Holding the deep grey lustreless Binding Charm in hand, Shin simply nodded.
Under the crimson illumination of the moon, the Mimic quietly prowled with an unsteady limp, making sure to keep its green glowing eyes focused on the two targets in front of it. Beginning a light trot towards the more dangerous woman, the creature resolved itself to take at least one foe down with it.
Retreating a few steps backward, Shin then readied himself.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Another three shots rang out, with each shot missing its mark. However, this was all according to Tsuki's intention; with the creature barely 10 metres away, she then shouted again, 'Slapen'. Narrowing its eyes, the creature seemed to have anticipated this and immediately used its multiple arms to switch its trajectory and change targets. Straight to Shin!
Upon seeing this, Shin showed no signs of panic; instead, he let out a taunting smirk, finding it funny that the creature would target the weaker person.
You think I'm still that easy, huh? Let's see how you like this! Staring down the approaching creature, he then bellowed out with all his might.
Slapen!
However, nothing happened.
Eh?! What gives? Still barrelling towards the confused Shin, the Mimic then uttered in its raspy voice, "Slapen!" Hearing these words sent Shin's mind into a state of extreme weariness.
The Mimic, having almost reached Shin, barely a few metres away, readied its talons for a fatal strike.
Bang! Bang!
Striking the creature two more times. Miss Tsuki had disrupted its momentum and granted a moment of respite that allowed Shin to recover from the brief mental attack.
This time she holstered her silver pistol and clasped her hands in front of her whilst interlocking her two thumbs. Her eyes transformed into golden orbs with a black vertical pupil inside of each, resembling the eyes of a fox, and then behind her back nine incorporeal tails shot out. Tsuki locked eyes with the momentarily stunned Mimic and spoke with a voice full of authoritative power.
"Do not move!"
The creature reflected the fox eyes of Miss Tsuki and fell into an even deeper stupor, making it stand there in a frozen daze.
Shin immediately took action, throwing the charm at the incapacitated monster and shouting with renewed vigour.
Bind!
Flying through the air, the etchings on the rectangular charm began to effuse a bright golden light. The light manifested into multiple golden chains of light, which then wrapped around the Mimic before burrowing the end of the light chains into the surface of the roof.
The Mimic was now tightly bound in the golden chains of light; despite reawakening from its daze and thrashing with all its strength, not an inch of the chain budged.
Feeling a wave of fatigue rush over him, Shin wanted to just collapse on the roof. He then turned his head and noticed that Miss Tsuki was holding her head, the nine incorporeal figures behind her slowly vanishing.
Shin then asked in a concerned voice, "Everything alright, Miss Tsuki?"
"Yes." She answered whilst her face was wincing in discomfort, "I'm not yet fully accustomed to my contracted abilities."
Cautiously approaching her, Shin pointed at the bound Mimic. "So what do we do now?"
Tsuki then simply answered in her usual direct tone, "Kill it."
Walking towards the captured monster, she retrieved her silver pistol and simply pointed it at its head. With no reservation and no hesitation, she shot.
Bang!
The singular shot bored its way into the Mimic's skull, signalling the end of the fight.
"So it's over… just like that?" Shin asked.
Miss Tsuki then holstered her silver pistol again and replied, "Yes. Now we wait for the Essence Pearl to manifest."
Taking note of her answer, Shin hesitated before raising another question. "Will this keep happening? I mean the monsters attacking me."
Whilst crouching down at the mimic's fading carcass, she replied again in a direct tone. "Yes. Supernatural entities are attracted to those that wander during the Waking Hour. And even if you survive, they will linger around you outside of the Waking Hour."
"Meaning, those around you will get affected by the residual spiritual energies." She spoke with a hint of melancholy in her voice.
So it's true. I'll really be putting everyone in danger: Aunt Min, Sora and Jun. Letting out a mental sigh, Shin found that there was only one option before him. It seems like this is the only choice…
Before Shin could say anything else, he noticed that a glowing ball of light coalesced from the faded carcass of the Mimic. It seemed like it was composed of infinite colours that flowed around each like a gentle river.
"Is that the Essence Pearl?" Shin asked out of curiosity.
"Indeed." Tsuki then grabbed the ball of light and turned to face Shin. "Have you made your decision?"
"Yes." However, feeling a bit of hesitance, Shin could not help but worriedly ask.
"What's going to happen to my family? Shouldn't I at least tell them I'm leaving?"
"They will be safe. Any destruction will not be reflected in the real world."
Reaching into her inner pocket with her empty hand, Miss Tsuki retrieved two new rectangular-looking charms and held the hand out towards Shin. "Besides, they will..." She then paused. "Never mind. Captain Gin will explain it to you."
Motioning for Shin to take one of the silver rectangular charms, she then explained, "These are 'Return' charms. Very expensive, but very convenient. From anywhere in Sakura City, you can return to the Headquarters of the Order of Silver. Use it like the 'Bind' charm."
"Are you ready?" She asked.
Nodding his head, Shin then took in the vista of the metropolis before clasping the 'Return' charm tightly in hand. Feeling the anxiety of having to leave everything behind, he knew that his presence would bring danger to his family.
"Return." Shin simply said.
All around him the environment suddenly contracted, forming a warping tunnel of different scenes flashing past. The tunnel pulled Shin deeper and deeper before it came to a sudden abrupt stop.
In front of him appeared a massive, majestic black cathedral with four symmetrical spires on each side that looked like four piercing spears against the crimson moon. In front of the cathedral was a massive stairway leading to two large ornate silver doors. And standing atop the stairway was a familiar acquaintance.
The handsome man with silver slicked-back hair and dark sunglasses on. He stood there looking down at the street, with both hands in his black trench coat, revealing a simple smile.
"Welcome to the Silver Palace, Shin."