Tsuki and Azumi disappeared deep within the left tunnel. It was the darkest of the three, lit only by the faint glow of fungus along the edges of the path. Water dripped rhythmically and slowly.
Tsuki didn't mind the dark—in fact, she loved it. This was different, though.
"I swear, it's always us finding the creepy ways," Azumi muttered.
Tsuki raised a finger to her lips in a hush as she whispered. "Someone's ahead."
Their footsteps slowed, inching toward a bend in the tunnel. As they reached it, Tsuki peeked and saw him.
The Watcher from the alleys.
He was cloaked in a deep gray, and masked. He stood in the dead center with his arms folded. He didn't turn—yet, he knew.
"I told you to go home," he said, his voice was clear and sharp.
"We decided we like causing trouble," Azumi said, not backing down.
The Watcher raised a single hand—ghostly tendrils of Solena shot forward along the ground. Two cloaked fighters emerged from them, mirroring the summoner.
"Then you deserve the fate that comes," he said, turning to face the two. The fighters—ghosts—lunged at them. Azumi pulled her katana, and swung—directly through.
"What?!" she blurted, before getting slammed backward by one of the ghosts. The Watcher only chuckled, his voice lowered.
"Their ghosts. You can't hit them."
Azumi rose, grabbing her katana and dodging another leap from a ghoul, before sprinting to The Watcher. She swung her blade and the man drew his to meet. Sparks lit the dark tunnel, as she parried blow for blow. Tsuki didn't wait.
She disappeared into a shadow, reappearing behind the man. They had him surrounded, but still couldn't land a hit. The Watcher parried another swing from Azumi, sending a palm into her abdomen. She launched backwards into the sewer wall, gasping before lifting herself to a knee.
The Watcher paid full attention to Tsuki now.
He swung his blade and she dodged low before landing a barrage of strikes. She disarmed him—smacking the sword out of his hand before meeting his fist with hers.
Azumi shouted, "Tsuki, look out!"
Tsuki turned too late. A ghost kicked her feet from out below, and followed with a punch into the gut, sending her into the ground.
"I remember you, girl," The Watcher mocked, moving closer, peering into her eyes. "You should've listened.
Tsuki used the chance. She brought her hands together, before forming shadow tentacles around the man. They swayed in unison, forming a dark prison.
"Shadow Cage," yelled Tsuki, rising to her feet.
The Watcher struck one of the tentacles, but it rebounded the force back at him, knocking him to the ground.
Azumi ran over, blood dripping from her lip, and drove her katana straight into his chest—but the body burst into smoke.
"Decent teamwork," a voice echoed—The Watcher stood against the wall. Completely unharmed.
Tsuki's caught her breath, his ability was unlike anything she'd seen before.
"Now, I hate to end this so soon," he whispered, "but I really must be going."
He dropped a small sphere from his sleeve—smoke exploded in every direction.
Tsuki and Azumi covered their faces, but by the time it was cleared—he was gone.
Tsuki ran over to Azumi, offering a hand to lift her up. Azumi took it, and without another word, the two continued down the tunnel with the light of a clearing coming into vision.
The Watcher moved deeper into the tunnels.
He spoke into nothing—yet answered as though someone stood beside him.
"They're in the tunnels," he said softly. "Yes. All six."