Chapter 3 – The Price of Awakening
Silver light rose from Riku's hands, shattering the classroom windows.
Flies scattered and hit the walls.
Riku was breathless, but the wolf's howl echoed within his heart.
Riku: "This power... this isn't me...!"
Kabuto: "It's too late! Your soul has awakened, child, there's no turning back!"
Kabuto raised his hand, and a black tornado of thousands of flies swirled around him.
His eyes glowed with a green light.
Kabuto: "My technique: 'Hae no Jigoku!' (Fly Inferno)"
The flies merged into a massive winged creature.
The darkness that enveloped the corridor made breathing impossible.
Ren sank to the ground in fear.
Ren: "Riku! Let's run—!"
Riku: "No. I won't run this time."
Riku's eyes turned icy blue.
The wolf spirit appeared behind him—a misty, translucent form.
Riku: "My technique... Ōkami no Koe! (Wolf's Voice!)"
The wolf's howl echoed, scattering the airwaves and scattering the army of flies.
But Kabuto countered immediately, slicing his claws of flies into Riku's chest.
Riku fell to the ground, blood filling his mouth.
Kabuto: "Those like you... must die as soon as they are born."
Riku: "It's not... finished yet!"
Riku rose to his feet, silver energy claws appearing in his hands.
The ground cracked as he stepped onto the ground.
In an instant, he lunged forward, striking Kabuto in the face.
Glass shattered, walls cracked.
The two forces collided—the wolf's howl and the fly's buzzing split the sky.
Riku's energy surged like surging waves, sending Kabuto flying backward.
Just as Kabuto was about to deliver the final blow…
✨ A burst of flames filled the classroom.
All the flies burned away.
When Riku opened his eyes, a man with long red hair stood before him.
He wore a cape of enormous red feathers.
His eyes glowed golden.
???: "Enough, Kabuto."
Kabuto (backing away): "You…! Phoenix of Fire! Someone from the Kōrō-sha class!"
???: "Yes. I am Tensei Arata—bearer of the Phoenix Spirit."
A red-flaming bird emerged from Tensei's hand, colliding directly with Kabuto's army of flies.
Kabuto cried out in pain, retreated, and jumped to the window.
Kabuto: "One day… that child will be mine!"
And he vanished into the darkness.
🔥 Afterward
Riku and Ren collapsed, unconscious on the ground.
Tensei approached them, muttering quietly:
Tensei: "This child… carries the Spirit of Fenrir. No one has been able to awaken this power for years."
In the morning, Riku opened his eyes to a white room.
Surrounded by symbols, martial symbols, and on the wall was a sign:
🏫 "Shinju Academy – Home of the Shinjusha"
Next to him sat Ren, his wounds healed.
The door opened, and Tensei entered.
Tensei: "Welcome, children. You are no longer ordinary people.
Here, in the world of those of us who live with divine spirits, you will learn to survive."
Riku: "So I am… a Shinjusha?"
Tensei: "Yes. And if fate allows… one day, you will become the True Heir of Fenrir."
Tensei turned and looked out the window.
A phoenix flew into the sky and disappeared.
Riku clenched his fists.
Riku (inner voice): "Wolf spirit... so this is my path."