Kael stretched his arms as the last of his restraints vanished. He stood there, unfazed, brushing off dust like nothing had happened.
"Okay, that was weird."
Across from him, one of the Eclipse Hunters, Finn, stared at him with a sharp, calculating look.
"I thought you said you had no magic, Yakuza," Finn muttered.
Kael glanced at him. Then, without a word, he punched him.
BOOM!
Finn's body rocketed backward, crashing through three buildings before silence fell over the battlefield.
Kael cracked his knuckles.
"That was easy."
The Shadow Hunter
Darkness rippled.
From the shadows of the destroyed buildings, Finn reformed—not as a man, but as a shifting, liquid-like shadow.
Kael narrowed his eyes slightly. A shadow user. That explained why his punch felt like it hit nothing.
Finn's hand moved to his side, gripping a sword hilt.
A black blade, pulsing like a void—The Shadow Sword.
Then, with a blur of motion, he dashed forward.
Kael swung again—but hit nothing.
Finn slipped through his attack like mist, appearing behind him in a flash.
Kael clenched his fists. Annoying.
Frustration surged through him as he tried to land another blow—but Finn was untouchable.
Then, lightning roared from the sky.
Before Kael could react, a bolt of raw energy struck him, searing his skin and sending him crashing to the ground.
Finn stood over him, unfazed. In his hand, he now held the book.
The Truth of the Book
Kael groaned, pushing himself up. "Why do you want to kill me?"
Finn sighed, rubbing his temples. "So you haven't finished reading the book."
Kael frowned. "What are you talking about?"
Without answering, Finn flipped to the last page and pointed.
"Anyone who reads at least Chapter One of this book gains magic—at random times."
Kael's eyes darkened. "How do you know this without reading it?"
Finn snapped the book shut. "Because people sell it. The wrong version."
Before Kael could reply, a voice cut through the tension.
A voice that had been silent until now.
"If you think I didn't bury this thing… you're wrong. It's the Ember."
Kael turned.
Yakuza had finally spoken.