The sunset was high in the sky as Kira, having left Nadia's depressed atmosphere training, she decided not to bother Lennox and let him get his rest. Instead, she made her way home, determined to harness the power of the Nexus enchantment Elixir.
Upon arriving, it didn't take Kira long to slip into a state of calm. She assumed a zen position and took out the Nexus enchantment Elixir. With a controlled focus, she channeled her Nexus energy, causing her body to radiate a soft glow. The nexus vein on her back lit up in a brilliant white, revealing 250-strength dots.
"250 dots," Kira murmured, nodding with satisfaction.
To evolve to the next rank, she needed to gain 300 strength dots. Despite avoiding close combat, Kira knew that her body's responded to her Nexus energy was aiding her growth. Terra, with the little close combat, provided enough nexus energy for her to accumulate a few more dots.
"I sense a breakthrough coming. It should bring me closer to evolving," Kira declared, a sense of anticipation in her voice.
Evolving to a higher rank required reaching the maximum strength points on the strength vein, but each rank demanded significantly more strength dots than the minimum needed for evolution.
Letting out a deep sigh, Kira contemplated the challenges lying ahead. As she mulled over how to gain more strength points, an idea flashed in her mind. Without hesitation, she decided to visit Mentor Kage.
With renewed determination, Kira rose and hastily left her dwelling. She headed to her secret spot at the academy, where she had previously vented her emotions of, sadness, anger, fear and grief about her grandfather's loss and his mysterious murderer.
Upon arrival, she spotted Mentor Kage standing, gazing at the sky with an unusual expression. Curiosity tinged with concern, she approached him.
"Hi, Mentor Kage," Kira greeted respectfully.
Mentor Kage turned around, a fleeting smile touching his lips before reverting to his usual cold demeanor. "Oh... Hi, Kira," he replied.
Kira couldn't help but find it odd that Mentor Kage wore a smile, a rare sight given his usual stoic demeanor. Despite his often cold exterior, Kage had imparted valuable wisdom to her here and there in the past.
"Did you enjoy your time on Terra?" Kage inquired, breaking the silence.
"Yeah, but it also pushed me closer to a breakthrough," Kira replied, sensing the significance of her evolving strength.
As Kira spoke, Kage recalled something he had given her. "Did you like the elixir?" he asked, a hint of concern crossing his face. 'It shouldn't have given her another boost,' he thought.
"Yeah, it benefited me too," Kira reassured him.
Suddenly remembering a gesture of gratitude, Kira handed Kage the Shadowstrider bow. "Thank you for the bow," she expressed sincerely.
"Did you like it?" Kage inquired.
"Um... yes," Kira responded, a hint of uncertainty in her answer.
"Well, you can keep it for yourself," Kage replied, a rare display of generosity.
"Thank you," Kira said gratefully, attaching the bow back to her back. It held sentimental value as her first weapon since joining the academy but most of all from mentor Kage.
"Oh yeah, I came to ask for something from you," Kira mentioned, shifting the conversation.
"Oh... yeah, what is it?" Kage inquired, his expression unchanged.
"I-I need the badge to the Enigma Grove," Kira said quickly, her request hanging in the air.
Kage didn't immediately respond, instead raising an eyebrow, a silent acknowledgment that he understood Kira's intentions. He knew that the Enigma Grove was a crucial place for Nexarc students to evolve, but it was also filled with danger.
The silence stretched for a couple of seconds, creating a sense of unease in Kira. She questioned herself should have made such a request? especially considering the history of Nexarc students in the Enigma Grove.
Finally, Kage reached into his pocket, and Kira's excitement surged. However, instead of the expected badge, he pulled out a box of his favorite cigarettes and a lighter. He lit one, taking a contemplative drag.
Just as Kira's disappointment started to set in, Kage's hand dove back into his coat pocket with a lightning-fast motion, leaving a blur that Kira couldn't quite follow. He spoke, "Be careful," and with a toss of a black item showing a badge with the academy symbol and his name on it.
"Thank... you," Kira responded softly, but Kage had already begun walking away, looking preoccupied with some other matter.
Deciding not to dwell on it, Kira headed toward the Enigma Grove. The midday sun filtered through the dense canopy as she entered the forest, the Enigma Grove situated just a short distance from Nexus Academy.
Enigma Grove-Midday
As Kira ventured into the dark, eerie forest, where the sunlight struggled to pierce through the interwoven branches, an unusual thickness of evil presence permeated the air. The usual dark aura that lingered in the Enigma Grove seemed more potent than ever.
Kira adopted a defensive stance, aware of the dangerous creatures that inhabited the forest. The darkness concealed the myriad of dangers, but she wasn't one to stay on the defensive. Her instincts urged her to press forward, confront any creatures head-on, and eliminate multiple threats simultaneously to gain more nexus energy.
Navigating the forest with caution, Kira's senses heightened as loud roars and screams echoed through the dense foliage. The air was thick with tension, and an unsettling atmosphere enveloped her.
Suddenly, with a speed that caught Kira off guard, a unknown creature shot out from the bushes at her legs. Instinctively, she leaped backward, narrowly avoiding the surprise attack.
Kira landed gracefully, immediately shifting into an offensive stance, her Nexus Vein felt the surge of energy within her, and her veins glowed with a black shadow glow. The shadow in front of her transformed into two sleek black blades that emanated an ominous aura. In a swift motion, she unleashed the blades with a mere swipe of her hand. The dark blades soared through the air, slamming into the mysterious creature that stood before her. The blades cut through its body, damaging its insides and swiftly killing it.
As the creature writhed on the ground, emitting a soft, eerie shriek, Kira took a moment to observe it. It was a ThornViper, one of the serpentine creatures with scales covered in thorns that seamlessly blended with the surrounding forest.
"One down, but ThornVipers usually come in a group of four," Kira remarked, her eyes scanning the surroundings.
Where are they? Kira pondered, her senses heightened as she examined her surroundings. The ThornVipers were elusive, their camouflage helps them blend seamlessly with the natural environment.
After a few tense seconds of vigilant eye movement, three ThornVipers lunged out from the bushes, attacking Kira from multiple directions. With lightning-fast reflexes, Kira conjured three shadow blades and sidestepped one of the thorn vipers. Their main attacks involved entangling prey in thorny vines, pricking and weakening them before delivering a venomous bite so she knew she had to get out of their entrapment.
One blade swiped through a ThornViper, dragging it and slamming it into a nearby tree, immobilizing but not killing it. Kira swiftly brought her hand down, slamming the second viper into the ground, its thorn-covered scales proving resilient making it not so easily killed.
The last ThornViper landed behind Kira, ready to strike. In a sudden and precise motion, her blade pierced through its body, ending its threat while her back remained turned. It was evident that she could control her blade with remarkable accuracy.
"Woo!" Kira exclaimed, her adrenaline pumping.
Kira took a moment to exhale, her shadow control showing signs of improvement. With practiced precision, she managed to eliminate a ThornViper without even looking at it, sensing only where it landed. The Viper's scales, valuable for various purposes like, potion, armor and more, but it wasn't currently useful for her so she left it.
Advancing deeper into the Enigma Grove, the atmosphere grew increasingly charged. Rustling leaves and distant whispers filled the air, foretelling the presence of both stronger and weaker creatures.
As Kira continued deeper, dispatching more thorn vipers along the way, the indistinct whispers that had been distant before now closed in on her. The unseen forces seemed to be drawing near, heightening the tension in the air.
Suddenly, Kira encountered another ThornViper, standing alone in the open. It struck her as odd, as these creatures typically preferred ambush tactics. Not dwelling on it she conjured a shadow blade, swiftly sending it toward the viper. To her surprise, the blade pierced through the viper's body, causing it to dissolve into wisps of shadow.
'Shadow!' Kira thought, shocked by the unexpected turn of events. She couldn't dwell on the anomaly, choosing instead to remain on high alert, her instincts urging her to be ready for anything as she cautiously pressed forward.
To her amazement, three more ThornVipers materialized in front of her eyes. Perplexed by their open presence, as they were known for ambush tactics, Kira conjured three shadow blades and thrust them toward the vipers. Once again, the blades passed through their bodies, leaving Kira astonished and on edge.
"Illusions," Kira exclaimed, as realization dawned on her. The ThornVipers weren't physically there, but they were mirages, deceptive illusions crafted to confuse and disorient. This revelation explained why her shadow blades had passed through them without leaving a mark.
As Kira processed this newfound information, a large floating shadow wisp emerged behind a tree. It seamlessly blended into another shadow, evading notice as it maneuvered within the dim light.