The staircase spiraled endlessly carved from jagged stone. It was surrounded by strange pulsating mist. Kaoru's pulse quickened with each step. The oppressive air of the Riftspire grew heavier as they climbed higher.
It seemed the structure itself was trying to force them back. "Keep moving," Rei said. Her voice was steady but tense. She glanced back at Kaoru and Ayaka. "It wants us to falter. Don't give it satisfaction." Ayaka grunted in agreement. She gripped her greatsword tightly. "I swear" she said. "If I don't get fresh air after this I'm going to scream".
Kaoru lagged behind, sweating. He wiped his brow. He could still feel the Wraith's voice in his mind. A faint, taunting whisper. *"You're getting closer. But to what? Salvation? Or your undoing?"* He shook his head trying to focus. The faint golden glow of his Soulclad spear comforted him. He was enveloped in darkness.
When they got to the top the group walked into a large circular area. The walls seemed alive, pulsating like veins. They carried dark energy. In the room's center stood a figure. The figure was cloaked in moving shadows. Its form was human and alien simultaneously. This was the Wraith.
"You've come," the Wraith said. Its voice resonated. It echoed from every chamber corner. "How predictable." Kaoru's breath caught in his throat. Seeing the Wraith up close was something else. It was staring into a distorted mirror. Its features were vaguely familiar.
They were like a twisted version of Kaoru himself. Eyes glowing with a dark light. An unsettling light. "Kaoru," Rei whispered. She stepped in front of him. "Don't let it get inside your head. Focus." The Wraith chuckled. It was a low, menacing sound.
"Why fight me Kaoru? We are one. You've felt it, right? The pull the power. You don't belong with them." It gestured toward Rei and Ayaka. "You belong here, with me." Kaoru clenched his fists. His grip tightened on his spear.
"I am nothing like you!" he shouted. His voice trembled with fear and defiance. The Wraith tilted its head feeling amused. "Are you so sure? The Veil responds to you, Kaoru. It bends to your will. Why deny who you are?" Rei raised her blades, stepping forward.
"Enough. We didn't come here to talk." The Wraith smirked. Its shadowy form rippled. "Very well. Let's see if your resolve matches your words."
Battle commenced suddenly. The Wraith became like a shadow. Swift and unrelenting attacks came from it. Rei and Ayaka didn't waste a moment. They sprang into action. Soulclads were glowing brightly. They clashed against Wraith's dark energy.
Kaoru held back for a moment. He watched in awe and fear. Two warriors fought with all they had. Rei's twin blades were moving through the air artfully. They were cutting through the Wraith's tendrils of shadow. Ayaka's greatsword smashed into the ground. Shockwaves dispersed its form momentarily.
"Kaoru!" Rei shouted. Her voice was cutting through all the chaos. "We need you!" Snapping out of his daze was Kaoru. He then charged forward. His spear was glowing with golden Resonance. The Wraith turned to him. Its glowing eyes narrowed.
"Ah, there it is," said the Wraith. There was hint of excitement in its voice. "The spark of power. Show me what you can do Kaoru." Kaoru lunged. His spear was aimed straight for the Wraith's core. The two clashed in an explosion of light and shadow. The force sent Kaoru skidding backward.
Wraith laughed. Its voice echoed through the chamber. "Good Kaoru. Very good. But you'll need more than that to defeat me."
---
Fight carried on. Chamber shook with the intensity of their battle. Wraith appeared invincible. Its form regenerated continuously, each fresh blow. "We're not scratching the surface!" Ayaka yelled. She dodged a swipe of Wraith's shadow-drenched claws.
Rei clenched her teeth. Her movements started to grow desperate. "It's feeding off Veil. Need to somehow cut its connection."
The heart of Kaoru pulsed. He could sense Wraith's energy bearing down on him. It was a suffocating weight. It threatened to crush his resolve. Yet deep inside him something stirred. A feeling he couldn't quite grasp.
"Kaoru," said the Wraith. Its voice tender now. Almost seducing. "Why resist this? You've found the truth. The Veil is your home. Accept it, I unveil what real power feels like."
Kaoru froze. The Wraith's words created doubt in his mind. Its voice merged with his personal uncertainties. *Is it possible it's right? Do I truly not fit in?*
"Kaoru!" Rei cut through his thoughts. "Don't heed it! Recall your purpose for being here!"
Kaoru's hold on his spear became tight. He pondered Rei Ayaka and the Resistance. Kaoru also thought of Kurohama residents relying on their help. He considered countless lives Wraith had obliterated.
"I am here to halt you," Kaoru declared. His voice remained steady. Fear lingered in his chest. "No matter the price."
Golden light of his Soulclad brightened. Resonance surged through him, stronger than before. Kaoru charged forward. His spear blazed like a comet.
Wraith's face shifted. Its confident smirk faltered, first time. "You fool! You don't fathom your actions!"
Kaoru didn't pause. With one final desperate cry, he stabbed his spear into the Wraith's core. Chamber exploded into a blinding light. Resonance's force shook Riftspire's very foundation.
---
When the light vanished Kaoru found himself on his knees. His spear was broken and his body shook The Wraith's form flickered shadows unraveling like smoke. "You think this is the end?" the Wraith said. Its voice was weak but it was defiant "It is only the beginning Kaoru. You cannot destroy me. I am a part of you".
Kaoru looked up. His eyes held determination. "Maybe you are right. As long as I am here I will fight. I will fight to keep you from hurting anyone." The Wraith let out final laugh. Its form dissolved entirely. The chamber was eerily quiet.
Rei and Ayaka ran to Kaoru's side. On their faces relief and concern mingled. "You did it," Rei said. She helped Kaoru up. "But this is not the end." Kaoru nodded. His eyes shifted. They settled on the faint glow of the fractured sky outside the spire. Rei was right. The battle with Wraith was finished. Yet, the fight to protect both worlds was far from over.
To be continued…