Continuation of "The Awakening"

"Ryo!?" Kenji flinched, turning sharply toward the figure who had just appeared behind him. "Where did you.....?! You really need to stop doing that!"

Standing near the edge of the rooftop, arms crossed, was a man who looked far too young to be taken seriously. He adjusted his glasses with an air of indifference, his expression unreadable. His simple attire.... black trousers and a high-collared coat..... didn't stand out in any way, but there was something unsettlingly composed about him.

"You're bleeding," Ryo noted casually, his gaze shifting to Kenji's injuries.

Kenji scoffed, brushing off the concern. "Not the first time."

Vieira, still panting from the earlier battle, took a step forward. "Hey, don't ignore me! What the hell was that thing? And what the hell were you?!"

Kenji hesitated, unsure of how to explain. But before he could attempt an answer, Ryo turned his gaze toward Vieira, studying him as if seeing something beyond what the human eye could perceive.

A pause. Then, a simple question.

"Do you know what soul energy is?"

Vieira furrowed his brows. "Soul energy? What are you talking about?"

Kenji sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "Figures. You fought a Shadow without even knowing what soul energy is? That's insane."

Vieira clenched his fists. "I couldn't just stand there and watch it kill people."

Ryo adjusted his glasses, nodding as if he'd confirmed something. "And yet, you didn't hesitate… Interesting."

Kenji huffed. "Don't tell me you're thinking about recruiting this guy."

Ryo didn't answer immediately. Instead, he took a slow step forward and, with a mere flick of his fingers, a ripple of energy distorted the air around Vieira. It was brief, but for that instant, Vieira felt as if his body had been stripped bare..... not physically, but at his very core.

It was as if something inside him had reacted to that touch.

Ryo's expression remained unreadable. "Not yet."

Kenji exhaled in relief, turning toward Vieira. "Listen, kid. Forget what you saw today. Go home, get some rest, and...."

BOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

A deep, resonating tremor shook the entire school building.

Kenji and Ryo instantly snapped to attention. Vieira, still untrained in sensing soul energy, merely felt the air suffocate around him.

Ryo turned toward the cityscape beyond the rooftop. In the distance, above the streets, a swirling mass of darkness began coalescing, twisting like a vortex.

Kenji's eyes widened. "Another one?!"

Ryo sighed. "Looks like tonight won't be a quiet one."

Kenji glanced back at Vieira. "Kid. Go home. This is way beyond you."

But Vieira's fists clenched. His body was still shaking..... not from fear, but from something else. Something inside him was pulling him toward that darkness.

He didn't understand it. But deep down, he knew.

This wasn't over.

-----------------------------------

The city was alive with distant sirens and panicked screams, but on the rooftop, everything felt eerily still. The swirling mass of darkness in the distance pulsed ominously, its presence weighing on Vieira like an unseen force pressing against his chest.

"Kenji." Ryo's voice was calm but firm.

Kenji groaned, rolling his shoulders. "Yeah, yeah. I'll handle it."

In an instant, he leaped off the rooftop, landing effortlessly on the pavement below before dashing toward the disturbance. Vieira's eyes widened, what the hell was that?! That wasn't just normal speed; it was inhuman.

His heart pounded. He turned back to Ryo, frustration bubbling inside him. "You're not gonna explain anything, are you?"

Ryo gave a small, knowing smirk. "No."

Vieira gritted his teeth. He had so many questions, but there was no time for answers. He turned toward the edge of the rooftop where Kenji had disappeared into the city streets. His body wasn't frozen in fear..... it was burning with something else.

He had to see. He had to know.

And before Ryo could stop him, Vieira bolted.

---

-The Streets Below-

Vieira sprinted through the school gates and into the city. He wasn't sure what he was running toward, but his legs carried him forward anyway. The further he ran, the heavier the air became..... like the atmosphere itself was thick with something invisible.

Then, he saw it.

A Shadow, larger than the last, a hulking mass of shifting black tendrils and twisted bone-like structures. Its movements were unnatural, as if reality itself was rejecting its presence.

Kenji was already there, dashing between its attacks with sheer speed and precision. But something was different this time.

Kenji was struggling.

The Shadow swiped at him with a jagged limb, and though he dodged, it left a deep gash in the concrete behind him. Kenji clicked his tongue in frustration. "Tch. This one's got more juice than I thought."

Vieira stood frozen at the corner of the street, watching in awe and horror. Kenji moved faster than his eyes could follow, but the Shadow was relentless. Kenji launched a barrage of slashes, his blade coated in glowing energy, but the Shadow regenerated instantly.

Then it happened....

The Shadow twisted mid-strike, its elongated arm smashing Kenji into a parked car.

Kenji coughed up blood, his vision blurring. "Damn it…!"

Vieira's breath caught in his throat. His body was screaming at him to move. To run. But instead...

He stepped forward.

His hands clenched into fists. He could hear his own heartbeat. He knew he couldn't do anything..... he had no powers, no weapon, no soul energy.

But still, his body moved on its own.

The Shadow turned toward him, its hollow eyes locking onto his figure. It recognized something.

Vieira exhaled, raising his fists. He didn't know what he was doing, but he couldn't just stand there.

Then the Shadow attacked.

Vieira barely dodged. The creature's limb grazed his shoulder, tearing through his uniform and leaving a burning sensation in its wake.

Kenji's eyes widened. "THIS IDIOT.....!"

But Vieira didn't stop. He lunged. His fist connected with the Shadow's mass, but it was like punching smoke. His attacks had no effect.

The Shadow twisted its form, reforming its limbs in an instant. Then it struck.

Vieira felt his ribs crack as he was sent flying backward.

Before Vieira hit the pavement, he stopped mid-air.

Or rather.... something caught him.

"Tch. Reckless."

A firm hand gripped Vieira's collar, and before he could process what was happening, he was suddenly back on his feet.

Ryo stood beside him, looking unimpressed.

Vieira coughed, clutching his side. "What the hell..."

BOOM!!!!!.

The Shadow lunged again.... but this time, it stopped.

Ryo hadn't moved. He hadn't drawn a weapon. He had merely looked at it.

And yet, the Shadow froze in place.

Kenji, still slumped against the wrecked car, grinned weakly. "Hah… You're finally getting involved?"

Ryo exhaled, adjusting his glasses. "I had to. This kid is too stupid to run."

Vieira barely had time to process what was happening before Ryo raised a single finger.

In an instant...

The Shadow collapsed.

Its body contorted violently, imploding upon itself, before fading into nothingness. Not a trace remained.

Vieira stared in shock. "What… What did you do?"

Ryo turned to him, his gaze piercing. "Do you finally understand, Vieira?"

Vieira swallowed hard. "Understand what…?"

Ryo's expression remained unreadable. "You don't belong in that normal life anymore."

Silence.

Kenji groaned, using his sword as support to stand. "Ugh… Can we not drop life-changing revelations while I'm bleeding out?"

Ryo ignored him. He looked back at Vieira.

"It's time you learned the truth."