D.E.M.O.N.S: Getting Summoned Weekly isn't so Bad Chapter 2184 Decision Fatigue

Kat’s attention remained fixed on her surroundings as she delicately traced a finger along Lily’s spine. Lily was still overcome with sickness, and Kat couldn't entirely fault her. It had surprisingly required two 'cleansing' sessions to eradicate the burning sensation, as Lily, despite her numerous hands, had overlooked the venomous residue clinging to the bones of her neck. Fortunately, this second endeavor was far swifter than the first... though Kat had to position herself differently for optimal access, which Lily perceived as perilously close to a betrayal of her girlfriend.

This proximity, naturally, led to the vomiting. Although, truth be told, there was nothing left for her to expel.

Lily’s instinct urged her to protest, to insist they continue the fight... that abandoning their struggle now, with the most arduous part conquered, was unthinkable. However, as this thought formed, Lily once again felt the urge to vomit and realized with stark clarity that her physical state rendered her utterly incapable of continuing the battle.

Kat let out a sigh. Lily wasn't entirely mistaken. The prospect of exacting retribution upon Greaves was undeniably appealing. Nevertheless, there was no pressing urgency. With Lily finally managing to keep her recent meal down for a few precious seconds, Kat scooped her into a comforting embrace. Kat experienced a brief moment of surprise as Lily underwent a transformation, followed by less astonishment as tears began to flow. Kat carefully adjusted her hold, allowing her to tenderly stroke Lily’s back and offer solace.

Just as Kat was about to vocalize her subsequent strategic considerations, a grating sound, as if something were dragging against the ground, echoed from the distance. Kat’s gaze swept the area, but no sign of Greaves was apparent. The unsettling noise persisted, and...

Lily let out a sniffle and began to regress, shrinking in stature until she was once again a small Memphis nestled securely in Kat’s arms. A few lingering sniffles betrayed her words, as she had claimed her tears had ceased. Yet, Kat was willing to overlook this minor inconsistency for Lily’s sake, seeing no need to emphasize the point.

Kat ascended into the sky, or at least, she attempted to. The instant she broke free from the crater's confines, an object hurtled towards her. Recognizing the considerably heightened danger presented by Greaves, Kat meticulously observed the incoming projectile. It was an arrow, its luminescence strongly suggesting a potent enchantment. Kat contemplated her course of action... while Lily, with surprising practicality, flicked a ball of paper at the approaching threat.

The arrow and the paper fragment met mid-air, erupting in a dense cloud of green mist that lingered stubbornly. While maneuvering around it was simple, Kat, exercising caution, held her breath in its vicinity. There was no advantage in taking unnecessary risks at this juncture. Following the trajectory of the arrow back to its origin, Kat found no trace of Greaves. Instead, a small, rather unimpressive contraption sat where the arrow had been launched.

In contrast to its presumed predecessor, this device appeared less robust and not currently prepared to discharge further projectiles. Kat surmised it was likely a single-use item. However, its presence offered no clue to Greaves' whereabouts, and truthfully, Kat would not discover any evidence of her escape for a considerable duration. Lily and Kat covered a vast expanse, soaring through the air and even reaching the far edge of the progressively diminishing arena. Explosions continued to erupt periodically, particularly when the confining barrier swept over their position, yet Greaves failed to materialize visually.

Not even when the barrier contracted to its smallest apparent dimension did she appear. The circular arena ceased its contraction when it reached a diameter of approximately one hundred meters. While offering a reasonable amount of space, it was far from expansive. The situation felt rather confined, and Greaves remained conspicuously absent while Kat and Lily remained airborne. The ground area requiring scrutiny was also limited. Two impact craters remained partially within the dome's confines, with a third barely encroaching inside and scarcely meriting consideration.

Nevertheless, potential hiding spots were scarce. One of the craters housed their elemental, while the remaining two had their elementals positioned outside the wall. It was conceivable that a hidden bunker might exist, or that Greaves might have burrowed directly into the rock face. However, any such entrance would undoubtedly be concealed from aerial observation, assuming it existed at all.