Chapter 8:THE DARKNESS
The sky was dark, filled with heavy clouds, and the sound of rain echoed across the city. Goro and Ryusei walked together toward school, their minds still fixated on the strange black figure they had seen on the news.
"Hmm… so what do you think about that thing?" Goro asked, hands tucked into his pockets.
Ryusei shrugged. "Maybe it's a ghost? Or a fallen angel? Who knows, man," he said, his usual goofy attitude showing. "I bet it's some kind of dark celestial. Would be cool to fight one, though."
Goro smirked. "You always want to fight something."
The two arrived at school and took their seats. Class went on as usual, but the eerie atmosphere made it clear that everyone was still on edge. The news had shaken the students. A terrifying black figure had been spotted in different locations, leaving destruction wherever it went. Some believed it was a monster, others a demon.
As the teacher spoke, thunder rumbled outside. Suddenly, the lights in the classroom flickered. The windows rattled as if something was knocking on them. The entire class went silent.
Then— CRASH!
The window shattered into countless shards, and a horrifying shadowy figure whooshed into the room at inhuman speed. The air turned cold as an overwhelming sense of dread filled the classroom.
Before anyone could react, the black figure darted toward a student and slashed through him in an instant. Blood splattered across the floor. The boy collapsed, lifeless. Screams erupted.
The teacher's face twisted in horror, but before she could do anything, the figure lunged at her and pierced her chest with its shadowy claws. She gasped, eyes wide in shock. "R-Run… children…!" she choked out before collapsing.
Panic spread like wildfire. The students, screaming and crying, scrambled toward the windows, jumping out in a desperate attempt to escape. Within seconds, the classroom was empty—except for Goro and Ryusei.
They stood still, unfazed.
Ryusei cracked his knuckles. "Oh, hell no. This thing just made a big mistake."
Goro smirked. "Yeah. Time to beat the shit out of this thing."
Both of them charged forward, fists glowing with power. Goro's lunar energy flared, while Ryusei summoned his asteroid force, ready to strike. They both threw their strongest punches—
But the dark spirit dodged effortlessly, moving like a shadow.
"What the—?" Goro barely had time to react before the black figure vanished and split into multiple copies of itself.
Illusions.
Ryusei narrowed his eyes. "What the hell?! Illusions aren't part of the celestial ranks."
The figure laughed, its voice echoing unnaturally. "Oh, you two don't know, do you?"
Goro clenched his fists. "Know what?"
"There is another ranking system beyond Celestial power," the figure said, its glowing eyes piercing through the darkness. "A realm far beyond what you fools understand—Cosmic Energy Ranks."
Goro and Ryusei froze.
"The celestial ranks are nothing compared to the cosmic hierarchy," the figure continued. "Right now, you two are nothing but C-rank celestial warriors. If we compare that to the cosmic scale, you'd barely reach an E or D rank. Ha! Weaklings."
Goro felt his muscles tense. "Tch… just more rankings, huh? Doesn't matter. I'll still beat your ass."
"Oh?" The dark spirit smirked. "Then try."
Before they could react, the figure blurred out of existence.
Then— SHING!
A sharp, shadowy blade stabbed into Ryusei's stomach.
His eyes widened. His mouth opened, but no words came out. Blood spilled from the wound, soaking his uniform. The shadow figure grinned, twisting the blade deeper.
"RYUSEI!" Goro screamed.
"Heh… You fell for it," the shadow figure sneered. "That wasn't me before—that was an illusion. I tricked you, and now your friend will die."
Goro's mind went blank. His heart pounded as Ryusei staggered back, coughing up blood.
The figure grinned wickedly, then turned its gaze toward Goro. "And now, it's your turn."
Outside, the rain poured harder.