The air around the warehouse grew heavy as tension filled the space, crackling like a storm ready to break. Yuto's grip tightened around his blade, the familiar weight of the hilt grounding him as he stared down the members of the Black Thorn Syndicate. The leader, a man with a scarred face and cruel eyes, hadn't moved from his spot, but the threat in his posture was undeniable.
"Yuto," Shiro said in a low voice, his eyes never leaving the enemies in front of them. "These guys aren't messing around. We need to be smart about this."
Yuto nodded, his pulse quickening. He could feel Abyss stirring beneath his skin, its dark presence responding to the looming threat. It was like a shadow coiling in the corners of his mind, whispering, urging him to let go. But he couldn't afford to lose control now. Not with Shiro and Takeshi at his side. Not with these strangers threatening his life.
"Who the hell are these guys?" Yuto muttered, his gaze flicking to Takeshi, who was still standing calmly at the back, watching the situation unfold.
Takeshi's eyes didn't waver, his voice as calm as ever. "The Black Thorn Syndicate is a rogue faction. They don't follow the codes of the Soulbound factions like we do. They operate outside the law, and they'll do whatever it takes to get what they want."
"And what they want is Abyss," Yuto said, his voice hardening. "But they're not getting it."
The scarred leader chuckled, his deep voice reverberating through the warehouse. "Oh, you misunderstand, boy. You don't have a choice. The Abyss belongs to us by right. We're simply here to reclaim it."
Yuto felt a surge of anger at the man's arrogance. He had spent his whole life feeling like an outsider, struggling with a power that he never asked for, and now this group thought they could just walk in and take it from him?
"Over my dead body," Yuto growled, his eyes flashing as he took a step forward, the darkness of Abyss swirling around him like a living shadow.
The man's smile faded, replaced by a cold, calculating stare. "That can be arranged."
Without warning, the man lunged forward, his blade slicing through the air with deadly precision. Yuto barely had time to react, raising his sword just in time to block the strike. The force of the blow sent a shockwave through his arms, but he held firm, gritting his teeth as the man pushed down harder.
"You're strong," the man said, his voice a low snarl. "But strength alone won't save you."
Yuto grunted, pushing back against the man's blade with all his strength. "I don't need saving."
In a flash, Yuto shoved the man off and slashed horizontally with his sword, forcing the leader to jump back. His two companions moved in at the same time, their blades whistling through the air as they closed in on Yuto from both sides.
"Shiro!" Yuto shouted, bracing himself for the attack.
Shiro was already moving, his Ravenous coming to life in his hands as he intercepted one of the Syndicate members with a vicious upward slash. The sound of metal clashing against metal echoed through the warehouse as Shiro deflected the enemy's sword, spinning into a fluid counterattack that sent his opponent staggering back.
"You've got to do better than that," Shiro said with a smirk, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
The other Syndicate member lunged at Yuto, but this time Yuto was ready. He sidestepped the attack and swung his sword in a quick arc, aiming for the man's side. But the enemy was faster than he expected, dodging the blow and coming in for a follow-up strike.
"Damn, these guys are quick," Yuto muttered, parrying the attack just in time.
Takeshi, who had remained silent up until now, finally spoke, his voice calm but carrying a sharp edge. "Yuto, Shiro—don't let your guard down. These aren't ordinary Soulbound. They've trained specifically to fight against Anima-wielders like us."
Yuto grimaced, his mind racing. If what Takeshi said was true, they couldn't afford to treat this like any other battle. These people weren't Voidspawn—they were Soulbound warriors, and that made them far more dangerous.
"You're really pissing me off, kid," the Syndicate leader snarled, his eyes blazing with fury as he charged at Yuto again. This time, his attacks came faster, more aggressive, his sword a blur of deadly movements.
Yuto barely managed to keep up, each strike sending vibrations up his arms as he blocked and dodged. His mind was screaming at him to let Abyss take over, to let the dark power surge forth and overwhelm his enemy—but he knew better. Abyss was too unpredictable, too dangerous. If he let it out now, he might not be able to rein it back in.
"What's wrong?" the leader taunted, his lips curling into a sneer. "Is that power of yours really so uncontrollable that you can't even use it when your life's on the line?"
Yuto's eyes narrowed, fury bubbling up inside him. "Shut up!"
With a sudden burst of energy, Yuto broke through the leader's defense, slashing his blade across the man's chest. The leader grunted in pain but didn't back down, swinging his sword in retaliation.
Yuto was about to move when he felt something shift behind him. In an instant, Shiro's voice cut through the chaos. "Yuto, look out!"
Before Yuto could react, the second Syndicate member who had been fighting Shiro had slipped past him, his blade now hurtling toward Yuto's exposed back.
Time seemed to slow as Yuto felt the cold, sharp edge of the blade approaching. He twisted his body, but it wasn't fast enough.
"No!" Shiro's shout echoed through the warehouse as he darted forward, his Ravenous flashing in the dim light.
But Yuto didn't need Shiro to save him. In that split second, something dark and primal awakened inside him. Abyss surged forth, the shadows within him lashing out like tendrils of darkness. The Syndicate member's blade stopped inches from Yuto's back, the dark energy wrapping around it like a vice, holding it in place.
Yuto's eyes widened in shock. He hadn't meant to release Abyss, but it had acted on its own, protecting him. The dark energy pulsed around him, a living, breathing force that radiated malice.
"What the hell?" the Syndicate member muttered, staring at the shadowy tendrils with wide eyes.
Yuto clenched his fists, the dark energy still swirling around him. He could feel Abyss's power coursing through his veins, urging him to let go, to unleash its full potential.
"Don't lose control," Takeshi's voice cut through the haze, firm and steady. "Stay focused, Yuto. You control the power, not the other way around."
Yuto gritted his teeth, taking a deep breath. "I… I've got this."
He tightened his grip on his sword, and with a sharp flick of his wrist, the tendrils of darkness released the enemy's blade, allowing Yuto to strike. His sword sliced through the air with lightning speed, cutting through the enemy's defenses and sending him crashing to the ground.
Shiro quickly dealt with his own opponent, his blade striking with precision as he disarmed the Syndicate member and knocked him out cold. Both enemies were down, but the leader still remained, his eyes blazing with anger as he watched his comrades fall.
"You… you bastard!" the leader snarled, his voice trembling with rage. "You'll pay for that!"
Yuto's heart was racing, but he kept his breathing steady. He could still feel Abyss's presence lingering at the edge of his consciousness, but for now, he was in control. Barely.
"It's over," Yuto said, his voice firm. "You're not getting Abyss. And if you try, I'll take you down, just like your friends."
The leader's eyes narrowed dangerously. For a moment, it looked like he might attack again, but then Takeshi stepped forward, his presence commanding the room.
"You've already lost," Takeshi said, his voice cold. "Leave now, while you still can."
The leader glared at him, his hand tightening around his sword. But he seemed to recognize that he was outmatched. With a snarl, he sheathed his blade and motioned to his unconscious comrades.
"This isn't over," he spat, his voice dripping with venom. "We'll be back for you, Yuto. And next time, you won't be so lucky."
Yuto didn't respond, his gaze hard and unyielding as the leader turned and disappeared into the shadows, his fallen comrades in tow.
As soon as they were gone, Yuto let out a long breath, the tension finally leaving his body. He felt like he'd just run a marathon, his muscles aching and his mind buzzing with exhaustion.
Shiro clapped him on the shoulder, grinning. "Not bad, Yuto. Not bad at all."
Takeshi, however, looked more serious. "You were close to losing control again," he said quietly. "You need to be careful."
Yuto nodded, his expression grim. "I know. But I'm getting better. I can feel it."
Takeshi didn't respond, his eyes lingering on Yuto for a moment longer before turning away. "Let's head back. This isn't the last we've seen of the Black Thorn Syndicate."
Yuto glanced at his hands, still trembling slightly from the rush of adrenaline—and from the power of Abyss that had almost slipped out of his grasp. He clenched his fists, determination hardening in his chest.
I'll get stronger, Yuto thought. I have to.