Yuto remained kneeling in the dirt, his body still trembling from the aftermath of the battle. His breath came in ragged gasps as the dark energy of Abyss ebbed within him, slowly retreating to the depths where it normally resided. But the sensation lingered—an intoxicating mix of power and fear. The ground around him was scorched, the remnants of the Abyssal Beast reduced to little more than ash, scattered by the faint breeze that swept through the warehouse.
"That was close," Shiro said, stepping forward cautiously. He kept Ravenous in hand, its shadowy form still rippling as if sensing that the danger wasn't entirely over.
Yuto pushed himself up to his feet, though his legs wobbled under him. He shot Shiro a quick glance, trying to muster a smile. "You think? I was only seconds away from getting torn apart." His attempt at humor fell flat, his voice sounding more hollow than intended.
Shiro's eyes narrowed slightly. He didn't seem to be in the mood for jokes. "What the hell was that back there? You almost let that thing destroy us both."
Yuto winced at the sharpness in Shiro's voice. He knew his friend had every right to be angry, but it still stung. "I didn't have a choice," Yuto muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "That thing—it—was stronger than anything I've ever faced. I had to use Abyss."
"And that's exactly the problem," Shiro shot back, his tone firm. "You didn't just use Abyss, Yuto. You let it take control. I could see it in your eyes—you almost lost yourself."
Yuto's eyes flickered with frustration, his temper flaring. "What else was I supposed to do? Let that Beast tear us apart? I did what I had to. I'm still standing, aren't I?"
Shiro took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. He wasn't used to seeing Yuto like this, so defensive, so on edge. "I get that it was a tough situation. But if you keep letting Abyss take over like that, you're going to end up as dangerous as the things we're fighting. You can't just keep relying on it."
Yuto clenched his fists, the tendrils of darkness still faintly flickering around him as if Abyss was listening to every word. "You don't understand. You don't know what it's like having something like Abyss inside you. It's not like Ravenous. It's not something I can control—it has a mind of its own."
Shiro's expression softened, but his voice remained firm. "You think I don't understand? I know Ravenous is different from Abyss, but we both have power that can destroy us if we aren't careful. I've trained for years to control Ravenous, to make sure it doesn't consume me. You need to do the same with Abyss, before it's too late."
Yuto let out a frustrated sigh, pacing back and forth as the last remnants of adrenaline coursed through his veins. "I'm trying, alright? I'm doing everything I can to keep Abyss in check, but it's... it's like fighting a part of myself. It's always there, whispering in my ear, pushing me to give in."
Shiro was quiet for a moment, watching Yuto's restless movements. Finally, he spoke, his voice calmer now. "Yuto, I'm not saying it's easy. I know how hard it is to keep that kind of power under control. But you can't fight it alone. You need to trust your friends, rely on us when things get out of hand."
Yuto stopped pacing and turned to face Shiro, his expression conflicted. Part of him wanted to lash out, to tell Shiro that he didn't understand, that he was underestimating the danger. But another part of him—an exhausted, quieter part—knew that Shiro was right.
"I don't want to lose myself," Yuto said quietly, almost to himself. His voice trembled slightly, betraying the fear he had been holding back. "But sometimes... it feels like I'm already too far gone."
Shiro stepped closer, his gaze steady. "You're not lost yet, Yuto. As long as you keep fighting, as long as you don't give in to Abyss completely, you can still control it. But you can't do that alone. We're in this together, remember?"
Yuto let out a long breath, the weight of Shiro's words sinking in. He knew that he couldn't keep pushing everyone away, trying to deal with Abyss on his own. But admitting that felt like admitting weakness—something he had been avoiding for as long as he could remember.
"Yeah," Yuto finally said, his voice soft. "You're right." He glanced at the ground, his hands still trembling slightly from the exertion of the battle. "I'm just... scared, I guess."
Shiro nodded, his expression softening even more. "It's okay to be scared. We all are, especially when we're up against things like that." He gestured toward the pile of ash that had once been the Abyssal Beast. "But that's why we have each other. If you keep trying to shoulder everything on your own, it's going to tear you apart."
Yuto opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the ruined warehouse. Both he and Shiro tensed, turning toward the entrance. A shadowy figure stepped into the dim light, their face obscured by the billowing cloak they wore.
Shiro raised Ravenous slightly, ready for another fight, but Yuto immediately recognized the aura that accompanied the newcomer. He narrowed his eyes, straightening up. "I know that energy... Mizuki?"
The figure stepped closer, revealing a tall, slender woman with long silver hair and piercing violet eyes. She wore the traditional Soulbound uniform of her faction, her Anima, Umbra, coiling around her like a serpent of pure shadow.
"Yuto Kisaragi," Mizuki said, her voice calm but with an underlying tension. "And Shiro. I see you two haven't lost your touch. That was... impressive."
Yuto crossed his arms, his wariness not fully easing. Mizuki was part of one of the most powerful Soulbound factions in Zenith City, and her presence here was unusual. "What are you doing here, Mizuki?" he asked, his tone guarded. "Shouldn't you be off doing whatever it is your faction does? Why are you watching us?"
Mizuki smiled faintly, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "You're not as subtle as you think, Yuto. That little display of power you unleashed—it didn't exactly go unnoticed. You're playing with fire, and a lot of people are starting to take an interest."
Yuto felt a chill run down his spine. "Interest? What do you mean?"
Mizuki's gaze flickered toward the remnants of the Abyssal Beast before returning to Yuto. "You've caught the attention of more than just Soulbound warriors. The Voidspawn aren't the only ones interested in your... unique situation."
Shiro stepped forward, frowning. "What are you talking about? What does Yuto have to do with the Voidspawn?"
Mizuki's expression remained unreadable as she folded her arms. "You don't understand what Abyss really is, do you? It's not just some random Anima that Yuto awakened. It's something much older. Much darker."
Yuto clenched his fists, frustration rising within him. "Then tell me what it is. I'm sick of people talking around me like I don't have a clue. If you know something about Abyss, then just say it."
Mizuki hesitated for a moment, as if considering her words carefully. Finally, she sighed and met Yuto's gaze directly. "Abyss is... an anomaly. It's not from our world, nor is it from the spiritual realm where most Anima come from. It's something beyond that—something that shouldn't exist in either plane. That's why the Voidspawn are drawn to it. They see it as a piece of their own kind."
Yuto's blood ran cold. "You're saying Abyss is... connected to the Voidspawn?"
Mizuki nodded slowly. "Not just connected. It's part of their realm. A fragment of the Abyss—the true Abyss, the void from which all Voidspawn are born."
Yuto felt like the ground was falling away beneath him. He had always known Abyss was different, but this... this was something else entirely. "So... I'm fighting these things with a piece of them inside me?" He could barely believe what he was hearing.
Shiro glanced at Yuto, his expression a mix of concern and disbelief. "That's why they're after you. It's not just because you're powerful. They see you as one of their own."
Yuto shook his head, his thoughts spiraling. "This can't be real. I'm not like them. I'm not a Voidspawn."
Mizuki's voice softened slightly. "No, you're not. But you carry something that belongs to them. And if you're not careful, it could consume you completely."
The words hung heavy in the air, and for the first time, Yuto truly felt the weight of what he had unleashed. The power of Abyss was more than just dangerous—it was a ticking time bomb, one that could drag him into the very darkness he was fighting against.
Shiro placed a hand on Yuto's shoulder, his voice steady. "We'll figure this out, Yuto. We'll find a way to stop it before it gets that far."
Yuto swallowed hard, nodding slowly. "I hope you're right, Shiro. Because I don't know how much longer I can keep this under control."
Mizuki's gaze lingered on Yuto for a moment longer before she turned to leave, her voice carrying a final warning. "You don't have much time. The Voidspawn will keep coming, and they won't stop until they claim what's theirs. Be ready, Yuto. The real battle is just beginning."
As Mizuki disappeared into the shadows, Yuto and Shiro stood in silence, the weight of her words pressing down on them like a storm on the horizon. The fight with the Abyssal Beast had been a wake-up call, but now, Yuto knew that what was coming was far worse than anything he could have imagined.
And deep within him, Abyss stirred once more, whispering promises of power, of control—of darkness.