"Stop shouting. It's no use."
The girl grabbed Alfie's arm and pulled him closer.
"You're just going to attract more attention. If any Darkside Spirits hear you, we're done for."
She glanced nervously through the trees.
"Or maybe I should say I'm done for."
Alfie frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Darkside Spirits hunt humans who possess Renshi. If your mother doesn't have Renshi, there's a chance she's still safe. But if we don't get out of this forest soon…"
Her expression darkened.
"This whole thing is going to become a nightmare."
"Wait, they're after people with Renshi?"
The girl nodded.
"I didn't know that."
Alfie scratched his head.
"I don't even know anything about this Darkside or Shinra stuff. My father forbade me from joining the Shinra Academy. I guess it's because I don't have any Renshi."
They continued deeper into the forest, dead leaves crunching beneath their feet as thick branches blocked most of the sunlight.
"Shinra Academy, huh…"
The girl's expression soured.
"I hate that place. They trap you in ranks and rules, forcing you to remain in lower stages even when you're strong enough to surpass them."
She shook her head.
"I never wanted to go there. My big brother is a student, though. He tells us everything about the academy, so my little brother and I train with our father instead."
"That's actually pretty cool." Alfie glanced at her. "Do you mind showing me what Renshi looks like?"
The girl shot him an incredulous look.
"Are you serious? We're in the middle of a battlefield."
She lowered her voice.
"Stay alert. Don't let your curiosity get us killed."
"Right, sorry."
Suddenly, her eyes widened.
"Watch out."
She shoved Alfie aside.
BOOM.
A blast of black energy tore through the air and struck a tree behind them, blowing it apart.
Alfie's eyes widened.
"What was that?"
"A Darkside Spirit found us."
The girl grabbed his arm and dragged him toward a massive boulder.
"We need to hide. Now."
They crouched behind the rock.
"But what are we going to do?" Alfie whispered.
"Be quiet. If it finds us, we're dead."
The forest fell silent.
Then came the heavy footsteps.
THUD.
THUD.
THUD.
Both children held their breath.
The footsteps stopped.
"I can smell you…"
Alfie's eyes widened.
"Come out, and I'll make this less painful."
A massive shadow loomed over the boulder.
Then—
BOOM.
A hulking figure landed beside them.
The pressure from its presence was suffocating. This was no longer a Beta Darkside Spirit. It had evolved into a newly turned Alpha.
Alfie jumped out from behind the boulder.
"You want me, freak?"
He waved his arms as he ran away from the rock.
"Come get me."
"I'm not after you, boy."
The creature stared at him.
"You don't possess Renshi."
Its grin widened.
"You're just an empty vessel."
It swung its fist.
BOOM.
The boulder shattered, forcing the girl to dive away. She landed on one knee as the Alpha turned toward her.
"There you are. The little one with the Renshi."
The girl clenched her fists.
"I already devoured your father and your brother."
The creature licked its lips.
"Just stay quiet and let me devour you in peace. Help me level up."
"You monster."
Anger burned in the girl's eyes.
"You were only a Beta Darkside Spirit when we first encountered you. How many souls did you devour to break through to Alpha?"
"Hahaha."
The creature stretched its arms.
"Maybe a hundred. Or two."
It shrugged.
"I lost count."
The girl rose to her feet.
"Then, for their sake, I'll end you right here."
Renshi erupted around her body, gathering in her hand and forming a vivid purple whip of light.
Alfie's eyes sparkled.
"That's Renshi? That's amazing."
"Idiot, focus."
She tightened her grip on the whip.
"Draw your sword. We're fighting this thing together."
"Got it."
Alfie drew the sword he'd forged only days ago and stood beside her.
The Alpha suddenly vanished.
"Wha—"
BOOM.
The creature charged at them.
The girl swung her purple whip.
"Take this."
But the Alpha caught it.
"What?"
It wrapped the whip around its hand and pulled.
"AAAAAH."
The girl was ripped off her feet and flung into a tree.
BOOM.
"Are you okay?" Alfie rushed toward her.
"Don't worry about me. Just stay alive."
She forced herself up as the Alpha leaped toward Alfie.
"Whoa."
He barely dodged the first punch.
The second struck him directly in the face.
BAM.
"Gah."
Alfie went flying and crashed beside the girl.
Both children struggled back to their feet, bruised and breathing heavily.
"We need a plan," the girl said, wiping blood from her mouth. "Or we die here."
Alfie nodded.
"I'm listening."
"Distract him for twenty seconds."
He stared at her.
"Twenty?"
"I'll use a Renshi technique to blind him for five seconds. When that happens, strike his chest. Aim directly for the heart."
Alfie tightened his grip on his sword.
"Twenty seconds. I've got this."
He charged at the Alpha.
"Hey, ugly. Your fight's with me now."
Alfie swung his sword.
CLANG.
The blade struck the creature, but it barely reacted.
He swung again, then again, each strike failing to cause any real damage.
The Alpha looked down at him.
"You call these attacks? You're not even worth eating."
Alfie stumbled back and glanced at his sword.
"This blade is useless…"
He clenched his free hand.
"Then I'll use my fists."
He charged.
The Alpha casually swung its arm.
BAM.
Alfie hit the ground with a groan.
The creature stepped toward him and raised its leg.
Alfie's eyes widened as the massive foot came down toward his head.
"Not happening."
He rolled aside at the last second.
BOOM.
The foot smashed into the dirt.
Alfie scrambled away, his heart pounding.