between her and the beast had been covered, its existence turning into a white noise at the back of her head. A little panicked, she raised her arms in front of her.

It might have seemed a feeble attempt to shield herself from the rampaging monster, more instinct than logical thought. However, the concept of Absolute Piercing changed everything. As her hands rose, her fingers clipped along the edge of the beast's head, and her fingers parted its heavy hide-like skin as though moving through water. The beast let out a shriek of pain, rearing back to recoil from the unexpected attack, even as thick, black blood scattered across the floor. It spun wildly, still letting out a noise that sounded reminiscent of spikes running down a sheet of metal.

The monster flailed wildly for several more moments, blood continuing to flow from its injury, but it finally seemed to recollect itself from the pain. Its one remaining, beady eye suddenly locked on to Michiko's form once more.

The current situation would be comparable to having a light bulb turned on in a dark room. It had finally clicked to her, the godsend gift she had somehow acquired was her only ticket out of her predicament.
"So you're not that useless after all." A little more assured, she could finally, genuinely smile.

The beast was clearly more cautious of her this time, judging by the fact that it didn't suddenly charge forth as it had been doing before. Michiko had gone, quite suddenly from easy prey to dangerous foe. But that didn't mean it was going to let her go. It took a few steps closer, before abruptly turning on the spot, sending its massive, spiked tail suddenly flying at her from the side.

Her hands moved once more to shield her as she instinctively jumped backwards to avoid its tail.

The tail swung a few scant centimeters in front of Michiko's arms, but a new problem was waiting for her. As her feet touched down behind her, the ground suddenly gave way under the weight of her toes in the same way the monster's flesh had under her fingers. Her feet sunk into the ground like she'd just stepped into a bog, until she was suddenly knee deep in the stone floor.

After its missed swing, the monster repositioned itself, catching its balance before it took a couple steps forward to match Michiko's retreat. Just like before, it twisted to the side, sending its tail flying at her. However, this time, it was flying on a collision course with her head.