The echoes of battle still rang faintly in Kairo's ears as he stood alone in the narrow alleyway, chest rising and falling with ragged breaths. The shards of shattered crates and spilled goods littered the ground, silent reminders of the fight he'd just survived.
Lumo flickered beside him, its soft blue glow barely cutting through the gray haze of Ashen Veil. "You held your own," it said quietly, but Kairo could hear the worry behind its words. "The thieves were only scouts. More dangerous foes will come."
Kairo clenched his fists, the sting of his wounds a distant reminder compared to the fire burning inside. He wasn't just fighting for survival anymore; he was fighting for respect. For a chance to prove that even a weak Pact Holder could rise.
A shadow moved at the edge of the alley. Kairo's eyes narrowed. The figure stepped forward, a tall woman with sharp eyes and a cloak pulled tight against the chill. Mira.
"You don't know it yet," she said, voice low and steady, "but the Beast Heart inside you is waking. That fox spirit you carry is only the beginning."
Kairo swallowed hard, his heart thudding with a mix of hope and fear. "I don't feel anything."
Mira's gaze didn't waver. "That's because the beast is patient. But it won't wait forever."
The distant wail of sirens and the restless stir of Ashen Veil reminded Kairo that danger never rested. The city had taken much from him, but maybe, just maybe, it was ready to give something back.
Mira took a step closer, lowering her voice. "There's more to your bond than you realize. Pact Holders like you can awaken powers no one expects. But you need guidance and soon."
Kairo's eyes darted down the alley, restless. "Why are you helping me?"
She hesitated, then spoke with a hint of something buried deep beneath her calm exterior. "Because the city's shadows are growing darker. And I've seen what happens when the Beast Heart breaks free without control."
Lumo's glow dimmed. "Kairo, there's something coming. A force unlike any you've faced."
Before Kairo could ask more, a chilling howl tore through the air, a sound neither human nor beast. It was a warning. The ground beneath their feet trembled.
Mira's eyes sharpened. "It's starting."
From the mist, monstrous shapes began to emerge, twisted creatures with glowing eyes and jagged claws, drawn to the faint pulse of Kairo's growing power.
Kairo's breath caught. His heart thundered, not just from fear but something primal deep inside, something that stirred with a hunger he couldn't ignore.
The alleyway darkened as the beasts closed in, and Kairo felt the first true test of his Beast Heart was about to begin.