“Forged by Darkness”

"Your senses are dull, Kyro," said Rioji sharply. "You must sharpen them. Feel the darkness. Embrace the fear. Let it strengthen you. That is the only way to survive."

Kyro took a deep breath, forcing himself to suppress the rising fear. He knew he had to focus. His senses needed to be razor-sharp. Whispering softly, he reminded himself to stay calm as he searched for the resonance within him.

At first, it was just a faint tingling, barely noticeable. But then the energy gathered within him – like a silent storm slowly building. Finally, the resonance surged through his body, sharpening his perception and pushing back the darkness. The fear remained, but Kyro had it under control. "I'm ready," he said quietly but firmly.

Suddenly, in the darkness, a pair of eyes flashed, fixing on him with a relentless gaze. A low growl echoed through the catacombs as an Ashblade creature emerged from the shadows. Its teeth glistened with venom, coated in a slimy substance.

Kyro tried to activate the resonance, but nothing happened. Panic began to creep in, tightening its grip on him. The fear paralyzed him, leaving him frozen in place.

Then, he felt it – pure, burning rage. It flooded through him like an unstoppable current. He was alone. Abandoned. No one would come to help him. If he wanted to survive, he would have to fight.

In that moment, he unleashed the resonance. For the very first time. A dark, flickering flame erupted from his hands and struck the Ashblade creature with full force. A piercing scream echoed through the catacombs as the creature recoiled. Kyro felt the pulsing energy in his hands. The resonance was alive. It was his.

"Your flame burns hot, Kyro," Rioji said, his voice now almost satisfied. "But it could burn you as well. Learn to control it. Learn to guide it."

Kyro stood trembling before Rioji, his hands still shaking. The power of the resonance coursed through his body, letting him feel its untamed might. For the first time, he had conquered the darkness. For the first time, he had awakened the resonance.

It was the beginning of his journey. The path of the Shinsei.

From that day on, Kyro trained in the Ashen Tomb. Day and night. He faced the Ashblades, tested the limits of his resonance, and honed his skills. Rioji gave him ever more difficult challenges, pushing him to his physical and mental limits. But Kyro endured.

Soon, he discovered that the resonance was more than just a source of power. It was a tool – mighty and dangerous alike. He began to understand how to wield it to overcome the darkness.