The air was thick with tension as the group pressed deeper into the abandoned district. Hiki led the way, her sharp gaze scanning for any signs of danger, while Moritaka trailed behind, muttering curses under his breath. Tobi stuck to the middle, clutching the energy stabilizer like a lifeline. Friend walked beside him, his glowing eyes darting around as if he could see things the others couldn't.
"You know," Friend began in a low voice, "this little cult encounter of ours has all the makings of a grand disaster. Hooded weirdos, ominous chants, ancient prophecies—classic setup for trouble."
Tobi didn't respond, his thoughts still tangled with the cultist leader's words. The mark has chosen you. What mark? And why him? He wanted to ask Friend, but he knew the fox would only dodge the question with sarcasm or riddles.
"You're thinking too much," Friend said, his tone softening. "Focus on the now, kid. Worry about the rest later."
Tobi sighed, gripping the stabilizer tighter. The device had saved him earlier, but he still felt like he was playing with fire. Every time he tapped into his power, it was like opening a floodgate he barely understood.
"Do you hear that?" Hiki's voice cut through his thoughts.
The group stopped, their boots crunching against the gravel. Tobi strained his ears, catching a faint sound—like whispers carried on a breeze. It was almost imperceptible, but it made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.
"Voices," Hiki said, her hand resting on her rifle. "They're coming from up ahead."
"Great," Moritaka muttered, drawing his energy blade. "More lunatics to deal with."
Hiki motioned for silence and signaled for the group to move cautiously. They followed the whispers, which grew louder with each step. The sound seemed to echo off the walls, creating an eerie symphony that made Tobi's skin crawl.
The tunnel opened into a massive chamber, its ceiling so high it disappeared into darkness. The walls were lined with glowing blue crystals, their light casting strange shadows across the floor. At the center of the chamber stood a large, circular platform engraved with intricate symbols.
"What is this place?" Tobi asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"A conduit," Hiki said grimly. "An old one. These were used during the early days underground to channel energy from the stones. Most were abandoned after the collapses."
"Why would the cultists be here?" Tobi asked.
"To use it," Hiki replied. "Or to guard it."
Friend's ears perked up. "I don't think they're guarding anything."
Before Tobi could ask what he meant, the whispers intensified, turning into an incomprehensible chorus that filled the chamber. The glowing crystals pulsed in rhythm with the sound, and the air grew heavy with a strange energy.
"We need to leave," Hiki said, her voice tight with urgency. "Now."
But as they turned to go, the ground beneath the platform began to tremble. A low rumble echoed through the chamber, and the symbols on the platform started to glow. Tobi felt a familiar pull, like the energy was calling to him.
"Tobi," Friend said, his voice unusually serious. "Stay close. This is about to get messy."
The rumble grew louder, and from the platform rose a figure—a humanoid shape made entirely of blackened stone. Its eyes glowed with the same blue light as the crystals, and its movements were slow but deliberate. The whispers grew louder, now clearly emanating from the creature.
"What the hell is that?" Moritaka shouted, raising his blade.
"A guardian," Hiki said, her rifle already aimed. "Keep your distance!"
The guardian stepped off the platform, its heavy footsteps shaking the ground. It turned its glowing eyes toward Tobi, and he felt the same suffocating weight he'd experienced with the cultist leader.
"It's looking at me," Tobi said, panic creeping into his voice. "Why is it looking at me?"
"Because it knows what you are," Friend replied. "And it doesn't like you."
The guardian lunged, moving with surprising speed for its size. Hiki fired a barrage of energy rounds, but they barely scratched its stony exterior. Moritaka charged, his blade slicing through the air, but the creature swatted him away like a ragdoll.
Tobi froze, his heart pounding as the guardian advanced. Friend growled beside him. "Snap out of it, kid! You've got the juice—use it!"
Tobi raised the stabilizer, his hands trembling. He focused on the energy inside him, trying to summon it. The stabilizer hummed, but the guardian was already closing in.
"Tobi, move!" Hiki shouted.
The creature's massive arm swung toward him, and he barely managed to dive out of the way. The force of the impact shattered the ground where he'd been standing, sending shards of stone flying.
"You can't keep running!" Friend yelled. "Stand your ground!"
Tobi gritted his teeth and forced himself to focus. He felt the energy building, swirling like a storm inside him. When the guardian lunged again, he released it in a concentrated burst. The wave of energy struck the creature head-on, pushing it back but not stopping it.
"It's not enough!" Tobi shouted, his voice cracking with frustration.
"You're holding back," Friend said. "Stop thinking about control and just feel it!"
The guardian roared, the sound vibrating through the chamber. It raised its arms, and the crystals on the walls began to shatter, their fragments swirling around it like a protective barrier.
Hiki and Moritaka regrouped beside Tobi. "We need a plan," Hiki said. "Its core is the weak point, but we'll never get close with that shield up."
"I'll distract it," Moritaka said, his tone grim. "You two figure out how to bring it down."
Before anyone could argue, he charged, his blade glowing with energy. The guardian turned its attention to him, swiping at him with its massive arms. Moritaka dodged with precision, landing strikes whenever he could, though they seemed to do little more than irritate the creature.
"Tobi," Hiki said, gripping his shoulder. "That burst you did earlier—can you focus it on its core?"
"I don't know," Tobi admitted, his voice shaking. "I've never—"
"You don't have a choice," she interrupted. "We're out of options."
Friend stepped in front of Tobi, his eyes fierce. "You've got this, kid. Stop doubting yourself."
Tobi took a deep breath, trying to drown out the fear and noise. He focused on the guardian's core, the glowing center of its chest. The energy inside him responded, surging like a tidal wave. He raised the stabilizer, channeling everything he had into a single point.
The stabilizer hummed louder, its light growing blinding. Tobi felt the energy burn through him, but he didn't stop. He aimed and released the burst, a concentrated beam of light that struck the guardian's core.
The creature let out a deafening roar as the beam pierced its chest. Its body cracked and splintered, the fragments falling away as the light consumed it. When the beam finally faded, the guardian collapsed into a pile of rubble, its glow extinguished.
The chamber fell silent, save for the sound of Tobi's labored breathing. Hiki and Moritaka stared at him, their expressions a mix of relief and awe.
"That was… impressive," Moritaka admitted, though he quickly added, "Don't let it go to your head."
Hiki nodded. "You did well, Tobi. But this is just the beginning."
Friend sat beside him, his tail swishing. "Not bad, kid. Not bad at all."
Tobi slumped to the ground, exhaustion washing over him. The victory felt hollow, the weight of the cultist's words still heavy on his mind. The mark has chosen you. Whatever that meant, he knew he couldn't run from it.
And he wasn't sure he wanted to anymore.