Kaito stood frozen, his body paralyzed as the glowing-eyed creatures stormed through the market, spreading chaos and fear. Luna gripped his wrist tightly, her eyes piercing through him with confidence.
"Don't run. They will keep coming until you face them!" she whispered, her voice carrying an unexpected firmness.
Kaito, who had always relied on his instinct to escape trouble, felt a shiver run through his body. How could he fight these monsters? He had no weapon, no combat experience. All he had was a talisman he barely understood.
But there was no time for hesitation.
One of the creatures lunged at him, its fangs bared. His instincts kicked in, and he ducked just in time to avoid the attack. He felt the rush of air past his cheek before stumbling backward, trying to catch his breath.
"Hold the talisman!" Luna shouted.
Before he realized it, the talisman was already clutched in his fingers. The moment he tightened his grip, a strange warmth spread through his body, as if his blood had ignited for a moment. Within seconds, strands of blue energy coiled around his hand.
Luna stared at him in disbelief. "It responded to you this fast... That's impossible!"
There was no time for Kaito to process her words as another creature attacked. But this time, his body moved on its own, as if some unseen force was guiding him. He raised his glowing hand and struck the creature straight in the chest. The moment he touched it, the talisman released a pulse of light that reduced the monster to drifting ash.
The other creatures froze, their red eyes fixed on him, as if they had suddenly realized he was no longer just easy prey.
Kaito gasped for air, while Luna's eyes gleamed with admiration. "You're different from the others before you... Maybe you have a chance to break the loop."
Before he could respond, the ground trembled violently, and a deep, guttural roar echoed through the air. From within the swirling shadows of the trees, a massive figure emerged—something far greater and far more dangerous than the previous creatures.
The new beast was a demonic entity, its body covered in black, steel-like plating, and its enormous horns glowing with an eerie blue light. Its red eyes burned like twin portals to another world.
"This... is not like the others!" Kaito said, swallowing hard.
Luna's expression turned serious. "It's the Guardian... If you can defeat it, you may uncover the secret behind the time loop!"
There was no time to think. The beast let out a deafening roar, its voice alone enough to shake Kaito's resolve. But the talisman in his hand glowed even brighter, as if preparing for what was to come. He felt an unfamiliar energy coursing through his veins, like flames igniting deep within his soul.
The beast charged, raising its massive claw for a devastating strike. In an instant, Kaito leaped backward, narrowly dodging the blow that shattered the ground where he once stood. Debris and dust flew through the air, but this time, Kaito refused to let fear control him.
Strangely, everything around him seemed to slow down, as if time itself had bent to his will. He seized the opportunity and dashed toward the beast, channeling the energy from the talisman into his hand. The moment his palm connected with the creature's armor, a blue lightning bolt surged through its body, making it roar in fury.
But that wasn't enough to bring it down.
With terrifying speed, the beast spun and struck Kaito with its claws, sending him tumbling across the ground. Pain spread through his body, but he wasn't ready to give up.
"Kaito!" Luna yelled, tossing a short dagger engraved with strange markings toward him. "Use this with the talisman!"
He grabbed the dagger midair and instantly felt a surge of power from the talisman flowing into the blade. The weapon's edge gleamed with blue energy, as if it had fused with the talisman's strength.
The beast charged again, but this time, Kaito was ready.
With all his strength, he leaped toward the beast's head, driving the dagger deep into its right eye. A massive wave of energy erupted from the strike, sending shockwaves through his body. The beast let out an ear-piercing scream, its entire form cracking apart before exploding in a brilliant burst of light, leaving only dust in its wake.
Kaito collapsed onto the ground, panting heavily.
Luna approached, her eyes filled with admiration and relief. "You did it... But this is just the beginning of your journey, Kaito. There are still many secrets left to uncover."
Kaito looked down at the talisman, still glowing in his hand, and realized he was no longer the same person who had woken up that morning. He knew that nothing would ever be the same again.