A GLIMPSE OF POWER

The darkness was suffocating.

Rei drifted in an abyss, his limbs weightless, his senses dulled. Somewhere in the distance, he heard echoes—Aiden's voice, the Shadowfang's growls, and the pounding of his own heartbeat.

"Is this it?" Rei thought bitterly. "Is this how it ends?"

He had survived the wastelands for years, fought off countless dangers, and endured Aiden's brutal training. But here he was, helpless and broken, about to be devoured by a monster.

No.

A spark ignited deep within him, faint but fierce. He wasn't done yet.

His mind sharpened as he remembered why he had started this journey—to become stronger, to prove himself, and to uncover the truth behind his strange scar and shattered reflection.

"I'm not going to die here," Rei growled, his voice echoing through the void. "Not like this."

With a gasp, Rei's eyes snapped open. He was lying on the ground, his body aching, but he was alive.

Above him, the Shadowfang loomed, its jaws inches from his face. Time seemed to slow as Rei stared into the creature's glowing red eyes. He could feel its hunger, its thirst for blood.

But he wasn't afraid anymore.

In that moment, something inside Rei shifted. He felt a surge of energy, raw and untamed, coursing through his veins. His scar burned, and he could hear a distant whisper, like a voice calling out to him from the depths of his soul.

The Shadowfang lunged, and without thinking, Rei raised his hand.

A blinding light erupted from his palm, and the monster recoiled with a deafening roar. It stumbled back, its fur singed, and for the first time, Rei saw fear in its eyes.

"What… was that?" Rei whispered, staring at his hand in shock.

Aiden appeared at his side, his eyes wide with surprise.

"That… was your Soulcrest," he said, his voice filled with awe. "You just awakened it."

Rei blinked, trying to process what had just happened. He had heard stories of Soulcrest awakenings—how they could grant incredible power to those who wielded them—but he had never expected it to happen to him.

Before he could say anything, the Shadowfang shook off its fear and charged at them again, its claws slashing through the air.

Aiden stepped forward, his expression turning cold. "Stay back, Rei. You're not ready to face this thing yet."

Rei opened his mouth to protest, but one look from Aiden silenced him. Reluctantly, he stepped back, his legs shaking.

Aiden drew his weapon—a sleek, black blade that pulsed with energy—and faced the Shadowfang head-on. The two clashed in a blur of speed and power, their movements too fast for Rei to follow.

Every strike from Aiden sent shockwaves through the air, and the ground trembled beneath their feet. The Shadowfang fought viciously, but Aiden was relentless, his attacks precise and devastating.

Within minutes, it was over.

With a final, powerful strike, Aiden drove his blade through the monster's chest. The Shadowfang let out a guttural roar before collapsing in a heap, its body dissolving into black smoke.

Aiden lowered his weapon and turned to Rei, who was still staring in stunned silence.

"Rest up," Aiden said, his voice calm but firm. "We'll talk about what happened tomorrow."

That night, Rei lay awake by the fire, staring at the stars. His mind was racing with questions. What was that light? Why had his scar burned? And what did it all mean?

He glanced over at Aiden, who was sitting on a nearby rock, sharpening his blade.

"Aiden," Rei said hesitantly.

"Yeah?"

"When you said I awakened my Soulcrest… what did you mean?"

Aiden set down his blade and sighed. "Every person who has a Soulcrest has to awaken it at some point. It's like unlocking a door inside yourself—a door that leads to your true power. But it's not something that happens easily. Most people train for years before they can awaken their Soulcrest."

"But mine awakened just now," Rei said. "How is that possible?"

Aiden's eyes darkened. "That's what I'm trying to figure out."

Rei frowned. "What do you mean?"

Aiden hesitated for a moment before speaking. "When you awakened your Soulcrest, I sensed something… different. It wasn't like any other awakening I've seen before. There was something ancient about it. Something… dangerous."

Rei's heart skipped a beat. "Dangerous?"

Aiden nodded. "Your scar, your broken reflection… they're connected to your Soulcrest somehow. And whatever power you've just unlocked, it's not like anything I've ever seen."

Rei swallowed hard, his mind racing. He had always known he was different, but hearing it from Aiden made it feel more real.

"What do I do now?" he asked.

Aiden stood and stretched. "For now, we keep training. You've taken your first step, but there's a long road ahead. And if we're going to find out the truth about your Soulcrest, you'll need to be strong enough to face whatever's coming."

Rei nodded, determination hardening in his chest. He didn't know what the future held, but he was ready to face it head-on.

The next day, Aiden pushed Rei harder than ever. They trained from sunrise to sunset, honing Rei's skills and strengthening his body.

But Rei wasn't just fighting with his fists anymore. He was learning to harness his Soulcrest—channeling the energy he had felt during his awakening and using it to enhance his attacks.

At first, it was difficult. The energy was wild and unpredictable, slipping through his fingers like sand. But slowly, with Aiden's guidance, Rei began to gain control.

He could feel the power growing inside him, like a flame that burned brighter with each passing day. And with that power came confidence—a belief that he could overcome anything.

Weeks passed, and Rei's training continued. He was stronger, faster, and more focused than ever before.

But deep down, he knew that something was still missing. He could feel it every time he tried to summon his Soulcrest—a flicker of power that refused to fully awaken.

One night, as they sat by the fire, Rei voiced his concerns to Aiden.

"I've been training for weeks, but I still can't fully control my Soulcrest," he said, frustration creeping into his voice. "What am I doing wrong?"

Aiden studied him for a moment before speaking. "You're not doing anything wrong. You're just not ready yet."

Rei frowned. "But I've been working so hard—"

"Power isn't just about training," Aiden interrupted. "It's about understanding. You have to understand who you are, what drives you, and what you're fighting for. Only then will you unlock your true potential."

Rei fell silent, his mind racing. He had always thought that strength came from hard work and determination, but maybe there was more to it than that.

Before he could dwell on it further, a low growl echoed through the darkness.

Rei and Aiden sprang to their feet, their weapons at the ready.

Out of the shadows, a massive figure emerged—a creature even larger than the Shadowfang, with glowing red eyes and jagged horns. Its presence was suffocating, and Rei could feel its aura pressing down on him like a weight.

"What… is that?" Rei whispered, his heart pounding in his chest.

Aiden's face was grim. "That," he said quietly, "is a top-ranked monster. And it's heading straight for us."

To Be Continued…