The forest was a blur of motion and color as Batā thundered through it, his massive paws tearing up the earth with every bound. Abakato clung to the giant wolf-dog's back, his bloodied arm wrapped tightly against his chest.
He could still hear Hotori's mocking laugh echoing behind them.
"Run, little worms. Run as far as you can. My hounds will find you."
Abakato gritted his teeth. I swear… next time I'll cut that bastard's smirk clean off his face.
"You're slipping, kid."
Abakato blinked and realized Rakkasei's armored hand was gripping his shoulder tightly.
"Keep your balance. One bad jolt and you're wolf chow."
"Yeah, yeah," Abakato muttered, his voice hoarse.
"Don't talk back," Rakkasei said with a faint smirk. "You're lucky we got there in time. That arm of yours is hanging by a thread."
Zeri's soft voice floated over the sound of wind. "You should be resting, not plotting revenge." Her enchanted lute glimmered faintly, the notes of a healing melody swirling around Abakato. He could feel warmth knitting his shredded muscles back together, though the pain still made him wince.
"Rest later," Abakato grunted. "That horned freak sent those flying nightmares after us, didn't he?"
As if on cue, a shrill screech split the sky.
"Speak of the devils," Rakkasei said grimly.
Above them, the two winged imps appeared, leathery wings beating furiously. Each one had a single glowing eye in the center of its face, its jaws lined with jagged teeth.
"Rakkasei…" Zeri's voice trembled slightly.
"I see them," Rakkasei said calmly. "Batā, change to wind form!"
The wolf-dog's fur shimmered and turned silvery-blue. His body grew sleeker, his massive paws sprouting faint feathers. In an instant, Batā launched into the air, his giant frame surprisingly agile as he soared above the treetops.
"Hang on tight!"
The imps dove like falcons, their claws gleaming.
"Zeri, cover us!" Rakkasei barked.
Zeri's fingers danced across the lute strings. A bright shield of sound rippled over them, deflecting the first claw swipe from the nearest imp.
Abakato's eyes widened. "She can do that?!"
"Focus, kid!" Rakkasei snapped, raising his shield. The peanut emblem on it glowed faintly as he hurled it like a boomerang.
Whoosh!
The shield spun in the air, slicing through one imp's wing.
The creature shrieked and spiraled downward, crashing into the trees below.
"One down!" Rakkasei shouted.
The second imp swooped low, jaws open wide.
"Not today!" Abakato roared. With his good arm, he grabbed a loose rope from Batā's saddle and swung himself up just as the imp lunged. At the last second, he kicked off the saddle and slashed upward with his sword.
SLASH!
The blade connected, and the imp howled in pain, ichor spraying across Abakato's face.
"Two down," he said with a grin as he landed back on Batā's back.
"You're insane," Rakkasei muttered, half-impressed.
"Thanks for noticing."
⸻
Enter the Ogres
The victory was short-lived. A heavy thud shook the air below them.
"What now…?" Abakato muttered.
Two massive shapes stomped into the clearing. Hulking ogres, their bodies covered in thick gray skin and spiked shoulder pads. They carried tree trunks like clubs, metal underwear gleaming in the moonlight.
"Of course they have armor there," Abakato muttered. "Figures."
"They're blocking our escape," Zeri said worriedly.
Rakkasei narrowed his eyes. "Batā, land. We'll handle this."
The wolf-dog growled in protest but obeyed, landing with a soft thud.
Rakkasei turned to Abakato. "You're in no shape to fight. Stay behind me."
"Like hell I will—"
"Don't be stupid," Rakkasei snapped. "You almost died five minutes ago. Let me tank this."
Zeri strummed a quick tune on her lute, boosting Rakkasei's defense. "Be careful."
"Always."
One of the ogres roared and charged.
BOOM!
Rakkasei slammed his shield into the ground. A shockwave of force rippled outward, stopping the ogre in its tracks.
"Abakato!" Rakkasei barked. "If you want to help, use that brain of yours! Find their weak spots!"
Abakato squinted at the ogres. Their skin looked thick, but their joints…
"Behind the knees!" he yelled.
Rakkasei nodded. "Zeri!"
"I'm on it!"
Zeri's fingers danced on the lute strings, sending a wave of sound that disoriented the ogres. They stumbled, covering their ears.
Rakkasei dashed forward, slamming his shield into the back of the first ogre's knee. The creature toppled with a deafening crash.
"Now, Abakato!"
"On it!"
Abakato gritted his teeth and leapt forward, driving his sword deep into the fallen ogre's eye.
The beast shrieked and fell still.
"One down," Rakkasei panted.
The second ogre roared and swung its tree-trunk club.
"Batā, NOW!"
The wolf-dog darted in, clamping his jaws around the club and yanking it out of the ogre's hands.
Rakkasei hurled his shield, slicing the ogre's Achilles tendon. The creature bellowed in pain and fell to its knees.
"Finish it, kid!"
Abakato dashed forward, his blade glowing faintly with Zeri's magic. With a final yell, he drove it into the ogre's chest.
The creature let out a gurgling roar before collapsing.
⸻
The Calm Before the Storm
The forest fell silent except for their heavy breathing.
Rakkasei retrieved his shield. "You're reckless, but you've got guts, kid."
Abakato smirked weakly. "I'll take that as a compliment."
Zeri wiped her brow, her lute still faintly glowing. "We need to move. Hotori won't be far behind."
As if on cue, a low voice echoed from the treetops.
"Impressive… for worms."
Hotori's golden eyes gleamed in the darkness above them.
"You've bought yourselves a few more minutes of life. Treasure them."
A pulse of energy radiated from his horn, and the forest seemed to shudder.
"Let's get out of here," Rakkasei said firmly. "Batā, wind form. Full speed."
The wolf-dog howled and took to the air again, leaving the battlefield behind.
⸻
-– The Shaman's Trial
The air felt thicker the moment Batā's paws touched down. Abakato stumbled off the massive wolf-dog's back, clutching his mending arm. The forest around them was eerily silent, broken only by the occasional crack of a branch in the distance.
"Alright," Abakato wheezed, trying to catch his breath. "Now can someone tell me why every single demon in this realm wants to use my skull as a cereal bowl?"
Rōjin appeared from behind a gnarled tree, his wrinkled face twisted in a frown. "Because you're loud, reckless, and smell like desperation."
"Geez, thanks for the pep talk, old man." Abakato rolled his eyes, though his legs nearly gave out beneath him.
Zeri knelt beside him, resting a gentle hand on his shoulder. "You need rest."
"Rest is for corpses," Rōjin cut in sharply. "And if you keep this up, you'll end up as one. You've faced two Champions of Sin and survived, boy. But if you want even the faintest chance at defeating Orenjia… we start now."
Abakato blinked. "Now? As in, now now?"
"Yes. Now now."
"But I'm like… 80% dead!"
"You're 100% pathetic." Rōjin slammed his staff into the ground, and a surge of energy rippled outward. The forest seemed to dissolve around them, replaced by a strange, glowing arena. Giant stone statues of faceless warriors lined the edges, their blank eyes glowing faintly.
"What the—" Abakato stumbled back. "Where the hell are we?"
"The Shaman's Sanctum," Rōjin said grimly. "A training ground for warriors seeking to unlock their prime."
⸻
The Trial Begins
Abakato watched in horror as ghostly figures began materializing in the arena. Swords, claws, and spears gleamed in their translucent hands.
"Wait, wait, wait—are those—"
"Spirit warriors," Rōjin said. "They won't kill you, but they'll hurt like hell. Pass this trial, and you'll take your first step toward surviving the Seven Sins. Fail…"
Abakato gulped. "Fail and what? Do I get sent home?"
"Fail, and I'll bury your remains myself."
"Awesome. Love the encouragement."
Rōjin gave him a crooked grin. "I'm here to make you strong, not cozy."
Before Abakato could protest, the first spirit lunged at him.
CLANG!
Abakato barely raised his sword in time to deflect the blow, his arms trembling from the impact.
"You're too slow!" Rōjin barked. "Channel your intent into every movement!"
Abakato gritted his teeth. Focus… focus…
Another spirit swung at his head. Abakato ducked, rolled, and came up swinging. His blade sliced through the specter's midsection, dissipating it into mist.
"Not bad," Rōjin muttered. "Now do it again. A thousand more times."
⸻
Wrath Awakens
As Abakato fought, the ground trembled faintly. Rakkasei's head snapped up, his shield at the ready.
"Something's coming…"
Far across the forest, a deep, guttural roar shook the earth. Birds scattered into the sky.
Zeri clutched her lute. "What is that?"
Rōjin's face darkened.
"Ikari," he said quietly. "The Champion of Wrath."
Abakato froze mid-swing. "Wait—Wrath? Isn't he like, number one on the 'bad guys I don't wanna meet' list?!"
As if answering, a massive humanoid shape appeared on the horizon. Ikari stood nearly twelve feet tall, his crimson skin cracked like molten rock. Two blazing horns jutted from his forehead, and his clawed hands flexed with raw power.
"Ikari has sensed your presence," Rōjin said grimly. "He's coming."
"Coming here?!" Abakato's voice cracked.
"Not yet," Rōjin replied. "But he will. Unless you can master your prime before he arrives, you won't stand a chance."
⸻
The Breaking Point
Hours passed in the sanctum. Abakato's shirt clung to his body, soaked in sweat. His sword arm screamed in pain, but he refused to stop.
I can't give up… not now…
"Good," Rōjin said quietly. "You're starting to understand. Strength alone won't save you here. You must fight with mind and spirit."
Abakato growled, swinging his sword with renewed fury.
SLASH!
Three spirits vanished at once.
Rōjin nodded approvingly. "Not bad for a rotten avocado."
"Stop calling me that," Abakato muttered.
"Make me."
Before Abakato could snap back, a deep voice echoed across the sanctum.
"Little human…"
The air grew thick, and even the spirits froze.
"Do you think you can stand against me?"
Abakato spun around, his heart hammering.
A massive silhouette loomed at the edge of the arena—Ikari's burning eyes locked on him like twin suns.
"This is just the beginning," the Champion of Wrath growled. "When we meet, I will crush you like an insect."
Then he vanished, leaving only the smell of brimstone behind.
⸻
The Calm After the Storm
Abakato collapsed to his knees, gasping for air.
Rōjin approached, resting a hand on his shoulder. "Good work, boy. You've taken your first step."
"Ikari…" Abakato muttered. "He's on a whole different level."
"Yes," Rōjin said. "But so are you—if you survive my training."
Rakkasei crossed his arms. "You'd better hurry. Pride barely lost you, but Wrath won't be so forgiving."
Zeri nodded. "We need to move soon."
Abakato stared at his sword, determination burning in his eyes.
"Fine. If I'm gonna survive this place… it's time I unlock my prime."
⸻