D.E.M.O.N.S: Getting Summoned Weekly isn't so Bad

--- Kamiko ---

Kamiko shot up when a low moan seemed to crash through the area. It was an awful groaning sound that was somewhere between a house collapsing under its own weight and the mournful howl of a band of wolves. It seemed to rattle through Kamiko's bones and even knocked some snow off the ceiling. It was a terrifying sound that would normally strike a cord with anyone who heard it.

Kamiko was no different in some ways… and very different in others.

Kamiko pulled out her naginata as she marched up the stairs, fear gone and ready for whatever this monster was. It was just the thing she needed to swap from her worries and into her combat mindset and she was ready to face the beast. It sounded close by, but it was hard to tell because of the snow.

Kamiko could see a little further now that the hail had relaxed a touch… but that just meant she could now see the end of her naginata, and only barely at that.

Kamiko marched through the snow ears straining for anything. She could just barely make out the sound of something over to the left of her hut. Kamiko took the time to drop a lantern near the top of her stairs. It might not be too much of a help in finding her way back but she had spares and it was a small gamble to make.

As Kamiko carefully walked closer, keeping her footsteps as light as possible in the multiple feet of snow she could finally hear the crunch of something else. Heavy footfalls that crushed the ice underneath them. Kamiko was straining her ears for it when another cry rang out. Kamiko had to drop down to her knees to deal with the sound. *Clearly some kind of sonic attack. Not strong, but wide reaching.

It is sufficiently powerful for rattling my bones and disrupting my muscles. I will need to be careful in combat with such limitations.*

Kamiko returned to her feet as soon as the sound faded and she made much better time now that she had a better lock on where her foe resided. She was able to practically glide across the ice, using a bit of extra speed to run across the snow. It helped her stay on the upper parts of the snow, not sinking too far in improving her speed further without too much noise.

As Kamiko got close to her target she sensed something off. Without any conscious thought she brought her naginata up to block the blow she only vaguely recognised was coming. Just as her conscious mind registered what she was doing the impact landed and Kamiko was thrown backwards. Kamiko held tight to her naginata as she bounced once, twice, and spun in the air to land before the third.

She slid through the ice and snow as the force of the blow bled off.

*Not good. I barely had any warning before the attack. I couldn't see it coming… so I guess I heard it? What am I even fighting though? The attack came from the left but I was so sure the monster was in front of me.*

Kamiko carefully looked around for any sign of the monster but all she could see was the damned snow. It didn't matter that she had better then usual eyesight because it was still blocked by physical obstructions. The fact that obstruction was ice crystals made minimal difference.

Gritting her teeth Kamiko waved her naginata through the air in front of her as a test for a follow-up attack but didn't feel anything.

*Ok so probably a pretty open area. I can't see any evidence that the monster is following up on its attack… which is odd. Normally if they start attacking they don't stop until they're too injured to continue or your dead. Very strange… I can still hear the crunch of movement so it's still going… but it doesn't sound like it's coming towards me? I think? It's hard to tell with so much snow…*

Kamiko took a few steps towards the monster she couldn't yet see and waited, no reaction. Kamiko dashed forward and readied a struck at roughly where she knew it to be… only for her to notice a retaliation strike at the last second. Kamiko blocked it again and let herself be sent flying to bleed of the momentum. She was more prepared and didn't need to bounce this time, but she slid just as far.

Ok… what is going on? Is it generating some sound distorting field or something? Is it not actually where I think it is? What's going on here? Should… I even be bothering this thing? It's not a danger and it's not attacking me until I go for it.

Hmm… it's already done its job in chasing away my fear… though that also means I don't really want to run away.

Kamiko shrugged and dashed back towards the creature. This time she held her naginata off to the side, ready for the attack she was sure would come… and Kamiko was right. The whistling of air cutting through the snow signalled something was coming and Kamiko ducked underneath it. Kamiko glanced upwards and saw a thick meaty… arm thing pass over her head.

It didn't have a hand so just calling it an arm was wrong but other than that it seemed like an arm.

Said arm had clearly realised it didn't hit anything and was now returning for a second strike, this time sweeping low, either by instinct or by hearing her drop. Kamiko backflipped out of the way to avoid the strike and then took two steps further, weapon at the ready. She was curious to see if the thing would follow up when it roared again.

Kamiko jammed her naginata into the snow butt first to steady herself.

That meant she was looking forward when the monster revealed itself to her. At least in part. Its face looked a bit like a derpy cow. Very rounded with floppy ears and tiny little horns around its face. What she could see of it was pure white… except for the obsidian arms it had reaching out from its shoulders. They were more like clubs that seemed to be attached to the monster that gazed down at her.

It was at least a head taller then her even on four legs and much much wider.

Its cry kept her stunned as the club things flew down towards her shaking form. Kamiko had to let herself drop to the ground to avoid the hit, taking dismissing her naginata as she hit the ground. The cow-thing stomped forward after the arms missed her seemingly intent on stomping her with its hooves Kamiko could now see.

Its legs were white all the way down, hoof included with a dash of black on the bottom of its hoof.

With the sound cut off Kamiko felt it fine to move again and rolled off to the side. Perhaps a poor choice as one of the clubbed arms was coming down on where she was rolling to. Bringing her naginata out Kamiko let her roll continued as she swung it.

The metal bit into the clubbed arm, causing it to jerk backwards but the cut was ultimately quite shallow, only digging perhaps an inch into the thing's thick hide and doing minimal damage if the way it turned slowly to keep attacking her, with the clubbed arms coming back down at her once again. The one further away looking to block her passage should she try to roll that way.

Ignoring the fact her limbs were still shaking a bit Kamiko kicked off the ground rocketed backwards into the snow. Grimacing as it went everywhere, especially down her back Kamiko rolled to keep her momentum for a few rotations and then pushed off with her hands to continue the flip and onto her feet.

*Very resilient and dangerous enough to be somewhat concerned… but not actually deadly enough to kill me it seems. It's too slow and the clubs don't move fast enough to do serious damage if I catch them well. It can probably leverage its weight to crush my bones with its hooves but even when I was caught off guard somewhat and right below its feet… it still missed because it's just too slow.

So… is it worth killing? This looks to be a long and gruelling fight against an enemy I don't need to engage with. Certainly one I can outrun. I'm a touch annoyed I even left my shelter to fight it now… but I needed the confidence boost. I needed a target and I'm still not sure what my best course of action is. Perhaps I should go back to get the lantern and then try to escape?

I had enough time to eat a bit… but hmm…* Continue reading at empire

Kamiko walked softly to the side as she heard the monster approaching once again. She had no desire to endure its blows when she had no need. It was simpler to avoid it until she'd made up her mind regarding what to do.