The entrance to the underground tunnel lay hidden beneath the ruins of an ancient shrine, long forgotten by the world. Time and nature had swallowed it—vines creeping up its cracked pillars, stone carvings covered in dust. Jiro ran his hand over an old inscription, his face unreadable.
"This tunnel was once sacred to our ancestors," he muttered. "A hidden path, known only to the Akaru Clan. But when the noble clan took control, it was abandoned… sealed away."
Yokudo knelt beside him, brushing away loose debris. "Sealed? Why?"
Jiro's expression darkened. "No one knows. Some say those who entered… never returned."
Rajiv smirked. "Then I guess we're about to solve the mystery."
Jiro exhaled sharply. "Don't be so confident. If this place was truly abandoned, it wouldn't still feel… alive."
Ignoring the ominous warning, Rajiv and the others pried open the rusted hatch, revealing a staircase leading into darkness. A thick, stale air rushed upward, carrying the scent of damp earth and something rotting.
Rajiv took the first step. "Let's go."
---
Descent into the Unknown
The tunnel stretched on endlessly, the flickering glow of their torches barely illuminating the walls. Strange carvings lined the stone, ancient symbols of the Akaru Clan that pulsed faintly under the light.
Yokudo ran a hand over them. "These symbols… they're old. Older than the noble clan."
Jiro nodded. "This was our clan's true power—a place of wisdom and energy. Now, it's just a tomb."
As they ventured deeper, the ground became uneven, broken by cracks that seemed unnaturally deep. The silence was oppressive, broken only by the distant sound of water dripping.
Then—
A sound.
A low, guttural growl.
Rajiv stopped. His pulse quickened.
From the darkness ahead, something moved.
Two red eyes flickered to life. Then another. And another.
A hulking creature stepped forward, its form barely human. Its skin was cracked and pulsing with veins of glowing energy, its body warped by some unnatural force. Its mouth twisted into a snarl, revealing jagged, disfigured teeth.
Jiro sucked in a sharp breath. "A Stray."
Rajiv frowned. "A what?"
Jiro's voice was tense. "A being corrupted by unstable energy. They used to be human… until their bodies lost control."
The Stray let out a deafening screech and charged.
Rajiv barely had time to react before it slammed into him, knocking him back. He crashed against the wall, coughing as dust and debris rained down.
Yokudo swung his blade, slashing at the beast's side. Sparks flew—but the creature didn't even flinch. It swung its arm, sending Yokudo flying.
Jiro and his men fired their energy guns. Blue sparks struck the Stray's body, but it only growled, the energy seeming to feed it rather than harm it.
Rajiv groaned, pushing himself up. Damn. This thing is tough.
The Stray turned, its glowing eyes locking onto Jiro's men. Muscles tensed. Then—
It lunged.
Rajiv reacted on instinct. He clenched his fists, focusing deep within himself.
Feel it. Don't force it.
A golden spark flickered inside him.
Then—
Boom!
A burst of golden light erupted from his arms, bathing the tunnel in brilliance. His body felt weightless yet powerful.
The Stray hesitated—just for a second.
Rajiv didn't waste it.
He dashed forward, appearing beside the creature in an instant. His fist, coated in golden energy, struck the Stray's core.
A shockwave roared through the tunnel.
The Stray howled. Its form flickered—like it was fighting against something within. For a moment, Rajiv thought he saw… pain in its eyes.
Then, with a final cry, its body shattered into dust.
Silence.
Rajiv exhaled, his arms still glowing. His heart pounded. I controlled it… at least for now.
Jiro stared at him in disbelief. "You… You actually killed it."
Yokudo, still catching his breath, let out a nervous laugh. "You sure you're not some kind of monster yourself?"
Rajiv smirked. "I just don't like losing."
Jiro looked back at the dust left behind. His face was grim. "This wasn't a normal Stray. Something—someone—created it."
Rajiv's eyes narrowed. "You mean… the noble clan?"
Jiro hesitated. Then, slowly, he nodded. "It makes sense. Strays don't appear naturally. They're made. If the noble clan had something to do with this…" He clenched his fists. "Then we need to stop them."
Rajiv stared into the darkness ahead. The tunnel stretched on.
This was just the beginning.
If the noble clan feared the power of the Akaru Clan—
Then they had no idea what was coming for them.