Elliot's world was pain and darkness. Every bone ached, her body limp where it had slammed into the cold stone wall. Through blurry vision, she saw Kyo's crumpled body—still, silent, lifeless. Her tiny heart hammered, terror and grief colliding in her chest.
Kishi's boots clicked closer, slow and mocking. "Not bad, little furball," she drawled, clapping lazily. "You took that kick better than most. Still, a shame—kinda liked your attitude."
Elliot's eyes burned—a bright, unnatural green. The world twisted. In an instant, she and Kishi were somewhere else—a cavernous antechamber, crowded with demons, just inside the palace entrance.
"What the—?" Kishi spun, claws flexed. She stared down at Elliot, but where the cat had been, a girl now stood: dark grey skin, long silver hair, dazzling emerald eyes, wearing a delicate dress that fluttered in the infernal breeze.
Kishi's eyes narrowed, hackles raised. "Who the hell are you? Where's that cat?"
The girl looked at her own hands, trembling. She glanced up at the sea of kneeling demons, then back at Kishi. "I... I got lost," she stammered, voice soft, almost musical. "I saw this portal and... I had to see where it went."
Kishi's lips curled in suspicion. "Lost, huh? Demons—anyone see a cat around here?" The creatures exchanged nervous glances, shaking their heads.
The girl's eyes darted. "I don't know anything about a cat, I just—look out behind you!"
Kishi scoffed, "You think I'm stupid enough to fall for—"
CRACK! A jagged chunk of hellstone hurtled from the crowd, thudding off Kishi's head. She spun, fangs bared. "Who did that?! Show yourself!" The demons shrank back, scrambling away.
Seizing the moment, the girl bolted for the portal, bare feet skimming over the black stone.
"Oh, no you don't!" Kishi lunged, intercepting her before she could escape. "I don't know what trick you just pulled, but I hate games—especially from weaklings." She pressed in, claws glinting. "So who are you really, little—"
The girl flailed, waving her hands in desperate self-defense. A shockwave of unseen force erupted from her palms, hurling Kishi back into a pile of stunned demons.
The girl froze. She stared at her hands, realization dawning. "I... I have power?"
Kishi landed, rolling to her feet, eyes wild. "You want to play? FINE!" She launched herself at the girl, claws flashing, bouncing off walls, pillars, even other demons. Each time she closed the gap, the girl panicked, psychic energy shoving Kishi back—sometimes into the ceiling, sometimes into a mob of minions.
Cuts began to open on the girl's arms and legs, Kishi's claws too fast, too sharp. Blood dotted her dress. Kishi laughed, a manic, lupine glee in her voice. "You think a YOU a little girl can beat me? The fastest of the Elite Three? You're a damn idiot!"
The girl stumbled, breathing hard, tears welling in her bright green eyes. Kishi circled, moving faster and faster, slicing shallow wounds wherever she could reach. "You're slowing down! Getting scared? Good!" Kishi taunted, voice echoing. "I'll break you, just like I broke that cat!"
The girl's knees buckled. But from deep inside, a voice—Kyo's voice—rang out. "Elliot! Get up!" Her name, spoken with desperate hope.
Her vision flickered. The world around her changed: gone were the hellish halls, replaced by a vast, sunlit field of grass. Blue sky stretched overhead, a gentle wind rippling the green blades. Kishi landed, skidding to a stop, eyes wide in confusion.
"What... where are we?!" Kishi barked, looking wildly around. There were no walls, no pillars, nothing for her to leap from.
The girl—Elliot, now truly herself—stood taller, wiping blood from her cheek. "Kyo needs me," she said softly, voice growing sure.
Kishi lunged, but her feet left the ground. She floated, powerless, arms flailing. "HEY! Put me down! This isn't funny! You little rat—let me go, or I'll—"
Elliot's eyes glowed brilliant green, hair lifting in the wind. "No more hurting my friends."
Kishi tried to laugh, but it cracked into a whimper of panic as she rose higher, helpless. "Wait—wait, listen, I—"
Elliot raised both hands and brought them down with all her will. Kishi slammed into the ground, the impact echoing through the dreamlike field. She lay still, finally defeated.
The grass, the sky, the gentle wind faded away, dissolving into the shadow and fire of hell. Elliot stood alone, breathing hard, bloodied but unbroken, power crackling in her veins.
She looked back at the palace, at the path leading to Kyo—and knew, for the first time, that she was more than just a cat. She was just like one of them.
And the battle for Eldo was far from over.