The shadowborn lunged forward, its massive arm sweeping through the air with crushing force. Kaito barely managed to dodge, rolling to the side as the creature's strike shattered the stone floor where he had stood. Dust and debris filled the air, but Kaito gripped Kagekiri tightly, its glow brighter than ever.
"Kaito!" Kaede's voice cut through the chaos. Her amulet pulsed in response to the shadowborn's energy, but she held her ground. "You can't take it head-on. We need to weaken it!"
"How?" Kaito yelled back, his eyes locked on the creature as it turned toward him again.
Ayame stepped forward, raising her staff. She chanted under her breath, and a circle of light appeared beneath the shadowborn. The creature roared in pain as the holy magic seared its dark form.
"That's it!" Kaito shouted. "Keep it distracted!"
He dashed forward, Kagekiri humming in anticipation. The blade's whispers filled his mind, urging him to strike.
"Go for the core," the sword hissed. "End this now."
The shadowborn turned toward Ayame, its crimson eyes narrowing as it raised a clawed hand. Kaede sprang into action, holding her amulet high. A burst of light shot from it, colliding with the creature's arm and knocking it off balance.
"Over here, you oversized nightmare!" Kaede taunted, her voice filled with defiance.
The shadowborn growled, shifting its attention to her. Kaito seized the opportunity, leaping onto a broken pillar and using it as a springboard. He launched himself toward the creature, Kagekiri aimed at the glowing mark on its chest.
With a powerful strike, the katana pierced the shadowborn's core. The creature let out a deafening roar, its form shuddering as cracks of light spread through its body.
"Now, Ayame!" Kaito shouted.
Ayame slammed her staff into the ground, unleashing a wave of holy energy that engulfed the shadowborn. The creature writhed in agony before exploding into a cloud of darkness, which dissolved into the air.
The chamber fell silent, save for their heavy breathing. Kaito lowered Kagekiri, its glow fading as the whispers quieted.
Outside the Temple
The soldiers watched in stunned silence as a column of light shot from the temple into the night sky. The captain's expression darkened.
"They defeated it," he said through gritted teeth. "That boy and that blade... they're more dangerous than I thought."
"What do we do now, sir?" a lieutenant asked nervously.
The captain's eyes glinted with malice. "Regroup and prepare to storm the temple. If they've survived this, they'll be too weak to resist us. The emperor will have his prize."
Back Inside
Kaito collapsed to his knees, exhaustion washing over him. Ayame rushed to his side, her hands glowing as she used healing magic to mend his wounds.
"Are you okay?" she asked, her voice filled with concern.
"Yeah," Kaito said, though his limbs felt like lead. "What about you two?"
Kaede leaned against a wall, her face pale but determined. "I'm fine. Thanks to you both."
Ayame frowned, glancing at the shattered seal. "We stopped the shadowborn, but the seal is gone. If there are more like that... they'll be free now."
Kaede's face darkened. "There are two more. Stronger than the one we just faced. And if the empire is involved, they'll stop at nothing to control them."
Kaito stood, his resolve hardening. "Then we need to stop them before they can."
"We can't do this alone," Ayame said. "We need allies. Others who understand what we're up against."
Kaede nodded. "There are groups who resist the empire. Hidden factions. If we can find them, we might stand a chance."
Kaito glanced at Kagekiri, the blade still faintly pulsing in his hand. Its power was undeniable, but so was its danger. He knew the road ahead would only grow harder.
"Let's move," he said. "The soldiers will be back, and we can't be here when they arrive."
As they prepared to leave the temple, Kaito, Kaede, and Ayame steeled themselves for the journey ahead. The shadowborn were just the beginning, and the empire's pursuit was relentless.
But together, they were determined to fight back against the growing darkness and uncover the truth behind the Blades of Forgotten Echoes.