---
As Akio stepped into the arena, the weight of his decision hung in the air. The shimmering tear at the center of the grand chamber pulsed like a heartbeat, reminding him of the power that flowed just beyond the veil of this world.
The tournament wasn't starting yet, but Akio could already feel the eyes of the cloaked figures on him, measuring his every move, as if they were waiting for him to falter.
Valen's voice interrupted the oppressive silence. "You'll need more than brute force to survive this place. The Shattered Veil is unlike anything you've experienced before. You'll learn... or you'll die. Either way, it'll be entertaining."
Without another word, Valen turned and left Akio standing alone in the vast, dark space. A low hum filled the air, tearing at reality. Akio clenched his fists, the faint glow of his tears flickering at his fingertips.
---
Weeks passed in a blur.
Akio found himself lost in the strange, shifting reality of the Shattered Veil, where fragments of worlds collided and the rules of existence twisted. Under the relentless pressure of this realm, his control over his tears began to sharpen. He could now feel the subtle fluctuations of energy around him, sense the delicate threads of space that made up reality.
The others from The Twilight Eclipse were distant, watching but never intervening. Every day felt like a test, and the line between training and survival blurred more and more.
Valen's promises hung over him like a dark cloud, his cryptic words about "unexpected opponents" fueling Akio's paranoia. In the Veil, Akio learned how to manipulate tears more elaborately—how to create tears that weren't just chaotic. He could now pull from the very essence of the shattered world around him, using fragments of broken realities.
He practiced tearing the fabric of reality, infusing his thoughts with enough data to make them powerful yet stable. At first, it was exhausting, but over time, his body and mind adapted to the strain. He began to understand the complexity of tears—how to read them, how to bend them to his will. The void around him became a forge, and he was its tempered steel.
---
Now, at the start of the tournament
Akio stood once more at the massive doors of the arena. Weeks of grueling training had passed, but the weight on his shoulders remained. He had learned much about tears—how to manipulate the space around him, how to control and weaponize the very fabric of existence. But none of that mattered if he couldn't survive what lay ahead.
Valen stood beside him, his expression unreadable, but his eyes gleamed with dark satisfaction. "I hope your time in the Veil wasn't wasted, Akio. You'll need every ounce of strength and skill you've gained."
Akio's red eyes glowed faintly in the eerie light, his mind focused and prepared. "Every second was engraved into my soul."
Valen smirked. "Good. The Tournament of the Shattered Veil begins now."
The massive doors creaked open, revealing the same grand arena as before, but now it buzzed with an almost tangible energy. The cloaked figures who had once stood in the shadows now filled the stands, watching with a cold, detached interest.
At the center of the arena, the shimmering tear pulsed ominously, its energy far stronger than before.
Akio took a deep breath. This was it—the start of everything. Whatever he faced, whatever enemies stood before him, it all led to one goal: Yuna.
Without hesitation, Akio stepped forward, ready to face the unknown.
Then their opponents were revealed. All of them were wearing hoods, but one stood out to Akio.
It couldn't be, his heart stuttered.
"No.. Not here.." Akio thought to himself.
The brown hair, flowing like he remembered. The eyes--those eyes--glowing with the same emerald glow he thought he wouldn't see so soon. His throat went dry.
His feet felt like lead, rooted into the ground. His back felt more rigid than before. His brain was telling him it is Yuna, but his heart denied it.
"Y-Yuna?"