The forest was silent for a heartbeat, then the whispers returned—soft, deliberate, like a predator circling its prey. Akira's black flames flickered, smaller now, exhausted from the last fight but still alive, still dangerous.
"Something's coming," Tamaki said, eyes scanning the treeline. His voice was steady, but even he felt the weight of the unknown pressing in.
Akira didn't respond. Her gaze was fixed on a movement above the treetops. A figure descended, light bending unnaturally around it, landing with a quiet thud that somehow echoed through the clearing.
Her crew stepped back instinctively. Fear had them frozen, but Akira's stance didn't waver.
The Stranger Emerges
The figure finally came fully into view. Tall. Lean. Dark armor reflecting faint golden light. Its face was hidden beneath a hood, but two golden eyes burned through the shadows, piercing straight into Akira's soul.
"You've grown strong," the voice said, calm and mocking. "But do you truly understand the flames you wield?"
Akira's flames flared instinctively, black and crimson, wrapping around her arms like living shadows. "I don't need lessons from anyone," she said, voice low and dangerous. "And I don't fear you."
The stranger tilted its head, a faint grin curving beneath the hood. "Fear isn't the problem. Complacency is. And I sense… division in your ranks."
Her crew shifted nervously. Kairos swallowed hard. Kale's absence was still heavy in the air, and the wounds from recent fights made their confidence falter.
The Test Begins
Without warning, the stranger raised a hand. Shadows leapt from the ground, twisting around her crew. They weren't attacks yet—more like probes, testing reactions, watching, whispering doubts.
Akira's eyes narrowed. "Back off my crew," she snapped. Black flames flared, reaching outward. The shadows hissed and recoiled slightly.
Tamaki stepped forward, protective, but Akira's glare cut him off. "No," she said firmly. "They're mine to handle."
The figure laughed softly, golden eyes glinting. "Very well. Let's see how far your loyalty reaches. How far your crew will follow… when they see what you're truly capable of."
Crew Reactions
A small shadow brushed against Kairos, whispering words meant to unsettle him. "She's… not what she seems. Can you trust her?"
He froze, doubt creeping in, heart hammering. Some of the other crew members glanced nervously at each other. Fear was infectious.
Akira's voice cut through it like steel. "I've fought, bled, and killed to protect you all. Don't let some trickery make you forget that. Stand with me—or step aside."
Her words burned, carrying authority and danger both. Black flames wrapped tighter around her arms.
The Cliffhanger
The stranger raised both hands, golden light pooling at the tips of its fingers. Shadows surged forward in a tidal wave, aiming directly at her crew.
Akira inhaled sharply, pushing the black flames higher, knowing this fight would test not just her power, but their loyalty.
She glanced at her crew—wide-eyed, terrified, and uncertain. "Hold on," she whispered. "You're about to see what happens when I don't hold back."
The shadows hit.
The forest exploded in black flame and golden light.
And from above, the stranger's voice whispered again: "Let's see whose side you're really on."