Death's hollow voice echoed.
"I'll take you there."
Ryuta gave a small nod. "Okay."
Death raised his hand and began a dark ritual. The air trembled, and soon a portal opened, swirling into a void of endless black.
Ryuta stepped forward, but as soon as he turned back to look, the portal was gone. He was trapped in the darkness.
The black background around him shifted. The emptiness slowly twisted and formed into a forest, its shadowy trees stretching into the distance.
---
Meanwhile, in another forest, Ryuta's companions were under attack.
Cain (Strength) swung his massive sword, cutting down Wraiths with brute force.
Skyler (The Fool) fought recklessly, darting into danger with wild energy.
Alexia (The Empress) shielded her allies with grace, her presence commanding even in chaos.
Jay (The Emperor) struck with precision, every movement sharp and unyielding.
Eliana (The Priestess) whispered prayers as sacred light burned away the shadows.
Chun & Zhang (The Lovers) fought in perfect unison, their blades moving as if guided by one heart.
Parker (The Sun) radiated light, each strike shining with brilliance.
Zhen (Temperance) spoke in calm, measured tones, his poetic words carrying balance even as he fought.
The forest shook with battle cries and the shrieks of countless Wraiths.
---
But Ryuta faced something greater.
A horde of ten thousand Wraiths swarmed toward him, their hollow eyes fixed solely on his glowing form.
Ryuta's hair turned pure white, his clothes glowing in the same divine light. His entire body radiated power as he planted his sword firmly at the center of his body.
Calmly, he whispered:
"Switch."
The blade transformed, becoming a glowing white samurai katana.
Ryuta slowly unsheathed it. The blade wasn't even fully drawn, yet its light spilled across the battlefield.
"Shattered Prominence."
A thin, blinding slash tore across the air.
In an instant, all ten thousand Wraiths froze, then collapsed, cut down by a single strike. Their forms dissolved into nothingness, leaving silence in their place.
Ryuta slid the katana back into its sheath.
A portal opened before him. Without hesitation, he stepped forward.
When he looked back, the forest had already turned black again.