Kazuki stepped inside the ancient temple, and the air changed instantly, thickening around him as though he'd walked into a barrier. Shadows clung to the walls, writhing like living creatures, and the faint echoes of footsteps sounded in the far-off hallways. He steeled himself, reaching out instinctively, half-expecting the Wraithblade to materialize in his hand. But he felt nothing. Not yet, anyway.
Footsteps echoed softly against the stone floor, slow and deliberate. "So, you finally came." The voice was familiar, cutting through the air like a blade.
Kazuki spun around. Standing in the shadows, just barely visible in the dim light, was the girl from before. Her face held an unreadable expression, and her eyes glinted with a hint of something deeper—an understanding that left Kazuki wary.
"You didn't tell me you'd be here," he said, keeping his voice steady.
She tilted her head, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "This temple... it's a place between worlds. A realm that harbors remnants of old power. Those of us who've touched it are bound to it, drawn back to it." She took a step forward, her gaze narrowing. "Are you ready to face what lies within?"
Kazuki felt his heart race. He hadn't fully understood the weight of her words when she'd first explained, but now, surrounded by the strange energy of the temple, he could sense it—a looming presence, powerful and ancient. "I don't have a choice, do I? If Daelan is out there, gathering power, I have to be ready."
Her expression softened for a moment. "Perhaps," she murmured, more to herself than to him. "But be careful, Kazuki. This place tests more than just your strength. It will dig into your mind, your memories… your doubts."
Kazuki swallowed, steeling himself. "Then let it. I'm not afraid of what I've done, or who I've become."
"Brave words." Her tone was almost sad. "But words only carry so much weight here."
The silence that followed was thick, settling over them like a blanket. Kazuki looked at her, wanting to ask more, but something held him back—a sense that she'd already told him everything he needed to know, and that any further words would be empty.
He turned and walked deeper into the temple, his footsteps echoing against the ancient stone. Shadows seemed to thicken around him, stretching and shifting as though they were watching him, waiting. Kazuki kept his head high, refusing to let the strange, oppressive atmosphere intimidate him.
Then, abruptly, a voice rang out in the darkness, low and resonant, echoing through the vast space around him. "Kazuki Takahiro," it called, the tone heavy and ancient, filled with a power that sent chills down his spine. "You who have walked the path of sacrifice… why do you seek power once more?"
Kazuki stopped, glancing around, but he saw no one. The voice seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere, filling the air with its commanding presence.
"I don't seek power for myself," Kazuki replied, his voice strong despite the fear gnawing at him. "I seek it to protect the world—the people I care about. If there's darkness threatening them, I'll stand against it."
A low chuckle reverberated through the temple, and Kazuki felt a shiver run down his spine. "Noble words, but you are not immune to darkness, are you? You've tasted it, wielded it… and it has left its mark upon you."
Kazuki clenched his fists, feeling the familiar weight of his past choices pressing down on him. "I know the risks. I know what I've done, and what I might have to do again. But I won't let that stop me."
The voice hummed thoughtfully. "Then prove it."
In an instant, the air around him shifted, and the shadows surged forward, coalescing into a figure—tall and imposing, cloaked in darkness. Kazuki felt a pang of recognition as he looked into the figure's eyes, seeing his own reflection staring back at him.
The figure smirked, tilting its head as it regarded him. "So, this is the mighty Kazuki Takahiro," it said, mocking. "The one who dares to carry the weight of two worlds on his shoulders."
Kazuki took a steadying breath, meeting the figure's gaze head-on. "I don't care who you are or what you think you know about me. I've made my choices, and I'll live with them."
The figure laughed, the sound echoing through the temple like thunder. "Oh, I know you, Kazuki. I know every fear, every doubt, every secret you hide. You think you're strong enough to face what lies ahead, but you haven't even faced yourself."
Kazuki's jaw clenched, and he felt a familiar surge of anger and determination welling up inside him. "Then let's get this over with. Show me whatever test you have."
The figure smirked, raising a hand. "Very well, then. Face yourself, Kazuki Takahiro. Face the darkness you've kept buried."
In an instant, Kazuki felt a weight press down on him, heavy and suffocating, as memories flooded his mind—moments he'd tried to forget, battles where he'd nearly lost himself, sacrifices he'd made that still haunted him.
He gritted his teeth, struggling to hold onto his sense of self, to remind himself of who he was and why he was here. But the weight of the memories was overwhelming, pressing down on him until he could barely breathe.
And then, as if from a great distance, he heard a voice—soft and familiar, filled with warmth and strength.
"Kazuki."
He opened his eyes, and there, standing before him, was Seraphine, her expression calm and steady. She looked at him with a mixture of pride and sadness, and he felt a surge of emotion rise up within him.
"Seraphine…" he whispered, reaching out towards her.
She smiled, but her eyes held a hint of sorrow. "You've come so far, Kazuki. But you can't carry this burden alone."
Kazuki felt a lump form in his throat. "I don't want to. But I don't have a choice."
She shook her head, her gaze filled with understanding. "There's always a choice, Kazuki. Remember that."
With those words, she faded away, leaving him alone once more. But the weight that had pressed down on him was lighter now, the memories a little less suffocating. Kazuki took a deep breath, feeling a renewed sense of purpose.
He turned back to the shadow figure, his eyes blazing with determination. "I've faced my past. I know who I am, and I know what I'm fighting for. You can't take that from me."
The figure sneered, but there was a flicker of hesitation in its gaze. "We'll see, Kazuki. We'll see."
With a final, defiant glare, Kazuki stepped forward, plunging into the darkness, ready to face whatever lay ahead.