I plummeted toward the ground, gusts of wind whipping past me—each one a ghostly green arrow, shooting straight at me.
Suddenly, while in midair, I swung my left hand; five Bloodlashes whipped out, knocking down every arrow that came my way.
"Hurry, call my name." (The voice was unmistakably Yuna Ji, her presence lingering in the Shadow Realm.)
With a thud, I crashed to the ground. A voice echoed in my mind, and just as I thought it was a hallucination, it sounded again.
"Quick, say my name, or you’ll be in danger."
With a clang, I rolled aside, dodging a massive cleaver swung at me by a giant skeleton. It wore armor and a single-horned helmet, wielding the blade with eerie strength—a nightmare straight from the Shadow Realm.
The stone slabs beneath were split apart by its tremendous force.
I knew perfectly well—I needed a weapon now.
Creaking noises echoed all around as skeletons closed in from every direction, encircling me. Glancing that way, I could already see the path up the slope.
I scrambled to my feet, and suddenly, the Bloodlashes in my left hand intertwined, slowly taking the shape of a sword.
It was the sword I’d used that day against Black and White Impermanence. Gripping it, I charged forward—within moments, a few swings dispatched several skeletons.
Suddenly, hoofbeats thundered from ahead—a skeleton riding a skeletal horse, brandishing a long spear, lunged at me. I dodged, and it yanked the reins, stopping the horse with a shrill cry before sweeping the spear sideways at me.
With a metallic clang, I gripped my sword with both hands and blocked, but the force sent me flying.
No sooner had I landed than skeletons swung their blades at me. Clutching my sword, I spun on the spot, sweeping it around me.
With a snap and the clatter of chains, a slick green chain whipped toward me. Instinctively, I flicked my sword, but the chain wrapped tightly around it.
In the crowd of skeletons was the one that had just knocked down the paper eagle. It tugged hard, pulling me off balance, while smaller skeletons raised their blades. Without hesitation, I let go of my sword.
I spun, swinging my left hand—crack!—shattering two skeletons. Hoofbeats echoed behind me as I dashed up the slope, the road out of town now in sight.
A chill ran through me; I stopped abruptly and dodged to the right. With a hiss, a green spear thrust at me. I grabbed it with both hands and turned—it was the skeleton rider again.
Immediately, I stretched out my left hand, sending a blood line whipping out to coil around the skeleton’s neck. With a yank, I pulled it off the horse.
Then I stepped into the stirrup, climbed onto the horse’s back, and smacked the skeletal steed. With a shrill cry, it charged up the slope.