The streets of the old district trembled. Dust fell from rooftops, lamps flickered, and every instinct in Kaiden's body screamed: Run. Get out. You don't belong here.
But Yuki's hand was already on his katana, the steel catching a faint glimmer from the moonlight. Leonardo's twin guns clicked as he slid them free from his thighs, Flow marks etched into the grip glowing faintly orange.
"Kaiden." Yuki's voice was firm, no trace of his usual sarcasm. "You're coming with us. This is your first test."
Kaiden froze. "First test? This looks like a suicidal field trip."
Lorenzo, standing calm at the gate, only smiled. "Tests don't always come on paper. You've trained for six months. Now prove it."
"But—"Kaiden swallowed, his throat dry. "What if I'm not ready?"
"You'll never know until you step forward,"Lorenzo said gently.
Leonardo turned, eyebrow raised. "Weapon of choice?"
Kaiden blinked. "Uh… a stick? Maybe a wooden sword?"
Leonardo rolled his eyes. "Sword."
Lorenzo disappeared for a moment, then returned with a sheathed longsword. "Mine. Take it."
Kaiden grabbed the hilt and instantly sagged, the blade dropping with a clang. His arms shook like wet noodles. "Bro… this thing's like carrying a car."
Lorenzo sighed, pulled out a dagger, and placed it in his palm. Cold steel, sharp, deadly real. Kaiden's heart skipped. This isn't training anymore. This is life or death.
"Move,"Yuki ordered.
---
They sprinted across cobblestones, night air heavy with smoke. Each quake beneath Kaiden's sneakers rattled his bones. His stomach churned. Then—
BOOM!
A building ahead of them caved inward as a hulking beast smashed through it. Debris flew like shrapnel, a shockwave knocking Kaiden back a step.
The creature roared, a guttural, bone-vibrating sound. Its frame was monstrous—bulky muscle under dark, bristling fur. Its fangs dripped thick saliva that sizzled against the stone when it hit.
Kaiden's brain blanked. Nope. Nope. That's not a monster. That's a Godzilla audition tape.
The beast lunged for a screaming woman. Before Kaiden could blink, Yuki vanished—
he whispers..
"Thunder Flow, Flash Step."
—and reappeared in front of her, katana slicing through the air with a crack of thunder.
"Non si preoccupi, signora," he said smoothly in Italian, helping her to her feet. Lightning sparked along his blade. Gentleman one second, executioner the next.
Leonardo raised his guns. "Focus."
The fight exploded.
Leonardo moved first.
"Ember Flow. Spark Ignition."
His first shot struck the beast's shoulder, bursting with heat that scorched flesh. Smoke hissed from the wound.
The creature roared, swiping a claw the size of a cart. Leonardo dove, rolling as the claw tore through a wall like paper.
"Ember Flow. Blazing Arc."
He fired again, flame trailing wide like a burning crescent, carving into its side. Flesh sizzled. The stench of burnt hair filled the street.
Yuki followed.
"Try and keep up, Leo!"
His body blurred, then lightning flashed across the beast's back.
"Thunder Flow. Thunder Fang!"
Twin arcs of electricity slashed, sparks burning fur and skin. The beast shrieked, thrashing.
But it was relentless. It slammed both fists into the ground, cobblestones cracking, dust and rubble flying. Yuki jumped back just in time, but a wave of debris grazed his arm, tearing his sleeve, blood dripping down.
"Shit," he hissed, gripping his katana tighter.
Leonardo cursed, firing point-blank into its face. One bullet struck an eye, bursting it in a spray of gore. The beast howled, swinging blindly.
Kaiden stood frozen at the edge, dagger trembling in his grip. His lungs burned, but he couldn't breathe.
This isn't a training dummy. That thing's alive. It bleeds. It's furious. And I'm supposed to fight it?
Every instinct screamed to run. His knees wobbled. The dagger's weight was unbearable.
What if I stab wrong? What if I freeze? What if I get them killed?
"KAIDEN!"Yuki's voice tore through his panic. "Get your ass in here!"
Kaiden shook his head. "I—I can't—"
"You can," Leonardo growled between gunshots. "We're not babysitting. You're part of this fight. Move!"
The beast went berserk. With one massive swing, it slammed into a nearby tavern. The structure crumbled, wooden beams collapsing in flames. Screams echoed from people hiding inside.
"Dammit!" Yuki cursed. He dashed forward, blade sparking as he cut through falling debris to clear a path. His movements were sharp but strained.
Leonardo's chest heaved as he reloaded. His hair clung to his face with sweat. The two veterans were fighting like demons, but even they were slowing.
The beast slammed a paw down, smashing the street like an earthquake. Leonardo staggered, barely dodging. The ground split open, Kaiden nearly falling into the crack.
Panic surged, but so did something else. Rage. Helplessness. Watching Yuki and Leonardo bleed for him twisted Kaiden's gut
His dagger felt cold in his grip, but his chest burned with a memory:
Lorenzo's words.
"You'll never know if you're ready until you try."
Kaiden's jaw clenched. His heart thundered, fear still clawing at his throat—but he forced his legs forward.
Wind stirred faintly around him.
---
The beast noticed him, its one good eye gleaming red. It roared and lunged, fangs snapping. Kaiden froze for a split second—I'm dead I'm dead I'm dead—
Then Yuki was there, lightning-fast, blade clashing against the beast's jaw to divert its strike. "NOW, KAIDEN!"
Kaiden screamed and thrust his dagger.
"Zephyr Flow, PIERCING GUST!"
At first, it looked pathetic. Just a weak stab, barely scratching fur. The air shifted gently, like a soft breeze.
Leonardo shouted, "It's not enough!"
But then—
WHOOOSH! BAAAM!
The breeze compressed. A second later, a violent gust exploded from the strike. The pressure slammed into the beast's chest, forcing its ribs inward with a sickening crack. Blood sprayed from its mouth as it staggered back, howling.
Kaiden stumbled, panting, his arm numb from the backlash. But he didn't stop. He roared, thrusting again, another gust bursting forward.
The beast lurched, its chest caving further. Its massive frame shuddered—then collapsed with an earth-shaking THUD.
---
Silence.
The monster twitched once, then stilled, blood pooling beneath its crushed ribs.
Kaiden's chest heaved, dagger clattering to the ground as his hand shook uncontrollably. His knees hit the cobblestones. His breaths came ragged, eyes wide as he stared at the corpse.
I… I killed it.
It wasn't a dummy. It wasn't practice. It was alive. And now, because of him, it wasn't. His stomach churned, bile rising, tears stinging the corners of his eyes.
Yuki walked over, wiping blood off his blade. He crouched, giving Kaiden a crooked smile. "Shaky hands. Pale face. The classic rookie look. Congrats, you survived your first kill."
Leonardo approached too, holstering his guns. His expression softened. "You did good, kid. Better than most on their first mission."
Kaiden let out a shaky laugh, half relief, half disbelief. "I think I'm gonna puke."
Yuki chuckled, patting his back. "Welcome to the Flow Corps reality check."
---
The fire from the collapsed building crackled in the distance, but the three of them stood together, alive. For the first time, Kaiden felt something deeper than fear. Pride.
His hand still trembled, his body still screamed to run, but his heart whispered something else:
"Maybe I really can do this."