Chapter 14: The Shard’s Hunger

Itsuro sat in silence, staring at the shard embedded in his staff. The fire had burned low, casting long shadows across the frozen ground. His so-called ally was asleep—or at least pretending to be—but Itsuro couldn't rest.

The shard pulsed with a steady, rhythmic glow, like a heartbeat. It was calling to him, whispering in a language only he could hear.

"You are not strong enough."

Itsuro exhaled sharply, gripping his staff tighter. "I don't need your power."

"Then why do you carry me?" the shard's voice slithered into his thoughts, smooth and insidious. "Why do you still listen?"

A Dangerous Temptation

Itsuro closed his eyes, but memories came flooding back.

The first time he had used the shard's power was in desperation, against a band of raiders attacking a defenseless village. His body had burned with energy, his strikes faster and stronger than ever before. He had torn through his enemies with ease, their weapons shattering against his skin.

But when the battle ended, he had found himself standing over a field of corpses, his hands stained with blood. He had lost control.

And the shard had laughed.

"You are more than a man now," it had whispered. "You are a force of nature. Embrace it."

He had sworn never to use it again. But he knew—deep down—that promise was a lie.

A Vision of the Past

The shard pulsed again, and the world around him faded.

He was no longer in the Frozen Wastes. Instead, he stood in the ruins of his village, the air thick with the scent of burning wood and blood. The cries of the dying echoed all around him.

He turned and saw himself—his younger self—standing in the center of the destruction, holding the shard for the first time. His face was twisted in horror, his hands shaking.

Then, from the shadows, a figure emerged.

It was Kaizen.

But not the Kaizen he knew. This Kaizen was different—taller, stronger, his eyes glowing like molten gold. His body pulsed with raw power, a storm of energy swirling around him. The shards had transformed him into something no longer human.

"You failed," Kaizen said, his voice like distant thunder. "You tried to fight the inevitable. But I embraced it. And now, you are nothing."

The vision Kaizen raised a single hand, and Itsuro felt an invisible force wrap around his throat, lifting him into the air.

"You are weak," Kaizen sneered. "You were always weak."

Itsuro struggled, gasping for air, but he couldn't break free.

Then the shard's voice returned, softer this time. "You can stop him. You can be stronger. All you have to do… is let me in."

The Breaking Point

Itsuro snapped back to reality, his body drenched in sweat despite the freezing cold. His breath came in ragged gasps.

He looked down at the shard. It was glowing brighter now, feeding off his fear, his anger.

Just once.

That was all it would take. One moment of surrender, one moment of embracing the power.

He hesitated.

Then, without thinking, he pressed his hand against the shard.

The pain was immediate. His veins burned as dark energy surged through his body, searing through his limbs like fire. His muscles tensed, his senses sharpened. He could feel everything—the heartbeat of the land, the flow of energy in the air, the very essence of life around him.

He gasped as his vision changed. The world no longer looked the same. He could see power, swirling around objects, radiating from his ally's sleeping form.

For the first time in years, he felt alive.

And the shard whispered.

"More."

The Price of Power

Itsuro staggered back, wrenching his hand away from the shard. The glow dimmed, but the sensation lingered. His breath came fast and uneven.

Across from him, his ally shifted. Though their mask concealed their face, he could tell they were watching him.

"You felt it, didn't you?" the figure said, amusement in their tone.

Itsuro didn't answer.

The figure chuckled. "Good. Hold onto that feeling. Because the deeper you go, the harder it is to return."

Itsuro turned away, gripping his staff. His hands were still shaking.

He had always believed he was strong enough to resist. But for the first time, he wasn't so sure.

Foreshadowing the Future

As the first light of dawn broke over the horizon, Itsuro knew one thing for certain.

If Kaizen didn't destroy him… the shard would.