New bond

Blood of the ebyss

New bond

The group finally emerged from the suffocating shadows of the Abyssal Forest, battered but alive. The first rays of sunlight broke through the dark canopy, offering a brief respite from the oppressive darkness they had endured. They trudged into a clearing where a small, abandoned village sat in ruins.

Kaien scanned the surroundings, his hand still resting on his sword. "We'll rest here for the night," he said. "You've all earned it. But don't get too comfortable there's no telling what else is out there."

A Surprising Encounter

As they began setting up camp in one of the sturdier buildings, Mike couldn't shake the feeling that they weren't alone. He glanced at Rin, who was tending to her wounded shoulder, and Kenji, who was sharpening his blade near the fire.

"I'll go check the perimeter," Mike said, standing.

Kaien raised a brow but didn't stop him. "Don't wander too far."

Mike nodded and stepped out into the cool night air. The ruins were too quiet, the only sound being the rustle of leaves in the wind. As he walked, his flames flickering faintly in his palm, he suddenly froze.

From behind a crumbled wall, a faint voice whispered, "Please… don't hurt me."

Mike turned around, his flames brightening. "Who's there? Show yourself!"

Slowly, a figure stepped out of the shadows—a girl around their age, with short, silver hair and piercing blue eyes. She was dressed in ragged clothes, and her hands trembled as she held a wooden staff.

Mike lowered his flames slightly, his guard still up. "Who are you? What are you doing here?"

The girl hesitated, her gaze darting between Mike and the forest behind him. "My name's Akari. I was… I was running from them. The Abyssal Knights. They attacked my village."

Mike's expression softened slightly. "You're safe now. We took care of them."

"Safe?" Akari gave a bitter laugh, her blue eyes shimmering with tears. "There's no such thing anymore. Not with Shinra's forces growing stronger every day."

A Fourth Ally

Mike led Akari back to the camp, where the others immediately tensed at the sight of her.

"Who's this?" Kenji asked, his blade already half-drawn.

"She's not a threat," Mike said quickly. "Her name's Akari. She was running from the Abyssal Knights."

Rin approached cautiously, her staff in hand. "Are you hurt?"

Akari shook her head. "I'm fine… just scared."

Kaien studied her for a moment before nodding. "If she survived an attack from the Abyssal Knights, she's stronger than she looks. Do you have any combat skills, Akari?"

The girl hesitated, then raised her staff. "I can use magic—water magic. It's not much, but… it's kept me alive this long."

Kenji smirked. "Water magic, huh? Guess we could use someone to put out this fool's flames when he gets carried away."

Mike shot him a glare but said nothing.

Rin smiled gently at Akari. "It's okay. You can stay with us. We could use another support."

They all went to sleep, Kaien stayed up keeping watch. His mind running in different ways but ready for anything.

Master Kaien

The next morning, Kaien gathered the group in the center of the ruined village.

"You've all survived this long on sheer determination and raw talent," he began, his arms crossed. "But if you're serious about fighting Shinra and his forces, you need more than that. You need discipline. Strategy. You need to understand your powers and how to use them effectively."

Kenji raised a brow. "Are you offering to train us?"

Kaien smirked. "Not offering. Telling. From now on, I'm your master. You'll follow my instructions, no questions asked."

Mike crossed his arms. "And if we don't?"

Kaien's smirk widened. "Then you'll die the next time you face an enemy like the Warlord."

The group exchanged uneasy glances but ultimately nodded in agreement.

Training and Relaxation

Kaien's training regimen was brutal. Each day was divided into three parts:

• Combat Training: The group sparred against Kaien, who pushed them to their limits.

• Elemental Control: Each member worked on mastering their unique abilities.

• Mike focused on controlling his fire and shadow flames without letting Shinra's influence take over.

• Rin practiced precision and power with her wind magic.

• Kenji experimented with enhancing his speed and agility using lightning.

• Akari trained to create powerful water constructs for both offense and defense.

• Tactics and Strategy: Kaien drilled them on teamwork and decision-making, emphasizing that individual power meant nothing without coordination.

Despite the grueling hours, Kaien allowed them moments of relaxation. On one such evening, the group sat around a fire, laughing and sharing stories.

"I still can't believe you got knocked out by a tree branch, Kenji," Rin teased, earning a scowl from him.

"It was a giant root!" Kenji whined. "And I was distracted!"

Akari giggled, her earlier wariness beginning to fade. "You're not as scary as you look, Kenji."

Mike watched the group, a small smile tugging at his lips. For the first time in a long while, he felt a sense of belonging.

A New Threat Emerges

Their peace was short-lived.

On the final day of their training, Kaien suddenly become rigid, his hand flying to his sword.

"What is it?" Mike asked, his flames flickering to life.

Kaien's gaze was fixed on the horizon, where a dark figure approached. "Trouble."

The figure stepped into view, revealing a tall man clad in dark armor, his eyes glowing with malevolence. Behind him marched a small army of Abyssal Knights.

"Kaien," the man said, his voice deep and mocking. "It's been a while."

Kaien's expression darkened. "Varek."

Mike stepped forward, his flames roaring. "Who is this guy?"

Kaien didn't look away from the approaching enemy. "An old rival. And one of Shinra's generals."

The group readied their weapons, the tension thick in the air.

Varek smirked. "Let's see if your little protégés are as strong as you think they are."