"Bro, look! The gate's opening!" Daigo shouted, his voice electrified with raw excitement as the massive door groaned open before them. The heavy sound reverberated down the corridor, echoing off walls drenched in molten light.
Ishigo shot him a disapproving glance. "Why, huh? Why are you always so excited? You're going to get yourself killed out there," he replied, his tone cool and detached—a stark counterpoint to Daigo's fervor.
"Shut up, Ishigo!" Daigo snapped, arms crossing defiantly over his chest. "Just wait. This level's gonna be different."
Leaning against a frost-covered wall, Yeaga smirked, his eyes tracking the swirling vortex of light and shadow behind the gate. "Level 4… Maybe even more dangerous than Level 3. I'm itching to unlock my power here," he added, his voice a mix of challenge and anticipation.
"Me too,"Daigo laughed, a grin lighting up his face even as the tension thickened the air.
***
On the Other Side
Reika paused at the threshold, her senses assaulted by a sudden, intense warmth. The biting cold of Level 3 had vanished, replaced by a deep, primal heat that ignited every nerve.
She blinked, her eyes adjusting as she took in the new realm: towering volcanoes erupted in the distance, molten rivers snaked through jagged cliffs, and the very ground pulsed with a strange, vibrant energy.
"This is insane..."she murmured, her voice barely audible. Her hand tightened around the hilt of her katana as she surveyed her surroundings. Every flicker of light and shifting shadow warned of danger, and her instincts screamed for alertness.
Then, through the oppressive heat and shifting chaos, a mocking laugh cut through the tension. "Nice, a kageshiki," a voice echoed from the darkness, dripping with casual malice. "Another meal for us."
Reika's heart thundered. "Who's there?"she demanded, voice firm despite the dread curling in her gut. In the half-light, a group of Shikibans emerged—figures draped in long red robes, lounging on a scarlet stone platform. Their faces were unnervingly beautiful, almost divine, yet their smiles were laced with venom.
"Why are all Shikibans so pretty?" she muttered bitterly under her breath, her eyes narrowing in a mix of fascination and loathing.
One of the Shikibans, a striking figure with a predatory calm, stepped forward. Each deliberate step radiated menace. "You've stepped into the domain of the flame Shikibans," he said in a low, dangerous tone. "We'll kill you before you even reach our core."
Reika's grip on her katana stiffened. "Then I'll fight you," she declared, voice as sharp as her blade, though a tremor of fear betrayed her inner turmoil.
The Shikiban merely raised an eyebrow, his eyes glinting with detached amusement—until suddenly, a change rippled through the air. His gaze darkened as he sensed something new—a surge of energy that wasn't his own.
Reika didn't need to see it to know danger was coming. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end as she whispered, "Stay alert," drawing her katana in a steady, practiced motion. The blade's edge caught the dim light with deadly promise.
In an instant, a flash of movement erupted—a resounding CLANG! as two blades collided in midair. The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the volcanic landscape, and Reika was thrown back, struggling to regain her balance on the slick, heated ground.
Around her, even the Shikibans paused in disbelief. Then, as if materialized from the shadows themselves, a lone Kageshiki appeared—a determined figure whose katana blazed with an eerie black light. His movements were fluid and precise, as if he were an extension of the darkness.
"Why? Why are you attacking me?"Reika demanded, her voice steady despite her racing pulse. Her eyes locked on the mysterious warrior, searching for answers.
He smirked, his expression cold and darkly amused. "To upgrade my rank," he replied, voice dripping with disdain. "You're just a stepping stone, Reika. Nothing personal."
With a sudden burst of speed, the Kageshiki raised his blade and surged forward. His attack was a blur—a deadly dance of steel that Reika barely managed to parry. The clashing of their blades rang out like a battle hymn, sparks flying with each calculated strike.
Her arms burned with the force of every block, each impact a reminder of the high stakes. The Kageshiki's footwork was almost balletic—a vicious, elegant performance designed to exploit even the slightest weakness. Reika staggered under his relentless assault, her katana a desperate extension of her will.
"You're slow," he taunted, his voice laced with mocking derision as he feinted toward her chest.
Reika gritted her teeth, refusing to yield. She launched a counterattack, feinting to his right before twisting her body mid-swing to strike his left. In that split second, his eyes flickered—a moment of uncertainty that was all she needed. Her blade scraped across his arm, drawing a thin line of blood. He snarled, his expression hardening as raw power began to simmer beneath his calm façade.
"That's better,"he growled, his tone dangerous. "But not good enough."
Without warning, he unleashed another furious assault. His sword blurred into a streak of darkness as he advanced with renewed intensity. Reika's muscles screamed in protest as she parried and dodged, each move a desperate bid for survival. Every strike, every counter, was charged with the weight of their fates.
The battlefield itself seemed to hold its breath—the roar of the wind, the hiss of clashing steel, and the distant echo of volcanic rumblings merging into a chaotic symphony. Despite the pain searing through her limbs, Reika fought with a determination that shone brighter than the inferno that surrounded them.