The darkside spirits launched their attack without warning.
The Shinras countered, blades drawn, and the battle for survival began in full. Yet even as the chaos unfolded, more darkside spirits surged forward—among them, the unknown entity, cloaked in dread afar.
Falco fought to survive. He wasn't a soldier, not truly. But in this moment, that didn't matter.
He ducked, weaved, swung his blade—fighting with instinct, not training. As he grappled with one darkside spirit, another approached silently from behind.
Falco's heartbeat spiked and hears the heartbeat of the darkside spirit coming from behind—and that was all he needed.
He dropped low to the ground, supporting himself with one hand, and dodged just in time. With a grunt with his shield still in his other hand, he twisted, touched the earth with his fingertips, and launched himself upward with same hand—aiming for the creature's throat. His blade struck—
—but didn't cut.
Instead, it cracked. One of his swords shattered.
On the other side, the second darkside spirit unleashed a Renshi technique. Its blade turned pitch black and radiated heat beyond fire. It slashed toward Falco's neck.
Falco threw himself to the ground again, narrowly dodging, then countered by sweeping both monsters' legs. They hit the earth hard.
The instant their bodies struck the ground, Falco jumped up, listening carefully. He focused on the rhythm of their hearts—tuned in through the silence of the chaos.
He heard it.
Just as one of them tried to stand, he struck, aiming for its chest—but the darkside spirit blocked. With a vicious kick from its horse-like leg, it sent Falco flying. Pain exploded in his ribs. A bone cracked.
"Ugh... that hurts," he groaned through clenched teeth, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. "So this is what they're made of... there's no way I'm letting my son join the Shinra Academy."
Struggling to his feet, he clutched his side. "Broken rib for sure," he muttered.
"Behind you, Smith!" a voice roared—the Shinra with the second dark cape.
Falco barely managed to turn. A third darkside spirit was rushing toward him, joining the other two. All three now advanced.
He raised his blade.
The trio slashed with dark Renshi—cutting the very air. Falco dodged the first, then the second—but the third landed, slamming him hard to the ground.
All three pounced to finish him.
But then—whoosh.
Their heads hit the ground.
Rolling... all the way to Falco's feet.
"You should watch your back next time, Smith," the Shinra with the second dark cape said, striding toward him. "Told you not to get yourself killed."
Falco blinked in disbelief. "How the hell did you do that?"
"Don't ask questions," the Shinra snapped. "There's more coming. They're not trying to kill us—they're trying to wear us out. Something's wrong. I can feel it."
He held out a hand and pulled Falco up.
"Thanks," Falco said. "I feel it too. This is why I never made it into the Academy. I don't have any Renshi in me. Couldn't be a mage. So I Dropped out."
"We'll talk about your failures later," the Shinra muttered. "For now, we fight your way. No Renshi. Aim for the back of the head or center of the chest. Those are the soft spots."
"Got it, buddy."
"Don't call me that, you scum," he growled. "I just don't want a lowly blacksmith dying under my watch."
Falco grinned. "Whatever. Let's kick these darkside spirits freaks and go home."
"Stop smiling—we might not make it out alive," the Shinra said coldly. "Just fight. Until our last breath."
The next wave hit.
Seventeen darkside spirits surrounded them, attacking from every direction.
"Here they come!" they shouted together.
The dark-caped Shinra charged in first, Falco on his heels. But the enemies from other angles caught up fast—they were surrounded in an instant.
The attack was relentless. Dodging was impossible.
Falco raised his shield, bracing himself.
The other Shinra became a blur, slicing through the swarm to defend them both.
"Don't just stand there, idiot!" he yelled. "You'll die with your shield up! Fight—better to die swinging than die frozen!"
Falco growled and drew his sword. The dark-caped Shinra had already taken down nine of the seventeen. The remaining eight pressed the attack.
Three darkside spirits dived from above. Two more struck from the left. Three lunged from the right.
It was chaos. It was war.
And it had only just begun.