The journey back from the warehouse felt longer than it was. The streets of Zenith City were alive with their usual buzz, cars honking, people walking, and lights flashing from billboards high above. But beneath the surface of the city, there was an unshakable tension lingering in the air. The Black Thorn Syndicate had attacked them directly, and that meant the stakes were higher than Yuto had realized.
Yuto walked slightly ahead of Shiro and Takeshi, his eyes glued to the ground, thoughts swirling like a storm in his mind. He couldn't stop thinking about how close he'd come to losing control back there. Abyss had acted on its own—again. And while it had saved his life, the thought of what could have happened terrified him.
"You're quiet," Shiro said, finally breaking the silence that had stretched between them since the fight.
Yuto didn't look up, his voice low. "Just thinking."
Shiro raised an eyebrow, smirking. "You? Thinking? That's a first."
Yuto shot him a half-hearted glare. "Not in the mood for jokes, Shiro."
The smirk faded slightly, replaced by a more serious expression. "I get it, man. What happened back there was... intense. But you handled it. You didn't lose control. That's progress, right?"
Yuto stopped walking, frustration boiling to the surface. "But what if I had lost control? What if next time, Abyss doesn't stop? What if I hurt someone I care about?"
Takeshi, who had been silent up until now, spoke, his tone calm but firm. "You're focusing on the wrong thing, Yuto."
Yuto turned to face him, frowning. "What do you mean?"
Takeshi's eyes were steady as he met Yuto's gaze. "Abyss is a part of you. It's not about suppressing it or fearing it. It's about understanding it, mastering it. Right now, you're fighting against it. That's why you're struggling."
Yuto blinked, the weight of Takeshi's words sinking in. He'd never thought about it that way before. He'd always seen Abyss as something separate from him, something dark and dangerous that he had to keep at bay. But Takeshi was right—Abyss wasn't going anywhere. It was part of him now, whether he liked it or not.
"So, what do I do?" Yuto asked, his voice quieter now, almost uncertain.
Takeshi's gaze softened slightly. "You learn to listen to it. Not give in, but understand. Power like Abyss doesn't come without a price, but if you can learn to control it, you'll be stronger than you've ever imagined."
Yuto bit his lip, the weight of Takeshi's words settling in his chest. It made sense, but it also scared him. Abyss was dangerous. He'd felt its hunger, its desire for chaos. Could he really learn to control something like that?
Shiro clapped Yuto on the back, grinning. "Hey, don't overthink it. Takeshi's right, but you're not in this alone. We've got your back."
Yuto glanced at Shiro, feeling a small flicker of relief. As much as he struggled with his powers, having Shiro and Takeshi around made it a little easier to bear. He wasn't alone in this fight.
"Thanks, guys," Yuto muttered, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
They walked in silence for a few more minutes before Shiro spoke up again, this time sounding more thoughtful. "So… about the Black Thorn Syndicate. What's their deal, anyway? Why are they so obsessed with Abyss?"
Takeshi's expression darkened slightly, his tone grim. "They're a rogue faction. They don't follow the rules that the other Soulbound factions adhere to. Instead, they believe in using whatever means necessary to gain power, even if it means tapping into forbidden Anima."
"Forbidden Anima?" Yuto repeated, frowning. "What do you mean by that?"
Takeshi sighed. "There are certain types of Anima that are considered too dangerous to wield. Abyss is one of them. It's a power that comes from the void, a dark force that can corrupt the soul of its wielder if they're not careful. The Syndicate wants that power for themselves. They believe it will give them control over both the human and spiritual realms."
Yuto felt a chill run down his spine. He'd known Abyss was dangerous, but he hadn't realized just how valuable it was to others. If the Black Thorn Syndicate wanted it, then he was more of a target than ever.
"Great," Yuto muttered under his breath. "As if I didn't have enough problems."
Shiro chuckled. "Welcome to the world of the Soulbound, where you're either fighting Voidspawn or dealing with power-hungry maniacs. It's never dull, that's for sure."
Yuto rolled his eyes but couldn't help the small smile that crept onto his face. Despite everything, Shiro's lightheartedness always seemed to help break the tension. Still, the weight of Takeshi's words lingered in the back of his mind. He needed to get stronger—and fast. The Black Thorn Syndicate wasn't going to give up easily.
Later that night, the three of them gathered at their base, a small, hidden safehouse tucked away in one of the quieter districts of Zenith City. The room was dimly lit, the soft glow of lanterns casting long shadows against the walls. Yuto sat on one of the worn-out couches, his hands resting on his knees as he stared at the floor.
"What now?" Yuto asked after a long pause, his voice quiet.
Takeshi stood by the window, gazing out at the city. "We prepare. The Syndicate will strike again, and when they do, we need to be ready."
Shiro plopped down beside Yuto, tossing a pillow into the air and catching it lazily. "Takeshi's right. These guys aren't going to back off just because we kicked their asses once. They're gonna come at us harder next time."
Yuto sighed, leaning back against the couch. "I know. I just… I don't know if I'm ready for that. I barely made it through today without losing control."
Takeshi turned from the window, his gaze sharp. "You were ready today. And you will be ready again. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't train harder. The more you understand Abyss, the less likely it'll be able to overwhelm you."
"Training, huh?" Yuto muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "Guess there's no other way, is there?"
"Nope," Shiro said cheerfully, clapping him on the back. "But hey, at least you've got us to help. And I'll make sure we throw in some fun stuff to keep it interesting."
Yuto couldn't help but chuckle, shaking his head. "You're too much sometimes, Shiro."
"It's called being charming," Shiro replied with a wink. "You should try it sometime."
Takeshi's phone buzzed, and he quickly pulled it out, his eyes narrowing as he read the message. His face grew even more serious, if that was possible, and he immediately turned toward the door.
"What is it?" Yuto asked, noticing the shift in Takeshi's demeanor.
"There's been an attack," Takeshi said curtly, already moving. "Voidspawn sighting in District Seven. We need to move."
Yuto jumped to his feet, adrenaline surging through his veins. "Voidspawn? Now? Could the Syndicate be behind it?"
Takeshi shook his head. "No time to speculate. Let's go."
Within moments, the three of them were rushing through the city streets, their footsteps echoing in the quiet night. District Seven was on the other side of Zenith City, an area that was known for its industrial complexes and sparse population. If there was a Voidspawn attack there, it meant the creature had likely slipped through the barriers unnoticed.
As they approached the edge of District Seven, the air grew colder, the faint hum of dark energy vibrating through the air. Yuto's heart raced as they neared the source of the disturbance, his grip tightening around the hilt of his sword.
"Do you feel that?" Shiro asked, his voice low, the usual humor absent from his tone.
Yuto nodded. "Yeah. It's strong."
Takeshi's eyes scanned the area, his expression hardening. "Stay sharp. Voidspawn this strong doesn't appear out of nowhere. There's something else going on here."
They turned the corner into a narrow alley, and that's when they saw it—a massive Voidspawn, its grotesque form towering over the buildings, its multiple eyes glowing with malevolent light. Its body was a twisted mass of shadowy tendrils and jagged teeth, each movement it made causing the ground to tremble beneath it.
Yuto's stomach clenched. This thing was far more powerful than any Voidspawn he'd encountered before.
"Okay, that's… bigger than I expected," Shiro muttered, drawing his weapon.
Yuto swallowed hard, his heart pounding in his chest. But as he stared at the creature, something inside him stirred. The darkness of Abyss responded to the presence of the Voidspawn, a faint whisper in the back of his mind, urging him to act.
"Yuto," Takeshi called, snapping him out of his thoughts. "Focus. We'll take this thing down together."
Yuto nodded, tightening his grip on his sword. This was it.