The Dream 2

Senshou withdrew his blade from Leo's chest, the pristine steel glinting in the sunlight as if it had never been stained with blood. Yet Leo stood there, alive and unharmed, his brow furrowed in confusion. His heart raced as he tightened his grip on his sword, sweat beading on his forehead.

"What the hell…?" Leo muttered, his voice tinged with both frustration and disbelief.

Senshou didn't answer. Instead, he shifted his stance, his katana held loosely in one hand. There was a faint smirk playing on his lips, but his emerald eyes glimmered with something darker—calculated malice. Without a word, Senshou darted forward, his movements so swift they blurred.

Leo met him mid-stride, swinging his blade in a wide arc.

Clang! The sound of steel meeting steel echoed through the arena as sparks flew from their clash. Leo gritted his teeth, infusing his weapon with a sharp gust of wind.

"Second Art: Wind Carve!" Leo roared, unleashing a slicing gale toward Senshou.

Senshou stepped to the side, his form vanishing as if dissolving into thin air. The razor-sharp wind cleaved through the air, gouging a deep scar into the arena floor. Before Leo could react, Senshou appeared behind him, aiming for his neck. Leo twisted just in time, parrying the strike, but Senshou's movements were relentless.

For every spell Leo cast, Senshou seemed to evade it effortlessly, dancing around him like a ghost. The crowd watched in awe as the two fighters exchanged blows, though it was clear one held the upper hand.

"Stay still!" Leo growled, frustration mounting. He raised his hand, wind gathering around him in a violent vortex.

"Wind Forge!"

A flurry of wind blades shot out in all directions, covering a wide area. Senshou dodged each one, his movements impossibly precise. For a brief moment, Leo thought he had him cornered, only for his sword to cut through an afterimage.

Senshou appeared behind him once again, his katana aimed straight for Leo's heart. The blade plunged in without resistance. Leo gasped, but there was no pain, no blood. Senshou's smirk deepened.

"Second Impact," he whispered, his voice barely audible.

Leo shoved him back, stumbling slightly. His chest felt cold where the blade had pierced, but there was no physical wound. "What… is this? What are you doing to me?"

Senshou tilted his head. "You're asking the wrong questions. The better one would be: what am I not doing?"

Before Leo could retort, Senshou vanished once more. This time, he reappeared directly in front of him, his blade flashing toward Leo's throat. Leo raised his sword to block, but Senshou's katana veered at the last moment, striking his hand. A wave of frost spread from the point of contact, encasing Leo's arm in ice. His movements slowed as the frost crept further up his body.

Senshou clicked his tongue, shaking his head. "I didn't want to use this, but you're forcing my hand."

Leo struggled against the freezing grip, his teeth chattering. "You're… using an attunement?"

"Indeed. It's not my preferred method, but I'm growing tired of this little game." Senshou's voice turned cold, matching the icy air around them. He stepped forward, his katana glinting with an eerie light.

"Third Impact: Book of The Dream."

With those words, a small bell appeared on Senshou's waist, glowing softly. Its chime was faint but piercing, and as it rang, the world around Leo began to distort. The sky darkened, the roaring crowd faded into silence, and the ground beneath him felt like it was crumbling away. Before he could comprehend what was happening, everything went black.

When Leo opened his eyes, he found himself standing in a world unlike anything he had ever seen. The sky was upside down, buildings rose and twisted in impossible directions, and the horizon seemed to fold in on itself. Gravity felt inconsistent, tugging him in strange directions with every step.

"Where am I?" Leo muttered, his voice echoing in the surreal expanse.

Senshou's voice answered, seemingly coming from everywhere and nowhere at once. "Welcome to your inner world, Leonardo Zeshi. A reflection of your soul."

Senshou stepped into view, his katana resting on his shoulder. He gestured to the bizarre landscape around them. "This place is you—or at least, a manifestation of what lies within. Normally, your soul's resonance would be here to interfere, but my ability ensures they stay out of the picture."

Leo's eyes narrowed. "Resonance? What are you talking about?"

Senshou smirked. "Every soul has its own resonance, its own manifestation. But thanks to the Book of The Dream, I can manipulate your inner world as I see fit. Here, I am the master."

As if to demonstrate, Senshou raised his hand. The buildings around them groaned and shifted, their impossible forms bending further as they began to collapse. Giant shards of debris rained down toward Leo, who barely managed to leap out of the way.

"Damn it!" Leo shouted, dodging a falling tower. He tried to steady himself, but the shifting gravity made every step a struggle. Senshou's laughter echoed through the chaos.

"What's the matter, Leo? Losing your edge?"

Leo gritted his teeth, summoning a gust of wind to deflect the debris. "You think you can break me in here? You're out of your mind."

Senshou's expression darkened. "We'll see."

He raised both hands, and the entire world seemed to respond. Buildings twisted and contorted, their structures becoming weapons that lashed out at Leo. A massive pillar shot toward him, forcing him to leap back. He retaliated with a slash of wind, but the attack barely made a dent in the onslaught.

Senshou's control over the inner world was absolute. No matter how hard Leo tried, he couldn't keep up with the relentless barrage. His breathing grew labored, his movements sluggish. Desperation clawed at him as he realized he was outmatched.

Suddenly, a voice rang out from above, cutting through the chaos.

"Need a hand?"

Both Leo and Senshou froze, their eyes snapping toward the source. Standing atop a nearby building was a young boy, no older than thirteen. He had long white hair that fell past his shoulders, and his eyes were a piercing, luminous red, ringed with faint circles that seemed to pulse with power. He wore a black cloak, but there was an air of authority about him that made even Senshou falter.

Senshou's eyes widened in shock, and for the first time, his composure broke. "No… no, this isn't possible! I made sure to keep the resonance out!"

The boy tilted his head, a small, knowing smile playing on his lips. "Maybe you weren't as careful as you thought."

Leo stared at the boy, his confusion deepening. "Who the hell are you?"

The boy looked down at him, his crimson eyes meeting Leo's. "Me? I'm your resonance. The one Senshou here tried so hard to keep out. My name is Virtue."

Senshou's scream of rage reverberated through the distorted world as Virtue leapt down from the building, landing lightly beside Leo. The young boy's presence seemed to shift the atmosphere, and for the first time, Leo felt a glimmer of hope.

"Let's even the odds, shall we?" Virtue said, his smile turning sharp as he faced Senshou.