The view distorts again, and the room twists as if seen through a row of prisms and strange fun-fair mirrors, before roaring aside as if squished in a press, being replaced by darkness and bright light that somehow exists together without a shadow, in a vortex.

Again, the girls all disappear, though as before, I can feel the subtle shape and warmth of Kiku and Kaede's hands despite not even being able to see myself and the others.

I don't know if I'll ever get used to this ley-gating business.

To be honest, it's actually different to before as well. I don't know if it’s my spiritual awakening, but it’s now like... like being in a nursery of young children as the only older one. If you don't know what that's like... well in a nutshell, it's just chaos. Squealing and shouting and overlapping cries and voices that roar like gale-force winds. Noise.

But despite that, there is the urge to let go of the hands linking mine, to just jump into the ether and play.

Like sirens songs; or dancing, beckoning fairies, there is a nagging feeling that all would be better if I just let go. But I resist, thinking of the girls, and this mission that I have foolishly decided to dedicate my life to.

"1-/ i5 83T!e,- H3r3? VVln>/ Iv0T h319

I have no idea what you are saying. What are you, a spirit?

Before I can get an answer, though, the entire view snaps and warps again, taking on a very blue and orange mixture before settling into a clear picture of a lagoon with fairly sheer cliffs.

We splash down gently into the intensely turquoise water. It's only shin-deep, and almost stagnant.

This lagoon is basically part of an open air cavern that has doubtlessly accumulated minerals into its water over several years, becoming rich in... its copper that causes this type of colour, right?

The cliffs surrounding the water are orange, of an arid impression, and the heat increase is quite noticeable.

At the end of the lagoon, there is a beach of fine white sand leading to a cliff that has been chiselled to a flat wall, with a gaping entrance into darkness surrounded by an archway and pillars built of the reddish stone.

The stone pillars are split and cracked and one is lilting ever so slightly. Am I in an Indy film? It's not quite Petra, but...

"Uwah! This place is really pretty!" Exclaims Aria.

I nod. At least, it's a picturesque scene.

But not long is given for us to appreciate anything. There is a sudden shriek from the dark entrance ahead of us.

The girls immediately all adopt battle stances, and a formation instantly forms itself, as if planned, with Kiku and Aria going forwards, Rishya and Seria back-stepping, and Kaede crouching protectively next to me in the middle.

It's a blessing that everyone knows their role. Even though the back-liners are new. It reiterates to me how scary combat loli’s can be!

I squint at the entrance as another echoing howl emanates. As I do, the afternoon light dances with twenty shadows, and a horde of dashing corpses rips outside, falling over themselves as they leap into the water.

What the hell!? Fast zombies straight away? Where are the shamblers?

We have about fifteen seconds before they reach us. Seria starts chanting something.

"Wait!" I shout back to her. "We're also in the water!"

Seria suddenly realises her mistake, curses, and halts. Aria and Kiku brace for impact, and peek back to me concernedly. This is no time to hesitate. I'll use a vial!

Five seconds. It's lit!

I crouch and take on a pitchers stance, and let it go with a good chunk of power.

The fuse crackles in the air as it spins in slow motion.

It slams into a lurching zombie’s claw in the middle of the pack. That zombies arm is set alight in white flame. It looks slightly comical, waving like a torch.

Oh hell. That wasn't as powerful as I...

The zombie explodes. A massive roar, flash, and shockwave of bright white fire erupts in the midst of the mob, nary twenty feet from us.

KRAKOOM!!!

I shield my eyes just in time, but my ears still ring, and I stay standing with some difficulty as the bright blue tsunami of water crashes into our formation. I hear and feel some debris 'pang' against my new breastplate.

As the mist settles, and my hearing returns with a whine, I fall on my ass again with a splash.

"Holy Sendervil's mercy..." I hear from Aria, her mouth agape. Kiku spurts out water, and takes off her helm, letting rivulets of liquid run down her neck.

The still twitching limbs of several zombies float around us, spewing ichor amidst the lingering smell of burnt flesh. Some flickering white flames dance on the surface of the bright blue water.

A floating arm touches Rishya's leg and she squeals and leaps away, grabbing onto Seria. Seria begins to cackle.

"Fufufu... Boy... you never cease to amaze me."

Can I at least have the announcer shout 'M-M-M-Monster Kill-kill-kill!'.

Hahaha... no? no one?