...3 Months Later
The forest was unnaturally quiet, as if the world itself held its breath. Hishimiya adjusted the strap of her katana, glancing at the abandoned shrine ahead. Its timbers were blackened with age, moss clinging to every surface like a living shroud. The rumors had been whispered in hushed tones for years: the old Kage no Michi site was a focal point of corrupted Eien energy, a place where even the bravest exorcists hesitated to tread. And today, she would step into it alone.
"Stay close," came Stellar's voice, calm but commanding. Hishimiya's eyes flicked to her senior, who moved with an effortless grace that made the forest seem smaller. Beside him, Lunar's presence was more subtle, but the energy radiating from her—a cold, steady light—was enough to steady even the most jittery novice. Hishimiya swallowed, trying to push down the flutter of nerves in her chest. She was a Solar Grade now. This was her first solo mission, and the weight of responsibility pressed heavily on her shoulders.
The air changed as they approached the shrine. It was thick, almost viscous, buzzing with a low hum that scraped against Hishimiya's ears. The trees surrounding the site seemed alive, their branches swaying though there was no wind. Whispers drifted from the shadows, ancient chants curling around the bark like smoke. She shivered, sensing the barrier's weakness before the others even spoke.
"This energy…" Lunar murmured, her eyes narrowing. "It's far stronger than expected."
Hishimiya clenched her fists, feeling the pulse beneath her skin. The Eien energy here was corrupt, twisted—but there was something else, something almost…familiar. A heartbeat, faint yet insistent, drumming in sync with her own. She closed her eyes, and the rhythm grew clearer, like destiny itself guiding her forward.
"Lead the way," Stellar said, reading her hesitation. His confidence was a shield, but Hishimiya could feel the underlying tension in his stance. They stepped past the threshold together, the shrine's wooden doors groaning as though protesting their intrusion.
Inside, the air was colder, heavier. Dust floated in motes of dim sunlight that filtered through the cracks in the roof, catching the remnants of old talismans scattered across the floor. Hishimiya's gaze fell upon one in particular: an intricate charm, etched with symbols older than memory. Something about it called to her, a whisper of warning and promise intertwined. Without thinking, she reached out, letting her fingers brush the talisman's surface.
Light erupted. A burst of blinding radiance seared through the shrine, scattering shadows and sending a shockwave of energy outward. Hishimiya stumbled, shielding her eyes, and felt the ground tremble beneath her. The barrier, feeble and brittle, began to crack, splintering like glass under pressure.
"Step back!" Stellar shouted, his sword materializing in a flash of blue light. Lunar's aura flared, forming a protective dome around them, but the air was thick with anticipation, every molecule humming with power. Hishimiya's heart pounded—not with fear, but with a terrifying exhilaration. She had awakened it.
And then it rose.
From the center of the shrine, a shadow coalesced, dark energy spiraling upward in a vortex of malice. The form was vaguely humanoid, yet distorted—an echo of the Kage no Michi itself, bound for centuries yet now freed. Its presence pressed down on them, and Hishimiya felt the weight of countless lifetimes of suffering and rage.
"Brace yourselves!" Lunar's voice cut through the growing roar, but it was too late. The entity's first surge hit them like a tidal wave. Stellar was thrown backward, his sword clanging against the wooden floor, sparks flying. Lunar's dome wavered, cracks spreading across the protective aura. Hishimiya's body was slammed against the shrine wall, and the talisman she had touched pulsed violently in her hand, burning her palm.
The heartbeat she had felt before now surged in her chest like a drum of war. She rose, eyes blazing, drawing on every ounce of Eiryu power she possessed. "I… won't let you take them!" she shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos. Light flared from her blade, meeting the shadow's tendrils with a hiss and crackle. For a moment, they were evenly matched—light against darkness, destiny against despair.
But the entity was ancient. Its power was relentless, a storm beyond the capacity of mortal exorcists. Stellar groaned from the floor, blood streaking his cheek, while Lunar's dome shattered with a high-pitched crack. Hishimiya's knees trembled, the realization hitting her: this was not a battle she could win with skill alone. Sacrifice was inevitable.
The shadow surged again, and she stepped forward, placing herself between it and her teammates. "Go!" she screamed. "Get out!"
There was no time for hesitation. Stellar grabbed Lunar, dragging her toward the shrine exit, while Hishimiya turned back to face the darkness. Light radiated from her body, pure and unyielding, a single Solar flame standing against the void. She met the entity's gaze, and in that instant, she understood: some seals were not meant to be broken. Some destinies were written in tragedy.
The last thing she felt before the darkness consumed her was the heartbeat—the one she had followed, now thrumming in tandem with the collapsing shrine, echoing the cost of defiance, and the weight of a choice that would never be forgotten.
Outside, the forest fell silent once more. Dust settled on the shrine's roof. Stellar and Lunar emerged, shaken and bloodied, but alive. And in the ruins, a faint light pulsed, as if remembering the sacrifice of a Solar who dared to face destiny itself.