Nato7

The Awakening: Around 150 years ago, a mysterious event known as "The Rift" caused a dramatic shift in the world. This event opened portals from another dimension, bringing Essences—mysterious and powerful entities—into the world. These Essences granted some individuals extraordinary abilities and set in motion a global conflict.

Essence Warriors: These are people who possess the power of an Essence, which can take various forms depending on the individual’s soul and affinity. Some are born with their Essence powers from birth, while others awaken them later in life. These warriors are ranked according to their power level, and the rankings play a significant role in their status, training, and missions.

Essence Reborn

Rain fell in violent sheets, cascading over broken rooftops and shattered pavement as the four S-Rank warriors stood bloodied and bruised—but not beaten. Gekido cracked his knuckles, blood dripping from one massive fist, eyes gleaming with wicked delight.

"Still breathing? Good." His voice was low and amused. "I hate easy fights."

Zenji Takamura, now on one knee, gritted his teeth as Mikio reinforced the essence barrier shielding him. His missing leg throbbed with pain, but his voice still rang out:

"Mikio. I'm fine. Drop it."

Mikio hesitated, then reluctantly lowered the barrier. Zenji raised both hands and unleashed a concussive sonic cannon that shattered nearby glass and rocked the entire block. The blast hit Gekido point-blank—forcing him to slide back for the first time since the battle began.

A geyser of debris erupted behind him. The impact left cracks along his chest armor. He was hit—but not harmed.

"Finally…" Gekido said with a slow grin. "A warm-up."

Before he could charge again, Kuro Emi moved like a shadow. Her body melted into the water and reformed at Gekido's side, striking with a spinning water-blade slash aimed at his neck. He caught it—but her body melted again on contact, leaving a slicing stream across his bicep. Blood spattered the wall beside him.

"Annoying little tricks," Gekido muttered, shaking off the sting.

That's when Arata Nojima summoned his second contracted beast—a falcon-like spirit with razor talons and lightning-forged feathers. The spirit dived from above, shrieking, its wings slashing at Gekido while Arata charged from below, unleashing a barrage of essence bolts with practiced precision.

KRAK!Gekido threw a shoulder up, blocking the bird's assault—but missed Arata, who slid low and jabbed a blade of beast-forged essence straight into his side.

A grunt. Painful—but not enough.

Gekido grabbed Arata by the collar and slammed him into the wall—once, twice, a third time. Arata gasped and slumped, but his beast remained, screeching defiantly as it dive-bombed Gekido's head again.

Mikio was everywhere—reinforcing barriers, casting rapid healing seals, trying to keep the team alive while Gekido advanced like a monster through fire.

But for every strike they landed… he landed three more.

Still—they kept going.

Kuro reformed and flanked him with liquid speed. Zenji, even with one leg, focused and fired pulse after pulse of destabilizing sound. Arata, bruised and bloodied, managed to re-summon a flaming panther beast to circle and strike.

The four surrounded Gekido like wolves wearing chains.

And for the first time, Gekido blinked.

"Tch... These four... maybe they're not as weak as I thought."

As the rain pounded harder and lightning split the sky, the battle refused to end. Gekido stood in the eye of the storm—cut, bruised, yet smiling.And the four warriors, battered and bloodied, stared back with fire in their eyes.

They hadn't lost. Not yet.

Chapter 142: The Fire Beneath the Storm