Rin and Lilith stood in the ruins, the giant spider's broken form looming behind them. The air smelled of charred stone and damp earth, and the forest seemed to hold its breath. The ground beneath their feet shifted slightly, as though the world itself was preparing for what was coming.
And then the voice came.
From somewhere behind them, soft but commanding, it echoed over the ruins.
"Liz did say she would send that thing, but… why are there two?"
They jumped, weapons raised. Out of the shadows stepped a small boy. But he was no ordinary child. Compact, wiry, muscles tight and trained. Cat-like ears twitched atop his head, a long tail swished behind him, and his dark blue hair caught the dim light. His paws, tipped with claws, flexed as he stepped closer, and his eyes—black with a single unblinking red dot—studied them with unnerving precision.
"Wh… Who are you?" Lilith demanded, stepping protectively in front of Rin.
The boy tilted his head, inspecting Rin like one studies a rare artifact.
"You're most definitely him," he said slowly. "But… why take the body of a human, I wonder?"
"Huh?" Rin blinked.
Lilith's disbelief turned to exasperation. "Wait—are we really supposed to listen to a little boy?"
The boy straightened, gaze icy. "I'm far older than either of you. Don't waste my time."
"Older? Impossible. Your lifespan—" Lilith began.
"Not relevant," he interrupted. "You are not my concern. You exist only as part of the lesson."
Rin swallowed hard. Something about his tone made the hairs on his neck stand on end.
"So? Who are you?" Rin asked cautiously, shifting his stance.
"No need for idle chatter," the boy said, his tail curling like a whip. The ruins shifted subtly, stones sliding like alive.
"V," another voice called from within the ruins. An elf emerged, tall, androgynous, eyes hidden beneath shadows. His movements were fluid, deliberate.
"Yes?" V replied.
"Kill them," said the boy.
Rin's stomach twisted. "Kill me…?" The word sank into his chest like lead. Every instinct screamed that this was no training exercise.
The elf moved first. A sword whipped through the air toward Rin. He caught it, but the force drove the blade deep into his side. Pain exploded, black blood leaking from his left eye, blurring his vision.
Before he could react, V hurled a rock. It morphed midair into another sword, aimed for Rin's head. Reflex took over; Rin ducked, but it grazed his shoulder.
The boy moved with terrifying grace. In one motion, he had pinned Lilith against his chest, claws at her throat.
"Defeat him, or she dies," he whispered. Words casual, polite, yet deadly.
Rin's vision swam. The sword in his gut pulsed with agony; black blood ran from his eye, clouding his perception. Pain, fear, and instinct mingled in a strange way. Something in him flared—not consciously, but tangibly. The air around him throbbed, responding to his heartbeat.
With a guttural effort, Rin pulled the sword free, blood dribbling in rivulets. He fell to his knees, each breath ragged. The black ooze from his eye spread further. Then—a subtle flicker. The shadows seemed to twitch, pulsing as if they sensed his pain. A faint tremor ran through his arms, and for a brief moment, the sword vibrated in his hands, as if acknowledging some unspoken bond.
V approached, gripping Rin's palm, slamming his face against a knee. Crack. Teeth shattered, blood spattered. Foot pressed to Rin's head, forcing taste of dirt and iron.
"You have no purpose here," V said calmly. "Far too weak."
Rin stretched a trembling hand, grabbed one of his teeth, hurled it. It spun like a miniature arrow; V caught it with ease.
"So the monkey still has some life in him," V remarked. No change in expression.
Rin tried again—another tooth, another arrow-like flight. His Echo reacted subtly. A tiny pulse of energy radiated from his chest, making the projectile curve unexpectedly. V caught it anyway, but a flicker of surprise crossed his shadowed eyes.
Rin collapsed, gasping. Darkness and pain pressing down. But deep inside, a rhythm persisted—a faint hum, almost alive, like something waking after a long sleep.
The boy holding Lilith spoke softly. "The moment you awaken your power is the moment you survive… or die."
Rin's consciousness flickered. The black blood streamed from his eye, but in that blur, he felt the smallest pulse of raw energy—his heart syncing with it, instinct guiding him without explanation.
V crouched beside him. "You seem to have energy left. That means you're ready to start the task Liz gave you. Don't mistake it for mercy; this is learning."
Rin blinked through the haze. "I… I thought you were trying to kill us."
"I obey my master. And my master commands your survival—for now. Pick up the girl. Move. We are going straight to the location assigned."
Rin hesitated, weakness threatening to drag him down. But he saw the quiet mastery in V's stance—the calm, controlled, merciless assessment. He understood: survival meant obeying for now, no matter how much it burned inside.
Summoning all willpower, Rin lifted Lilith. Her breathing shallow, skin cold. Pain exploded with every movement, but he forced himself forward. His Echo stirred faintly, subtle tremors in his muscles, a heartbeat syncing with raw mana in the air. Not controlled, not named—just alive.
Hours passed. The forest seemed to pulse, mana thick and almost suffocating. Shadows bent, whispers of wind coiled around Rin's chest, pressing him to his limits.
Finally, they arrived at a secluded valley. V's voice cut through the silence. "Here. You will begin to awaken. The girl is safe for now, but every mistake could end everything."
Rin set Lilith down carefully, trembling. His wounds burned; black blood ran unchecked, but beneath the fear and agony, the Echo stirred—reacting to life, pain, and survival instinct. The valley seemed to lean closer, waiting.
V was unreadable, assessed him like a sculptor examining marble. "Rise. Show me your power—or die trying."
The air thickened. Shadows danced at the corners of Rin's vision. He felt it again—a faint, unformed pull of power in his chest. Not fully controlled, not yet named. Just… awakening.
And in that crucible of pain, near-death, and relentless pressure, Rin's trial began—not just to survive, but to rise.