The training hall couldn't take any more.
---
CRACK.
---
The floor beneath me split even further.
---
I let out a heavy sigh.
---
— That's the third one I've broken…
---
Kuroyami vibrated softly.
---
Not enough.
---
— Are you serious?
---
But I smiled.
---
— All right.
---
I stood in a fighting stance.
---
A deep breath.
---
The energy inside…
began to gather.
---
Lightning.
---
But now—
it wasn't just that.
---
I closed my eyes.
---
And for the first time…
I didn't try to control the power.
---
I listened.
---
To the silence.
---
And…
something else.
---
Something light.
Almost imperceptible.
---
Like a whisper.
---
— …who's there…?
---
A pause.
---
And suddenly—
---
a reply.
---
Faint.
But real.
---
— …can you… hear me…?
---
I opened my eyes wide.
---
— Who's there?!
---
Silence.
---
And then—
---
around me…
sparks appeared.
---
But not lightning.
---
Soft.
Floating.
---
Like spirits.
---
Kuroyama responded:
---
Spiritual entities detected.
---
I froze.
---
— Spirits…?
---
They were circling nearby.
---
Not aggressively.
---
With curiosity.
---
— You're different… — whispered one.
---
'Broken… but alive…' added another.
---
I slowly reached out my hand.
---
And one of them…
touched me.
---
At that very moment—
---
FLASH.
---
Warmth.
---
And…
information.
---
[NEW SKILL ACQUIRED]
---
I opened my eyes.
---
"Again?"
---
[SKILL: SENSE OF SPIRITS — ACTIVATED]
---
The world had changed.
---
Now I could see them.
---
Clearly.
---
Dozens.
---
No…
hundreds.
---
They were everywhere.
---
'So you've always been here…?'
---
— Yes… — they replied.
---
— But you couldn't hear us before…
---
I clenched my fist.
---
— And now?
---
— Now you're open.
---
Kuroyami added quietly:
---
Synchronisation is increasing.
---
I took a deep breath.
---
— All right.
---
I raised my katana.
---
— Then let's give it a go.
---
I concentrated.
---
Not on strength.
---
On connection.
---
— Can you help?
---
A pause.
---
And…
they drew closer.
---
One.
Then a second.
---
And suddenly—
---
they began to enter…
the blade.
---
The Kuroi trembled.
---
Alignment…
---
Lightning flashed.
---
But now—
it was different.
---
Alive.
---
I swung.
---
STRIKE!
---
A wave of energy surged forward.
---
But within it…
spirits moved.
---
Like guides.
---
CRACK!
---
The wall before me…
shattered.
---
I froze.
---
— This is…
---
Kuroyama replied:
---
A fusion of magic and spirits.
---
And at that moment—
---
another notification.
---
[NEW SKILL ACQUIRED]
---
I wasn't even surprised anymore.
---
[SKILL: SPIRITUAL SLASH — ACTIVATED]
---
"Sounds cool."
---
I smirked.
---
But suddenly—
---
something changed.
---
One of the spirits came closer than the others.
---
Stronger.
---
Brighter.
---
— You…
---
It stopped right in front of me.
---
— You can become… a vessel.
---
I frowned.
---
'A vessel?'
---
A pause.
---
'For the power.'
---
Silence.
---
The SCAR inside…
twitched.
---
'Don't listen to them,' he whispered.
---
I clenched my fist.
---
— I'll decide for myself.
---
The spirit did not back down.
---
— We are not enemies.
---
— We are the power.
---
Kuroyami remained silent.
But…
she watched.
---
Akaranu activated again.
---
[ANALYSIS: HIGH-RANK SPIRIT]
[COMPATIBILITY: HIGH]
---
My heart began to race.
---
— So…
---
I took a step forward.
---
— If I accept this…
---
Pause.
---
— Will I become stronger?
---
The spirit glowed softly.
---
— Much stronger.
---
Silence.
---
I closed my eyes.
---
A second.
---
Two.
---
…
---
And then—
---
— No.
---
The spirit froze.
---
— I won't be a vessel.
---
A pause.
---
— I will be the master.
---
A moment of silence.
---
And then—
---
the spirits…
began to laugh.
---
Lightly.
---
— Then…
---
They swirled around me.
---
— Show me.
---
I opened my eyes.
---
Lightning flashed.
---
The crows began to caw.
---
— With pleasure.
---
And the training…
moved to a new level.