Sonkurra-Taichou was in a complete state of panic. Someone had tried to kill him not too long ago and it was only by the careful watch of a Spirit Watcher that had saved him. He hid under his bed with a club every night.

Whenever there was a knock at the door, he refused to answer, even if he recognised the voice if they shouted for him. He was in a pretty bad shape.

Today, however, he had run out of food. There was nothing left in his dwelling and he was hungry. If he was to survive, he needed to leave to get some.

Gathering his courage, Sonkurra hurried out the door. He cautiously approached the dining hall and selected an easy-to-inspect meal. After he had finished, he headed back home. Perhaps nothing could go wrong today?

He felt a force to the side of his head and hit the ground with a thud. It took him a short while to realise what was going on, then he stood back up. A Spirit Watcher had saved him once again!

Sonkurra sighed a breath of relief, then headed back to his dwelling.

“Again?” thought Mongoose. “I’m going to have to find another way to take him out...”

==================================================================

Viper stood at the steps of the Shinto-style shrine once again. They had not been successful last time they were here; however, they had a good feeling about today.

Taking one last look around, they began to climb the steps.

LittleLadyPhoenix was in the main hall once again, kneeling by her katana.

“I knew you’d be back, Viper,” she said, without looking up. “This time, it won’t be the Spirit Watchers who defeat you, it will be myself alone.

“Don’t you count on it,” Viper grinned menacingly.

LLP jumped up quickly, drawing the sword and striking before Viper had a chance to react. She missed by less than an inch, cutting a piece of fabric from Viper’s robe.

Viper drew their own blade and readied it for her next attack. LLP brought the blade down, hard. Viper parried it easily, then extended a vicious kick to LLP’s torso. She grunted and fell back to the floor.

Viper took this opportunity, slashing downwards, but LLP managed to avoid the blow. She got to her feet and stood in a defensive stance. Viper unleashed a relentless barrage of strikes, LLP managed to block or avoid each of them, but became increasingly weary with each movement.

She sidestepped a particularly nasty strike and moved in for her own attack. Viper raised their off-hand and caught LLP’s hilt mid-strike. They turned the blade in her hand, forcing her to point it away from them.

Viper pulled back and disarmed her. With one swift movement, Viper sliced with both blades, decapitating LLP.

Her body made one step forward, before collapsing. Blood began to slowly fill the area around her corpse.

“Looks like I won’t be needing these anymore,” Viper said quietly, before stabbing both blades into her back.

They turned and walked casually out of the building.

==================================================================

Successful in her attempt, IntermittentShiningLights ceased watching over Sonkurra. She thought she had earned a break, since she had saved the life of her ward.

She left her dwelling and went to the dining hall. The burly thugs were waiting for her.

She woke up with a pain in her head, lying on the sacrificial pedestal. If she could move her arms right now, she would have face palmed, as she knew what was about to happen.

“Are you intending to get us all killed?” she asked the elder. “I am keeping the cult safe. Why sacrifice me?”

“How can you guarantee that, child?” the elder asked.

“Well, for one, I saved someone today!” she exclaimed, angrily.

“While I must applaud you for this, should it be true, we have no way of knowing you are actually telling the truth,” said the elder, raising the hatchet. “This way, we can be sure you will be helping the Dark Ones in one way or another.”

He swung the hatchet downwards.

==================================================================

Meanwhile, in the sacrificial afterlife...

Lord Hastur was engaged in conversation with both Hattie and the thin, rat-like man.

Lord Bat-Winged Squid-Head and Insom were nearing the completion of the documents, but were currently having a coffee break, laughing over a light joke.

Buzz was a small way away, pretending he had a gun in his hand, making “pew pew” noises while aiming at each of the ancient, unspeakable horrors.

As expected, a new arrival appeared. Equinoxious seemed terrified, even though she was past all the scariness of death already.

However, she calmed down when she saw the two Dark Ones.

All of a sudden, a few flashes and loud popping noises came at once.

Some more of the Dark Ones had appeared, some of whom had names that looked like a random handful of scrabble tiles.

“AH, LORD BAT-WINGED SQUID-HEAD,” said Sfatlicllp. “THEN IT MUST BE TRUE. WE ARE SOON TO RETURN TO THE MORTAL REALM.”

“HAVE THE PREPARATIONS BEEN FULFILLED YET?” asked Ut'Ulls-Hr'Her.

“ALMOST. ME AND INSOMNESIAC HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR THE PAST TWO DAYS TO COMPLETE THEM,” answered Lord Bat-Winged Squid-Head.

“EXCELLENT,” piped up The Worm That Gnaws In The Night.

Zvilpogghua simply sat where it was, writhing its many tentacles in a content manner.

“Does anyone else think it’s getting a little...crowded in here?” asked Buzz.

==================================================================

Sonkurra-Taichou was saved! Again!

LittleLadyPhoenix lost out in this duel!

IntermittentShiningLights, your final Spirit Watcher, was sacrificed!

==================================================================

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