Yuto's mind raced, his thoughts clouded by the figure's haunting words as they walked into the Soulbound base. The small, dimly lit room usually brought a sense of comfort, but tonight it felt suffocating. He could still feel the weight of the figure's gaze on him, their promise lingering like a shadow at the edges of his consciousness.
"That was close," Shiro muttered, dropping onto the worn couch in the corner. His usual carefree attitude was missing, replaced by a rare look of seriousness. He leaned back, his eyes scanning the ceiling. "Whoever that was… they were bad news."
Takeshi, who had been silent since the encounter, paced the room like a predator trapped in a cage. His hand flexed and unflexed near his sword, a clear sign that his mind was still on high alert.
"You think it's someone from the Black Thorn?" Yuto asked, his voice low but tense.
Takeshi stopped pacing and shot Yuto a sharp glance. "No. That wasn't the Black Thorn's style. This was something else. Something… darker."
Yuto swallowed hard, feeling the cold knot of fear tighten in his chest. "They knew about Abyss. How?"
Shiro lifted his head, frowning. "That's what's bothering me too. How the hell did they know about your Anima, and more importantly, why are they so interested in it?"
Yuto dropped onto the chair next to the table, rubbing his temples as if he could massage the stress away. "I don't know. They acted like they've known about it for a long time, like Abyss was some kind of… ancient thing. But I barely even understand it myself."
"That's the problem," Takeshi cut in, his tone sharper than usual. He walked over to Yuto, fixing him with a hard stare. "You're sitting on something dangerous, something that could destroy you and everyone around you if you don't figure out how to control it."
Yuto's hands clenched into fists on the table. He was tired of hearing that, tired of the constant warnings. He knew Abyss was dangerous—he could feel it every time he tapped into its power. But he was doing his best. Wasn't that enough?
"I'm trying!" Yuto snapped, his voice louder than he intended. He looked up at Takeshi, his frustration bubbling to the surface. "It's not like there's a manual on how to control a rogue Anima, okay? I didn't ask for this!"
Takeshi's expression softened, but only slightly. He crossed his arms and took a step back. "I know you didn't ask for this, Yuto. But that doesn't change the fact that you need to get control of it. You've seen what Abyss can do when you lose focus. If you can't master it, then it'll master you."
Yuto's jaw tightened. He hated feeling like he was walking a tightrope, always one step away from falling into the void. And now, this mysterious figure had shown up, dangling the promise of help—of control—right in front of him. But could he trust them? Or was this just another trap, another way for Abyss to pull him deeper into its darkness?
"What if they're right?" Yuto muttered, staring down at the table. His voice was barely above a whisper. "What if I can't control Abyss on my own? What if they really can help me?"
Shiro sat up, alarm flashing in his eyes. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold up, man. You're not actually thinking of listening to that creepy shadow person, are you? They're obviously bad news!"
Yuto met Shiro's gaze, feeling torn. "But what if they know something we don't? What if they've got answers?"
Takeshi shook his head. "We don't know what their real motives are, Yuto. Anyone offering that kind of help usually has their own agenda. And whatever that agenda is, it's not going to benefit you."
Yuto felt the frustration building again. It was always the same—warnings, caution, doubt. But what if this was his chance? What if he could finally stop being afraid of Abyss? He stood up abruptly, his chair scraping loudly against the floor.
"I'm tired of waiting around!" Yuto's voice rose with emotion. "I've been fighting Abyss from the moment it woke up, and I still don't know what it really is! How long am I supposed to keep pretending like I've got this under control?"
Takeshi's eyes narrowed. "You think going to that stranger is the answer? They might know something, but the cost will be higher than you're willing to pay."
Shiro jumped in, his voice urgent. "Look, Yuto, we're your friends. We've got your back, alright? We'll figure this out together. But don't go making deals with someone who shows up out of nowhere and knows way too much about your Anima."
Yuto paced the room, his hands gripping his hair in frustration. Every word they said made sense, but it didn't change the fact that he felt trapped—trapped by Abyss, trapped by his own fear. He had to make a choice, but he didn't know which path was the right one.
"I just—"
A loud knock echoed through the room, cutting through the tense atmosphere. The three of them froze, exchanging uneasy glances.
"Who the hell could that be at this hour?" Shiro asked, already reaching for his blade.
Takeshi motioned for them to stay back as he approached the door. His movements were slow, calculated, ready for anything. The tension in the room spiked as the knock came again, louder this time.
Takeshi opened the door a crack, his eyes scanning the figure standing on the other side. Yuto strained to see, but Takeshi's broad form blocked his view.
"Who are you?" Takeshi demanded.
A calm, familiar voice responded. "Relax, it's me. I bring news."
Takeshi opened the door fully, revealing the figure of Seiji, the enigmatic Soulbound mentor who had trained many of the young warriors in Zenith City. His tall, imposing figure was cloaked in his usual dark robes, his eyes as sharp and unreadable as ever.
"Seiji?" Yuto exclaimed, his voice a mix of relief and surprise. "What are you doing here?"
Seiji stepped inside, his gaze sweeping the room before settling on Yuto. "I've heard whispers. Something dangerous is moving in the shadows of this city. I thought I'd find you in the middle of it."
Takeshi's posture relaxed slightly, though his expression remained serious. "You heard about the Voidspawn attacks?"
Seiji nodded. "Yes, but it's not just Voidspawn. There are darker forces at work here, things even the Soulbound are unaware of. I've spent the past few weeks investigating some strange occurrences in the outskirts of the city. It seems that the balance between our world and the spirit realm is becoming unstable."
"Unstable how?" Shiro asked, leaning forward with interest.
Seiji's gaze flicked toward Yuto. "An ancient power is waking. Something long buried, something tied to the very fabric of our world. And from what I can gather, it's connected to your Anima, Yuto."
Yuto felt a chill run down his spine. "Connected to Abyss?"
Seiji nodded gravely. "The Abyss Anima is not just another spirit. It is a force that was sealed away centuries ago, a power so dangerous that even the strongest Soulbound feared it. And now, it's waking up inside you."
The weight of Seiji's words hit Yuto like a punch to the gut. The stranger's cryptic warnings, Abyss's growing influence—it all started to make sense, and yet it terrified him more than anything.
"So what do we do?" Yuto asked, his voice trembling slightly.
Seiji stepped closer, placing a firm hand on Yuto's shoulder. "We find answers. Together. But you must understand, Yuto—Abyss is not something you can control through willpower alone. You'll need to confront its true nature. And to do that, you'll need to be ready for whatever comes next."
Takeshi and Shiro exchanged uneasy glances, but Yuto felt a strange sense of resolve settling in his chest. This was it—the crossroads he had been dreading. He had to confront Abyss, to face the truth of what he was carrying inside him.
"I'm ready," Yuto said, though his heart pounded with fear.
Seiji nodded, his expression grim. "Then prepare yourself. Because the next step will be the hardest one yet."
As the weight of Seiji's words settled over them, Yuto knew that his journey was far from over. The shadows were still closing in, but now, at least, he had a path forward—even if it led straight into the heart of darkness.