Chapter 2 - 1: Shattered Reflections
The Hollow was alive with chaos. Ethereal beasts screeched and howled, their unnatural forms twisting through the shifting terrain. The Victoria Housekeeping team stood at the heart of the fray, their movements fluid, precise, and deadly.
The protagonist—inhabiting the body of Ellen Joe—darted forward, giant scissors glinting with frost as they cut through an advancing beast. Ice formed along the edges of the wound, spreading outward until the creature froze mid-lunge. They staggered back, panting. The scissors felt heavier with each swing, the strain in their arms growing unbearable.
This is harder than it looked in the game, they thought, dodging a clawed swipe.
"Focus!" Rina's voice rang out like a bell, sharp and commanding. Electricity crackled around her hands as she unleashed a torrent of lightning at a cluster of enemies. The smell of ozone filled the air.
To the left, Von Lycaon moved with calculated ferocity. His prosthetic legs slammed into the ground, sending shards of ice rippling through the terrain. The beasts froze in place, giving him the perfect opening to deliver a bone-crushing kick.
"Cover me!" Corin shouted from behind, her chainsaw-like broom humming to life as she charged into the fray. The protagonist hesitated, their grip tightening on the scissors.
"Move, Ellen!" Von barked, his voice snapping them into action.
They lunged forward, slashing at an enemy that had broken past the line. Ice erupted from the wound, sealing the creature's movements. Corin finished it off with a decisive swing, the broom's teeth tearing through its frozen flesh.
"Nice save," she muttered, giving them a shaky smile.
"Yeah," the protagonist replied, their voice unsteady. "No problem."
When the last Ethereal fell, the team regrouped. The protagonist leaned against a rock, their breath coming in shallow gasps. The giant scissors hung loosely at their side, the frost coating them beginning to melt.