The morning light filtered through the shattered buildings, casting long shadows across the rubble-strewn streets. Kai leaned against a cracked wall, his body sore from the fight, his hands still trembling as he held the glowing katana.
Reina sat a few feet away, sharpening her blade with a whetstone. Her violet eyes darted toward him every now and then, as if gauging his resolve.
"Don't let the quiet fool you," she said finally, breaking the silence. "The Voidspawn don't rest for long. Another rift could open at any time."
Kai groaned, his head lolling back against the wall. "You're telling me we don't even get a break?"
Reina smirked. "Welcome to the life of a Void Slayer. You signed up for this, rookie."
Kai let out a tired laugh, though there was an edge of nervousness to it. "I didn't really sign up. The sword kind of… chose me, didn't it?"
Reina's expression turned serious as she set her whetstone aside. "That sword didn't just choose you by chance. Soulblades are rare—only a handful of people can wield them. And those who do… well, let's just say they're destined for either greatness or destruction."
Kai raised the katana, studying its shimmering blade. The energy within it felt alive, pulsating faintly as if it were breathing. "So, what's the deal with this thing? Why does it feel like it's… part of me?"
Reina hesitated, her gaze softening. "Soulblades are forged from the essence of their wielder's spirit. They reflect your inner strength, your fears, and your desires. The fact that you were able to use a Soulburst during your first fight means you've got untapped potential."
Kai frowned, lowering the sword. "Untapped potential? I feel like I'm barely holding it together."
"That's because you don't know how to control it yet," Reina said, standing and stretching. "That's why I'm going to train you."
Kai blinked, surprised. "Wait, you're going to teach me?"
Reina raised an eyebrow. "What, you thought I'd just leave you to figure it out on your own? If you're going to fight Voidspawn, you need to learn how to survive. And besides…" She glanced at his katana. "I'm curious about that sword of yours."
Kai pushed himself to his feet, wincing as pain shot through his legs. "Alright, where do we start?"
Reina stepped closer, her expression turning stern. "First lesson: control your fear. The Voidspawn feed off negative emotions—fear, anger, despair. If you let those feelings take over, you're as good as dead."
Kai nodded, gripping the katana tightly. "Got it. No fear."
Reina smirked. "Easier said than done, rookie. Let's see how you handle yourself under pressure."
She raised her hand, and a faint purple light emanated from her palm. The air around them grew cold, and a shadowy figure began to materialize in front of her. It was smaller than the Voidspawn they had fought earlier, but its glowing red eyes and jagged claws were no less intimidating.
Kai took a step back, his heart pounding. "You can summon them?!"
"Not exactly," Reina said, her voice calm. "This is a Shadow Construct. It's a harmless imitation—well, mostly harmless. It won't kill you, but it will hurt if you mess up. Think of it as a sparring partner."
The Shadow Construct growled, crouching low as if preparing to pounce. Kai swallowed hard, raising his katana.
"Remember," Reina said, circling the construct like a predator. "Fear clouds your judgment. Focus on your breathing, your stance, and the flow of your blade. Let the Soulblade guide you."
Kai nodded, his grip tightening. The construct lunged, and Kai barely managed to block its claws. The impact rattled his arms, but the katana's glow seemed to steady him.
"Good," Reina said, her tone approving. "Now, counter."
Kai gritted his teeth and swung the katana, the blade slicing cleanly through the construct's arm. The shadowy limb dissipated into smoke, but the construct didn't falter. It lashed out with its remaining arm, forcing Kai to dodge.
"You're too reactive," Reina called out. "Anticipate its movements. Don't wait for it to attack—take control of the fight!"
Kai nodded, adjusting his stance. The construct lunged again, but this time, Kai stepped to the side, bringing the katana down in a swift arc. The blade connected, and the construct dissolved into a puff of black smoke.
Kai stood there, panting, his chest heaving. "I… I did it."
Reina nodded, crossing her arms. "Not bad for your first try. But don't get cocky. That was a training dummy compared to what's out there."
Kai lowered the katana, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Still, it feels good to actually win for once."
Reina smirked. "Enjoy it while it lasts, rookie. Tomorrow, the real training begins."
Kai groaned, but there was a spark of determination in his eyes. As the sun climbed higher into the sky, he couldn't help but feel like this was the start of something bigger—something that would change his life forever.