Level 1: Training Grounds
The air was thick with tension.
A massive hall, cold and unwelcoming, stretched out before them. The stone walls, cracked with age, stood silent witnesses to the countless battles fought within. The scent of sweat, metal, and something more primal—something darker—hung in the air. The ground beneath their feet was worn smooth, carved by the footsteps of warriors long before them.
And now, it was their turn.
Daigo, ever the wildcard, strutted in like he owned the place, his usual shit-eating grin plastered across his face. "Yo, bro! What's up?" he called out, voice ringing loud in the vast space.
Ishigo barely spared him a glance. "What the hell do you want this time?"
Daigo threw an arm over Ishigo's shoulders, grinning wider. "Disturbing you is my duty, man. Keeps things exciting."
"Tch. You're annoying."Ishigo pushed him off with a scowl.
Yeaga, standing off to the side, smirked. "You two are like an old married couple. Anyway, what about you, Icy Queen?" He turned to Reika, amusement dancing in his sharp eyes.
Reika barely acknowledged him, her voice as sharp as ice. "Don't call me that. It's Reika."
"Nah, 'Icy Queen' suits you better." Yeaga chuckled, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Has a nice ring to it."
Before Reika could respond, the hall trembled. The heavy iron gate at the far end groaned as it began to rise, revealing a darkness beyond that seemed to swallow the light.
The instructor's voice cut through the air, sharp and cold. "Welcome to Level 1."
A moment of silence.
Then something moved in the shadows.
A low, guttural growl echoed through the hall, rattling their bones. And then it emerged.
The creature slithered forward, its skin a sickly, diseased green, covered in pulsating lumps that oozed a blackened liquid. Its red, glowing eyes locked onto them, its jagged, uneven teeth bared in something resembling a grin. The scent of rot and decay slammed into them like a physical force, making their stomachs churn.
Daigo blinked. "Uh… what the fuck is that?"
Reika's heart pounded in her chest. This isn't training. This is real.
The instructor remained unfazed. "This is your trial. Survive, and you will unlock your true power."
The gate slammed shut behind them.
No escape.
A beat of silence.
"Is that—?" Ishigo began, eyes wide with disbelief.
Yeaga's lips curled into a wicked grin. "Your future wife, probably."
Ishigo shot him a glare. "Shut the hell up."
Then the creature moved.
It was fast.
Faster than anything that size had the right to be.
"Step back! That thing's disgusting!" Reika snapped, instincts kicking in.
The Shikiban lunged, its grotesque form twisting mid-air, claws slashing down toward her. Reika barely managed to dodge, her body twisting just in time. The ground cracked where she had stood a second ago, dust and debris flying into the air.
Her pulse hammered against her skull. If that had hit me…
She turned—only to realize something terrifying.
Daigo. Ishigo. Yeaga.
Gone.
Her stomach twisted. Those bastards left me?!
A deep, rattling snarl pulled her attention back. The Shikiban was already recovering, its grotesque body convulsing, its wounds knitting together with a sickening squelch. Then, faster than before, it lunged again.
Reika barely had time to react, throwing herself backward. The monster's claws missed by inches, carving deep into the stone ground. She landed hard, skidding against the rough terrain.
She gritted her teeth. No more running.
Her muscles coiled, ready to counter.
The real battle had begun.
Meanwhile…
Daigo sprinted forward, breath ragged, Ishigo right beside him.
"You ugly bitch, get off me!" Daigo screamed behind them, thrashing as a Shikiban latched onto his back, its slimy limbs wrapping around his torso.
Ishigo glanced at Daigo. "We left Reika back there. You sure that's fine?"
Daigo wiped sweat from his forehead. "She wasn't following, so she's probably fine… I think."
Before he could finish, something heavy slammed into him from above.
A Shikiban.
It tackled him to the ground, its claws digging into his arms, breath hot and rancid against his face.
"Get off me, you shit-faced freak!" Daigo roared, struggling to break free.
Ishigo skidded to a halt, assessing the situation. Damn it. What do I do?
His eyes locked onto the creature's exposed ribs. Without thinking, he kicked it—hard.
CRACK.
The Shikiban went flying, blackened liquid spraying from its ruptured skin.
Ishigo grimaced. "Damn. Now you're covered in its disgusting juices. You need a shower, man."
Daigo groaned as he pushed himself up. "Yeah, thanks for the help, asshole—"
Then he froze.
The Shikiban was already moving again.
Its grotesque body twitched, the gaping wound sealing itself in seconds. Then, with a bloodcurdling screech, it lunged.
"Oh, come on!"Daigo shouted, raising his fists.
They had no choice but to fight.
Elsewhere…
Three lifeless Shikiban corpses lay at Yeaga's feet.
Blood pooled beneath them, their limbs still twitching in post-mortem spasms.
Yeaga exhaled, rolling his shoulders. "Shikibans used to be pretty, huh? But you lot... are just ugly bastards."
He flicked blackened blood off his blade, surveying the battlefield.
Reika was nowhere to be seen.
He raised an eyebrow. "Huh? Where'd she go?"
Then, a smirk crept onto his face. "Heh. Guess I don't need to worry. She can handle herself."
The moment he finished speaking—
A deafening roar shook the battlefield.
Yeaga's smirk widened. "Or maybe… she just found something interesting."