The forest around them had gone silent. Even the wind seemed afraid to move.
Akira's hands still flickered with faint black sparks. She flexed her fingers, feeling the raw, unstable energy curling beneath her skin. Each pulse of it made her chest tighten—powerful, yes—but dangerous. She knew the cost. Every second she held it risked burning herself out.
Tamaki watched from a step behind, arms crossed. "You're playing with fire you can't control."
"I know," she said, voice low, almost a hiss. Her eyes glowed crimson in the dark. "And it feels good."
The crew, a few steps back, exchanged nervous glances. Some of them whispered; some stayed silent, fear frozen in their expressions. They remembered Juro barely surviving the Soul Feeder—and now Akira's flames burned darker than ever.
Kairos stepped forward, jaw tight. "Akira… if this keeps going, you're going to hurt yourself. Or worse—us."
Akira's head snapped toward him. "Worried about them or yourself?" Her grin was sharp, like a blade catching fire.
Before he could answer, the shadows around them moved. Something unseen shifted in the treeline, heavy and deliberate. The air chilled.
"Not the Soul Feeder," Tamaki muttered.
The figure emerged slowly from the darkness—a tall, armored being, eyes like molten gold, and a grin stretching far too wide. Its presence pressed against them like an invisible weight.
"I've been watching," it said, voice deep and echoing, "and I see the flame within you… Akira. But can it survive the storm?"
The crew froze. Even Kairos, usually the bravest, took an instinctive step back.
Akira's black flames flared to life, crackling along her arms. "I'll survive anything you throw at me," she said.
The figure laughed—low, bone-deep. Then it vanished, only to appear directly above them. The ground shook as it landed, creating cracks that split the earth beneath their feet.
Akira's vision sharpened. This wasn't just a fight. It was a hunt.
Without warning, the figure struck. Akira moved fast, faster than she had before, her black flames streaking across the clearing. The collision sent sparks and shadows scattering like wildfire.
Her crew ducked and scrambled, some throwing attacks, others shielding themselves. Tamaki moved alongside her, anticipating each strike, but even he had to admit—it was different this time. The enemy didn't just attack the body; it attacked the core, the energy within.
Akira gritted her teeth. She felt the familiar pull, the temptation to push her black flames further. But she hesitated—she remembered Juro, and the last time she let herself fully consume the Predator's energy.
Her hesitation was enough.
The figure landed a blow that knocked her to her knees. Pain shot through her chest, but the flames responded—shifting, blacker, hungrier.
"Enough!" she roared. The sound ripped through the forest like thunder. Her black flames erupted fully, surrounding her in a storm of shadow and heat.
The figure recoiled, its molten eyes widening. For the first time, Akira saw hesitation.
She surged forward, faster than thought, fists flaring with black lightning. Every strike landed with a shockwave of raw power, forcing the enemy back step by step.
Her crew watched in awe and terror. Kairos whispered under his breath, "She's… unstoppable."
But as the figure stumbled, Akira felt it—the cost. Her heart pounded, burning from the energy coursing through her. The black flames weren't just attacking the enemy; they were feeding on her body, her very essence.
Tamaki's hand grabbed her shoulder. "Akira, slow down! You're burning yourself out!"
She shook him off, eyes blazing. "I can't! Not yet!"
With one final surge, she sent the figure flying into the treeline, creating a crater where it landed. Silence fell.
For a moment, victory. But then… movement in the shadows. Another set of golden eyes glowed, higher and farther away than before. Something even bigger, even hungrier, was watching.
Akira's breath came heavy, black flames flickering around her still. She looked at her crew—scared, awed, uncertain.
"I hope you're ready," she said, voice low and dangerous. "Because the storm's just beginning."
Cliffhanger: The larger, unseen predator is preparing to strike. Akira's black flames are powerful but draining her—can she survive the next encounter?