The fog had not lifted when I woke the next day or what passed for day in this strange world. The city was silent, save for the occasional echo of dripping water from rooftops. Shadows clung to every corner, shifting as though alive. My head throbbed, but the power from yesterday still hummed through my veins. Fear had a taste now, a sharp tang that made my senses tingle. I knew I had to test it.
The small blue-eyed spirit floated beside me, its faint glow pulsing in rhythm with my heartbeat. I named it Lumo, though it didn't answer when I spoke aloud. That didn't matter; somehow, I knew it understood.
"Alright," I muttered, "let's see what this energy can do."
I focused on the residual fear from yesterday, recalling the sensation of terror when the hostile spirit had appeared. Closing my eyes, I tried to draw it out, willing it to gather into something tangible. Slowly, I felt warmth spreading through my chest, a small spark at first, then a flicker of light that danced along my hands.
"Good," Lumo seemed to hum, and I smiled.
I needed a test. Something small but controlled a real "game," just like in my past life. I scanned the alleyway, picking a loose stack of crates as my arena. From my memory of horror games and legends, traps always worked best on those who underestimated you.
I whispered to Lumo, "Help me lure something in."
It nodded, darting silently into the shadows. Minutes passed. I felt the first ripple of fear a low, almost imperceptible shiver along the alley walls. A figure materialized, small and timid, clearly inexperienced. It froze when it noticed me, its body quivering.
Perfect.
I focused the fear energy I had gathered, shaping it into illusions of whispers, flickering shadows, and sudden movements. The spirit's eyes widened, panic radiating in waves. Its energy surged, and I absorbed it. The sensation was intoxicating sharp, electric, like electricity running under my skin.
"You're… stronger than I thought," Lumo whispered, and I laughed softly.
This was just a small test, but it proved the principle: fear could be directed, controlled, and harvested. With enough practice, I could turn this into a system, a set of challenges, maybe even entire "games" that could strengthen me far beyond ordinary Spirit Warriors.
Hours passed, though time felt warped. I experimented with different scenarios, watching Lumo interact with the spirits, guiding me silently. By evening, I had created my first functional trap a small alleyway arena where a spirit's fear fed my energy directly, safely contained.
And yet… there was a nagging thought in the back of my mind. What if some spirits weren't just mindless creatures of fear? What if they adapted, learned, or even resented being trapped?
I shook my head, trying not to think too far ahead. First, I needed mastery. Then, I could worry about the consequences.
Night fell. The fog thickened. From the corners of the alley, shadows shifted unnaturally. Somewhere, a distant scream echoed, but I no longer flinched. My hands tingled with anticipation. This city, this world of spirits and fear, was a game waiting to be played. And I had just started the first level.