Chapter 8 – "The Curse of Form"
The academy was completely destroyed after Raiga and Kabuto's attack.
Tensei hovered around the injured students, while Ryūjin stood, still panting and bleeding.
Ryūjin: "That speed… that power… we won't be able to stop next time."
Tensei: "So we will train. But right now—"
At that moment, Raiga returned from the ruins of the wall.
Kabuto was behind him, silent.
Raiga's eyes were shining—the energy of the stave spirit seemed to be overflowing from him.
Raiga: "It's not over yet… I will show you the true face of the Shinju."
⚡ Ryūjin's Form
Ryūjin stepped forward, his fists clenched.
Ryūjin: "Then I will lift my limits."
Tensei opened his eyes.
Tensei: "Ryūjin, don't—!"
But it was too late.
Ryūjin's body was enveloped in a golden light.
His muscles tensed, his nails lengthened, his pupils dilated.
His roar shattered the hall.
Ryūjin: "Shishi no Shinka! (Lion's Evolution!)"
The floor cracked. Ryūjin was now in his half-human, half-lion form.
His fur glowed, and energy vapors poured from his mouth.
Raiga was momentarily taken aback, then laughed savagely.
Raiga: "Great! Now we can really have fun!"
⚡ Raiga Transforms Too
Raiga spread his arms, his eyes burning with a yellow glow.
His muscles expanded, his legs rapidly transformed—
his body was enveloped in an aura resembling the lines of a slat.
Raiga: "Chīta no Shinka! (Cheetah's Evolution!)"
But something went wrong.
Raiga's consciousness was gone; his pupils vanished, leaving only his savage instinct.
Tensei retreated in surprise.
Tensei: "He lost consciousness… This power is uncontrollable!"
⚔️ Ryūjin vs. Raiga – Clash of Beasts
The two warriors in beast form charged at each other.
The ground exploded, waves spread.
Ryūjin threw Raiga against the wall with his claw.
Raiga rose to his feet, vanished in an instant—he quickly followed.
A punch, then a kick!
Blood spurted from Ryūjin's mouth, but he didn't retreat.
Ryūjin (roaring): "Shishi no Kiba! (Lion's Fang!)"
He struck Raiga in the chest with his energy claw.
Raiga staggered but didn't fall.
The two clashed again—each blow shattering the walls, shattering the floor,
flames dancing in the background.
In a final clash, the two energy waves combined, the explosion destroying half the hall.
When the smoke cleared, Raiga was on the ground.
Ryūjin remained standing, but his breathing was heavy, his eyes vacant.
Tensei (shouting): "Ryūjin! Remain conscious!"
But it was too late.
His lion form had completely taken control.
🩸 Ryūjin Loses Consciousness
Ryūjin's eyes turned red, and his mouth let out not a howl, but a shout.
He turned in Tensei's direction.
Ren: "No… Ryūjin-sensei!"
Tensei: "Get back!"
Ryūjin instantly leaped at Tensei.
Tensei spread his wings, transforming into Phoenix Form.
Tensei: "Hi no Seishin! (Spirit of Fire!)"
His armor of flames blazed, his wings illuminating the hall.
Riku, Ren, Taro, and Haru stared in awe—
but it wasn't awe, but fear of facing death.
⚔️ Tensei and the Four Students vs. the Unconscious Ryūjin
Tensei charged, grabbing Ryūjin's claw,
and pushing him back with a flaming wing, but Ryūjin didn't stop.
Tensei: "Come on, guys! We have to stop him!"
Riku: "But this is Ryūjin-sensei!"
Tensei: "He's not himself anymore! Now!"
Riku charged forward, howling with the power of Fenrir.
Ren summoned his bear spirit, Taro defended, and Haru quickly surrounded him.
Ryūjin knocked out four students with a single blow,
but Riku got back to his feet.
Riku (inner voice): "I don't want to hurt Sensei… but I have no other choice!"
Fenrir (in his mind): "Then wake him up!"
Riku quickly approached, jumped, and struck Ryūjin hard on the head.
Riku: "Wake up, sensei!"
A moment of silence…
Ryūjin's eyes darkened, the flaming feathers slowly fading.
He knelt on the ground.
Ryūjin (gasping): "What… have I done…"
Tensei returned to his human form, his wings extinguished.
Tensei: "Uncontrolled form… we could have lost you."
🌑 Raiga and Kabuto's Escape
Raiga and Kabuto retreated through the smoke.
Kabuto lifted Raiga's unconscious body onto his shoulder.
Kabuto: "Mission accomplished. That's enough."
Raiga (fainting, muttering): "The Shinju… will fall…"
And the two disappeared into the darkness.
🩹 After the Battle
Riku and Ren were wounded, Haru and Taro couldn't even breathe.
Tensei looked around.
Tensei: "Today you saw the curse of form. Merging with your soul requires responsibility, not power."
Riku clenched his fists.
Riku: "I won't lose anyone again… With Fenrir's power, I will be in control."
Tensei nodded.
Tensei: "Then… prepare for special training. From now on, everything will change."
As the camera pans outside the academy, a symbol called the "Bestia Order" is seen etched on the walls…
The origin of the darkness is now slowly emerging.