Chapter 6 – First Encounter
They laughed and moved forward together, heading out just to grab a drink—
—but little did they know, this was about to become their first test.
As they moved further down the street, they noticed people running toward them—panic etched on their faces.
Noctyre's gaze sharpened.
"Stay careful," he yelled.
"Something is coming."
From ahead, a shadowy figure emerged.
It was massive. Humanoid. Its body was cracked with glowing red fissures, heat radiating from within like molten stone.
Noctyre's eyes widened.
"Kurogami…?"
Yura looked at him.
"What?"
Noctyre replied quickly, tension in his voice:
"It's a Hollow Spirit—born from human emotions just before death."
He swallowed.
"This one is strong."
Yura's fists ignited, red Vital Force wrapping tightly around his hands.
"We will kill him," he muttered.
Toura Oni sprinted forward, a stick clenched in her hands. She leapt into the air and slammed it down onto the creature's head.
CRACK!
Kurogami didn't move.
Yura and Noctyre shouted at the same time:
"TOURA!!!"
In an instant, Kurogami swung its arm.
THUD!
Toura was slammed into a nearby building, the wall shattering on impact.
"Toura!"
Yura rushed forward, fists blazing with red Vital Force. He pulled back his arm and threw a punch.
BOOM!
The impact staggered the creature.
But before Yura could react—
BOOM!
Kurogami slammed its hand into the ground. The shockwave ripped through the street. Yura barely managed to stay on his feet.
Another strike came.
Time slowed.
Yura stared at the incoming attack.
I have to dodge.
I must dodge.
The strike drew closer.
His heart pounded.
Can I really dodge this?
Can I…?