Chapter-6 Shadows of the Rift

The air was heavy with tension as the afternoon sun bore down on the cracked streets. Kai's muscles ached from the morning's sparring session, but Reina showed no signs of slowing. She stood a few feet away, arms crossed, her sharp gaze fixed on him.

"You did fine against the construct," she began, her tone flat, "but Voidspawn aren't just about brute strength. They're cunning. They'll exploit your every weakness."

Kai wiped the sweat from his brow, gripping his glowing katana tightly. "Yeah, I get it. No fear, stay in control. You've said that like a hundred times."

Reina stepped closer, her violet eyes narrowing. "And yet you're still afraid. I can see it in your stance, your movements. You hesitate because you don't trust yourself—or that blade."

Kai frowned, looking down at the katana. The blade pulsed faintly, as if responding to her words. "It's not that I don't trust it… I just don't understand it. This thing feels alive, like it's watching me, waiting for something."

Reina's expression softened slightly. "That's because it is. Soulblades are more than weapons—they're an extension of you. The stronger your resolve, the more powerful it becomes. But if your heart wavers…"

She trailed off, letting the implication hang in the air.

Kai tightened his grip, his jaw clenching. "So how do I fix that? How do I make it stronger?"

Reina smirked, her usual confidence returning. "You survive. Every fight you win, every challenge you overcome, your connection to the blade will grow. But that also means facing things that will push you to your limit."

Before Kai could respond, a low rumble echoed through the air, followed by a faint vibration beneath their feet. He glanced around, his heart racing.

"What was that?"

Reina's expression darkened. "Another rift."

The sky above them began to distort, twisting and warping as a swirling vortex of violet and black energy tore through the atmosphere. The temperature dropped sharply, and the familiar, guttural growl of Voidspawn filled the air.

Reina unsheathed her blade, her body tense. "Looks like your next lesson just showed up."

Kai swallowed hard, his pulse quickening as two smaller Voidspawn emerged from the rift. They were lean and wolf-like, their glowing red eyes fixed on the pair as they snarled and snapped their jagged teeth.

Reina glanced at him. "Think you're ready?"

"Do I have a choice?" Kai muttered, raising his katana.

The first Voidspawn lunged, its claws slashing through the air with deadly precision. Kai sidestepped, bringing his blade up in a clumsy arc. The katana's glow intensified as it connected, slicing through the creature's shoulder. Black ichor sprayed across the ground as the Voidspawn howled in pain.

"Don't stop!" Reina shouted. "Finish it!"

Kai hesitated for a fraction of a second, the creature's piercing eyes locking onto his. In that moment of doubt, the second Voidspawn pounced, its claws raking across his side. He cried out, stumbling backward as pain flared through his body.

"Kai!" Reina yelled, darting forward. Her blade flashed, cutting through the second Voidspawn with practiced ease.

Kai gritted his teeth, clutching his side as he forced himself to stand. The first Voidspawn was still alive, snarling as it prepared to attack again.

Reina's voice cut through the haze of pain. "This is it, Kai. Prove to that blade—and to yourself—that you can do this."

Taking a deep breath, Kai steadied his grip on the katana. The blade's glow pulsed rhythmically, as if encouraging him. The Voidspawn lunged, but this time, Kai didn't hesitate.

He stepped forward, meeting the creature head-on. His movements felt smoother, more natural, as if the katana was guiding him. With a swift, upward strike, he cleaved the Voidspawn in two, its body disintegrating into smoke.

Kai stood there, panting, the katana's glow fading slightly as the rift above them began to close.

Reina approached, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "Not bad, rookie. You're starting to get it."

Kai managed a weak grin. "I wouldn't call that 'getting it.' I almost got myself killed."

"Almost doesn't count," Reina said, resting her sword on her shoulder. "You won, and that's what matters. But don't let it go to your head. This was just a warm-up."

Kai groaned, slumping to the ground as exhaustion overtook him. "Great. Can't wait for the next one."

Reina chuckled, sitting beside him. For a moment, the two of them sat in silence, the weight of the battle slowly lifting.

As Kai stared at the katana resting in his lap, he couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. The rift, the Voidspawn, the mysterious power of the blade—it all felt like pieces of a puzzle he wasn't yet ready to solve.

But one thing was certain: he couldn't afford to fail.

Not with so much at stake.