Chapter 15:
Mira looks at Shin and answers quietly but firmly:
"I want to see the Garden too."
Shin immediately shakes his head.
"No. It's too dangerous for you."
Mira lifts her chin.
"The Garden isn't dangerous. There aren't even monsters there."
Shin hesitates, then slowly nods.
"…Alright."
Together, they head toward the meeting point.
But when they arrive, no one is there.
Ray.
Arthur.
No one.
They look around, but find nothing.
Suddenly, a bright blue light appears out of nowhere.
Shin instinctively reaches for it
In the next moment, they are standing in a blue-colored world.
In the distance, a massive tree rises into the sky.
Mira inhales softly.
"That's the Soul Tree. It gives the Garden the energy it needs to survive."
Shin nods briefly.
"Then let's look for the Spirit Stone. I need it."
Mira points in the opposite direction.
"It should be on the other side."
They begin to walk.
But no matter how long they move forward, the tree never gets closer.
They stop to rest.
Mira speaks quietly.
"The tree is protected by four Nature Spirits. Each one represents a different element."
Shin barely listens.
In his mind, there is only Historia.
The curse.
The time running out.
They continue walking.
After a while, Shin asks,
"Why does it feel like time isn't passing here?"
Mira gives a small smile.
"You lose your sense of time in this place."
So that's why…, Shin thinks.
"Thanks," he says.
Mira looks embarrassed.
"No problem."
Then she adds,
"Mana consumption is higher inside this Garden."
Shin frowns.
"That's bad. Even simple magic will require a lot of mana."
Suddenly, Mira turns around.
"Someone's coming."
A spark of hope rises in Shin.
"Ray…?"
But no.
A man steps out of the empty space itself.
Behind him are four chained beings, bound tightly.
"Who are you?" Shin asks.
The man smiles calmly.
"Francisco. At least, that's the name I use."
Mira suddenly screams.
"Shin! Those are the Nature Spirits I told you about!"
Shin's expression hardens.
"Why are they chained?"
Francisco chuckles.
"I am one of the Forbidden Pillars."
Shin instantly prepares to attack
Too late.
He doesn't even realize he's been struck.
In the next moment, he is thrown a hundred meters away.
Shin crashes into the ground.
He forces himself back up, breathing heavily.
This won't be easy…
He has the power of the Nature Spirits.
Then
His training.
His sister.
His promises.
Shin clenches his fist.
I have to defeat him.
He focuses.
He feels the flow of mana.
Guides it outward.
Lets it spread.
His mana now fills the air around him.
He walks back toward Francisco.
Francisco looks relieved.
"You're alive. But you're not my real target."
Shin freezes.
"…Mira."
He immediately steps in front of her.
Quietly, he speaks to the Sun Sword.
"How do we sever his connection to the Nature Spirits?"
Shin attacks.
Blades clash.
Fists collide.
The fight is brutal.
Shin grows weaker Francisco remains unharmed.
Shin staggers, almost falls.
He stands back up.
"Mira," he says firmly. "Run."
She hesitates, then disappears.
Shin exhales.
Now I don't have to hold back.
He activates his magic formulas and channels elements into them.
His attack lands.
Francisco takes damage.
But immediately, he activates Null Magic: Healing State.
His body regenerates.
Shin doesn't give up.
Why should he?
Then an idea strikes him.
What if… three elements?
He distracts Francisco with a kick and begins.
Step by step, he combines the formulas.
Water.
Wind.
Fire.
The combination explodes.
With this attack, Shin blows apart half of Francisco's body.
Francisco screams in pain.
But then he laughs.
His body transforms into a being wrapped in pure darkness.
Shin is shocked.
He can still sense Francisco's mana
But he stays calm.
Then he notices something.
The chains binding the Nature Spirits are gone.
Shin runs to them.
"I have a plan," he says with determination.
"We can defeat him."
What will Shin do next?
Will Francisco defeat Shin?