Yuto's body burned with the raw power of Abyss, black flames dancing across his fingertips as the Hunters continued to circle him. The forest around them seemed to fall silent, the air thick with tension. His mind was a blur of adrenaline and the ever-present pull of the Abyss trying to overtake him. But he couldn't let it.
"I can control this," Yuto muttered to himself, clenching his fists tighter, the dark flames flickering, pulsating with his heartbeat. His eyes darted around, watching as the Soulbound Hunters moved like shadows, always one step ahead, waiting for the moment to strike.
Seiji, breathing heavily from the skirmish so far, stepped up beside Yuto. His sword gleamed with his Anima, crackling like electricity. "You're holding back, Yuto. You can't afford to do that here. These guys won't stop until they have what they came for."
Yuto's voice was hoarse. "If I let Abyss take over… I might lose control."
Seiji didn't flinch, his expression hard. "Then don't lose control. It's simple. Use it. Own it."
One of the Hunters, a tall, skeletal figure with pale skin and hollow eyes, smirked from the shadows. "I've seen that look before," he hissed, his voice dripping with mockery. "You think you can keep it at bay? You think you can tame Abyss?" He stepped forward, his presence oppressive. "You'll fail. Just like your brother."
Yuto's heart sank at the mention of Kaito. The Hunter's words hit harder than any physical blow could. His grip on the darkness wavered for a moment, but Seiji's voice pulled him back.
"Ignore him," Seiji snapped. "You're not Kaito. You've got your own path. Don't let them get into your head."
Shiro, who had been keeping his distance, twirled his blade expertly, eyeing the Hunters warily. "These guys don't know when to quit. We need a way out, Yuto. I'm all for fighting, but we can't stay in this forest forever."
Takeshi, standing on the other side, nodded grimly. His Anima, a flickering aura of pale blue, swirled around him like mist. "We're surrounded. We either break through or find another way."
Yuto looked around, his mind racing. The Hunters were too well-coordinated, too precise. Every time they moved, it was with deadly intent. They had the advantage here, and Yuto knew it. But what could he do? The dark power inside him was the only thing that could shift the battle in their favor, but it was a double-edged sword.
"We can't just run," Yuto said through gritted teeth. "They'll follow us, no matter where we go."
The lead Hunter, his eyes glinting with cruel amusement, laughed darkly. "Smart boy. Running won't save you. Abyss will always be with you, and we will always be with Abyss."
Seiji's expression grew more serious. "Then we fight our way through. You're the target, Yuto. We'll hold them off—just find an opening."
Yuto shook his head, a sense of frustration bubbling up inside him. "You can't fight them all alone. I'm not running away from this. Not anymore."
The dark flames around Yuto's hands surged as he made his decision. He'd have to take the risk. He could feel Abyss growing impatient, as though the entity itself was testing him, waiting to see if he would give in completely or master it.
The lead Hunter tilted his head, intrigued. "Ah, finally, the boy decides to stop pretending. Show me, then. Show me what Abyss has gifted you."
Yuto stepped forward, his eyes locking onto the lead Hunter. "You want to see what Abyss can do? Fine. Just remember—you asked for this." With a shout, he unleashed a torrent of black flames, sending the fire roaring toward the Hunter with a ferocity that startled even him.
The Hunter's smirk faded as he raised his arms, summoning a barrier of twisted energy to block the attack. The impact of the flames slammed into the barrier, causing the ground beneath them to tremble. Yuto pushed harder, the flames intensifying as the darkness within him surged forth, unrelenting.
"You think this is enough to stop us?" the Hunter growled, his voice straining as cracks appeared in his barrier. "You have no idea what you're playing with!"
Seiji and the others moved swiftly, taking advantage of the distraction. Shiro lunged at one of the other Hunters, his blade moving in a blur of light, while Takeshi struck with precision, aiming for weak points in their defenses.
"Yuto, keep it up!" Shiro called out as he clashed with his opponent. "We've got this!"
Yuto gritted his teeth, focusing on maintaining control. He could feel Abyss fighting back, trying to take over. His vision blurred slightly as the darkness whispered promises of power, of freedom from fear. But he couldn't lose himself to it. Not now.
The lead Hunter's barrier finally shattered, and he stumbled back, surprise flickering across his face. But the moment of weakness was fleeting. With a snarl, he launched himself at Yuto, his speed overwhelming. Before Yuto could react, the Hunter was in front of him, his claw-like hand aiming straight for Yuto's throat.
Yuto barely managed to block the strike with a wave of black fire, but the force of the impact sent him skidding backward. His heart raced as the Hunter loomed over him, a predatory glint in his eyes.
"Not bad," the Hunter sneered, his voice low. "But you're still not in control. Let Abyss take over fully, and maybe you'll stand a chance."
Yuto glared up at him, panting. "I don't need Abyss to beat you."
"Liar." The Hunter lunged again, faster this time.
But Yuto was ready. He dodged to the side, twisting his body as he summoned a surge of dark energy, forming a blade of black flames in his hand. He swung it at the Hunter, who barely managed to deflect the attack with a swift movement of his arm.
Seiji joined the fray, his blade crackling with energy as he slashed at the Hunter from the other side. "We've got him cornered, Yuto!" Seiji shouted. "Don't let up!"
The Hunter snarled, caught between the two of them. He deflected Seiji's strike with a powerful backhand, but Yuto saw his opening. With a determined shout, he charged forward, his blade of black fire aimed straight at the Hunter's chest.
The impact was explosive. The black flames erupted from Yuto's blade, engulfing the Hunter in a torrent of dark energy. For a moment, the forest was bathed in an eerie glow as the power of Abyss unleashed its full fury.
The lead Hunter screamed, his body writhing in the flames, but the sound was quickly swallowed by the roar of the darkness. Yuto pushed forward, determined to end it, to silence the threat once and for all.
Then, as quickly as it had started, the flames subsided. The lead Hunter collapsed to the ground, his body charred and smoking, but still alive—barely. He looked up at Yuto with a mixture of fear and anger.
"This… isn't over," the Hunter rasped, his voice weak. "Abyss will consume you… just like it consumed your brother…"
Yuto stood over him, breathing heavily, the dark flames still flickering around his hands. He didn't respond. He didn't need to. The message was clear.
The battle wasn't over yet, but for now, they had won.
Seiji sheathed his sword, glancing at Yuto with a nod. "Good work. You didn't let it control you."
Yuto's fists clenched as he looked down at the defeated Hunter. "I won't let Abyss take me. I'll master it. No matter what."
Shiro let out a breath, wiping sweat from his brow. "Man, that was close. These guys are relentless."
Takeshi, ever the strategist, scanned the surrounding forest. "We need to move before more of them show up. We've drawn too much attention."
Yuto nodded, his heart still pounding. He could feel Abyss pulsing inside him, but for now, it was quiet. He knew the battle was far from over, but with his friends by his side, he wasn't facing it alone.
They had survived this fight. But the war with Abyss was only beginning.