The forest was quiet, save for the rhythmic thud of Supira's staff striking against stone. Sweat rolled down his brow, but his focus never wavered. Each strike was sharper, each breath steadier. He could feel it — his Spiral Nexus evolving, sharpening with his resolve.
Then it happened.
A thunderous BOOM shook the ground beneath his feet, the sky flashing crimson from a sudden explosion. Supira spun on his heel, Spiral Staff manifesting instantly in his hand. Without hesitation, he darted toward the source, his speed tearing through the trees like a gust of wind.
What he found made his eyes narrow.
Rai and Mizu — two siblings aligned with Zankoku's forces — were struggling desperately against a swarm of eerie figures. Their bodies twisted, eyes void of light, they moved in perfect, unnatural sync.
"Self-Void Soldiers…" Supira muttered, disgust in his tone.
The soldiers hissed and advanced, surrounding the siblings. Supira slammed his staff into the ground, sparks of spiral energy erupting around him. He leveled his weapon, eyes burning with determination.
"Leave now… or die."
The soldiers only laughed, their distorted voices echoing through the battlefield. They rushed him without hesitation.
In a single blink, Supira moved. His staff blurred through the air, arcs of spiral energy ripping through the void soldiers one by one. In seconds, the battlefield was silent, the corpses of the soldiers dissolving into black dust.
Rai and Mizu stared in awe.
Supira twirled his staff and glanced at them with a mocking smirk. "Pathetic. This is what you get for siding with the bad guys."
Rai clenched his fists. "Shut up—"
But Supira cut him off. "I could remove the enhancements on your Nexus. Make you normal again."
Mizu's eyes widened. "You… you can do that?"
Supira's smirk deepened. "Sogen taught me how. He showed me the ancient chants that undo Zankoku's corruption."
Rai shook his head. "Lies. If that were true, we would've—"
"Prove it," he challenged.
Mizu stepped forward, ignoring her brother's protest. Her voice trembled but carried resolve. "Do it."
Supira's expression grew serious. He raised his staff, his voice echoing with power as he recited an ancient chant. Spiral energy wrapped around Mizu, glowing brighter and brighter until it shattered like glass. She gasped, falling to her knees, her aura suddenly lighter, calmer — free.
"I… I feel at ease," she whispered, astonished.
Rai stared in shock. "…What's the catch?"
Supira tilted his head, giving a sly grin. "Catch? Nothing. But…" He pressed his staff into the dirt and leaned forward. "…You're going to help me when we infiltrate the Dark Nexus headquarters."
Mizu nodded immediately. "Deal." She pulled out a slip of paper, scribbling something down before handing it to him. "Here. My number. You'll need it."
Rai hesitated, but seeing his sister's relief, he finally sighed and gave a reluctant nod. "…Fine. I'll help too."
The siblings turned to leave. Mizu glanced back, her cheeks faintly flushed. "…He's kinda cute, isn't he?"
Rai burst out laughing. "Oh, now this is rich. You're really blushing over that guy?"
"Shut up!" she snapped, smacking his arm as they walked away, the sound of their playful bickering fading into the distance.
Supira chuckled faintly, waving them off. "Cute, huh? Not what I was going for."
He turned back to the clearing, spinning his staff once more. "Time to train harder. The real fight hasn't even begun."
Then he froze.
A figure stood at the edge of the forest, watching him with sharp, piercing eyes. Supira raised his staff cautiously.
The stranger smirked, his voice carrying across the wind.
"Wanna get stronger? Follow me!"
The words cut through the silence, and Supira felt his heart race. Whoever this was… his path was about to change.
To be continued…