The void was cold, an endless expanse of black that seemed to swallow sound and thought alike. Maki stood in its center, spear in hand, her breathing steady despite the oppressive atmosphere. Before her was Scathach, serene yet commanding, her violet eyes gleaming like stars in the darkness.
"This place," Scathach said, gesturing around them, "is a reflection of your soul—a realm shaped by your spirit and resolve. It is here that you will confront the shadows within and learn to master the strength you seek."
Maki shifted uneasily. "I've been training my whole life. I know my strengths and weaknesses. I don't need a therapy session."
Scathach's lips curled into a faint, knowing smile. "You've trained your body, yes, but not your essence. The battles ahead will not be won with strength alone. You must become more than a warrior—you must become a force that even the gods will fear."
Before Maki could respond, Scathach raised her hand, and the void rippled like disturbed water. Shadows materialized from the darkness, forming grotesque figures with glowing red eyes and jagged claws.
"Prove your resolve," Scathach commanded.
The creatures lunged without warning, their movements unnaturally swift. Maki instinctively raised her spear, deflecting the first attack and countering with a precise thrust that impaled the shadow nearest to her.
But as quickly as it dissolved, another took its place.
"Are these supposed to be training dummies?" Maki growled, weaving between strikes.
"No," Scathach replied calmly. "They are manifestations of your own fears and doubts. Destroy them, and you weaken their hold over you."
Maki scoffed but pressed on, her spear a blur as she carved through the onslaught. The shadows were relentless, their attacks coming faster and with greater ferocity. Sweat dripped down her brow as fatigue set in, but she refused to falter.
As the battle raged, memories began to surface—visions of her life before Orario. She saw herself standing before the Zenin Clan, their scornful gazes burning into her. She saw Mai, her sister, her expression a mix of pain and anger.
"You'll never be strong enough," one of the shadows hissed, its voice eerily familiar.
Maki's jaw tightened. "Shut up."
The shadow lunged, and Maki dodged, driving her spear into its chest. But as it dissolved, more voices joined the fray, each one dredging up old wounds.
"Why weren't you there for me, Maki?" Mai's voice echoed.
"You're a failure," another shadow sneered.
Maki hesitated, her grip faltering for a split second. One of the shadows took advantage, slashing her side. She hissed in pain, stumbling back.
"Enough!" she roared, channelling her frustration into a wide arc that cleared the immediate area.
Scathach watched silently, her expression unreadable.
The battle continued for what felt like hours. Maki's movements grew sharper, her strikes more deliberate, as she adapted to the unending assault. She began to understand that the shadows were not just enemies—they were lessons. Each one forced her to confront a part of herself she had tried to bury.
Finally, only one shadow remained. It took the form of Maki herself, her doppelgänger's green eyes filled with disdain.
"What are you even fighting for?" the shadow taunted. "You don't belong here. You never did."
Maki gripped her spear tightly, her chest heaving. "I'm fighting because I refuse to be forgotten. I refuse to let the world decide my worth."
The shadow smirked. "Brave words. Let's see if you mean them."
It lunged, its movements mirroring Maki's perfectly. Their clash was brutal, each strike countered with equal force. But as the fight wore on, Maki began to notice cracks in the shadow's facade—hesitation in its attacks, openings in its defence.
With a final, decisive blow, Maki drove her spear through the shadow's chest. It froze, its expression twisting into one of surprise before it dissolved into the void.
The darkness around her shifted, fading into a calm, starlit expanse.
"Well done," Scathach said, stepping forward.
Maki wiped the sweat from her brow, her breathing ragged. "That was… something."
"You've taken your first step," Scathach said, her tone almost gentle. "But the path ahead is long. Are you ready to continue?"
Maki straightened, meeting Scathach's gaze with renewed determination. "I'm not backing down."
Scathach smiled faintly. "Good. Then let us begin the next phase."
She raised her hand, and the void shifted again, forming an expansive battlefield. At its center stood a towering figure clad in armor, its eyes glowing with divine power.
"This is your next challenge," Scathach said. "A projection of a god's strength. Defeat it, and you will take your first step toward true divinity."
Maki gripped her spear, her resolve hardening. "Bring it on."