THROUGH THE FIRE AND SHADOWS

"Stop shouting! It's no use!" the girl snapped, grabbing Alfie's arm. "You're just going to draw more attention to us. If any of the darkside spirits hear you, we're done for. Or maybe I should say I'm done for—those creatures are after humans who possess Renshi. If your mother doesn't have Renshi, there's a chance she's still safe. But if we don't get out of this forest soon, this whole thing becomes a nightmare."

Alfie blinked in confusion. "Wait… they're after people with Renshi? I didn't know that. I… I don't even know anything about this darkside or Shinra stuff. My father forbade me from joining the Shinra Academy. I guess it's because I don't have any Renshi at all."

They kept moving deeper into the thick woods, fallen leaves crunching underfoot.

"Shinra Academy, huh," the girl muttered, narrowing her eyes. "I hate that place. They cage you with ranks and rules, forcing you to stay in lower stages even if you're strong enough to surpass them. I never wanted to go there. My big brother's a student, though—he tells us everything. So, my little brother and I train with our father instead."

"That's… actually pretty cool," Alfie replied. "Do you mind showing me what Renshi looks like?"

She shot him a sharp glare. "Are you serious? We're in the middle of a battlefield. Stay alert—don't let your curiosity get us killed."

"Right, sorry…" Alfie scratched the back of his head, embarrassed.

Suddenly, the girl's eyes widened. "Watch out!" she screamed, shoving Alfie hard to the ground.

A blast of black energy cracked through the air, hitting a tree behind them. Alfie's heart pounded. "What was that?!"

"An attack. A darkside spirit found us," she whispered, dragging him toward a massive boulder. They crouched behind it, breath held. "We need to hide—now."

"But what are we going to do?" Alfie asked, panic rising in his voice.

"Be quiet," she hissed. "If it finds us, we're dead."

The air around them grew cold. Heavy footsteps echoed, then stopped. The voice that followed was chilling.

"I can smell you…" it hissed. "Come out, and I'll make this less painful."

A shadow loomed as a hulking figure landed just beside the rock. The creature had already evolved—it was now a newly-turned Alpha darkside spirit. Its presence was suffocating.

Alfie's instincts screamed at him, but instead of freezing, he leapt from cover. "You want me, freak? Come get me!" he shouted, waving his arms as he ran.

The spirit didn't even look at him. "I'm not after you, boy. You don't possess Renshi. You're just an empty vessel."

The moment it spoke, it swung its fist and shattered the boulder.

The girl dove out just in time, landing on one knee. The spirit's grin twisted.

"There you are. The little one with the Renshi. I already devoured your father and brother. Just stay quiet and let me devour you in peace—help me level up."

"You monster!" she snarled. "You were just a beta darkside spirit when we met you. How many souls did you devour to break through to Alpha?!"

"Hahaha… Maybe a hundred. Or two. I lost count." It licked its lips.

"Then for their sake, I'll end you right here!" she cried out. Renshi flared to life around her—a vivid, glowing purple forming into a whip of light in her hand.

Alfie's eyes sparkled. "That's Renshi?! That's amazing!"

"Idiot! Focus!" she shouted. "Draw your sword! We're fighting this thing together."

"got it!" Alfie said, drawing the blade he forged just days ago. He took position beside her.

The spirit charged, moving with terrifying speed.

The girl snapped her whip, but the darkside spirit caught it mid-air and used it to swing her across the forest, slamming her into a tree.

"Are you okay?!" Alfie yelled, rushing to her.

"Don't worry about me—just stay alive!" she shouted back as the darkside spirit jumped to attack Alfie next.

He barely dodged the first hit, but the second punch landed straight in his face, sending him flying next to the girl.

They both stood, bruised and winded.

"We need a plan," she said quickly. "Or we die here."

"I'm listening," Alfie replied.

"Okay—distract him for twenty seconds. I'll cast a Renshi spell that'll blind him for five seconds. During that window, you'll strike his chest. Aim right for the heart."

Alfie nodded. "Twenty seconds. I've got this."

He took off running again, yelling to grab the spirit's attention. "Hey ugly! Your fight's with me now!"

He swung his sword again and again, but each strike barely made the creature flinch.

"You call these attacks? You're not even worth eating," the Alpha darkside spirit growled.

"This blade is useless," Alfie muttered. "Then I'll use my fists!"

He lunged forward—only to be knocked down again by a crushing backhand.

The darkside spirit raised its leg, ready to smash Alfie's skull—

But Alfie rolled away just in time, dirt kicking up beneath him.

The countdown had begun.

And somewhere nearby, the girl's Renshi was flaring.