Chapter 1- When Shadows Fall

[ Disclaimer : This is a work of fiction. All characters, names, places, events, and incidents are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. The views and opinions expressed in this book are those of the characters and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the author. This work is not intended to represent any real-world organization, institution, or belief. ]

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Present Day, Earth

I'm Takumi Hinoyama. Seventeen. I live in Osaka, Japan. Just your average guy trying to make the most of every day. School's nothing too exciting, but it's good enough. Friends, laughs, the usual stuff. I guess I'm lucky in that way. Still, sometimes I get this feeling, like there's something more to life. Like I'm standing at the edge of something, but I can't quite see it yet. Maybe I'm just overthinking it...

But there's more to me than just school and fun. I've got these... strange abilities that I don't fully understand. Sometimes, when things go wrong and creatures like the Oscuros show up, I end up using them without thinking.

The Oscuros are scary creatures that look like tall, dark shadows. They have skin that's almost like ink, and their eyes glow red. They have long, bony arms with sharp claws, and they move slowly but powerfully, like zombies. These creatures come from another realm, a dark and scary place, and sometimes they come into our world to cause trouble.

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The fluorescent lights buzz overhead, making the classroom feel like a giant, boring box. Tanaka-sensei talks and talks about some old Japanese stuff, but I'm not paying attention at all. My mind wanders. I'm thinking about… well, I'm not really thinking about anything. Just staring out the window, watching the clouds drift by.

The bell finally rings. I stretch, a big smile on my face. Freedom! Tanaka-sensei's voice fades away as I gather my books. "Hinoyama-kun!" Hana is waiting for me. "You seemed out of it in class," she says. "Are you okay?" I shrug, "Just a little tired, I guess." Even though I feel a little weird inside, I give her a big smile. Hana is always so cheerful; it's hard to be anything but happy around her.

"So, what do you want to do after school?" She asks. "Maybe we could get some ice cream? Or go to the park?" I was about to suggest the arcade when a deafening ROAR shakes the whole school. Looking out the window, we see something that makes our blood run cold. An Oscuro, easily ten times taller than any human, is smashing the school wall! It looks unlike any Oscuro we've ever seen before – more like a giant, hulking serpentine with inky black skin and burning red eyes. It's terrifying.

An Oscuro? Here? I whisper, shock gripping me. Hana's face turns white. "What do we do?" she gasps. "Can you handle it, Hinoyama-kun?" she asks, her voice trembling. I'm a Vorixa, yes, but facing this giant monster… it's daunting.

The Vorixas are humans with special abilities. They're like superheroes, protecting ordinary people from the Oscuros. Everyone respects the Vorixas, knowing they're the only thing standing between them and the terrifying creatures of the shadows. I'm one of them, a young Vorixa still learning to control my own powers.

The wind hits my face as I jump out the window. The giant monster roars, and the ground shakes. My heart pounds, but I know I have to do this. I'm a Vorixa. I have to fight. Just a moment ago, everything was calm, but look at this now. What a mess.

The Oscuro roars again, a sound that shakes the ground. It rears back its huge head and then lunges at me. I barely have time to jump back, barely escaping the crushing force of its attack. This is unlike any Oscuro I've ever faced – faster, stronger, more terrifying. I'm mid-air when its tail whips through, slamming me back into the ground. Before I can recover, it charges again. I brace myself for the impact, but at the last second, I lash out with my fists, somehow managing to stop it in its tracks. With a desperate surge of adrenaline, I channel fire into my other hand and smash a fist into its face.

I hear cheering from the school – my classmates, I realize. It gives me a surge of motivation. The Oscuro growls, its eyes burning with rage. I grin, a feral grin that surprises even myself. This is it. I channel fire into both my fists, a burning heat radiating from my hands. Then, I charge towards the monster, aiming for its face.

I punch the monster in the face with a blast of fire. But the Oscuro barely flinches. It shakes its head and looks at me. It's not attacking wildly anymore. It's looking at me like it's playing with its food. I know I'm in trouble. I'm utterly overwhelmed. I should call for help. That's the first thought that comes to my mind. But I can't leave things here as they are now. I have to restrain this thing.

"En Seishin... Enzai!"

Spirit of Fire... Flames of False Judgement.

I blast the monster with a stream of fire. Flames lick at its black skin, making it hiss and roar in pain. But the monster is tough. It shakes its head and lunges at me again, faster than before. I have to do something, and fast.

The relentless attacks are so overwhelming for me to handle. I struggle to stay on my feet, pain radiating through my body. I can't keep up... My flames flicker weakly.

I feel really weak at the moment.

I grit my teeth, trying to push past the doubt. I can't give up... But the more I fight, the more I feel my strength draining away. The fire inside me feels distant, like it doesn't belong to me anymore.

I've always believed that if I keep pushing, if I keep fighting, I'll find a way. I know I'm not alone, and I won't let this monster take everything from me. My flames are weak, but they're still burning. As long as I can stand, I'll fight.

I've got to protect them.

I can't keep running from this... The Oscuro is closing in, but I still have one last shot. My body's on the brink of collapse, and my flames are barely more than a spark, but I won't go down without a fight. I can feel the power inside me, just waiting to break free.

This is it. My final option.

It takes time to charge, time I don't have, but I have no choice. I start focusing, pushing everything I have left into the attack, gathering the fire, focusing it, even as the pain surges through me. I won't let it control me. Not now.

I've come too far to quit.

But... It's too late.

The attack isn't ready. The Oscuro's strike is almost here. I can't move fast enough.

And the next moment, when I think it's all for nothing, an intense strike of lightning protects me from the attacking Oscuro.

Hayato Shō, a young Vorixa, just like me. Just on time. "Shō! Where the hell were you?" I yell out of frustration. "Shoot it," he calmly says.

"I'd do that without you telling me to."

The heat rises in my chest, building until I can't hold it back anymore. "Let's end this."

"En Seishin... Shinenryū no Hōkō!"

Spirit of Fire... The Roar of the Divine Blazing Dragon.

I thrust my hand forward, and the dragon bursts out—a roaring blaze of gold and crimson fire. The air shimmers from the heat as it tears through everything in its way. "This is the roar of the divine blazing dragon."

The flames are too much to handle. My hands burn, the searing heat cutting through my skin as I force the attack forward. I never wanted to use this power... but there's no choice. This is the only way.

The attack hits the Oscuro hard. Flames wrap around its serpentine body, burning its dark scales. The creature hisses and thrashes, but the fire keeps spreading, forcing it back. For a moment, it seems to weaken, its form crumbling at the edges.

"Let's get this over with," Hayato says, gripping his thundering sword, ready to strike. I did my job; now it's his turn to add fuel to the fire.

"Raiden Seishin... Raigeki."

Spirit of Lightning... Thunder Vortex.

With a swift movement, he swings his sword, unleashing a powerful thunderous attack. The lightning shoots out, a blinding bolt that pierces through the burning creature. The Oscuro's roar turns into a scream, its body disintegrating under the force of the strike. In a final flash of light, the giant serpent shatters to pieces, defeated.

"That's how it's done," he says, looking at me.

"Hey! Don't act all high and mighty! If it weren't for my attack, you'd have ended up in the same state as me."

"Don't bother with all that now and get those injuries taken care of," he says, leaving the scene in a flash. He sure is fast.

Hayato Shō is a fellow student. He's also the captain of the Kendo club. The guy never reacts, always in control, and his sword skills are insane. It's hard not to feel a bit jealous of how effortlessly he handles everything, but I can't deny the respect I have for him as a fellow Vorixa. He's the kind of guy you can trust in a fight, even if I don't quite get how he stays so calm all the time.

"Hinoyama-kun! Are you okay!?" Hana rushes over and asks.

"Yeah... nothing serious, just my palms are all scorched. I should probably take care of them," I say, eyeing my palms.

"It looks horrible. I don't think the school infirmary is capable of healing it."

"Don't worry. I know someone who can take care of such injuries effortlessly."

"Someone from your clan?"

"Yup."