CHAPTER 2: FROZEN VENGEANCE

Shinobu Kocho treaded lightly through a frost-laced corridor, her breath visible in the unnaturally cold air. Her sandals crunched against the brittle ice forming on the floor, and each step took her deeper into a familiar nightmare.

At the heart of the chamber, seated on a throne sculpted from icicles and death, was Douma—Upper Moon Two.

He smiled with wicked delight, clapping gently as if greeting a dear friend.

"My, my… what a surprise! Shinobu Kocho. The little butterfly who still flutters after all this time," he chimed. "You're prettier than ever. But I must say, I preferred your sister's final expression. So serene—"

CRACK!

Before he could finish, Shinobu was already upon him, her smile gone, replaced by unyielding fury. Her blade slashed through the frost-filled air like lightning as she activated her Insect Breathing forms with deadly precision.

But Douma's strength hadn't dulled in the slightest. In fact, he seemed faster—colder. Ice lotuses bloomed violently around him as he danced through her attacks, mocking and smiling all the while.

"You sting, Shinobu… but not nearly enough."

The tide began to turn. Douma's overwhelming presence pressed down like a glacier, and Shinobu, despite her agility, was caught. His icy grip wrapped around her, and he began to absorb her into his flesh.

Her vision dimmed—until she heard it.

Kanae's voice.

Gentle. Encouraging. Unyielding.

"Shinobu… You are not alone."

Her eyes widened as her body lit with the golden hue of a Spirit Bond awakening. Her heart surged with power—not of brute strength, but of purpose, of love, of vengeance.

But even with that newfound strength, Douma's grip remained unrelenting.

The battle was far from over.