The aftermath of the shadows' assault still lingered in Ren's mind. His chest burned with the sudden surge of power, and the violet sky above the black spires of the new world reflected his confusion. Every instinct screamed at him to run, yet an unshakable pull kept him rooted.
"Ren…" The silver-haired girl's voice sliced through the tension. She stepped closer, her eyes scanning the surrounding mist. "You did well. But surviving the first attack is only the beginning."
Ren tried to catch his breath. "I… I don't even know what I did. That light… it just—happened."
Her lips pressed together in a faint, knowing smile. "It's your Soul Bond awakening. You have potential beyond comprehension. But raw power without control is dangerous. Here, you must learn to fight, to survive… or die."
Before Ren could respond, the ground trembled again. From the shadows that pooled at the base of the mist, a new form emerged—a hulking creature, larger and more menacing than the first. Its limbs were jagged, like shattered stone, and its eyes burned crimson with hunger.
Ren's heart pounded. The instinct to flee rose, but he felt a strange warmth in his chest—the echo of the power he had unleashed before. The silver-haired girl extended her hand, and a faint light danced around her fingers.
"Focus, Ren. Bond with me. Trust your instincts."
Ren nodded, uncertain but willing. The moment their hands touched, a jolt surged through him. He felt her energy intertwining with his—like a river merging with another, stronger, unstoppable. The creature roared and lunged.
Time slowed. Every movement became a vivid sequence in Ren's mind: the swing of the creature's claw, the way the ground cracked beneath its weight, the shimmer of energy that now enveloped him and the girl.
He dodged instinctively, and a beam of light burst from their joined hands, striking the creature's chest. It screamed—a guttural, earth-shaking sound—and recoiled. Ren's pulse raced, exhilaration and fear intertwined.
"You can do this," the girl whispered, gripping his hand tighter. "We are bound now. Our powers are one."
The creature staggered again, and Ren felt a surge of confidence. He realized, for the first time, that he wasn't alone. The warmth of companionship, of trust, filled him even as the creature's shadow stretched again to strike.
The clash continued—a blur of stone, mist, and light. Each time Ren and the girl's energies collided with the creature, sparks erupted, cutting through the surrounding darkness. Yet every strike brought more questions: Why had he been summoned here? Who—or what—was watching?
Finally, the creature fell, dissolving into shadows that vanished into the mist. Ren collapsed to his knees, exhausted. His hands were still trembling from the bond he now shared with her.
She knelt beside him, brushing a strand of silver hair from her face. "This is only the beginning, Ren. Survive this world, and you may discover your true purpose. Fail… and nothing will remain of you."
Ren's eyes widened as a faint rumble shook the ground. From the depths of the mist, two glowing red eyes appeared, larger and more intelligent than any creature he had faced. They didn't move yet, but the weight of their gaze pressed down on him.
The girl's expression darkened. "Ren… that is no ordinary creature. You've drawn attention. And attention in this world… can be deadly."
Ren swallowed hard. His chest still burned, his hands still tingled from the bond. Yet a strange determination settled within him—a spark of defiance against a realm that had taken him from everything he knew.
And then, before either could move, the glowing eyes blinked, and a shadowy shape began to descend from the violet sky…
To be continued...