Chereads / Man vs Spirits / Chapter 8 - First Battle

Chapter 8 - First Battle

A week has passed, and Ren is still absent from school. While Zara feels a hint of concern, she decides not to dwell on it too much. Today, she heads to class, trying to keep her mind occupied.

After the morning lessons, she runs into Kaito in the hallway. He flashes her a bright smile. "Hey, Zara! Want to grab lunch together in the cafeteria?"

Zara thinks for a moment, feeling the day's stress melt away at the idea of sharing a meal with him. "Sure, that sounds good."

Here's the revised scene with character thoughts in italics:

During lunch, as they settle into their seats, Kaito turns to Zara with a curious expression. "So, what about your dad? What's he like?"

Zara hesitates for a moment before responding. "I lost my parents 17 years ago, right when I was born." She keeps her voice steady, but a flicker of sadness crosses her face.

Kaito's expression softens. "I'm really sorry to hear that," he says sincerely. "It must be tough."

Zara shrugs, appreciating his empathy. It's been a long time, but I still think about them sometimes. "What about you? What's your family like?"

Kaito straightens up a bit, a hint of pride in his voice. "My dad's name is Victor Blackwood."

Zara's eyes widen in surprise. "Blackwood? As in the Blackwood family?" That can't be right...

"Why?" Kaito asks, puzzled by her reaction.

Zara feels a sudden urge to know more. "Let me check something," she says, focusing her energy. She attempts to sense his spiritual energy, and to her astonishment, she discovers that his body is filled with it.

During lunch, Zara looks at Kaito thoughtfully. "Do you know anything about spiritual energy?"

Kaito raises an eyebrow, clearly surprised by the question. "Uh, not really. I've never thought about it. Why?"

With this amount of energy in him, his life could be in danger, Zara thinks, her concern deepening. "I think I should take you to someone who can help. Someone who knows a lot about spiritual energy."

"Who?" Kaito asks, his curiosity piqued.

"Sophia," Zara replies. "She's really knowledgeable about this kind of stuff. I know her well, and she'll be able to help you understand what's going on. We'll have to go to the forest since I've been meeting her there lately."

Kaito's brow furrows slightly, a hint of worry creeping into his voice. "The forest? Isn't that a little... I don't know, creepy?"

Zara nods, understanding his hesitation but reassures him, "I promise it'll be worth it. She can help you."

Kaito takes a deep breath, still a bit apprehensive but determined. "Alright, if you think it's important, I'll go with you."

Zara smiles, relieved by his willingness to trust her. "Thanks, Kaito. Let's head out right after school."

Meanwhile, at Zaheer's house...

Zaheer sits cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by a pile of ancient books. His brow furrows in concentration as he studies the intricate symbols and passages about spirits and spiritual energy. Despite his relentless practice over the past five years, he finds himself struggling.

No matter what he tries, he is unable to draw out his spiritual energy. Frustration builds inside him, but he refuses to give up. As he flips through the pages, he stumbles upon a passage that catches his eye: The best place to draw out spiritual energy is near nature, especially in a forest.

Zaheer's heart races with hope. The forest... He remembers the ancient texts emphasizing how the energy in nature serves as a natural conduit for spiritual power. Determined to find a solution, he quickly stands up and grabs his jacket.

Meanwhile, in the forest…

Sofia stood at the edge of the clearing, her arms folded as she waited. The cool night air was filled with the soft sounds of the forest, but her focus was sharp. She sensed Zara's arrival before she saw her, and something else—something unfamiliar. Her eyes narrowed.

When Zara finally appeared, it wasn't just her. Kaito walked beside her, looking around uneasily at the darkening woods. Sofia's surprise was immediate.

"Zara," Sofia said, her tone questioning as her eyes flicked toward Kaito. "Why have you brought someone?"

Zara, catching her breath from the walk, gave a reassuring nod. "Sofia, this is Kaito. I didn't plan on bringing him, but… he has a large amount of spirit energy, like me. I thought he needed to meet you too."

Sofia's expression softened, but her eyes remained cautious. "And why would you think that?"

"Because the spirits will come after him too," Zara explained, her voice calm but firm. "He needs to learn how to protect himself. You've seen what happens when someone with this kind of energy is left untrained. He can't be left vulnerable."

Sofia studied Kaito for a moment, sensing the power that radiated from him. She let out a quiet sigh, then nodded in agreement. "Alright. If his energy is as strong as you say, then he will need to learn. Otherwise, he'll be a target."

Kaito, who had been silent up until now, looked between the two women with confusion. "Wait… what exactly are you talking about? Target for what?"

Sofia approached him, her eyes sharp. "Spirits," she said simply. "They're drawn to people like you—those with spirit energy. If you don't learn to control it, they will come after you."

Kaito's face paled. "Spirits… like actual spirits?"

"Yes," Sofia confirmed, her voice steady. "And they're not the friendly kind."

There was a heavy pause before Sofia's expression shifted. Her gaze became more curious. "Tell me, Kaito… who are you? Where does your family come from?"

Kaito hesitated, as if unsure whether the question was relevant. "I'm from the Blackwood family," he said, a bit confused by the sudden change in topic. "Why?"

Sofia's eyes widened in surprise, and she exchanged a quick glance with Zara. "The Blackwood family?" she repeated, her voice filled with disbelief. "That explains a lot… but this complicates things."

Zara frowned. "What do you mean?"

Kaito," Sofia said, her tone neutral, "let me sense your spirit energy. I want to see just how much you have."

Kaito, maintaining his friendly demeanor, nodded. "Of course," he said smoothly.

Sofia reached out, her hand hovering near his chest, her energy probing deeper. For a moment, her face remained still, but then her expression darkened with sudden realization. Without warning, she struck Kaito hard in the chest, sending him stumbling backward.

"Zara, stay back!" Sofia shouted, her voice filled with urgency.

Zara gasped, shocked by Sofia's sudden move. "Sofia, what's going on? Why did you hit him?"

Without taking her eyes off Kaito, Sofia responded coldly. "He's a spirit, Zara. My grandfather taught me how to differentiate between spirits and humans with spirit energy. I should've sensed it earlier."

Kaito chuckled darkly, regaining his footing. "Well, looks like you figured it out," he said, his voice dropping into a more sinister tone. "I can't deceive you after all, Sofia."

Zara's eyes widened as Kaito's body shimmered and shifted, his form growing larger and more monstrous. His skin became stone-like, and his fiery orange eyes blazed with malevolence. In moments, Kaito had transformed into Torrath, towering over them with his granite skin and glowing eyes.

Torrath sneered, his deep voice rumbling. "That old man Matteo… he's too powerful to take down directly. So, I thought I'd get close to him by using you, Zara."

Zara's face paled. "You… you used me?"

Torrath grinned cruelly. "Exactly. The only reason I became friends with you was to catch Matteo off guard. But since he's not here, I'll just kill both of you now."

With a roar, Torrath lunged at them, his massive fists raised, ready to strike.

As Torrath lunged toward them, Sofia acted quickly. She grabbed her wooden stick, imbued with spiritual energy, and raised it to block his attack. The stick glowed brightly as she channeled her power into it, trying to hold him back.

But Torrath's strength was overwhelming.

With a single, powerful swing of Earthshatter, his colossal warhammer adorned with glowing runes, Torrath shattered the wooden stick into splinters, sending Sofia flying through the air. She crashed hard into a nearby tree, gasping in pain as she slumped to the ground.

Zara's heart pounded as she watched in horror. "Sofia!" she screamed, but there was no time to react.

Torrath's fiery orange eyes locked onto Zara, and he moved toward her with terrifying speed, his granite-like skin glistening in the fading light. Trembling with fear, Zara closed her eyes and focused, channeling her spirit energy to create a protective armor around herself.

But Torrath was relentless.

With a swing of Earthshatter, he shattered Zara's spirit armor like glass, leaving her vulnerable. She stumbled backward, the shock of the blow leaving her breathless. Panic surged through her as Torrath loomed closer, ready to finish her off.

Sofia, injured but determined, forced herself to her feet, gripping the remnants of her wooden stick. "We need to fight together!" she shouted, her voice strained but fierce.

Zara nodded, fear gripping her heart but determination shining in her eyes. The two of them stood side by side, gathering what strength they had left for a combined attack. They focused their spirit energy, launching a coordinated strike at Torrath.

But Torrath was too powerful. He swung Earthshatter with ease, deflecting their combined energy like it was nothing. The ground trembled as he unleashed a counterattack, his massive warhammer crashing down toward them.

Sofia narrowly dodged, but Zara wasn't quick enough. The impact sent her sprawling across the dirt, pain radiating through her body.

Torrath towered above them, his stony face unyielding. "You really thought you could stop me?" he growled, his voice resonating like thunder. "You're nothing compared to my power."

With renewed ferocity, Torrath charged at them, swinging Earthshatter once more. The weapon glowed ominously as it descended, and both Zara and Sofia struggled to get back on their feet, realizing they needed to come up with a new plan to survive the overwhelming force before them.

As Torrath towered over Zara and Sofia, preparing to deliver a fatal blow, a sound echoed through the forest—a crackling of branches and the hurried footsteps of someone approaching. Zaheer, having just arrived in the midst of the chaos, felt the tension in the air. He heard the commotion and followed the noise, his heart racing with concern.

As he entered the clearing, Zaheer's eyes widened in horror at the sight before him. A giant creature with granite-like skin and a massive warhammer loomed over his sister and Sofia, ready to strike. Rage and fear surged within him.

"Get away from her!" Zaheer shouted, stepping protectively in front of Zara.

Torrath turned his fiery orange eyes toward Zaheer, a menacing grin spreading across his stony face. "Don't interfere, little boy," he growled, raising Earthshatter high above his head.

"Zaheer, no!" Zara cried, panic gripping her heart.

But it was too late. Torrath swung the colossal warhammer down toward Zaheer, aiming to crush him. Sofia, sensing the danger, rushed forward to intercept the attack, but Torrath's immense strength was too much. The hammer connected with both Zaheer and Sofia, sending all three of them flying through the air.

Zaheer hit the ground hard, the impact rattling his bones. Pain shot through his body, leaving him gasping for breath. As he struggled to sit up, he realized he was injured badly, his body unprotected by any spirit energy.

"Zaheer!" Zara screamed, her heart shattering at the sight of her brother crumpled on the ground. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she rushed to his side, her fear transforming into desperation. "Please, get up!"

Sofia, bruised but still fighting, staggered to her feet and turned to face Torrath, determination etched on her face. "We can't let him win!" she yelled, preparing to launch another attack.

But Torrath merely laughed, his voice booming. "You're all pathetic," he mocked. With a swift motion, he swung Earthshatter again, this time focusing solely on Sofia. The blow landed hard, and she was thrown back, hitting the ground with a pained grunt.

Zara watched helplessly as Sofia fell, her spirit waning. Torrath then turned his gaze toward Zara, who had fallen to her knees beside her brother. "Hope is lost, little girl," he sneered. "You have no power left to fight me."

As Zaheer saw Torrath charging toward him and his sisters, memories flooded back—images of that horrific night when a creature killed both his parents. "I'm pathetic," he thought bitterly. He knew spirits existed, lurking in the shadows, and he had always felt the weight of their threat. He needed to find a way to fight them, but he couldn't, and now both he and his sister faced death.

Zara, also badly injured, begged Torrath to leave her brother alone. "You want me! You can take all the spirit energy I have—just leave him!"

Zaheer felt a surge of confusion as he heard Zara mention spirit energy. "What is she talking about?" he thought, but the pain from his injuries clouded his mind, making it difficult to process anything clearly.

Torrath sneered, "Then I have to kill you."

Zara felt her spirit falter, a deep sense of despair washing over her. Just then, Sofia, unable to stand, saw this and shouted, "Somebody help us, please!"

Torrath quickly turned and struck Sofia with a powerful blow, sending her crashing to the ground, badly injured.

"Stop it!" Zara cried out, her heart racing with fear for her sister.

Torrath's gaze shifted back to her, a cruel grin spreading across his face. "Alright, I will kill you first."

He moved closer to Zara, raising Earthshatter high, ready to deliver the final blow.

Zara let go of her spirit energy, refusing to protect herself any longer. "With this strike, I will be dead!". Her voice trembled with desperation, hopelessness creeping in.

As Torrath was about to land the final blow, Zara closed her eyes, preparing for the worst. Suddenly, a strong kick struck Torrath in the face, sending him flying backward with a stunned expression.

Torrath, shocked and momentarily disoriented, struggled to regain his footing. Zara opened her eyes and gasped as she saw the figure standing protectively in front of her—Ren.

Ren's expression was fierce, his eyes blazing with fury. "I don't know what creature you are," he growled, glaring at Torrath, "but what you've done is unforgivable. For that, I will kill you!"