Hibiki drifted into an uneasy sleep, her exhaustion finally overcoming her anxiety. The dark silence of the abandoned building did little to soothe her restless mind, and it wasn't long before her dreams turned into a nightmare.
She found herself back in the jungle, the oppressive heat and humidity pressing down on her. The memory replayed itself with haunting clarity. She was standing beside Innocence, the dense foliage creating an almost suffocating canopy above them. The sound of a snap echoed through the jungle, and then it happened.
A flash of water, moving impossibly fast, sliced through the air. Before Hibiki could react, Innocence was bisected by the blade of water. There was a horrifying moment of stillness, and then a fountain of blood erupted, staining the jungle floor. Innocence’s eyes widened in shock and pain as she crumpled to the ground, her lifeless body lying in a growing pool of blood.
Hibiki’s heart pounded in her chest as she watched, frozen with horror. The scene replayed over and over, each time more vivid and terrifying. She reached out, trying to save Innocence, but her hands passed through empty air. The sense of helplessness was overwhelming.
Suddenly, the nightmare shifted. The blood-soaked jungle was replaced by a dark, rotting landscape. Innocence’s body lay before her, but now it was different. Her flesh was decaying, her skin mottled and decomposing despite the short time since her death. Her once bright eyes were now clouded and filled with accusation.
Innocence’s head turned slowly to face Hibiki, her mouth moving as if struggling to form words. “Why did you let this happen, Hibiki?” Her voice was a rasping whisper, filled with pain and betrayal. “You left me behind.”
Hibiki recoiled, her heart aching with guilt and sorrow. “I didn’t mean to… I tried…” she stammered, but her words felt hollow and inadequate.
“You should have protected me,” Innocence’s voice accused, her decayed hand reaching out as if to grab Hibiki. “You let me die.”
Tears welled up in Hibiki’s eyes as she backed away, shaking her head. “I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…” The rotting apparition of Innocence stood, her movements jerky and unnatural. “Sorry won’t bring me back,” she hissed, her voice growing louder and more menacing. “You failed me, Hibiki. You failed us all.”
Hibiki fell to her knees, sobbing uncontrollably. The weight of her failure crushed her, the nightmare twisting her heart with unbearable pain. “I didn’t know… I couldn’t stop it…”
Innocence’s decayed form loomed over her, a grotesque reminder of Hibiki’s perceived failure. “You left me to rot,” she spat, her voice echoing with a finality that seemed to pierce Hibiki’s very soul.
Just as the nightmare seemed to consume her entirely, Hibiki woke with a gasp. Her heart raced, and she could still hear Innocence’s accusing voice in her ears. She was drenched in sweat, her body trembling with the lingering fear and guilt.
Hibiki hugged her knees to her chest, trying to steady her breathing. The memory of the nightmare clung to her, vivid and painful. She felt a deep sense of sorrow and regret, but she knew that she couldn’t afford to let it paralyze her.
Wiping away her tears, Hibiki took a deep, shaky breath. “I won’t let your death be in vain, Innocence,” she whispered into the darkness. “I’ll become stronger… for you.”
With a renewed sense of determination, Hibiki forced herself to stand. She couldn’t change the past, but she could learn from it and honor Innocence’s memory by surviving and becoming stronger. The tears could wait,there was still much to be done.
As Hibiki steadied her breath, the lingering fear and guilt from her nightmare slowly ebbed away. She took stock of her surroundings, trying to focus on something practical to ground herself. That’s when she realized, with a sudden flush of embarrassment, that she was still only in her bodysuit. In the chaos and adrenaline of escaping from the jungle and the shock of Innocence’s death, she had completely forgotten to put her clothes back on.
She groaned, covering her face with her hands. “How could I forget something so basic?” she muttered to herself. But as the initial embarrassment faded, an idea began to form in her mind. Maybe there was a way to turn this mistake into an advantage.
Her eyes scanned the abandoned building, landing on some scattered debris and old, rotting furniture. If she could gather enough materials, she might be able to create a dummy. A scarecrow-like figure dressed in her clothes could potentially fool other exam-goers into thinking it was her, at least from a distance. It was a risky idea, but in this dangerous environment, any edge could be crucial.
She set to work, scavenging what she could from the building and the surrounding area. Using old wooden planks and some torn fabric, she constructed a rough frame. She stuffed the frame with leaves and other soft materials to give it some bulk and form. It wasn’t perfect, but it would do.
Next, she took the jacket and overalls from her pack and dressed the dummy as best she could, adjusting the clothes to make it look as realistic as possible. She even placed her headband and a few personal items on the dummy to add to the illusion.
Stepping back to inspect her work, Hibiki felt a flicker of hope. “It’s not perfect, but it might just work,” she said, nodding to herself. The dummy, positioned strategically near the entrance, could serve as a decoy. If anyone approached, they might be fooled long enough for her to get the drop on them or make an escape.
AS Hibiki sat in the quiet of the abandoned building, her mind raced. She was at a clear disadvantage being alone in this perilous environment. Other teams had strength in numbers, but she only had herself. She clenched her fists, feeling the weight of her situation pressing down on her. She needed to think, and think hard. She was going to have to act like a predator, using every ounce of cunning and resourcefulness she had to even the odds.
Her eyes narrowed as she considered her options. Traps were a given, but she would need more than just simple snares and pitfalls. She needed to be strategic, to anticipate her enemies’ movements and use the environment to her advantage. She’d have to find teams weakened from previous battles or scouts who had split off from their groups, making them easier targets for ambush.
She felt a surge of determination and began to brainstorm ways to gain an edge. If she could mislead others about her location, she might be able to create opportunities to strike or escape. An idea began to form in her mind, and she grabbed some of the materials she had gathered earlier.
First, she crafted a few noisemakers using small, hollow crystals filled with pebbles. She tied these to strings, creating simple devices that would make a distracting racket when pulled or thrown.
Next, she took some old cups she had found and created a pair of old-fashioned cup-on-string phones. She placed a small, sharp crystal inside one end to amplify the sounds. If used correctly, these devices could mislead others about her location or give her an early warning if someone approached her hiding spot.
She worked quickly, her hands moving with purpose as she assembled her makeshift tools. Her mind buzzed with a mix of anxiety and determination. The image of Innocence’s lifeless body flashed in her mind, pushing her to work even harder.
Once her new gadgets were ready, she set about placing then in her pouch so that she would have easy access to them when needed. She tested the cup-on-string phones, adjusting them until she was satisfied with their performance. They were crude, but they would have to do.
Finally, Hibiki stepped back and surveyed her work. She felt a small sense of accomplishment. It wasn’t much, but it was a start. She knew she couldn’t let her guard down, not for a moment. Every second counted, and she had to be ready for anything.
As she finished her preparations, she paused to take a deep breath. “I can do this,” she whispered to herself, her resolve hardening. “I have to do this.”
She knew that in order to survive, she would have to think like a predator. She would have to be cunning, ruthless, and always one step ahead. The odds were against her, but she was determined to fight back with everything she had. For Innocence, for herself, and for the future she still hoped to build.
As much as Hibiki wanted to hunker down and stay safe, she knew that wasn’t an option. If she wanted to pass the exam, she needed to actively hunt for other teams and get her hands on a second scroll. Her thoughts raced as she considered her next move. It was critical she spotted her prey first so she could have the initiative.
She took stock of her supplies. The traps she had laid out around the abandoned building were a good start, but she still had plenty of materials left—crystals, rope, and a few other odds and ends. She could always try to lure someone back to her base and into the traps, or set up new ones closer to her targets. Flexibility and adaptability would be key.
Taking a deep breath, Hibiki made a plan. She'd start by scouting the surrounding area, moving stealthily and keeping a keen eye out for any signs of other teams. She'd have to be patient and cautious, using the terrain and her traps to her advantage.
With her tools and makeshift weapons ready, Hibiki decided to take the dummy with her. It was lightweight enough for her to carry without any problem thanks to her unusual high levels of strength. Slinging the makeshift scarecrow over her shoulder, she ventured out of her makeshift base and into the wider cavern, her senses on high alert.
As she moved, she made sure to use the natural cover provided by the lavender diamonds jutting out from the ground and walls. The eerie glow cast strange shadows, but she was used to navigating through difficult terrain. The key was to stay quiet and keep her eyes and ears open for any sign of other teams. She moved carefully, avoiding the sharp edges as best as she could.
Her plan was simple: find her targets before they found her. The dummy, dressed in her clothes, could be used as a decoy to mislead and distract them. If she could lure them into one of her traps or create confusion with the dummy, she’d have the upper hand.
"Give 'em hell, Cinnamon Roll. Give 'em hell," whispered the voice of Innocence in Hibiki's mind. She paused, feeling a pang of sorrow and confusion. Despite her training and the countless battles she had faced, Hibiki had never fully grasped the concept of death. It had always been a distant, abstract idea—until now. Losing a friend so suddenly and in such a brutal manner had deeply traumatized her, shaking her to her core.
The weight of Innocence's death bore heavily on her heart, and her current mental state was... questionable. To cope with the loss, Hibiki had started hallucinating Innocence's voice. It was a small comfort, even though it lacked the proper lisp that had characterized Innocence's speech. Hibiki wasn't smart enough to reproduce that detail accurately in her mind, but the essence of her friend's encouragement was there.
"Okay, Innocence," Hibiki whispered back, her voice trembling slightly. "I'll give 'em hell."
[4]
Hibiki 105/160 chakra
gains ++ stamina buff from digesting the MRE from the first post
Stamina C++ < B+
155/210 chakra remaining
