—A living manifestation of his inner turmoil. The voice of the Nexus, deep and omnipresent, echoed in his mind.
"Raiden Kurogane, the trial of the Soul Crystals begins now. To prove yourself worthy, you must face your greatest fears, and your doubts, and rise above them. You will face yourself, and if you do not overcome, your journey will end here."
Raiden's pulse quickened as he gripped his fists, feeling a surge of energy course through him. The words stung—doubts—he had never been able to escape them. From the day he was a child, others saw him as weak, and unworthy of greatness. He could still hear their cruel words.
"You're nothing but a failure, Raiden. You'll never protect anyone."
His breath hitched. No… I'm not that boy anymore.
Suddenly, the ground beneath him cracked open, and a figure emerged from the abyss—a shadowy warrior in dark armor, with glowing red eyes that seemed to pierce through Raiden's very soul. The warrior's presence radiated malevolence, an embodiment of every doubt Raiden had ever carried with him.
"I am the spirit of your trial," the warrior's voice growled, its tone dripping with disdain. "You think you're ready for the power of the Soul Crystals? You've failed everyone who ever believed in you. You're not worthy."
Raiden flinched. That voice… it was his own. Deep down, that was what he feared most. That he would never live up to the legacy his parents had left him. That he was doomed to be just another weakling.
He gritted his teeth, forcing back the flood of negativity. No. I will not be like everyone said I was. I will be more.
Raiden summoned his lightning. A crackling burst of energy surged through his body as his Raijin's Fury form took over, his body surrounded by a storm of crackling electricity. He charged forward, his fists crackling with the power of a thousand storms. But the shadow warrior was swift—its movements fluid, precise, almost as though it could predict his every action.
"Is this all you've got, Raiden?" The warrior mocked, easily dodging his strikes and countering with brutal blows. Each hit sent Raiden crashing to the ground, shaking his resolve.
I'm not strong enough…
"See? You'll never be good enough to defeat me. You're nothing but a failure. Just like that child who couldn't protect anyone."
The words hit Raiden like a hammer, and for a moment, his resolve faltered. Was he really strong enough? Could he protect anyone, like his parents had wanted? His doubt threatened to consume him.
Then, he heard it—the voice of Kira, faint but firm. "Raiden… You've always had more strength than you know. You are not alone. You are not your failures."
The encouragement was like a beacon of light in the storm. Raiden remembered his parents—his true parents—and the strength they had passed on to him. They had sacrificed everything to protect the realms. He couldn't let their legacy fall.
Raiden's heart pounded in his chest as he stood up, determined. He wasn't just fighting for the Soul Crystals. He was fighting to prove to himself that he was worthy of the power that came with his bloodline.
He focused all his energy on one final attack—a lightning-infused strike that surged from his hand with the force of a tempest. He threw it at the warrior, but this time, his focus was different. It wasn't just about power—it was about belief. Believing that he could overcome his fears. Believing in himself.
The lightning struck the warrior dead on, disintegrating it into ash. The storm around Raiden began to subside, and for the first time, he felt at peace.
The voice of the Nexus echoed again, this time softer, almost approving. "You have passed your first trial, Raiden Kurogane. But be warned, the trials ahead will be even harder. You must master your power before you can hope to wield the Soul Crystals."
Raiden stood tall, his breath steadying as the weight of the trial lifted from his shoulders. He wasn't done yet—this was just the beginning. He knew that with every challenge, every trial, he would grow stronger. This power was his birthright, and he would fight for it.
"I'll prove them wrong," Raiden whispered to himself.
With that, the next step of his journey awaited. And there was no turning back.