"I think I should go find Mama and my brothers."
Alfie turned away from the cliff and started down the rocky path.
"I can't just abandon them. Or... maybe they left because of how I acted earlier."
He quickened his pace, remembering their faces.
"I need to find them and apologize."
His grip tightened around his sword.
"This power inside me... I'll use it to protect them. I won't let that Mr. Shinra take my family away from me. Never."
Alfie broke into a sprint, racing toward town down the cliff road.
But after a short distance, he suddenly stopped.
A strange sound filled the air.
At first, it resembled static from a broken radio. Gradually, it grew louder, vibrating through his skull until he could no longer ignore it.
"What is that sound?"
He looked around, searching for its source.
"Where is it coming from?"
Nothing seemed unusual. His surroundings remained quiet, yet the noise continued.
Alfie pressed a hand against his head.
"Wait... I can actually hear this?"
His eyes widened as a possibility crossed his mind.
Is this some kind of new ability?
Then another realization struck him.
If he returned to his family now, he might lead more Darkside Spirits straight to them. His recent Renshi outburst had already attracted enemies, and he had no idea how many more were lurking nearby.
"If I go back to Mama and the others now, I'll only put them in danger."
His grip on the sword loosened.
"I can't..."
He dropped to his knees.
"I won't risk their lives."
Alfie slowly raised his head toward the sky, helplessness filling his expression.
"Papa... what should I do?"
BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.
Without warning, Renshi attacks rained down from above.
Every strike was aimed directly at him.
Alfie's eyes widened.
"What?"
He scrambled to his feet and threw himself sideways as a blast struck the ground where he had been kneeling. Dirt and fragments of rock exploded into the air.
Another attack descended.
Alfie raised his sword and deflected it, but the impact nearly tore the weapon from his hands. Before he could recover, another blast struck nearby, forcing him to dive out of its path.
He rolled across the ground and scrambled back to his feet.
A final attack grazed his side.
Pain shot through his body as the Renshi burned against his skin.
"Argh..."
Alfie staggered backward, clutching his injured side.
"What was that? More Renshi attacks?"
He looked toward the sky, struggling to catch his breath.
"Don't tell me more Darkside Spirits are already here..."
A chilling voice answered from somewhere.
"Over here, human."
Alfie stiffened.
Before he could react, the ground beneath him trembled.
BOOM.
Three figures burst from beneath the earth and landed a short distance away, sending dust rolling across the rocky terrain.
Alfie stared at them.
His blood ran cold.
Three Alpha Darkside Spirits.
But these weren't like the Alpha he and Rebekah had barely escaped from before.
Their presence was different.
These were advance Alpha Darkside Spirits.
Alfie couldn't move.
Three...
His mind struggled to process what he was seeing.
I couldn't even handle one last time. And now there are three of them that can talk?
His hands trembled around the sword's handle.
This is bad...
One of the Alpha Darkside Spirits stepped forward, studying him with an amused expression.
"Don't be afraid, boy. We're only here for your Renshi."
It tilted its head.
"Let us drain it, and we'll let you go."
"Never."
Alfie tightened his grip on the sword and forced himself to stand firm.
"Your kind already took my father. If you take my Renshi, I'll die too, and I won't let that happen."
He shifted his stance, holding the sword with both hands.
The second Alpha let out a mocking laugh.
"You think you can fight us?"
The third folded its arms.
"You got lucky against the last one. But this time, your luck has run out."
"I don't care how strong you are."
Alfie's voice trembled.
"I have people waiting for me. I can't die here."
The first Alpha smiled.
"Then let's make this fun."
It stepped forward and motioned for the others to stay back.
Alfie glanced at the two remaining Spirits.
Why aren't the other two helping it?
The second Alpha noticed his gaze and sneered.
"He's more than enough to handle you. Now shut up and die."
Alfie swallowed hard.
I can do this.
He adjusted his grip, trying to steady his trembling hands.
I have to.
With a sudden burst of speed, he charged toward the leading Alpha, raising his sword above his shoulder.
He swung with all his strength.
CLANG.
The Alpha stopped the blade between two fingers.
Alfie's eyes widened.
He tried to force the sword forward, but it wouldn't budge.
The creature regarded him with amusement.
"You'll never land a hit with that strength."
Before Alfie could react, the Alpha released the blade and drove a kick into his stomach.
BAM.
Alfie flew backward.
He struck the ground hard and rolled several times before coming to a stop. The impact knocked the air from his lungs, leaving him coughing as he struggled to breathe.
His sword lay a short distance away.
Grimacing, Alfie crawled toward it and used the weapon to pull himself back to his feet.
Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
"Don't be so sure, you idiot..."
He forced a crooked smile.
"Check your hand."
The Alpha paused.
Slowly, it raised the hand it had used to catch the sword.
A clean gash ran across its fingers.
It stared at the wound before letting out a low hiss.
"This?"
The cut began to close almost immediately.
The Alpha sneered.
"It'll heal in seconds."
It took another step toward Alfie.
He tightened his grip on his sword, but his arms were already trembling with exhaustion.
The Alpha raised one hand toward the sky.
The clouds began to churn.
Darkness spread overhead, swallowing the remaining light as an immense amount of Renshi gathered above them.
Alfie looked up, his eyes widening in disbelief.
"That attack..."
The Alpha grinned.
"Say your farewell, kid. This is the end."
Alfie's heart pounded.
It's the same attack from earlier...
His eyes narrowed as the realization settled in.
So this bastard was behind it.
The dark clouds continued to gather, and the Renshi above them grew increasingly unstable.
Alfie tightened both hands around his sword.
I can't block that without Renshi.
His breathing grew uneven.
But what if I combine this new ability with my Renshi?
"I..."
His voice shook.
"I can't die."
Black veins began spreading across his hands.
"I can't die..."
Dark Renshi pulsed beneath his skin.
"I CAN'T DIE."
BOOOOOOM.
An overwhelming surge of energy erupted from Alfie's body.
Black Renshi spread through his veins like spilled ink, marking his skin with patterns resembling cursed tattoos. His aura exploded outward, and the ground beneath his feet began to tremble.
The air grew heavy.
His sword shook in his hands as the darkness within him surged beyond his control.
Alfie's eyes flared crimson.
Once again, the hatred and fear buried deep within his heart threatened to consume him.
But before the corruption could completely overwhelm him, a figure emerged from the shadows.
Marco.
He moved in a flash, appearing beside Alfie before the boy could react.
THUD.
A swift strike landed against the side of Alfie's neck.
His eyes rolled back.
The dark Renshi surrounding his body flickered violently before beginning to fade.
Alfie's sword slipped from his fingers as he collapsed.
Marco caught him before he hit the ground, then carefully lowered the unconscious boy onto the rocky surface.
"You were about to lose yourself again," he muttered, looking down at him.
His expression hardened.
"But not on my watch."
The three Alpha Darkside Spirits turned their attention toward the newcomer.
For a moment, nobody moved.
Marco slowly straightened and rolled his shoulders.
Then he faced the three creatures standing before him.
"So..."
He cracked his neck.
"You came earlier than I expected."
A dangerous smile spread across his face.
He stepped forward, placing himself between the Alpha Darkside Spirits and the unconscious boy.
"You really should've waited a little longer."
His expression darkened.
"Now I'm in a terrible mood."