Nanoha was beginning to get really displeased by his whole ordeal. Whoever was behind this had no appreciation for human lives, something she couldn't overlook at all. Either that or they were into disgusting aesthetics. Neither of the two options was pleasant, after all.

Soon enough she was going to stop it. But, for now, she had more reanimated creatures to put down.

While Youmu dashed in, as expected, Nanoha kept her distance and and sniped the targets with Axel Shooter. While she could clear the whole ship with a bombardment spell, there was no way of knowing if the collateral damage would affect the thing they were searching for. Therefore, a more careful approach would be better for the time being.

Once the combination of both girls' attacks cleared the ship of any foes, Nanoha came closer, looking for source of the other reading.

One by one, the unfortunate members of the drowned vessel met their second end, their bodies promptly annihilated with more force than any member of this world could deliver in a single strike. What remained, pallid and cold as it was, seemed to still emit traces of whatever foul energy it was that kept them shackled to their vessel, but even that seemed to be unable to bring them back a third time.

The prompt defeat of those present, despite whatever unnatural capabilities a scant few had, would allow for the source of the magical signal to be come far clearer—laying in the hands of the captain of the ship, who had been stricken down at the helm, there lay a single handbell, pulsing with a similar energy that the horn that the siren had been holding.

Of course, cleaning the ship out of any remaining treasures was certainly an option, but that was a matter best left to the girls present to decide upon.

@VitaVitaAR@KoL

---

Now!

Having finally made an opening to exploit, Link's hand went for the Master Sword as he charged forward at the skeleton right in front of him. Out of its purple sheath the holy blade flew, drawn out and stabbing outward in one deft, well-practiced move aimed at the monster's skull as Link leapt up at it. He was aiming to knock down the monster, seeking to regain its footing and reeling from the attack, and pierce his holy blade through its skull at the same time. Or at least get in the stab aimed at its skull. More than that, such damaged armor these evil things wore could not ever resist the holy blade at its full power like it was now. Glowing pure white with a heavenly light, the power of the legendary "Blade of Evil's Bane" would do to this enemy as it had ever done.

From there, perhaps he could move forward and rush the magic casters ahead, as the two skeletal enemies reeling behind him and to the sides recovered. Though that in and of itself was a gambit, as any battle was apt to be like.

@PKMNB0Y

Despite their best efforts to hold the pair of assailants back, both the armored skeletons and necromancers found themselves at a heavy disadvantage against their opponents—the latter moreso, given their comparative inability to mount even a confident defensive front against the fox-eared girl tearing through their summons. The subsequent gap in their undead keeping Link at bay only served to further drive them back.

The combined assault of the pair made quick work of the undead that worked to try and block their path, and one by one the remaining necromancers fell. Though the thralls that had been brought back to life by their magic remained (and more than a few were already moving upon the pair despite their masters falling), their destruction meant that there was no further reinforcement to their number.

Among the remains of the twice-killed necromancers, though, there was a single collar that seemed to pulse with energy despite its owner's demise; trinkets and jewels lay strewn about as well, though it would take a sharper eye to sift them out through all of the skeletal debris.

The defeat of the necromancers was soon followed by the feeling of someone watching the pair—a feeling that was more disconcerting than not, as the faint traces of magical energy in the air differed heavily from the skeletons that were 'looking' at them with no such effect.

@Rune_Alchemist@Crusader Lord

It was frustrating that every single door in this area... every single one... seemed to be hiding someone that was maddeningly unhelpful about her attempts to ask about a lost child. Even trying to explain just got a repeated instruction to go away, albeit more... colourfully phrased. Following the line of doorways along one of the walkways along the streets, Hibiki inevitably found herself climbing the stairs, leading to a present little bridge... well, what would be a pleasant bridge if it wasn't for the madness going on in the city.

Beyond the bridge there was another square with a window and a lit lantern, the sound of someone coughing... and inexplicably a freestanding lantern in the centre of it.

"Why is there a lantern here...?"

Claiming the horn had been a simple enough matter.

What came next was, at least in Youmu's mind, more important.

"... Takamachi-san, we will have to take the transformed girl back through the door, and to the passage to my world," she began," turning to face the younger girl as she spoke, "From there, er... I'll speak to Yuyuko-sama about contacting Yakumo-sama."

She paused for a moment. Ah, she hadn't explained just who Yakumo-sama was...

"Yakumo-sama is the one who can reverse the terrible thing that's been done to her. At least... I hope this is the case," she paused for a moment once more, shifting slightly where she stood. This ship, in spite of being cleared of its skeletal crew, did still feel quite uneasy, and her unease was reflected by the shifting of her phantom half as it drifted silently beside her.

@PKMNB0Y@KoL

Magilou, being her usual helpful self, wasn't bothering with knocking on doors, and simply watched as her companions were politely rejected by each and every homeowner. After the last few hours, the eccentric mage couldn't find it in her to be surprised at how delightfully mean they all were. Then again, if crazed Hunters roaming the streets were the norm, you probably didn't get much opportunity to practice manners.

"...Hey Magilou, isn't it weird?" Bienfu asked from his perch on her shoulder.

"You'll want to be a lot more specific at this point," Magilou responded with a carefree shrug, though she was certain the Normin was referring to the fact that these people could hide away in their homes, in apparent safety. No crazies busting down the door, and no monsters smashing the walls down to get to them. When passing by Zeke as he went door to door, Magilou had caught the whiff of what must have been incense. Perhaps that was related?

Well, whatever the reason was, they were unlikely to procure some of it for themselves, and that was assuming it kept these monsters at bay to begin with. At this point, it seemed clear that the trio could handle whatever came their way, so it was ultimately irrelevant.
Coming to some stairs, she glanced up and saw Hibiki staring at something. Ascending them for herself, she glanced at whatever Hibiki was looking at. Aside from one strangely-placed lantern, there wasn't much that seemed interesting to look at.

"Think we should go that way?" Magilou asked, hands resting behind her head, "Since we're gonna be aimlessly wandering around forever at this rate... or we could take refuge in one of these homes! As long as we keep the place tidy, the homeowners can't get too mad at us!"

As soon as someone knocked on the window, there was, at last, a considerably less angry response. At least after a flurry of coughs.

"Ah... must be a hunter?"

The voice paused for a moment. It was a man's, rather ragged and strained from all the coughing, but clear enough to understand.

"It's funny, you don't have the scent... but I guess my senses aren't what they used to be from all this. I don't know how much this means to you, but I'm willing to help if I can."

He let out another string of ragged coughs.

"... Not that I'll be able to do much, I don't think I can stand anymore. But if I can do anything, let me know. This town is cursed, so whatever you're here for you'd best be finding and getting on your way."

This was the first helpful person that they had located since arriving here, and so it was likely the only good lead they could find. This area in general looked similar to the area the little girl's home was found in, and therefore it wasn't impossible that the speaker would know something.

@Raineh Daze@RolePlayerRoxas@PKMNB0Y

For all the people there were hiding away in the safety of their homes, there was an awful lot of venom being spat out through them. Time and time again, both Zeke and Pandoria were met rough dismissals and, more often than not, complete ignorance. As much as the two hated to admit it, there didn't seem to be anyone here who was willing to even give them the time of day, much less any directions in looking for a lost girl.

"Ah, seriously, this sucks... You'd think that there'd be at least one person here who isn't either absolutely crazy or a complete jerk," the Driver complained, crossing his arms as he followed Hibiki and Magilou en route. The two didn't stop trying to ask for help in the process, of course, but trying was better than doing nothing at all.

"Mmm... Well, yes? Though I'm kind of worried that if we end up using one of these homes as a base, that little girl might end up injured... Or worse," Pandoria remarked towards Magilou, rapping her hands on a window before a response that wasn't anywhere near as rude came in return. Just as she was about to leave, as if used to rejection, though, the Blade immediately backpedaled and waved Zeke and the others over to listen in.

"Ah, yes, um... Sorry to bother you, but, um... We're looking for a little girl, about... Yea high?" she began, describing the girl from the video as best she could, ignoring the fact that there didn't seem to be anyone peering through the window in the first place.


Just as the bell had been retrieved, an earthquake began to shake the entire region that both Nanoha and Youmu were present in. It was by no means light, and the presence of energy—malicious in nature—began to pulse throughout the area. The shaking itself seemed to resonate with the waters, their own presence amplified beneath the waves, but all at once began to die down.

Whatever had caused that disturbance was far greater in power than anything else here, but as of now it seemed to show no intent to make itself known yet.

Both the horn and the bell continued to pulse with energy as they had been, but the waters became still and dark, with nary a trace of life remaining in the area.

Returning now, it seemed, would be the wisest course of action.

@VitaVitaAR@KoL

"We got what we were looking for. So, I guess that going back is the best idea to say the truth. I think that we should rendezvous with the others before—" Nanoha said after they got their hands on the other artifact. However, she didn't get to finish her sentence before Youmu spoke.

"Very well, then," she said after listening to Youmu's request.

"I cannot guarantee that the passage we used will work. In the worst-case scenario, we might end up in a completely different world with no way of coming back until Raising Heart and I can calculate a dimensional jump. But if that's what you are determined to do than we should—" Nanoha said before being interrupted by the tremors.

"Raising Heart, can you get a reading on the cause of these? Also, get ready to deploy some extra power if we need to. We can never be too cautious after we already faced enemies that can take a Hyperion Smasher at point-blank range and not get knocked out," she asked her companion as Raising Heart turned back into its Cannon Mode. If it's anything like a new enemy, they might as well have to face it before being allowed to leave.

"A little girl...?"

Another ragged cough. This one sounded rather... wet, as if the speaker had coughed up something rather more precious then he would have hoped. But without being able to see him, there was no way to tell if that was the case or not.

"Ah... I can't be certain if this is the one you're looking for, but another Hunter lives with his family down the main street. They have two daughters, one who sounds quite like the girl you're describing."

He paused for a moment, letting out another flurry of coughs.

"I'm guessing she must be in danger, or something like that, right? If that's the case, head down the main street, pass under the bridge, and keep to your right. I'm sure there will be some beasts in your path... but at least you're the type to be ready for them."

@PKMNB0Y@RolePlayerRoxas@Raineh Daze

---

The rumbling left Youmu with her hand on Roukanken's hilt, as she swiftly glanced around the area. Nothing here seemed to have changed significantly, but if the half-phantom was correct that sort of sound within a cave could indicate an imminent collapse. As a result, she was certain that they had to take the transformed girl and leave as quickly as they possibly could.

"... If there's a new opponent, I'll cut it down in an instant," she said, even as she glanced around. The small, silvery-haired girl took a deep breath.

"If the doorway into this world was anything like the one I passed through to get here, it should work from both sides. ... I think. The important thing is that we need to get her back to my world quickly."

@KoL@PKMNB0Y

Despite the eerie silence of the area, Nanoha's scans would reveal lingering traces of energy—inherently similar in nature to what was resonating from within what equipment they had procured from their targets—that seemed to be resonating outwards. Tracing its point of origin would lead to the ruined manor atop the cliffside, but a lack of any clear readings any further than the limits of the caverns that they were in would make it difficult to trace the exact location from where they were.

Regardless of the source of the earthquakes, though, the caves that had suffered more structural damage from the assault inn the first place had already begun to fall apart; the agitation only served to hasten their collapse, and the bound enemy that had been left behind in pursuit of the second target, limp as it was, was easily brought out.

The caves as a whole seemed to remain stable enough to be explored at a later time, even after the two had escaped, but they would undoubtedly have changed by the time they had returned.

From there, of course, it was a simple enough matter to return to the door that they had entered through—doubly so when considering how they were able to evade the wary eyes of those present in the town.

The city that they had returned to was just as lifeless as ever even so, but moving back to the door that Youmu had entered through proved no more difficult than the ability of either of the two to follow directions on a map.

@KoL@VitaVitaAR

Beyond the door back into Gensokyo...

Youmu had to admit, even considering the situation, that her surroundings were a little more relaxing now. Hakugyokurou's kitchen was a familiar place for her, the oven and pans all frequent places of residence for her given just how hungry her mistress was. Yuyuko-sama wasn't immediately present, however... Ah, she hadn't even thought about it, but it had been quite some time she had been gone without reporting in. At least this was a good opportunity-

Saigyouji Yuyuko's head appeared from around the corner exit of the kitchen. She was a beautiful, rather voluptuous young woman with pink hair.

"Oh, Youmu-chan!" she said, cheerfully, "You're already back?"

"A... already?" Youmu was perplexed, her phantom half wavering from side to side, "But Yuyuko-sama, I must have been gone for hours..."

"Hours?"

Yuyuko entered the room fully, now, looking just as confused as Youmu was.

"But it's been maybe a minute or two at most... well, anyway, who's this?"

"Ah..."

Youmu took a deep breath.

"Takamachi-san, this is Saigyouji Yuyuko-sama, my mistress and Princess of the Netherworld. Yuyuko-sama, this is Takamachi Nanoha-san, who... er... I believe she can explain it better, but we have urgent business with Yakumo-sama!"

Yuyuko tilted her head.

"With Yukarin...?"

@KoL@PKMNB0Y