The city streets of Kurohama glistened under the dim, flickering streetlights. The sun had long set, leaving only a thin mist rolling across the ground, weaving between alleys and abandoned storefronts. The air was thick with a sense of unease, as if the shadows themselves were watching.
Yuto Kisaragi shoved his hands into his pockets, kicking a stray can out of his way as he trudged down the empty street. His eyes were tired, his hoodie pulled up over his dark hair, trying to shield himself from the world. He could still hear the whispers of his classmates in his head.
"That's Yuto... yeah, his brother was Kaito Kisaragi... you know, the Soulbound hero who saved the city."
"He'll never live up to Kaito's name."
The words burned in his ears. Why did it always have to come back to him? Kaito had been gone for over a year, and yet every single day felt like Yuto was living in his shadow.
He glanced up at the sky, unable to see the stars through the city lights and smog. He wondered, not for the first time, what his brother would think of him now.
Probably disappointed, Yuto thought, just like everyone else.
A gust of wind swept through the alley, and Yuto shivered. He quickened his pace, feeling like something was watching him. The shadows seemed to stretch and move at the edges of his vision, but when he turned, there was nothing.
"It's all in your head," he muttered under his breath, trying to shake off the paranoia.
Suddenly, a low, guttural growl echoed from the alleyway to his left. Yuto froze. His pulse quickened. Did I imagine that?
Before he could react, a shape emerged from the darkness, hulking and twisted. Its body was cloaked in an unnatural, writhing mist, its eyes glowing with a malevolent crimson light. A Voidspawn—the same kind of creature that had killed his brother.
"Oh, hell no!" Yuto spun on his heel and bolted, his feet pounding against the pavement. His heart raced in his chest as he tore through the empty streets, weaving between alleys, desperately searching for a place to hide.
"Get away from me!" he shouted, but he knew it was pointless. Voidspawn didn't just go away. They hunted. And they always caught their prey.
The growls grew closer, the sound of claws scraping against concrete echoing behind him. Yuto's breath came in ragged gasps, his legs burning with the effort of running, but he could feel the creature closing in.
"No, no, no, not like this!" he screamed. I can't die like this!
He stumbled into a dead-end alley, the brick walls towering around him like a prison. He spun around, backing up against the wall as the Voidspawn slithered into view, its grotesque form barely visible under the swirling darkness. Its red eyes locked onto him, and for a moment, time seemed to freeze.
"This is it," Yuto whispered to himself, his fists clenched, trembling. This is how it ends. Not as a hero. Not even with a fight. Just like this.
But then something inside him snapped. A voice—faint, almost inaudible—echoed from deep within.
"Fight."
It wasn't a thought, but a command. Yuto's hands began to tingle, a strange warmth spreading through his veins, growing hotter by the second. His vision blurred for a moment, and the world seemed to slow down.
"What the—" Yuto gasped, looking down at his hands. They were glowing—faintly at first, but the light grew stronger, brighter, pulsing with energy. His pulse matched the rhythm, each beat sending a surge of power through him. It was like nothing he had ever felt before.
"Fight!" the voice commanded again, louder this time.
The Voidspawn lunged at him, its fangs bared and claws outstretched. But instead of freezing, Yuto moved. His body reacted on instinct, his feet shifting, dodging the attack with a fluidity he didn't know he possessed. His glowing fists shot forward, colliding with the creature's side.
A shockwave of energy erupted from the impact, sending the Voidspawn crashing into the alley wall with a thunderous crack. Yuto staggered back, staring at his hands in disbelief.
"What… what the hell just happened?" he panted, his heart racing. The energy in his body felt wild, uncontrollable, like it was trying to break free.
The Voidspawn, dazed but not defeated, began to rise again, its crimson eyes blazing with fury. Yuto's eyes widened in panic.
"Stay down, you ugly—!"
Before he could finish the sentence, the ground beneath him seemed to ripple, and a massive form materialized behind him. A towering figure, cloaked in blue and silver light, stood at his back—a spirit, but not like any he had seen before. Its armor gleamed in the dim light of the alley, and its eyes, though calm and serene, carried the weight of a thousand battles.
"So, you've finally called me," the spirit said, its voice deep and resonant.
Yuto blinked. What the hell…?
"Who… who are you?" Yuto stammered, feeling the warmth of the spirit's presence but also an overwhelming sense of power.
The spirit turned its gaze down to Yuto, its expression unreadable.
"I am your Anima," it replied. "And now, our bond is sealed. Whether you are ready or not."
Yuto swallowed hard, his mind reeling. Anima? Was this the same power his brother had wielded?
The Voidspawn roared, interrupting the moment, its body reforming as it prepared to strike again. Yuto felt a surge of panic, but before he could react, the spirit stepped forward, raising its hand.
"Watch closely, boy. This is just the beginning."
In a single, fluid motion, the spirit summoned a blade from the air—a sword made of pure energy—and slashed through the Voidspawn in one clean strike. The creature shrieked as it was torn apart, its dark form dissipating into nothingness, leaving only the faint echo of its scream behind.
Yuto stood frozen, his mind struggling to process everything that had just happened. His heart pounded in his chest, the adrenaline still coursing through his veins.
The spirit turned to him, its form slowly fading back into the ether.
"We will speak soon," it said, its voice softer now. "For now, rest. You have much to learn, Yuto Kisaragi."
And with that, it was gone.
Yuto collapsed to his knees, staring at the empty alley where the Voidspawn had been. His whole body trembled, the remnants of the strange energy still tingling in his veins.
"What… the hell… was that?" he whispered, gasping for breath.
His mind swirled with a hundred questions, but one thing was clear: nothing would ever be the same again.