Darkness pressed in. The shadows swirled like smoke, suffocating, endless. Mizu fought to breathe, his flames sparking weakly against the weight crushing him. He heard Rika's voice—hers and not hers—whispering through the black.
"You can't save me… don't try…"
"No," he growled, his fist shaking, his chest burning. "I'm not letting you go."
Suddenly, a spark tore through the dark. Honkai's lightning. He ripped the shadows open, dragging Mizu back into the cavern. Sayos was already there, coughing, battered, but alive. Lucy stood at the front, her fur glowing faint blue, snarling at the silhouette that loomed above them.
The figure hadn't moved. Its burning eyes still fixed on Mizu.
**"You want her back?"** it asked, calm, cruel. **"Swear it. Swear everything you are. Bleed for her. Or she burns with me."**
Mizu's heart pounded. He knew a trap when he heard one. But Rika's body jerked, her own voice breaking through for just a second:
"Mizu… please…"
Sayos cursed. "Don't you dare, idiot. You don't make deals with creepy shadow monsters!"
But Mizu stepped forward anyway. His flame flared brighter, trembling, unstable. "If it costs me everything… then take it. Just give her back."
The shadow's eyes narrowed. The runes on the graves lit up like fire.
**"Then bleed for her. Let your flame break."**
---
The shadows lunged. Dozens of tendrils pierced Mizu's body—not physical, but inside, digging into his soul, tearing pieces away. He screamed, his body convulsing. His blue fire roared, flickering violently between life and death.
"Mizu!" Rika's real voice cut through, loud, desperate. She reached for him—but the crimson chains held her down.
Honkai slammed his fists against the ground. "He won't survive this!"
Sayos gritted his teeth, his hands trembling. "Then we make sure he doesn't bleed alone." He pressed his green crystal against his palm, cutting into his own skin. Blood dripped. His wind flared wildly. "If he's swearing… then I am too!"
Lucy growled, her crystal flashing, her howl echoing through the cavern as she joined. Honkai followed, lightning sparking around his bleeding hands.
The shadow paused. Its eyes flickered. For the first time, it tilted its head.
**"Interesting."**
The runes on the graves pulsed brighter, feeding on their blood, their vows. The cavern shook, the mist swirling faster, voices screaming all around.
And then—everything went black.