Chapter 44: Shadows of the Past
Kazuki's breaths were heavy, the world spinning around him as the crimson aura slowly receded. The last of the Bloodfangs lay motionless at his feet, their bodies broken and bloodied. The forest was deathly silent, the only sound the crackling of the nearby fire.
"Kazuki..." Elara's voice trembled as she stepped closer, her eyes wide with fear and concern. "Are you... okay?"
Kazuki's gaze shifted to her, and for a brief moment, his eyes remained a deep, haunting crimson. But as he blinked, the glow faded, his eyes returning to their usual dark brown. He swayed slightly, his knees buckling as exhaustion finally claimed him.
"Kazuki!" Elara rushed forward, catching him just before he collapsed. His body felt heavier than usual, as though he had been carrying a mountain on his back. Sweat soaked his clothes, and his skin was unnaturally cold.
"Elara..." Kazuki murmured, his eyelids fluttering. "I... I couldn't control it."
Elara bit her lip, her heart aching as she held him close. "It's okay. You're safe now. We're all safe."
Tara approached, her expression tense. "What the hell was that? Kazuki, you were like... a completely different person."
Elara shot her a glare. "Now's not the time, Tara. He needs to rest."
"Rest?" Tara crossed her arms, her jaw clenched. "What if he loses control again? What if next time, he doesn't stop?"
Kazuki's hand twitched, his fingers tightening around Elara's sleeve. "I... I won't... lose control."
[System Alert: Corruption rate stabilizing. Current rate: 12%. Immediate rest recommended to prevent further mental instability.]
Elara's grip on him tightened. "We need to find shelter. He's burning up."
Tara hesitated, her eyes flicking to Kazuki's unconscious form. Finally, she nodded. "There's a cave nearby. It should be safe for the night."
Together, they lifted Kazuki, each taking one of his arms as they carried him toward the cave. The forest around them remained eerily silent, the stench of blood hanging heavy in the air.
The cave was small but dry, its walls lined with thick moss that provided some insulation from the cold. Elara carefully laid Kazuki down on a makeshift bed of leaves and blankets, her fingers brushing the damp hair from his forehead.
"His temperature is rising," Elara muttered, worry tightening her chest.
"Should we use a healing potion?" Tara asked, pulling a small vial from her pouch.
Elara shook her head. "Not yet. It might interfere with the system's stabilization process."
Tara frowned, leaning against the cave wall. "This is bad, Elara. That power he used... it's dangerous."
"I know," Elara whispered, her gaze fixed on Kazuki's face. "But without it, we would all be dead."
Tara's fists clenched. "And if he loses himself to it? What then?"
Elara had no answer. She swallowed the lump in her throat, her heart aching as she watched Kazuki struggle in his sleep, his brows furrowed as though trapped in a nightmare.
Inside Kazuki's mind, he found himself standing in a dark, endless void. Shadows swirled around him, whispering in voices he couldn't understand. A chill ran down his spine as he took a step forward, his bare feet sinking into the inky blackness.
"Where am I?" he muttered, his voice echoing through the emptiness.
[You are inside your own consciousness.]
The voice was deep, guttural, and familiar. Kazuki turned around, and his heart nearly stopped.
Standing before him was a towering beast, its body covered in thick, black fur, its eyes glowing a terrifying crimson. It was the Shadow Grizzly — or rather, a manifestation of it.
"You..." Kazuki whispered, his fists clenching. "What do you want?"
The Shadow Grizzly's lips pulled back in a sinister grin, revealing rows of sharp, gleaming teeth. "To make you strong. To make you unstoppable."
"You mean to turn me into a monster," Kazuki snapped, his eyes narrowing.
"A monster?" The Grizzly chuckled, the sound deep and rumbling. "Is that what you think I am? No, Kazuki. I am power. I am rage. I am everything you could be... if you'd just let go."
Kazuki shook his head, stepping back. "No. I won't lose myself to you."
The Grizzly lunged forward, its massive claws swiping at Kazuki's face. Kazuki barely dodged, stumbling back as the Grizzly advanced, its eyes blazing with hunger.
"You already have," the Grizzly snarled, its breath hot against Kazuki's skin. "You tasted my power. You liked it. You craved it. Don't lie to yourself."
Kazuki's back hit an invisible wall, and the Grizzly's face loomed closer, its crimson eyes boring into his.
"Accept me," the Grizzly purred, its voice dripping with temptation. "Let me in... and you'll never be weak again."
Kazuki's heart pounded, his hands trembling. The Grizzly's power pulsed around him, dark and seductive, whispering promises of strength, of vengeance, of dominance.
For a moment, Kazuki's eyes flickered crimson. His hand reached out, hovering inches from the Grizzly's face.
"Kazuki!"
Elara's voice echoed through the void, snapping him back to reality. Kazuki gasped, stumbling backward as the Grizzly's form began to dissolve into shadows.
"You can't escape me," the Grizzly's voice echoed as it vanished. "I am you. And one day, you will be mine."
Kazuki's eyes snapped open, his chest heaving as he bolted upright. Sweat drenched his body, and his heart raced as though he had just run a marathon.
"Kazuki!" Elara exclaimed, rushing to his side. "Are you okay?"
Kazuki panted, his eyes wild and unfocused. "I... I saw it. The Grizzly. It was inside me. It wants to take over."
Elara wrapped her arms around him, pulling him close. "It's okay. You're still you. You're still Kazuki."
Kazuki buried his face in her shoulder, his fists clenching as he trembled in her embrace. But even as Elara whispered comforting words, a single thought echoed through Kazuki's mind, chilling him to the bone.
The Grizzly was still there, lurking in the darkness, waiting for the moment when Kazuki would finally give in.