《Whispers of Shikiban:The king walk among us》 CHAPTER-1 PROLOGUE Kageshiki Trainee Report: Total Trainees: 200 Disqualified Due to Injury: 45 Disqualified Due to Death: 60 Remaining Candidates: 95 The city sank deeper into twilight, its streets cloaked in an oppressive darkness. The wind howled through empty alleys, a bitter reminder of the world that had once been and the pieces of it now lost forever. Reika sat on a rusted bench, her hands limp at her sides. The streetlamp above barely cut through the thick shadows. Her name¡ªKagetsu Reika¡ªwas nothing more than a forgotten whisper, a weight dragging her deeper into the void. Her father''s voice echoed in her mind, repeating the same warning he''d given countless times: "Stay inside after dark. Never go out. If you leave, you''ll die." But what did it matter now? The city was already dead to her, and she felt herself slipping away with it. At first, she barely noticed him. A flicker of movement, the faintest sound. "How lucky," a voice drawled, low and unnerving. "A human, all alone at night." A chill ran down her spine. She whipped around. There he was. Tall, still as a statue, his features unnervingly perfect. Dark hair framed a face too sharp to be real. And his smile¡ªtoo wide, too knowing¡ªfroze her in place. Her breath caught. Her fingers scrambled for the knife at her waist, but it was useless. Her heart raced in her chest, and the air felt thick, choking. The smile on his face widened as he twisted, his body bending in unnatural ways. Cracking, popping. Then, jagged black wings sprouted from his back, their grotesque length stretching far beyond what was possible. This was no human. This was something far worse. A Shikiban. Frozen, her mind screamed for her to move, but her body refused. The knife was meaningless. She was nothing. She was going to die. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. The creature lunged. A flash of silver. A slash so fast, so precise, it left her breathless. The Shikiban''s arm fell to the ground with a sickening thud, black blood spraying the air. Without hesitation, the boy struck again¡ªdecisive, brutal. The creature''s head tumbled to the ground, disintegrating into ash before it could touch the earth. The night was still. Reika''s body trembled, her mind racing to make sense of what had just unfolded. The boy turned to face her, his eyes as cold as the dark city around them, his gaze cutting through her like a knife. "Kagetsu Reika," he said, his voice flat, emotionless. Her heart skipped a beat. How did he know her name? Before she could respond, the boy pulled out an envelope. Black as the void, shimmering with an unnatural glow. "Take it," he said, his voice distant. "Open it when you''re ready." Reika''s hand trembled as she took the envelope. The moment her fingers brushed its surface, a magnetic pull surged through her, sharp and impossible to ignore. Her pulse quickened as she tore it open, the words inside slicing through the silence. Kagetsu Reika, You are summoned to Tenshiko Academy. The choice is yours. But once you step inside, you will never be the same. The words hit her like a punch to the gut. Tenshiko Academy. She had heard whispers, but nothing had prepared her for this. Her past had caught up with her. Her fate was sealed. She didn''t know what choice she had, but the darkness was already closing in. A notification flashed in the corner of her vision¡ªone she had seen far too many times before. Trainees. Candidates. The list of who entered this city, who survived, and who didn''t. The reminder that no one entered this city without knowing what they were risking. Every step, every breath, felt like a weight dragging her down. Even death no longer seemed like an escape. She''d almost welcomed it. But the night had other plans. CHAPTER-2 Reika''s fingers clenched around the black envelope, the cold biting into her skin. It was like ice creeping through her veins, sharp and relentless. Her heartbeat thundered in her chest, but still, she didn''t open it. Her gaze remained fixed on the boy standing before her, his figure silhouetted in the dim, flickering light of a distant streetlamp. He didn''t flinch. Didn''t move a muscle. Silence stretched between them, heavy, suffocating, like the calm before a storm. The air around him crackled with an energy that made her skin crawl. His katana gleamed darkly in the pale light, its blade slick with black blood, the metallic stench of it filling the air. "Who are you?" Her voice broke the silence, steady but hollow. It felt wrong, like the night itself was pressing against her chest, as if the world was about to collapse in on them both. The boy''s lips curved into a smirk, the corners of his mouth pulling up just enough to reveal a glint of predatory satisfaction. His silver hair fell messily to half-cover his eyes, giving him an aura of dangerous indifference. He stood perfectly still, almost too relaxed¡ªtoo calm for someone holding a bloodstained weapon. "Souta," he said, his voice smooth as silk, like his name alone was enough to explain everything. "Souta Arakawa." Reika''s breath hitched. She recognized the name instantly¡ªthe weight of it slammed into her chest like a stone, suffocating her. But she didn''t show it. Her face remained impassive, her hands tight on the envelope, though her pulse hammered against her ribcage. Souta''s gaze shifted to the envelope she held, his smirk deepening. The silence felt even thicker now, heavier with something unspoken. "You know," he murmured, almost purring, "this isn''t a game. If you''re afraid, now''s your chance to walk away." Reika''s grip on the envelope tightened, the sharp edges digging into her palm, the sensation grounding her in the moment. She felt a rush of anger flood her chest, hot and consuming. "I''m not afraid," she snapped, her voice colder than the night air. "I''m not afraid of you." Souta''s smirk stretched wider, more sinister, sharper. "Good," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "I was hoping you''d say that." The world around them seemed to slow, the air thick with unspoken tension. Her heart raced as the realization hit her¡ªthis wasn''t just another threat, another fight in a city where danger lurked at every corner. This boy, this¡­ Souta, was different. Something far darker than she had ever encountered. "What happens if I accept?" Reika asked, her voice steady despite the unease that twisted in her gut. Her eyes locked on his, demanding an answer, though every instinct inside her screamed for escape. Souta took a slow step forward, his presence growing larger, like the storm clouds gathering around them. The air between them thickened, the weight of it almost suffocating. "If you accept," he said, his voice low, almost a whisper. "You''ll learn what it means to survive in a place where only the strong remain." His head tilted slightly, his katana gleaming in the dim light. "If not¡­" He shrugged casually, the dismissal in his gesture sending a chill down her spine. "You die." Reika''s heart skipped a beat. His words were devoid of hesitation, of any semblance of jest. He wasn''t playing. This wasn''t some idle threat. This was real. Despite the fear clawing at her insides, she forced herself to stand taller, to face him. Her legs felt like they might buckle under the weight of his words, but she refused to show weakness. "Why would I join your ''Tenshiko Academy''?" Her voice was barely more than a whisper, but it cut through the tension like a blade. "I don''t care about saving anyone." Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. Souta''s gaze never wavered, never faltered. He wasn''t fazed by her words. "Then don''t." His voice was flat, dismissive, as if her refusal didn''t matter. But then his eyes darkened, his gaze turning colder. "But you will crave it." Reika''s chest tightened, her breath catching in her throat. The words¡ªtoo casual, too knowing¡ªsettled in her bones like a cold dread. "The blood," Souta continued, his voice almost hypnotic, "The kill. You''ll crave it, just like the rest of them." Her fingers trembled around the envelope, the rough edges digging into her skin, but she didn''t let go. There was something in his words that struck a deep chord within her, something she had buried deep within herself. The part of her that had always wanted more¡ªthe power, the control, the ability to take back what had been taken from her. "Where is this Academy?" The question slipped out before she could stop it, her curiosity and desperation overwhelming her. Souta''s lips curled into that same predatory grin, as if he had expected her to ask. "Hidden," he replied smoothly, stepping closer, his presence like a storm closing in. "A place separate from this world. Safe from the Shikiban." The mention of the Shikiban made Reika''s stomach churn. She had barely survived one of their attacks, and now here he was, offering her the chance to face them again¡ªbut this time, with power. Real power. Something that would allow her to stop running, to stop being a victim. She forced herself to stand tall, though her legs still wavered beneath her. The world had shifted. The ground felt unsteady, as though everything she knew, everything she thought she understood, had cracked open in front of her. Souta''s eyes never left hers, as cold and unwavering as the night itself. "But if you join¡­" His voice dropped to a whisper, colder than ice scraping against stone. "There''s a test." Reika''s throat was dry as she forced the words out. "A test?" Souta''s smile widened, cruel and full of something darker. "Pass, and you live," he said, the words slicing through the air like a blade. "Fail¡­" He didn''t need to finish. His shrug was enough. "You die." Reika''s fists clenched, the weight of his words pressing into her chest, each syllable sinking deeper into her soul like a dagger. This wasn''t a choice. This was survival. The price for failure was death, and there would be no second chances. "What kind of test?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, dread rising in her gut. Souta''s laughter was low, dark, and it made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. "You''ll find out soon enough." Reika''s heart pounded in her chest. This wasn''t just about strength. It wasn''t just about surviving the next battle. This was something far deeper, darker. And for the first time, Reika realized that survival came at a price¡ªa price she had to be willing to pay. Her fingers trembled around the envelope. The decision was hers. Walk away. Or take it. Step into the unknown, into a world where death and power intertwined. "When do I start?" Her voice was a whisper, swallowed by the weight of her own uncertainty, the finality of the decision hanging in the air. Souta''s grin spread wider, more dangerous now, like the promise of a predator closing in for the kill. "Now." And in that instant, the world seemed to shift. The streetlights flickered, then shattered, glass raining down in shards like the fragments of a broken reality. A force slammed into Reika''s chest, knocking the breath out of her, and she stumbled, her vision swimming, her heartbeat deafening in her ears. Then, the voice. "Survive this, Kagetsu Reika." And darkness swallowed her whole, her body going limp, as if the night itself had claimed CHAPTER-3 Reika''s eyes flutter open, but everything around her is a blur. Her head''s pounding like a goddamn drum, the air thick with the musty scent of old wood. Where the hell am I? She shifts her weight, realizing she''s not on the cold, hard ground anymore. Her body aches in places she didn''t even know could hurt. Her hands instinctively reach for her sides, but that''s when she notices it¡ªher clothes have been changed. She''s no longer wearing the bloodstained, torn-up shirt from earlier. Instead, she''s dressed in a black nightdress, soft to the touch but way too delicate for her taste. This isn''t even her style. "What the fuck...?" she mutters, her eyes narrowing as she tries to piece it all together. Her mind''s a mess¡ªjumbled memories of a fight, of Souta, of¡­ hell, it''s all like trying to catch smoke with her bare hands. She touches the fabric of the nightdress, a sinking feeling crawling up her spine. What the hell happened? With a grunt, she swings her legs over the side of the bed, her bare feet meeting the cold wood floor. The chill shoots up her legs like ice, but it doesn''t snap her out of her fog. She stands, unsteady, swaying a little as her mind races for something familiar, anything. But there''s nothing. The cabin is empty¡ªno sign of the chaos, the confrontation, or that damn bastard, Souta. It''s too quiet. Her stomach growls¡ªloud. The smell of food wafts toward her, reminding her how long it''s been since she last ate. She stares at the table. A steaming cup of rice, teriyaki chicken, a glass of water, and some weird-ass pristine apple juice. She''s starving, but that unsettling sense of confusion gnaws at her. What''s going on? Before she can move toward it, the voice hits her like a slap. "Eat this, Kagetsu-san." Reika''s spine stiffens. She feels the panic rise in her chest, like a balloon getting ready to burst. But she bites it back, swallowing the lump in her throat. She can''t afford to freak out. Not yet. "What the hell is happening?" she mutters to herself, her voice barely a whisper. But the mechanical voice doesn''t care. "Eat your morning meal, Kagetsu-san," it says, cold and lifeless, like it''s repeating a script it doesn''t give a shit about. Morning? Her heart skips a beat. Her mind races to connect the dots, but it''s like trying to run through mud. All she can remember is flashes¡ªSouta''s face, betrayal, pain. But the rest is lost, like trying to hold onto water in her hands. The voice cuts through the silence again. "Please eat." She hesitates. Fuck it. She sits down, grabs the chopsticks, her fingers stiff. She forces herself to pick up a grain of rice, shoving it in her mouth. It''s warm. Soft. Comforting. But it doesn''t make her feel any better. Her mind is still reeling. She''s still here. In this¡­ godforsaken place. The voice cuts in once more. "Kagetsu-san, there is a uniform beside the cabinet. Please take it and wear it." Uniform? She grits her teeth. This isn''t the first time her life''s been thrown upside down, but something about this place rubs her the wrong way. The voice, the food, the uniform¡ªit all feels like she''s being set up for something. Sighing, she stands up and walks over to the cabinet. A sharp, fresh scent of pressed fabric hits her as she opens the door. Inside, a black three-piece uniform. Clean, sharp. It gleams in the dim light like it''s too perfect for her to touch. A small badge gleams on the left side of the top. There''s also a pair of boots and a long white coat. "Nice uniform," she mutters, feeling a twist of unease in her gut. She pulls it on, the stiff fabric scratching against her skin, making her feel like a fucking puppet. But she puts it on anyway. It fits like it was made for her. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. The cold air bites at her as soon as she steps outside, and she pulls the sleeves of the coat tighter around her body. It doesn''t help. Nothing helps. The alley she walks down is dark and dim, flickering lanterns casting weird shadows against the stone walls. And then she sees them. The others. At least a hundred people, all in identical uniforms, their faces blank, their eyes flicking between her and the ground, but nothing more. No words, no comfort. Just silent, hollow stares. What the fuck is going on here? Before she can lose herself in her thoughts, the voice¡ªagain, that damn voice¡ªcuts through the air. "Follow the alley. You''ll find a large door. It will open for you." No explanation. No fucking explanation at all. Just another order. Her teeth grind together, but she does what she''s told. No use in fighting it¡ªat least not yet. She moves forward, careful not to make eye contact with anyone. The silence is suffocating, and the tension hangs in the air like a storm about to break. They reach a massive hall. The ceiling''s high enough that she can''t even see it, disappearing into the blackness above. The floor is smooth, but every step she takes echoes through the silence, making her skin crawl. The air''s colder here¡ªunnaturally so. The voice rings out again, sharp, cold. "All Kageshiki, please line up. No talking." Kageshiki? The word feels like a punch to the gut. She joins the others, stiff and nervous. She doesn''t belong here. She can feel it deep in her bones. The door creaks open, and a man steps into the room. Tall, sharp features, dressed in a white uniform that almost glows under the sterile light. He''s got a badge gleaming on his chest, authority in every step he takes. Behind him stand ten others¡ªfive to the left, five to the right, all wearing golden badges. Their eyes are cold, calculating. And then her heart drops. Fucking Souta. He''s standing in the front, smirking like he knows some sick joke that she''s too late to get. Her fists clench. Her breath hitches. Is he mocking her? Does he even know what the hell''s going on? The man steps forward. His voice is sharp, cutting through the room like a knife. "Welcome to the Tenshiko Academy. I am Shijume Kenjiku, the owner of this place." The words hang in the air, cold and heavy. Behind him, people whisper. Kenjiku silences them with a single glance. "This academy is part of an organization that remains unknown to the public," he says, his tone like ice. "When Shikiban attack, it is the hunters¡ªKageshiki¡ªwho protect humanity." Reika shudders at the word "Shikiban." Monsters, he calls them? What the hell is she getting herself into? "Shikiban are monsters," Kenjiku continues, his voice now an eerie chant. "They are beautiful, so captivating that people fall in love with their appearance. But once they realize the truth, it''s too late. They''re already dead." Reika''s heart pounds in her chest. The image of these monsters, hidden in plain sight, their beauty hiding the truth behind them. It makes her skin crawl. "The Kageshiki''s job is to destroy them," he continues. "To survive, you will sacrifice everything. Your life. Your morals. Your very soul." The room grows colder as his words sink in, each one a weight pressing down on her. "Training will be brutal. Hand-to-hand combat. Shikiban movements. Strategies. You will face tests that push you to your limits. There are five levels. In the first, you''ll face weak Shikiban." "If you have enough strength, you can kill them with your bare hands. But their bodies will vanish after you kill them. You must absorb their energy with a special knife we''ll give you." "This energy will make your knife stronger. The further you go, the more dangerous the Shikiban will become. If you survive all five levels, you''ll become a true Kageshiki." Reika''s pulse quickens. She''s processing the words, but it''s like they''re coming from somewhere far away. A voice breaks through the silence. "What happens if we fail?" Kenjiku''s gaze turns to the boy who asked the question. The smile that creeps across his face is devoid of warmth. "If you fail¡­ You will be known as a coward." The boy falls silent, and Reika can''t help but smirk. Coward? What the hell has she gotten herself into? Her gaze flickers back to Souta, his smirk unwavering, but his eyes are unreadable, like he knows something she doesn''t. The tension between them crackles. Reika can feel the weight of everything shifting. Kenjiku steps forward again. "The test begins tomorrow. Prepare yourselves." The crowd starts to disperse, but Reika doesn''t move. She can''t take her eyes off Souta. His gaze locks onto hers, and for a moment, it feels like he''s seeing right through her. Tomorrow. The test begins tomorrow. And everything she thought she knew is about to change. CHAPTER-4 The First Trial ¨C Endurance The instant the command rang out, the recruits surged forward. The cold morning air bit at their skin, but it was quickly drowned out by the thunder of feet against dirt, the rhythmic heaving of breath forming a desperate, unsteady melody. Reika gritted her teeth, forcing herself into a steady pace, despite the fire in her lungs and the aching of her legs. This wasn''t going to be easy. She could hear the strained gasps of those around her, the occasional grunt or stumble as the terrain grew more unforgiving. "Faster!" the trainers barked. Nobody dared to disobey. The ground shifted beneath their feet, dipping into uneven earth filled with hidden roots and loose stones. A sharp cry rang out as a boy beside her tripped, his body hitting the dirt with a sickening crunch. He groaned, struggling to rise, but the stampede of bodies kept moving, their focus locked ahead. Nobody slowed down. Reika clenched her jaw. She wanted to help, but stopping? Hell no. Stopping meant failure. And failure meant death. Move. Keep moving. Another sharp command. "No slowing down!" Her breath came out ragged as she wove through the pack, dodging flailing arms and reckless elbows. A sudden shove hit her ribs¡ªsomeone trying to knock her off balance. She staggered, pain flaring up along her side, but she caught herself just in time. She spun around, locking eyes with the asshole who''d shoved her, her glare as cold as ice. Then¡ªa steep incline loomed ahead. The trainers sprinted past them effortlessly, their black robes barely shifting as they reached the top. "Get moving!" Reika gritted her teeth. Her calves screamed in protest, but she pushed herself up the slope, each step feeling like a damn punishment. The weight of exhaustion bore down on her, whispering for her to stop, to rest. No. You stop, you fail. You fail, you die. Ahead, two recruits lost their footing. One tumbled backward, colliding into another, their cries lost in the stampede of feet that refused to stop. This wasn''t just about running. This was survival. Reika pushed harder. She would not be left behind. The Second Trial ¨C The Ascent The mountain loomed ahead, its jagged edges shrouded in mist. The stone staircase stretched endlessly toward the heavens, each step steep and uneven. "Climb!" If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Reika surged forward, slamming her foot onto the first step. Step. Step. Step. The higher she climbed, the heavier her body became. Sweat poured down Reika''s temples, stinging her eyes. Her breathing was uneven, her heart pounding so hard she swore it might break through her ribs. A scream sliced through the air. Reika didn''t turn, but she knew exactly what had happened. A girl had misstepped. The sickening sound of her body crashing against stone sent a chill down Reika''s spine. The trainers didn''t even flinch. Nobody did. Her hands clenched into fists as she forced herself forward. This is the reality. If you fall, you''re forgotten. Nobody''s gonna save you. The wind howled as they climbed higher, whipping through her damp hair. The steps grew slick, worn down by years of desperate feet. A boy near her slipped, barely catching himself, his knuckles scraping against the sharp stone. Blood smeared the steps. Reika''s legs felt like lead, each step more excruciating than the last. Higher. Faster. Don''t stop. Don''t fall. Don''t be weak. The summit was within reach. The morning sky had darkened into a cruel, merciless gray. With one final push, Reika reached the top. Her knees nearly buckled, her breath ragged as she fought to stay on her feet. But there was no time to rest. The Final Trial ¨C The Burden Run The sacks lay before them, heavy with an unforgiving weight. "Choose your burden," the trainer commanded. Some recruits hesitated, grabbing the smallest, the lightest. Reika didn''t hesitate. She reached for one of the heaviest, the rough fabric scraping against her fingers. Lifting it onto her shoulders, the weight slammed into her spine like a goddamn wrecking ball. Her knees almost buckled, but she steadied herself. A few recruits scoffed. One muttered under his breath, "She''s insane." She didn''t give a damn. "Run," the trainer barked. "And don''t stop until sunrise!" The recruits scattered, the weight of their burdens pulling them down, but they didn''t stop. The moment Reika moved, the weight pressed down like an iron cage, each step jarring her bones. The cold night air bit at her throat. The terrain was merciless¡ªuneven, shifting, designed to break them. Darkness swallowed the sky. The wind howled like a beast. A boy beside her collapsed, his burden pinning him to the ground. He gasped for air, his fingers clawing at the dirt, but no one stopped. A girl screamed in frustration, tossing her sack aside. But the trainers didn''t even blink. Reika''s thoughts flickered between exhaustion and a single, burning thought: You''re not just fighting your body. You''re fighting your mind. Pain coiled through her muscles, tightening its grip, urging her to fall. Her lungs burned with each gasping breath. Keep moving. If you stop, you''re nothing. And then¡ª A sudden movement. A figure lunged at her. Reika barely reacted in time, twisting as a hand grabbed for her burden. A recruit¡ªdesperate, his eyes wild¡ªtried to steal her sack, hoping to lighten his load. She didn''t hesitate. With a growl, she used the sack''s momentum, slamming it into his gut. He crumpled with a choked gasp, his fingers digging into the dirt. Reika stared down at him, her breath coming out in sharp, uneven bursts. "Survival''s not fair," she muttered, and then she ran. The Longest Night Her body screamed for rest. Her shoulders felt like they might just give out. Every single part of her burned with exhaustion. The darkness stretched on, the night feeling endless. She ran. One step. Another. Another. Her vision blurred. The weight crushed her bones. But she didn''t stop. And then¡ª A flicker of gold. The first rays of dawn touched the horizon. Reika staggered to a halt, her breath ragged, her legs barely holding her up. But she was still standing. She had survived. The First Step The lead trainer surveyed them. Less than half remained. "You''ve taken the first step," he declared. "But this is only the beginning." Reika barely heard him. Her body was broken. Her mind was on fire. But deep inside, buried beneath the pain, the exhaustion, the blood, and the sweat¡ª There was pride. She had endured. She had fought. And she would keep fighting. No matter what. CHAPTER-5 Day 5 ¨C Trial of the Abyss The Frozen Lake of Usurrei Keji A biting cold wind howled across the barren, snow-covered landscape, cutting through every crack in their clothing. The sky above was a dull, frozen gray, casting a sickly light over the Kageshiki trainees who stood in tense formation. The air was thick with the freezing chill of the lake before them, their breaths misting in the frigid air. The instructor''s voice rang out, sharp and cutting through the silence. "Yesterday, 18 trainees perished in the Shinjuku Forest. That leaves only 112 of you alive." A collective wave of gasps rippled through the line. Ishigo clenched his jaw, fingers stiff with cold. His eyes narrowed, but he said nothing. The number didn''t bother him¡ªit was just the nature of their world. "In every training session, at least five trainees die," Reika muttered under her breath, her voice barely audible, but her words struck like daggers. The icy wind swallowed them, leaving behind only the bite of her truth. "Pathetic," Daigo scoffed, his grin never wavering, despite the heaviness of the moment. His hands were buried deep in his pockets, but the gleam in his eyes spoke volumes. "I wonder when it''ll be my turn." Ishigo shivered¡ªnot from the cold¡ªbut from Daigo''s words. His voice was too casual. Too detached. Like he welcomed the pain. The instructor''s gaze swept over them, his voice dropping to a low, cold tone. "Today''s trial will take place in Usurrei Keji Lake. This lake is not ordinary. Beneath its surface lies a nest of Beshiki Bans¡ªhumanoid, fish-like monsters that hunt in packs. Your task: survive underwater for three hours. We will provide a breathing pill that lasts two." A murmur spread through the trainees, but the instructor''s eyes bore into them, unyielding. "What about the third hour?" someone called out from the crowd. The instructor smirked, a cruel edge to his lips. "That depends on you." The steel cover over the lake groaned as it was slowly pulled open. A vast, endless abyss of ice-cold water revealed itself, stretching far into the distance. Sunlight glinted off the dark, still surface, making it seem like a portal to another, more terrifying world. The water''s surface shimmered with an unnatural gleam, like something sinister lurked beneath. The trainees were handed a small, thin katana¡ªbarely fitting for the task ahead. "These creatures are weak," the instructor said, his eyes scanning over the crowd, his tone as dismissive as ever. "A thousand times weaker than an actual Shikiban. But don''t underestimate them. They kill in numbers." Reika, her gaze steady as a stone, grabbed the pill from the instructor''s hand. She placed it in her mouth without a second thought. The moment it dissolved, a strange, fishy aftertaste filled her mouth. She almost gagged. "Ugh, why does it taste like fish?!" Daigo grimaced, but the anger in his voice was more for show than anything else. "Oi, do you think we''re actual fish?!" The instructors ignored him. They always did. "Calm down, Daigo," Ishigo whispered, though his voice was edged with something colder¡ªsomething darker. He wasn''t sure if he was trying to calm Daigo or himself. "Tch, they''ll pay for this later," Daigo muttered, but his eyes glittered with excitement. He lived for the chaos, didn''t he? Without another word, Reika dashed forward, her katana gleaming in the harsh light, and leaped into the water without hesitation. The freezing cold hit her like a slap, shock waves of ice jarring through her body, but she didn''t flinch. The darkness swallowed her whole, leaving no trace of the surface world behind. Silence pressed in from every direction. The water felt like a tomb. "She''s insane," someone whispered, their voice trembling with fear. One by one, the other trainees followed, plunging into the depths of the abyss. Ishigo hesitated for only a moment, eyes scanning the vast expanse of water. Then Daigo grabbed him by the wrist, yanking him toward the edge. "Alright, bro. Time to jump," Daigo said with that trademark smirk on his lips, as if this was all just a game to him. "Wait¡ª" Ishigo barely had time to protest before Daigo dragged him into the icy water. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Beneath the Abyss The moment they were submerged, the water hit Ishigo like a hammer, its freezing tendrils crawling into his bones. His breath caught in his throat, but the pill worked. He could breathe, though every inhale sent a chill deeper into his lungs. Reika was already swimming ahead, cutting through the water with practiced ease. The abyss stretched out like a vast, endless void, its depths full of shadows that danced on the periphery of his vision. Then¡ªmovement. A shape darted ahead. One of the trainees, barely visible in the murk, swam forward with desperation written on his face. But before he could react, something from the deep exploded into view¡ªa grotesque creature with a body like a twisted fish, its face human-like, but with jagged, piranha-like teeth that snapped in the dark. The thing lunged, its teeth sinking into the trainee''s flesh in a single, brutal strike. Blood burst into the water in a spray of red. "No!" Reika gasped, but her eyes never left the monster. Its soulless eyes fixed on her, and in that moment, it smiled. A sickening, inhuman grin that sent a shiver down her spine. "Come at me," Reika whispered, her voice lost in the water''s depths, but her katana was steady in her hand. The Beshiki Ban charged, but Reika was faster. She darted to the side, slashing upward with her katana. The blade connected with its arm, severing it with a single stroke. Dark, murky blood swirled around her, turning the water into a nightmare. "Not today," she muttered under her breath, as more of the creatures emerged from the shadows, surrounding her. Their grins twisted in the dark. "Tch." Reika exhaled, her grip tightening on her katana. "Guess I''ll have to kill them all." Daigo''s Bloodbath Meanwhile, Daigo was having a laugh. A Beshiki Ban lunged at him, but with a sickening crunch, he slammed its skull into another monster. The force cracked both skulls in a violent, wet explosion. "These bastards are weak as hell!" Daigo roared, his wild grin a mask of joy. Another monster rushed him, but with a twist of his body, Daigo slashed clean through its throat, sending a spray of black blood into the water. "Where do you think you''re going?" Daigo shouted, his eyes gleaming with insanity. He grabbed another creature by its hair, yanking it back. SHINK The sound of the katana cutting through bone was chilling. The monster''s head rolled off its body, blood leaking from its severed neck. "Hah! This is fun!" Daigo''s laugh echoed through the water, taunting the creatures. But then¡ªsomething changed. A deep, monstrous growl shook the very foundation of the lake. The water trembled with the force of it. "What the hell?" Ishigo froze, his body tense as he looked around. Something was coming. The Final Trial Begins From the depths, a shadow stirred. It rose like a nightmare given form¡ªmassive, monstrous, and full of rage. Its glowing eyes locked onto them, and its gaping mouth filled with rows of razor-sharp teeth. It was like a nightmare come alive. The other Beshiki Bans fled in terror, but the creature was relentless. Daigo''s grin faltered. "Oh... this one''s different." Ishigo''s eyes widened in fear. "How the hell do we fight that?! The creature''s roar shook the water, and its tail lashed out, creating a shockwave that sent Ishigo and the others reeling. A trainee wasn''t so lucky¡ªhis body was torn apart in an instant, limbs shredded by the creature''s monstrous maw. "Damn it!" Daigo growled, his excitement shifting into a dangerous fervor. The beast lunged at him. He didn''t even flinch. Instead, he grinned, his grip tightening around his katana. "Come on, then." The creature swallowed him whole. Silence. Ishigo''s heart stopped. "Daigo!" But then¡ª BOOM The water exploded as the beast''s stomach erupted from the inside. A blood-drenched figure emerged from the chaos, drenched in crimson. It was Daigo, his face twisted in pure, unhinged joy. "Hah! Tastes like shit!" Daigo spat, still grinning like a madman. He gripped his katana tightly. The beast screamed, its roar reverberating through the water. Daigo charged. Reika, Ishigo, and the remaining trainees followed. The final trial had truly begun. CHAPTER-6 The air felt suffocating as the group stood before the towering iron gates, their weight pressing down on the trainees like an invisible hand. The gates, black as midnight, groaned under their own silence, intimidating in their sheer size and the promise of death beyond them. A low murmur rippled through the crowd, a hive of nervous energy buzzing, the tension almost unbearable. At the front, Reika stood like an immovable statue, eyes slicing through the crowd, searching for weakness. She was a predator in a world of prey. Beside her, Ishigo''s body trembled, his hands clenched at his sides, his breath shallow as if the very air was suffocating him. "I¡­ I can''t do this, Reika," Ishigo whispered, his voice breaking, eyes darting around, unwilling to meet anyone''s gaze. Reika''s gaze flicked to him for a brief moment¡ªcold, sharp, unforgiving. "Then leave," she said, her tone devoid of pity, sharp as the gates before them. "Fear has no place here. If you''re weak, you''re already dead." Ishigo flinched but didn''t look away, his voice barely audible, "I can''t go back. Not like this." Reika''s lips curled into a grim smile, a flicker of something¡ªdisdain, maybe¡ªbefore she turned her gaze back to the gates. She didn''t need pity. She needed survival. Without a word, a towering figure emerged from the shadows, his massive form blocking out the dying light. The trainer''s scowl was a weapon in itself. His voice, low and menacing, carried over the murmurs like a cutting blade. "Yesterday, fifteen were removed after the first round. Injuries. Weakness. You''ll be tested, and if you fail, you''ll be left behind." His eyes swept over the group like a hawk, scanning for weakness. "No exceptions." A hush fell over the group. The weight of his words hit like a fist to the gut. Reika''s pulse quickened, but her expression remained as cold as stone. There was no place for hesitation here. The trainer''s voice cut through the silence again, colder, more ominous. "Today''s test will be in the Kuroyami Forest. Prepare yourselves. And remember this¡ªif you get injured, you''re out. The forest doesn''t care." A collective gasp rose, but Reika''s eyes sharpened. The Kuroyami Forest. The place where even the strongest were devoured. It was not just an environment; it was a trial of death. The trainer didn''t stop. "The forest isn''t a playground. Wolves. Razor-sharp panthers. Venomous cobras. Crocodiles guarding the river. And Bubi traps¡ªstep into one, and you won''t leave." His eyes narrowed as he locked onto each trainee, one by one, his gaze penetrating, cold, and unyielding. "The goal is simple: survive." Reika''s breath steadied. Survival was all she knew. Survival was the only thing that mattered. "At night," the trainer continued, his voice growing colder still, "you will fight through the night. You will be armed with Nunchaku. Your only tools for survival. These weapons won''t guarantee your life. They''ll only give you a chance." This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. The murmur that followed was drowned out by the metallic sound of the gates opening, a deathly groan that signified the end of all safety. Beyond them, only darkness stretched. Reika''s hand slid to the Nunchaku at her side. It was familiar, but now it felt different¡ªlike the weapon would determine whether she lived or died. Ishigo''s trembling hand gripped her sleeve, his voice a desperate whisper, "Reika¡­ please¡­ don''t let them get me." Reika turned slowly, her face devoid of emotion. "Survival isn''t about saving anyone, Ishigo. It''s about saving yourself." The gates slammed shut behind them, the sound a finality that struck through the bones. The forest loomed ahead, a suffocating wall of darkness. Fog rolled in thick and unnatural, cloaking everything, swallowing the path in front of them. The trees twisted, gnarled, like skeletal hands reaching from the earth. The silence was overwhelming, broken only by the occasional creak of the branches. Reika''s senses heightened as her eyes scanned the darkness. Every rustle, every snap of a twig, could be a threat. "Do you see anything?" she whispered to Ishigo, her voice as sharp and controlled as steel. "Not much¡­" Ishigo muttered, his words shaky with fear. Reika froze. Her gaze snapped to something half-buried in the dirt¡ªa human skeleton. The remnants of someone who hadn''t made it. Her jaw tightened, but she said nothing. She would not be like them. "Those who failed," Ishigo whispered, his voice barely above a breath. "The forest takes them." Reika''s heart beat harder, but her face remained a mask. No distractions. Focus. "Stay alert," she said, her tone cold. The fog pressed in tighter, a suffocating presence. The trees seemed to grow taller, their branches looming like predators, blocking the meager light. The air grew heavy, each second stretching into eternity. Suddenly, a snap. A twig breaking, the sound loud in the oppressive silence. Reika''s heart skipped a beat. She pivoted, eyes darting through the dark, searching. There¡ªeyes. Glowing gold, piercing through the mist. A massive panther, its fur sleek and dark, its growl reverberating through the ground. The sound vibrated in Reika''s chest like an earthquake. Ishigo stumbled behind her, eyes wide with panic. His breath was shallow, frantic. A twig snapped under his foot, and the panther''s gaze snapped toward him, its eyes flashing with fury. Reika''s movements were a blur of precision. She was faster, smoother. With a flick of her wrist, the Nunchaku spun, the chains whipping through the air like a blur of deadly steel. She closed the distance between herself and the panther with the speed of a striking cobra, swinging her weapon with ruthless efficiency. The blow landed with a sickening crack against the panther''s side, sending the creature skidding back with a ferocious snarl. For a moment, the panther was stunned, but only for a moment. It roared in fury, swiping at the air, its claws raking through the ground with terrifying force. Reika stood her ground, eyes unwavering, calculating the next move. Ishigo''s voice broke through her focus, "I¡­ I''ll help!" He swung his Nunchaku in a wild arc, the weapon cracking against a nearby tree with a sharp snap, startling the panther and drawing its attention. The panther lunged at him with terrifying speed. Ishigo froze, panic flooding his veins. But Reika was already there. She moved like a shadow, faster than he could blink, her Nunchaku swinging with deadly precision. The weapon struck the panther''s throat with a vicious crack. The beast recoiled, snarling in pain, but it had lost its focus. Ishigo stood straighter now, his hands shaking, but no longer from fear. There was a glimmer of resolve in his eyes. The momentary weakness had been banished. He was adapting. "Good," Reika muttered under her breath, her voice low, almost imperceptible. "Focus." The panther backed into the shadows, its molten eyes still burning with fury. The battle was far from over, but for the first time, Ishigo had found something within himself. Reika turned to him, her grip on the Nunchaku steady, her mind already calculating the next move. This was just the beginning. The true test had yet to come.