Pixel and Jean entered the Dark Forest, and suddenly, they shivered and got goosebumps. A few dim sunlights could shine on some part of the forest path, and they could feel like something or someone was watching them. The girls were quietly strolling through the forest and protecting their surroundings. Pixel and Jean were close to each other, not wanting to be separated. While the girls were roaming the route, they heard a rustling noise from the bush. The girls halted and immediately pulled out their combat knives. They were quiet. The girls kept moving, and the rustling stopped when Jean accidentally stepped on a tree branch. The girls stood there, not sure what to do.
Later, sharp black claws emerged from the bush, making the girls' eyes widen when they saw a new creature. The creature came out entirely, and the girls were frightened. The beast was all black with white fur on its back. Its tail was short, and the unknown creature was so thin that it could see its bones. The animal also didn't have any eyes. The beast looks around and walks away. The girls were holding their breath when they saw the beast. But when it was gone, they let it all out. The girls started to jog away from the creature. They had never seen a beast like that, which greatly terrified them. They were thankful that it walked away. The girls were now jogging through the forest, hoping not to alert the creature. But as Pixel took a step, a strange figure appeared before her.
The figure has long, flowy black hair and wears a coal-black sleeveless shirt, dark gray baggy pants, and gray flats. The girls stared at the mysterious figure, and Pixel slowly moved her right hand toward her combat knife. The mysterious figure took out a pistol and raised it to the sky. The girls knew what they were doing, and before running at him, the unknown figure pulled the trigger, and all the creatures roared. The girls stopped and looked around as they heard rustling, a lot of rustling. Pixel looked back at the figure and noticed they were gone. The creatures came out and faced the girls. Pixel and Jean backed away from them. The animals growled and rapidly ran straight at the girls. Pixel grabbed Jean's shoulder and threw her up the tree as Jean was about to run.
Pixel and Jean climbed up and reached the top. The creatures searched the location and tried to find them. The girls were looking down and watching the animals roam the forest. Without wasting time, Pixel began to jump each tree. Jean saw her and did the same thing. They were jumping trees and getting away from the creatures. With each jump, they land on their tippy-toes. With that, they made less noise. Pixel looked behind her and saw Jean following her. The creatures stayed in the same spot, and she sighed in relief.
The girls were jumping for nearly ten minutes. In the end, they saw the lights. They were getting close to the end. They started to go faster, and as Pixel jumped, a dagger stabbed her right ankle. Pixel gritted her teeth and fell down the tree. Jean gasped. She jumps down, and before Pixel can hit the ground, Jean quickly catches her.
"You okay?" Whispered Jean. Pixel looks at her ankle, and so does Jean. It was a black dagger with a red handle. Pixel and Jean cringed at how disturbing it looked. Pixel bit her lips as she grabbed the blade and yanked it off. It hurt her so badly that she wished she had screamed. Blood drips down her ankle, and it stings her. Pixel remembered about the hearty peach, and she went through her pocket. She picked up the cloth and took the hearty peach out. It was fresh and smelled delicious. She leaned the peach towards her mouth, and once she was going to take a bite, she felt a presence. Pixel turned and saw a shadowy figure coming out from the bush. Jean hears noises and turns her head. As the figure went in the middle, Pixel and Jean's eyes widened to see that the figure was their friend, Dominique. Dominique is wearing a tight black turtleneck with long sleeves, a white belt with a combat knife sheath, black leggings, and iron-gray ankle boots. Her hair was in a ponytail.
"Dominique?" Whispered Pixel. Dominique heard voices and turned her head to spot her friends.
"Pixel!? Jean?!" Gasped Dominique as she was delighted to see her friends again. Dominique dashed rapidly at her friends, letting Pixel and Jean greet her with open arms. As the girls were hugging each other. The girls separated, and Pixel asked,
"What in God's name are you doing here?"
"About that...," mumbled Dominique, scratching the right side of her lip. Pixel and Jean were waiting for Dominique to elaborate.
"It's a long story, so I want to explain it once we finish the exam," stated Dominique, making the girls nod in understanding.
"Then let's start heading there," said Pixel, looking at Jean and making her give a thumbs-up. Dominique gently helps Pixel up, and before they can move on, the exact figure appears in front of them, making the girls pull out their combat knives and glare at the strange and mysterious figure.
"How shocking that you lovely girls were able to avoid death. Hmph, how impressive. But don't think this nightmare ends here, as things will get more treacherous," the mysterious figure grins. The figure snaps his fingers, and suddenly everything goes quiet, leaving the girls on their feet as they check their surroundings. Pixel took the time to eat her hearty peach. The wind was dead, and the trees weren't dancing. Everything has stopped. Jean and Dominique looked around and stopped when the ground started to shake. Pixel puts her hearty peach away, and when she looks to her left, her eyes widen when she sees a large black leg stomping down, and the girls turn around to see a massive creature. The creature roared and made the girls cover their ears. Once it stopped growling, the figure lifted its arm and yelled,
"Over here!!!' The massive creature faced the noise, and the girls quickly got up. The enormous creature started running, and the girls ran away. The figure teleports away and leaves the girls with the massive animals. The girls were running as fast as they could and panicking. The girls were trying to find a solution to escape the unknown creature. Pixel turned around and saw the enormous creature destroying their path. They couldn't hide on top of the tree. Pixel looks straight and sees the exit getting nearer. Pixel grabs her friend's wrists and runs far ahead of the massive creature. As they tried to escape the beast, a tree trunk fell before them, making them trip and hit the ground. They rolled over and stopped. The girls groaned, and Dominique hissed. She sat up and looked down at her bleeding knee, where the massive creature smelled blood. The beast slowly crept up to them, and Dominique backed away. Dominique pulled out her combat knife and tried to stop shivering. The enormous creature roars, and the girls quickly cover their ears. The colossal creature raised its sharp claws and swung them at the girls. Dominique gasped and tried to escape, but her knee stung, and she fell to the ground. The nails were getting closer, and Dominique shuddered. She covered and thought that she was going to die. But Dominique felt nothing. She only heard the massive creature scream in agony. Dominique opens her eyes to see a barrier of acid. Pixel and Jean were astonished. Dominique has awakened her hidden power. The acid barrier lowered, and Dominique was breathing heavily. She has successfully been able to awakened her hidden power.
'I did it? I ACTUALLY AWAKENED MY HIDDEN POWER!!! LET'S GOOOO!' Dominique cheered in her thoughts. Pixel could tell that Dominique was celebrating as Pixel let her go before going up to Dominique and offering a hand. Dominique finishes as she gazes up and sees Pixel offering her hand, which she accepts. Pixel pulled her up, and she provided Dominique with her hearty peach. Dominique took a bite, and the hearty peach healed her injuries. The massive creature lowered its injured paw and growled. Before the beast could raise its claw again, someone threw a rock at a bush, and it made a noise. This grabbed the creature's attention. While the creature turned around, Jean grabbed Dominique's wrist and took off. The girls were running towards the exit, and they were getting closer. Soon, they reached the way out and stopped. They breathed heavily and never expected to run away from a massive creature. This entrance exam was too much for the girls. But they can't back away from it now. All they need is to have courage in themselves and be strong. Pixel and Jean controlled their breathing and straightened their backs. Dominique rests her hands on her knees and tries to catch her breath.
"Here, straighten your back and breathe calmly," instructed Jean, straightening Dominique's back and breathing slowly. Dominique struggled a bit, but she got the hang of it. Dominique thanked Jean and continued down the path.
The sun was at the top, and there weren't any clouds. The girls stroll down the path and last encounter something for the past ten minutes. It made them feel uneasy. The girls kept checking their surroundings and remaining attentive. The clouds blocked the sun while the girls reached an open field, making the sky dreary. At a distance was a tall, pale figure with sharp fingernails, pointy ears, flowing, long black hair, and a teared-up white and long black dress with several flower designs devouring a male participant.
"Haha, I ain't dealing with that," laughed Dominique awkwardly. The lady stops and turns around, revealing her singular black eye with red vertical pupils and sharp teeth. The girls weren't sure what to do.
"Ooh~ Such a blessing that more humans came to me, and what's this? You girls look relatively young~" Chirped the demon lady, suddenly appearing in front of the girls. Their eyes widened, and they backed away. The demon lady examined the girls, and her eyes expanded when she saw Pixel and Jean's uniforms. The demon lady raises her right leg and stomps the ground, creating an earthquake.
"Doesn't that damn slayer ever learn!?!? I killed her two students, and that didn't stop her!!! Tch, no need. I know you pathetic girls are an easy target," laughs the demon lady. The demon lady's hair flies around and goes directly to Pixel and Jean. Pixel, Jean, and Dominique saw this and avoided the demon lady's attack. Pixel and Jean slid and darted toward the demon lady. Dominique was watching them and wasn't sure what to do. The demon lady's hair moves towards Pixel, and she tries to grab her, but Pixel swiftly dodges the demon lady's hair and cuts it. The hair falls onto the ground, and the demon lady gasps.
"My beautiful hair!!! Now you have done it!!" Hissed the demon lady as she glared at the girls. Another set of the demon lady's hair appeared beside Pixel and smacked her. Pixel flew and hit the ground multiple times before hitting her back against the tree. Jean and Dominique were shocked. Jean grips her combat knife, and before the demon lady's hair can attack her, Jean uses her hidden power to create a slash flame. Jean has burned the demon lady's hair, making her even more pissed. The demon lady spread her hair and tossed it at Jean. Jean breathed in and concentrated on her energy. Jean let it out and ran directly at the demon lady, dodging her attacks.
Jean jumped onto the hair and avoided the demon lady's attacks. A hidden hair grabbed Jean's hips and roughly slammed her against the ground as Jean got closer. Dominique was frightened and wanted to fight. She couldn't move. Jean lies on the grass, struggling to catch her breath. Her eyes were wide open, and tears formed. The demon lady laughed and started to drag Jean back. Jean felt her body getting pulled, and she tried to squirm out. But she couldn't since Jean didn't have the strength. Dominique anxiously gazed at Pixel and saw her getting up. Pixel held her side and noticed Jean getting dragged toward the demon lady. Pixel took a deep breath, and as she let it all out, her breath was visible. Dominique was struggling to choose as her hands trembled in fear.
Dominique nervously takes out her combat knife and stares at the demon lady. Dominique faced Pixel and saw her dashing at the demon lady. Dominique is amazed by her courage and wants to have the same bravery. Dominique glared at the demon lady and followed Pixel. The demon lady gazed up, and her eye widened when she saw only Pixel running up to her. She gritted her teeth and flung all her hair. Pixel gripped her combat knife and could feel her hidden power flowing through her body. The blade suddenly turned into ice and cut all of her hair. The demon lady's eye expanded more, and as Pixel crouched down, Dominique appeared and swung her blade, containing acid from her hidden power. The edge touched her neck, and the acid blade went through with all her force. The demon lady screams. She darted her eye at Dominique, and before she could slash her with her sharp black nails, another knife stabbed her right side. The demon lady hissed, and Jean appeared beside Dominique. Jean grabs Dominique's hands and pulls more through the demon lady's neck. Pixel smirked and stabbed the demon lady through her heart. Altogether, they killed the demon lady. The demon lady screams and backs away.
"YOU...YOU IGNORANT FOOLS!!! YOU DAMN HUMANS!!!" Shrieked the demon lady, her head falling and hitting the ground. The girls put their weapons away and watched as the demon lady faded away. In front of the girls were Natalia and Diego. Surrounding them were pure lights. Both of them smiled and disappeared in the sunlight. Dominique immediately faced Pixel and Jean. She sees them smiling and waving.
"Who were they?" Asked Dominique, staring at the now clear sky.
"Our instructor's kids. We fulfilled their wish, and now they're free," softly smiled Pixel, inserting her hands inside her pockets. Dominique gazed at her friends, and a smile formed on her face.
"Well, may they rest in peace," said Dominique, resting her right hand against her chest and staring at the sky. Pixel and Jean nodded, and with that, they continued their exam.