The moon hung low in the sky over the desolate plains of Kōmyō Nation. The once-gleaming city of Goryoku had fallen silent, the usual hum of activity stilled by the shadow of impending destruction. A dark and oppressive energy weighed down on the streets, and those who had not already fled now stood in their homes, praying for salvation.
Shinkū, Mei, Gorou, and the rest of his disciples stood at the forefront of the battlefield. A massive Jūshin stood before them, towering at over thirty feet tall, its form a grotesque fusion of shadow and steel. It was not one of the strongest five Jūshin, but it was a Jūshin of Rank AAA, the pinnacle of the lesser giants. Even so, its power could level entire districts, and it was not to be taken lightly.
The Jūshin's eyes burned with malice, its shadowy tendrils slithering across the ground like dark serpents, distorting the very air around it. It was a creature of night and terror, able to manipulate shadows to form weapons or to strike from unseen angles.
Shinkū's eyes narrowed as he surveyed the creature. He knew its abilities well; its mastery of shadows was immense, but it lacked the sheer overwhelming power of the top-tier Jūshin. However, its unpredictability and immense destructive capacity made it a deadly foe.
"We must finish this swiftly," Shinkū said, his voice steady but firm. He turned to his disciples. "Keep your focus. Do not let its shadows blind you."
Mei, Gorou, and the others nodded in unison, preparing their weapons and techniques.
The Jūshin roared, the sound echoing like a clap of thunder, and with a burst of speed, it lunged toward them, its fists crashing down like giant boulders. The ground cracked beneath its feet as it attacked, its body a hulking mass of muscle and armor forged from a black, obsidian-like material.
Shinkū was the first to react. His body blurred as he dashed forward, the Abysswalker's power coursing through his veins. He moved like a phantom, evading the Jūshin's massive fists as they came down with crushing force. Each blow created shockwaves that sent debris flying, but Shinkū was faster. He was the perfect counter to the Jūshin's brute strength.
"Gorou, Mei, now!" Shinkū shouted.
Gorou charged with his massive sword raised high, slamming it into the Jūshin's midsection. The strike rang out like a bell, and while it left a deep dent in the creature's armor, it did not cause it to falter. Gorou gritted his teeth, using his Titan Strength to brace against the Jūshin's retaliatory swipe, but it was Mei who struck next.
Using her Mirage Step, Mei became a blur of motion, slipping behind the creature and slicing at its exposed side. Her blade cut through the dark shadow that enveloped the Jūshin, leaving behind a trail of glowing energy as it cut through the darkness.
The Jūshin howled in pain, the wound glowing with a fierce light. But the creature's shadows quickly began to heal, rapidly wrapping around the wound as though the darkness itself was alive, trying to mend the damage.
Shinkū narrowed his eyes. "We can't let it regenerate. Mei, Gorou, keep attacking its limbs."
The disciples followed their leader's command without hesitation. Mei circled around the Jūshin with incredible speed, using her Soundless Steps to stay undetected as she struck at its joints. Gorou, with his unyielding strength, continued to pound on the Jūshin's limbs, each blow shaking the very foundation of the city.
But it wasn't enough. The Jūshin's shadow abilities were too strong. Every time they made progress, the creature would retreat into the darkness, reforming and attacking with renewed fury.
Shinkū gritted his teeth, his eyes flashing with determination. It was clear that they had to change their strategy. The Jūshin was relentless, its ability to manipulate shadows giving it a near-unbeatable advantage.
"Everyone, retreat!" Shinkū ordered suddenly.
The disciples hesitated, confused, but quickly followed his command, pulling back into a defensive formation. The Jūshin, sensing their retreat, pursued them, slamming its fists into the ground in an attempt to crush them.
Shinkū's heart pounded in his chest. He needed to end this now, before the Jūshin's power grew too overwhelming. He reached deep within himself, drawing on the full extent of his power.
The shadows around them grew thick, as if the very air were pressing in. The Jūshin towered over them, its massive frame blocking out the sky. But Shinkū stood tall, his body radiating with an otherworldly energy.
"I am the Abyss," Shinkū muttered under his breath. "And you will know its emptiness."
With a single motion, he summoned the full force of the Abyssburst. His body became a vortex of pure, unbridled power. The shadows around them writhed as the energy gathered, swirling into a massive orb of nothingness. The Jūshin attempted to strike, but it was too late.
Shinkū unleashed the Abyssburst in an explosion of pure emptiness. The blast tore through the air, rending the fabric of reality itself. The Jūshin's form was consumed by the void, its shadows evaporating in an instant. Its massive body crumbled, the distortion in space collapsing as it was ripped apart by the forces of nothingness.
The battlefield fell silent.
Shinkū stood at the center, breathing heavily but unwavering. Mei, Gorou, and the others slowly approached, their expressions a mixture of awe and relief.
"We did it," Mei said quietly, her voice filled with disbelief. "We actually did it."
Shinkū nodded, his expression serious. "This was only one of the many Jūshin. Do not let your guard down. We have only begun to scratch the surface of what's to come."
As the shadow of the fallen Jūshin disappeared, the air around them grew still. It was a brief victory, but a victory nonetheless. The battle for Kōmyō Nation had just begun, and Shinkū and his disciples knew that they would face even greater challenges in the days ahead.