Eleven: The Sequel of AlterMyth

Run Through The Taiga

"I don't want to fight you!" Kiara cried out from behind cover. She dissolved her wounded wings and offered parley, "I don't know what you've been told, but I'm from the Cover Corporation! We're on your side! You have to talk to your superiors and evacuate Yekaterinburg!"

"Why don't you tell them that yourself!?" Mumei lashed back, "Why do you have to go through me? Something tells me you're not telling me the whole story!"

Mumei reloaded her gun and assaulted Kiara's position. The Phoenix winced and eyed the battlefield. She quietly apologized to a dead Soviet soldier and pried the AK-47 assault rifle from his cold, dead hands.

Kiara cocked the AK and shot back at Mumei. This time, she forced the owl to take cover.

"I can't go to your authorities because I need to talk to people who I can trust!" Kiara warned, "Your world has been infiltrated deeply by the Ancient Ones!"

She fired disciplined three shot bursts, but Mumei answered with unhinged sprays of lead.

"I have no idea what these 'Ancient Ones' you're rambling about are, but we're waging war on The Manipulator." Mumei countered with displeasure, "And right now, I've got an itching feeling that you're with them !" Mumei drew the dagger of her mentor and affixed it to her rifle like a bayonet, "Kiara Takanashi. Calliope Mori. Amelia Watson. Ina'nis Ninomae. Gawr Gura. For the sake of this world - all of you must die!"

Mumei charged at Kiara. When she did, the owl-girl's shadow shifted behind her. A sinister, malicious presence lingered around her. Kiara poked her head out from cover and saw that presence.

She froze in fear.

This owl-girl wasn't trustworthy. Far from it.

Mumei carried the yoke of the Ancient Ones on her shoulders - but she didn't even seem to know it!

Mumei fired at Kiara, pinning her down in place. Then, she closed the distance and thrust her bayonet dagger at Kiara.

Kiara blocked the strike with her shield, but Mumei followed through and drove her shin into Kiara's stomach. It wasn't a regular punch either. While Mumei was strong for a human her size, the blow stung reverberated throughout Kiara's entire body and rattled her very soul.

What hit Kiara didn't feel like a fist.

The Phoenix gritted her teeth and slammed the butt of her AK into Mumei's face. Mumei staggered. Kiara pressed on and kicked Mumei back, sending her flying back-first into the snowy roof.

Kiara tossed away the AK and called forth her magical flames once more. Then, she willed those flames to form her radiant orange sword.

"Oh?" Mumei picked herself up from the ground. She coughed blood but wiped it from her lips without batting an eye, "Are you finally afraid of me?"

"I'm not afraid of you, little bird." Kiara corrected with a frown, "I'm afraid of your shadow!"

Mumei tilted her head, wondering what Kiara was going on about. However, when she did, she stumbled forward in the snow. A dizzy spell robbed Mumei of her balance. While the owl-girl picked herself up, her shadow shifted again and took shape. Large black wings wrapped around Mumei, spreading further than Kiara's own radiant wings. Then, one by one, yellow eyes opened between the black feathers.

Eleven eyes watched Kiara with curiosity - and amusement.

The eyes were looking through Kiara's very soul!

Suddenly, the watchful wings shot towards Kiara. The Phoenix hopped back, blocked the wings of her shield and slashed at them with her fiery sword.

The black wings bristled. The irises of the yellow eyes shook violently. Then, Mumei Nanashi screamed in agonizing pain.