Flashback – Kento's Training
Levina stood before a massive golem made of bark and stone—Kento's training dummy.
Levina (attacking): "Hyah!"
Roots lashed out, and Kento's slash met them mid-air.
Their spar continued, fierce but controlled.
Levina (smiling): "Take care of my children, Kento."
Kento: "I will."
Black and red scales shimmered on Kento's blade-arm. Levina nodded in approval.
Levina: "That's more like it."
Present – Cave Combat
Back in the cave, Nulls dropped like flies. The first wave was cleared.
Ren checked the torch screen:15/30 NULLS eliminated.
Ren (panting): "Halfway there. Now, where's that core…?"
Suddenly, the ground shook.
A massive Null emerged.
Ren: "What now?!"
Kento slashed it immediately—but it didn't fall.
This Null… was different. Smarter. Watching. Waiting.
Ren: "It's not attacking... what is it doing?"
Kento: "It's testing us. Observing."
It began attacking in unpredictable ways—not to win, but to unbalance Ren.
Then, the Null smashed the ground, creating a quake that threw Ren slightly off-balance.
Ren: (Why is it...?)
Kento saw it too.
The Null had noticed that Ren's right arm never responded on its own.
Kento (realizing): (It's testing us. It's trying to figure out… if I'm the one controlling the sword.)
The Null confirmed its suspicion. It dodged Kento's swing, stepped in, and punched Ren in the face, sending him flying.
Then it spun back, dug a hole, and with terrifying speed, snatched Kento from Ren's hand and threw him deep into the earth.
Ren (horrified): "KENTOOOO!!"
The Null roared.
Ren (furious): "You bastard!"
He charged, throwing punch after punch—but the Null caught his right arm and broke it.
Ren (screaming): "AAAAAAGGHHHHH!!!"
Even through the pain, he stood. Torch in his mouth, left arm ready, he dashed.
Flashback – Levina's Dash Training
Levina: "Focus on your feet. Stop thinking. Bend your body 30°. Make your arms stiff. You'll dash faster than ever."
Present – Second Wind
Ren's feet blurred—his body dashed.
He appeared right in front of the Null.
Ren (roaring): "TAKE THIS!!!"
His left punch landed hard—twice the force of before.
The Null was shocked.
Kento (from the depths below, weakly): "Well done, Ren… I'm proud of you."
The Null, sensing danger, shifted its stance.It called for backup—other Nulls emerged, surrounding Ren.
Kento (muffled): "Unfair… He's already hurt… now this?!"
The Nulls descended.
Ren fought like a beast—wounded, panting—but he slayed every last one.
Then he collapsed to one knee, exhausted.
Ren (breathing heavily): "Huff… Huff…"
But the main Null approached with a wicked grin.
Punch.Another punch.Then a kick.
Ren took the hits, bloodied and groaning.
Ren (in pain, eyes burning): (No… I can't lose. Not yet… I have to win this…)
The Null turned to leave, assuming victory.
Then… it stopped.
It turned back—and froze.
Ren stood up.
Completely healed.
His body, from the neck down, was now black.
From within him, something emerged—a figure, fully black, with long black hair, black eyes, and a terrifying grin.
??? (grinning wildly): "YAHAAAHAAA!!!"
The figure vanished, then reappeared in front of the Null, arm outstretched.
SHLUK!
Its hand pierced through the Null's chest like it was paper. The Null collapsed.
The figure laughed maniacally.
Figure: "YAHAHAHAHAHA!!"
It turned toward the pit where Kento was buried.
It tossed aside stone after stone, then stopped.
Figure (grinning): "Oh? Still breathing, are you?"
He reached down and pulled out an unconscious Kento with ease.
Then, instead of attacking him—he threw Kento toward Ren's body.
He stared at Ren's unconscious form.
Figure (softly): "You'll thank me later. Or maybe… you won't."
He looked up.
Figure (grinning widely): "Now then... finally... I can kill everyone."
He vanished into the darkness—leaving the cave filled with silence and tension.
TO BE CONTINUED.