The forest was trembling.
A low, bone-deep rumble rolled through the ground, shaking the roots of the massive black trees. Even the glowing fungi dimmed as if in fear.
Riku's eyes narrowed. "…That wasn't just a normal howl."
Hina stood, fists tightening. "What now?"
Kaito scanned the darkness. His heart pounded—not just from fear, but from the lingering sensation of the Void still swirling faintly inside him. He didn't want to use it again… but something was coming.
The howl echoed again. Louder. Closer.
Then the trees ahead snapped like twigs.
A massive shape stepped into the clearing.
It wasn't like the Ravine Stalkers. This thing was enormous—easily ten meters tall, with a body like a skeletal panther fused with a centipede. Dozens of red eyes blinked independently across its spine. Its mouth split into four layers, drooling black ichor that hissed when it hit the ground.
Its Seiki aura was so thick it warped the air.
"…What the hell is THAT?" Hina whispered, voice trembling.
Riku's threads twitched faintly. "A Shadow Feeder," he said calmly. "A predator that hunts other Seiki beasts. It must've sensed the Stalkers we killed."
The Shadow Feeder turned toward them, its many eyes focusing on Kaito.
Then it spoke.
Not with words—but with a deep, guttural thought that clawed into their minds.
"Hungry…"
Kaito stumbled back. "It… can talk?!"
"No," Riku corrected. "It's transmitting its intent directly with Seiki." He smirked slightly. "And it wants to eat us."
The beast roared. The ground cracked under the pressure.
Then it charged.
KRRRRRAAASH!
The first swipe of its claw tore through trees like paper. Hina grabbed Kaito and leapt aside just in time.
"MOVE!" she shouted. "We can't let it corner us!"
Riku's threads shot out, wrapping around the beast's legs. "Shirabe: Marionette Bind!"
But the Shadow Feeder didn't even slow. It yanked forward, tearing the threads apart like cobwebs.
"Tch. Too strong for basic control," Riku muttered.
Hina flared her aura. "Fine, then we break it the old-fashioned way!"
She leapt high, her body glowing with blazing orange Seiki.
"Tensui: Meteor Fist Barrage!"
Her fists smashed into the beast's head repeatedly, each blow shaking the forest. But the Shadow Feeder barely flinched. Its armored hide cracked slightly—then regenerated instantly.
"What?!" Hina gasped, mid-air.
The beast's tail lashed out, slamming into her and sending her crashing through several trees.
"Hina!" Kaito shouted.
The Shadow Feeder turned back toward him. Its many eyes narrowed. It knew. It could feel the Void in him.
"Hungry…" it growled again, this time louder.
It lunged straight for him.
Kaito froze. He couldn't move. His legs wouldn't obey.
No… I can't… I can't…
Then Riku was suddenly in front of him.
"Don't die yet," Riku said flatly. His threads shot out, catching the beast's claw for just a split second—enough to shove Kaito aside.
"Wha—Riku?!"
"Don't misunderstand," Riku said calmly, dodging another swipe. "I'm not saving you. I'm keeping my investment alive."
The beast roared, its aura intensifying.
Riku's threads danced, slicing across its eyes. "Shirabe: Severing Lattice!"
For the first time, the Shadow Feeder flinched, black ichor spraying from its wounds.
But it didn't stop.
It slammed both claws down, creating a shockwave that blasted Riku back into a tree.
"Riku!" Kaito ran toward him—but the beast was already above him, jaws opening wide.
In that instant, Kaito felt it again.
The Void whispered.
Feed me. Or die.
Kaito clenched his fists. No. He didn't want to lose control again. He didn't want it to devour everything.
But if he did nothing, they'd all be killed.
"…Fine."
He let go.
The darkness exploded.
VVVVVMMMMM—
A pulse of black aura burst from Kaito, swallowing the clearing. The Shadow Feeder froze mid-attack. Its massive body twitched violently as the Void pulled at its Seiki core.
The beast shrieked—a high, distorted sound that rattled the trees. Its glowing veins began to fade, sucked into the endless black.
Kaito felt it—the beast's life essence draining into him.
But along with it came something else. A hunger. A bottomless craving.
More… more… the Void whispered inside his head.
"No… stop…" Kaito muttered, trembling.
"KAITO!" Hina's voice cut through the haze.
He forced himself to focus—just enough to stop the pull before it completely consumed the creature.
The Shadow Feeder collapsed, its massive body disintegrating into a pile of black ash.
The forest fell silent.
Kaito dropped to his knees, gasping. His vision blurred. He felt sick—like something inside him had been eaten instead.
Hina staggered over, bruised but alive. She grabbed his shoulders. "Are you okay?!"
Kaito opened his mouth to answer—but Riku spoke first.
"…So that's it."
They both turned.
Riku was leaning against a tree, wiping blood from his lip. His usual calm smirk had returned, but his eyes were sharp with fascination.
"Your Seiki doesn't just kill," he said softly. "It feeds. It devours other auras and makes them yours."
Kaito froze.
Riku smiled faintly. "That's not a normal ability. It's Hisui… but something more dangerous. I was right to keep you alive."
Before Kaito could respond, another sound echoed from deeper in the forest.
This time it wasn't a howl.
It was a scream.
Someone else was still alive… and being hunted.
Hina stood, clenching her fists. "We have to move. If that thing wasn't the strongest one here, then…"
Riku interrupted with a quiet chuckle.
"Oh, it wasn't."
The forest suddenly felt colder.
Whatever was waiting ahead… was far worse.