Kira's footsteps echoed softly against the damp forest floor as he made his way toward the ocean bank, the salty air clinging to his skin. The rhythm of his steps, calm and purposeful, belied the storm brewing in his chest. He had to reach her. He couldn't let anything happen again. Not after everything they'd been through.
The sound of a scream reached his ears—sharp, filled with panic. His eyes narrowed, his pulse quickening.
"That voice... It's Lina," Kira murmured, every fiber of his being responding to the urgency in her cry.
In a heartbeat, his body shifted into a blur. His legs carried him faster than ever, the forest now just a passing blur as he honed in on the source of her scream. His heart pounded harder with each step, and then—there she was.
Lina lay on the ground, her body battered, blood seeping into the earth beneath her. Around her, the shadows of figures disappeared quickly into the distance, moving so fast they were barely visible. Kira's eyes flashed with anger.
Without a moment's hesitation, he rushed to her side, kneeling down beside her. His hands hovered over her body, quickly assessing the damage.
"Lina..." Kira whispered, his voice hoarse. He poured his mana into her, the glowing light surrounding his hands. But no matter how much energy he gave, the damage was too severe. The healing barely touched her—internal injuries, broken mana pathways, too much destruction for even his skills to restore.
Kira's throat tightened as he lifted her into his arms, her body light but unyielding in its fragility. Her eyes fluttered open, barely focusing, and the faintest whisper escaped her lips.
"K… Kira…" she gasped, her voice weak, her body trembling with pain. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, but she tried to smile.
"It's okay. Don't speak. You'll just make it worse." Kira's voice was firm, but a tremor ran through him as he walked through the forest, his pace quickening.
"This is my fault..." he muttered under his breath, a familiar knot forming in his gut. If I hadn't let her fight, if I'd just kept her back…
Inside Kira, Aqua observed the scene from within him, her presence like a quiet echo, like the soft hum of the ocean's waves.
If nothing is done, Aqua thought, her voice tinged with concern, he might break... just like he did before.
A sigh left her as she materialized beside him, standing for the first time outside of his consciousness. Her blue energy shimmered with a quiet elegance as she gently placed a hand on his arm. "Leave her to me, Kira. Head to the infirmary so I can assess the damage properly."
Kira froze for a moment, looking down at Aqua with a mix of surprise and uncertainty. "You can come out now?" he asked, his voice carrying a hint of disbelief.
Aqua's eyes sparkled with faint amusement, though her expression remained calm. "Is this really the time to be asking that?" She stepped forward and gently took Lina from his arms.
Without another word, Kira disappeared into the distance, heading towards the infirmary with swift purpose. He didn't have the luxury of hesitation now.
---
Aqua knelt beside Lina's prone form, her eyes scanning the damage with an analytical gaze. "Her vitals are completely destroyed. This wasn't just a fight—it was an ambush," she murmured, her tone colder now.
"Correct." A familiar voice came from behind her.
Aqua didn't turn, already knowing who it was. "Korran," she said, her voice as calm as ever, though there was an edge of warning beneath her words. "I was wondering when you'd show up."
He stepped forward, his form tall and imposing. His smile was twisted, eyes full of bitter resolve. "I'm surprised you figured it out."
"What are you planning?" Aqua asked, turning to face him, her demeanor unshaken.
Korran chuckled, the sound low and cold. "I had feelings for her, you know? But she never gave me the time of day." His grin grew darker. "That's why I decided, if I can't have her, then I'll make sure she's gone."
Aqua's gaze hardened, her voice as unflinching as ever. "Love maniac."
Korran's smile faltered for a moment, but he quickly recovered. "I have an idea. If I can't kill Kira, I'll just take your life instead."
Aqua's eyes didn't shift. She flicked a finger, and in an instant, her aura rippled outward. Korran lunged, shield raised, and axe in hand. He swung it toward Aqua with all his might. But before the blade could even reach her—
Parry!
A swift surge of energy paralyzed him mid-swing. Aqua didn't even flinch. With a gentle tap of her finger, Korran was sent flying backward, crashing into trees like a ragdoll. He hit the ground with a sickening thud, blood pouring from his mouth.
Korran pushed himself up, fury flashing in his eyes. "I can't believe she did this with a flick of her finger," he thought, wiping the blood from his face.
The water beneath Aqua's feet shimmered, and Korran's eyes widened in horror as he felt something cold press against his throat. He looked down to see a weapon formed from his own blood, a sharp and lethal edge.
"If you move," Aqua's voice was ice-cold, "you die."
His breath caught in his throat. "You… manipulate blood?" he croaked, realization dawning on him.
"Are you just now figuring it out?" Aqua's voice was tinged with boredom as she tightened the grip on the blood blade, forcing him to stay still.
Korran swallowed hard, trying to hide the tremor in his hands as he shot her a twisted grin. "Your chest is pressing against me."
Aqua's eyes flickered with a dangerous glint. "Don't worry, Korran. I'll cut that part of you off when I'm done." She laughed darkly, a smile curling on her lips.
"Now," she continued, her tone cold and calculated. "I have no intention of killing you—just yet. You've shown me how strong your defense is, and I'll admit, I'm impressed."
Korran's grin didn't waver. "That doesn't mean anything."
"I suppose not," Aqua mused. "But when the test starts, join the Sovereignty. Fight Kira."
"Kill him?" Korran asked with a twisted grin. "I'll do anything."
Aqua dropped the blade. It melted into the air, dissipating like mist. "Good. That will make things much easier."
Without another word, she stepped over him, moving toward Lina's still form. She returned her to the water ball and began healing her, the gentle flow of energy caressing the girl's wounds.
Once fully healed, Aqua teleported Lina directly to the infirmary, handing her over to Kira.
---
Back in the infirmary, Kira sat beside Lina, watching her as she rested. Freda, entering the room quietly, glanced at him before walking over.
"She'll be fine now," Freda said softly, her gaze sharp but compassionate. "But… what exactly happened?"
Kira sat up straighter, his mind still processing everything. "I don't know the full details… but I think it was an ambush."
An eerie silence fell between them.
"An ambush... here?" Freda repeated, mulling over the idea. "That's rare. But I've heard rumors of it happening before."
Kira nodded grimly. "I understand now what Leo meant when he said the system here was broken."
Freda's tone was more pointed now, sharper. "It was broken, yes. Then it was repaired. But now it's cracking again."
Kira looked at her, his gaze intense. "What do you mean by that?"
"The truth is simple," Freda said, her voice dropping to a quiet whisper. "This generation is one of peace. But the old generation… theirs was a time of wars, of harsh, unyielding survival. The power of that era is something the world can't recreate."
Kira furrowed his brow. "Then what about Leo and Liora?"
Freda's eyes narrowed. "Why do you group them together like that?"
Kira stood still. "Because… they don't give off any of the usual presence. Humans, demons, elves… each one leaves behind a trace. But not them."
Freda's eyes softened, a slight smile playing on her lips. "Not bad. But you're wrong. You're looking for something in their aura, in their presence. But some individuals—those who have total control of their life force—can alter it at will."
She turned to leave but paused at the door. "One last piece of advice, Kira. Don't push further into this. It's dangerous. Trust me." Her voice was quiet, but there was a weight in it. "I've seen a multiverse wiped out because someone knew too much."
Kira stared at her retreating figure, his mind racing.
"A multiverse… wiped out because of a race?" he murmured to himself, the enormity of the words sinking in.
---
The next morning, Freda entered the infirmary again, dressed casually. She stopped by Lina's bed, checking on her one last time. Kira was sitting beside her, asleep in the same chair he'd occupied all night.
Freda stood over him, her gaze softening as she brushed a lock of his hair from his forehead.
"He looks like a child when he sleeps," she mused quietly, a smile playing at the corners of her lips.
Kira stirred, blinking his eyes open. "Good morning," he said, his voice rough with sleep.
"Good morning," Freda replied with a smile.
Kira sat up, running a hand through his hair. "I fell asleep here, didn't I?"
Freda nodded, her gaze playful. "Well… I came to check on you, so technically, you did."
Kira sighed. "I'll be back shortly," he said, standing and disappearing before Freda could respond.
She entered the room, where Lina was awake, sitting on the bed. When she saw Kira, she couldn't stop herself from looking at him—her eyes softened, and a slight blush crept up her cheeks.
Kira froze at the door, standing still, unsure of what to say.
Finally, Freda broke the silence. "I'll leave you two to catch up." She smiled softly as she walked out.
Kira slowly approached Lina, her gaze avoiding his.
"Umm…," they both said in unison.
"Let me go first," Lina said quickly, her voice wavering. She wiped away a tear. "I'm sorry, Kira. After everything we trained for, after everything we went through... I still couldn't hold my ground against them."
Kira's expression softened. He sat beside her, his voice gentle. "It's okay. What matters now is you're alive."
Lina nodded, wiping away more tears. "I know, but… I want to make up for it during this test."
"No," Kira replied, his tone firm. "You need to rest."
Lina hesitated, her eyes flickering toward the floor. Then she opened up, her voice barely a whisper.
"I can't say it," she said, her gaze lost in the distance. "But… I have to be in the test."
Kira pressed further. "Does it have something to do with Rhea?"
Lina's eyes shot wide with shock. She hadn't expected him to be able to read her so easily.
Kira stood up and turned toward the door.
"Why would you join this battle in your current condition?" he asked, concern lingering in his voice.
Before he could finish, Lina interrupted him, standing up as well.
"Because of you," she said, voice trembling slightly. "I want to be standing by your side... just in case this is the end."
Kira was silent, his heart pounding in his chest. He hadn't expected that answer.
But after a long moment, he simply placed his hand on her head, his smile warm. "I promise I'll come back to you."
He slipped his cloak over her shoulders, the emblem of an eclipse etched on the back. "I'll come back for this," he said softly, the sincerity in his voice undeniable.
Lina smiled faintly. "Okay."
---
With the promise made, Kira stepped out of the room, ready to face whatever awaited in the test.
But somewhere deep inside, he knew: this was just the beginning.