Kaoru found himself standing on broken bridge's edge in the Veil. He stared out at the chaotic expanse. Sky above was a swirling void of black and violet. It had cracks of golden light breaking through. The scene was like cracks in glass. Air felt oppressive. It was heavy with the scent of ash and the hum of Resonance.
Rei tightened the straps of her gloves. Her expression was unreadable as she glanced at Kaoru. "You've been quiet since we entered this region. Are you ready for what's in front of us?" she asked.
Kaoru tore gaze from the fractured sky and nodded. His hand tightened around the Soulclad spear. Kaoru had to be ready. There was no other choice. Revelations about the Wraith being part of his soul were fresh. He felt the weight of truth like noose tightening around his neck.
"Let's head toward the Riftspire" said Rei. She gestured to a jagged spire in the distance. Its silhouette was carved against a chaotic sky. "That's where Wraith's power is anchored. Destroying it weakens its hold on the Veil. It weakens hold on you."
Kaoru's heart sank. He wanted to believe Rei. He wanted to trust her unwavering confidence. But he couldn't shake the nagging doubt. What if destroying the Riftspire destroyed him too?.
The journey to Riftspire was treacherous. The ground beneath their feet shifted constantly as if it were alive. Shadowy tendrils slithered from the cracks. They reached for them like skeletal hands. Rei's twin blades flashed. She cut through dark appendages before they could grasp her. "Stay close Kaoru!" she called. Her voice was sharp but steady.
Kaoru's spear whirled in his hands. He fended off a group of Hollowed emerging from the shadows. Their distorted forms snarled and lunged on him. Their glowing eyes fixed on him. With every strike, his Soulclad hummed with Resonance. Its golden light pierced through creatures like a beacon.
"Behind you!" Ayaka's voice rang out.
Kaoru spun to see a massive Hollowed. It was bearing down on him. Its claws glinted like obsidian. He couldn't react. Then Ayaka's greatsword came crashing down. It split the creature in half. The noise was deafening.
"You're welcome," she quipped. Ayaka flashed him a grin. Tension echoed in her voice.
"Thanks." Kaoru muttered while catching his breath.
Rei gestured for them to move. "No time to rest. The Riftspire's defenses are only going to worsen. It will happen the closer we get."
As they drew closer to the spire air grew chillier. Shadows became darker. Surroundings trembled as Veil itself seemed to resist their presence.
Kaoru's chest felt tight. Connection to Wraith was only getting stronger. An unsettling voice echoed in his mind. It was strange. It was familiar. It was both. It asked him, "Why struggle, Kaoru?" It made him question. "Why not embrace what you truly are?" It was a losing battle the voice said. This shook Kaoru to his core. The Riftspire wasn't the biggest threat. The biggest threat was within himself. At least that's what the voice made him believe. The voice had a point. It was hard to argue against. Not when the power felt so close and yet out of reach. Would he dare embrace it? That was the real question.
He shook his head aiming to suppress the voice. No success. The volume only increased. His mind saw images. It was about him standing at the heart of the Veil. Shadows crowned him. The Resistance was down before him. The scene was quite vivid.
"Kaoru!" Rei's voice smashed him back to reality. She stared at him. Concern showed in her eyes. "Are you okay?" she inquired.
"I'm fine," he lied. He forced himself to focus. "Let's keep going."
Rei wasn't convinced. She didn't pressure him. It was not the time.
Riftspire. It towered in the entry. It was a tremendous archway. Black stone formed it. Runic symbols glowed faintly along the surface. Their light was dim but had a threatening aura.
Ayaka raised her sword. Her eyes swept the area. "It's quiet. Too quiet. I don't like it."
Following a natural process the earth shook. The shadows merged into an enormous shape. A towering Hollowed creature emerged. Its body was disturbing. A mixture of twisted limbs and sharp armor. Its eyes emitted a crimson light. Its howl reverberated like thunder.
"Of course," Ayaka groaned. "It's complex never easy."
Rei moved ahead. Her blades glowed with Resonance. She said "We'll deal with this. Kaoru let's open the gate. Your Soulclad should match the runes."
Kaoru took a moment. He nodded then approached the archway. Rei and Ayaka were confronting the monstrous Hollowed. The creature moved swiftly and savagely. Each swing of the massive claws tore through the air. The force was deadly.
Rei danced precisely around it. Twin blades carved glowing arcs through dark flesh. Ayaka met its attacks directly. She clashed her greatsword against its claws. The symphony of sparks and Resonance was striking.
Kaoru placed his hand on the runes. His Soulclad spear started to glow brighter. The glow resonated with the ancient symbols. The air around him started to vibrate. The runes began to pulse. The rhythm matched his heartbeat.
"Hurry up, Kaoru!" Ayaka shouted. She narrowly dodged a swipe from the Hollowed.
"I'm trying!" he snarled. Sweat dripped down his forehead. He was channeling his Resonance.
The gate started to shift. Its stone surface grinded. It slowly opened. But as it did, the voice in Kaoru's mind grew louder. It was more insistent.
"You can't win, Kaoru. Accept your destiny. Join me. I will grant you power beyond imagination."
Kaoru clenched his teeth. He tightened his grip on his spear. "I'm not like you!" he shouted his voice reverberating through the Veil.
The gate finally opened. It revealed a staircase spiraling upward. It led to the heart of the Riftspire. Rei and Ayaka dispatched the Hollowed with a final strike. Its massive form dissolved into shadows.
Rei glanced at Kaoru. Her face was firm. "This is the moment. We must keep moving forward. There is no stepping back now."
Kaoru stared at the stairway. The journey's weight pressed on him. But he allowed no fear to control him no matter how much it tried. In defiance, he took his first step.
"I am ready," he announced. His voice was strong.
They ascended. The unknown greeted them. The sky watched silently. It was fractured. The two worlds were at stake. They would face the Wraith.
to be continued...