Ryuji's Trial
The air inside the dark chamber was thick, suffocating. The only source of light came from torches flickering against the stone walls, casting long, shifting shadows. Ryuji stood in the center, his body still aching from the battle with Kenshiro, his mind filled with doubt.
Kenshiro watched him, his silver eyes cold and unreadable. "You accepted my offer, Ryuji. But power is not simply given. It must be earned."
Ryuji's fists clenched. "Then show me."
A smirk crossed Kenshiro's face. "Then survive."
With a flick of his hand, the floor beneath Ryuji vanished.
Ryuji barely had time to react before he was falling—plummeting into darkness. The moment his body hit the ground, a surge of pain shot through him. He groaned, pushing himself up. His surroundings had changed. The chamber was gone. Instead, he stood in a vast, ruined wasteland. The sky was crimson, torn apart by streaks of black lightning.
And then—he felt it.
The presence of something monstrous.
The ground trembled as massive, twisted figures emerged from the shadows—hulking, grotesque demons with jagged horns and burning red eyes.
"Your first trial," Kenshiro's voice echoed from above. "Fight, or be consumed."
The first demon lunged.
Ryuji rolled to the side, barely avoiding its claws as they tore into the stone. He reached for his sword—only to remember it was gone.
Another demon charged.
Ryuji reacted on instinct, twisting his body and dodging at the last second. His breathing was ragged. Unarmed. Outnumbered. No way out.
And yet… something inside him was awakening.
A surge of energy—wild, untamed—rushed through his veins. His body moved before he could think, his hand slamming into the demon's chest. A blast of unseen force sent the creature skidding backward, roaring in rage.
Ryuji's eyes widened. "What… was that?"
The energy burned inside him, demanding release. This power… it wasn't normal. It felt like something alive.
And it wanted more.
Akari's Hunt
Far from the ruined wasteland, Akari moved through the dense forest, her katana gripped tightly in her hands. Her breathing was steady, but her mind was in turmoil.
She could still hear his voice.
"I'll come."
Her grip tightened. No. She refused to accept it.
She had tracked Kenshiro's energy to this place, a ruined temple at the heart of the mountains. Shadows lurked between the crumbling pillars. A presence was here—waiting for her.
She stepped forward.
A blur of movement—then a blade came slicing toward her.
Akari spun, parrying just in time. Sparks flew as steel met steel. She was face-to-face with a masked warrior, clad in dark armor.
"You're in my way," she growled.
The warrior tilted his head. "So is he really worth all this?"
Akari's eyes burned with fury. "I'm bringing him back."
The warrior smirked. "Then prove it."
Their blades clashed again, the force shaking the ruins.
The Chains Tighten
Back in the wasteland, Ryuji panted, his body covered in scratches, his hands trembling from the raw power coursing through him. Around him, the demons lay in pieces. He had won.
But something was wrong.
Kenshiro's voice echoed from above. "You feel it now, don't you? That power… it's not just yours."
Ryuji's breath hitched.
His hands were shaking. His mind felt… distant.
Something else was inside him.
Watching. Waiting.
And smiling.
End of Chapter 12