CHAPTER 12: A COLD GAME
Woli's voice echoed through the dark room.
"Your turn, Aiko. Go to the seal on the left."
After this command, Aiko slowly began walking toward the left seal. But she was worried. Because she was clearly afraid. Her pink hair had fallen over her shoulders, her green eyes shining in the darkness. With each step, her heart beat a little faster.
In front of her, the black-robed Djinn Summoners had prepared the seal and were waiting for Aiko to step inside. Their whispers were still audible – those ancient ritual words.
Just then, Master Woli's sharp voice was heard.
"Aiko, you remember what I told you, don't you? Don't be afraid. A frightened person has no business being a hunter. You are no longer in a position to think only about your own life. Think about how to protect others. And because of that… do more than you can."
These words struck Aiko's heart like a spear. She took a deep breath. Fear was slowly being replaced by determination.
"My master is right. I must become stronger here and protect people. My greatest goal is to find my brother. Before I find him… I cannot lose. Never."
Just as she was thinking these words to herself, Aiko found herself inside the seal. The symbols beneath her feet began to glow with a red light.
Just then, the black-robed Djinn Summoners immediately stepped out of the seal, and the seal glowed with a dazzling light.
Aiko closed her eyes.
When she opened her eyes again, she was in a different dimension.
Outside the seal, Kaito watched the seal's lights anxiously.
"There, Master… she's gone. The ritual has begun."
Ren's blue eyes were also locked on the seal. His voice was calmer than ever, but there was concern in it.
"Master… do you think she… can she succeed?"
Woli's answer was short and sharp.
"Have full trust in your teammate, brats. Trust me, one day it will serve you well."
Upon this, Kaito and Ren focused completely on the seal.
Meanwhile, Aiko was now in a different dimension. She looked around – but everywhere was an endless white void. No ground, no sky. Just infinite whiteness.
"This is… probably a different dimension. Ren must have come to a place like this too."
Her green eyes scanned the area.
"I must stay calm and be prepared."
Just then, she felt something coming from behind. She quickly stepped back.
"Huh? What was that? I felt something."
And something slowly began to appear.
Its body was completely green. It was in human form, but it had no face, no mouth. Only eyes – two bright green lights. Its body glowed the same color. As if made of pure energy.
Then it began to speak calmly. Its voice echoed in the void.
"So you're the one who will be paired with me, huh? You look very scrawny. Are you sure you can do this?"
Aiko's green eyes narrowed. There was no fear anymore.
"I guess you're the Djinn that came to me. I'm sorry for you. Because I have an important mission to accomplish. And before I do that… I cannot lose."
The Djinn's voice was mocking.
"What do I care? My goal is to take your life and become even stronger."
Aiko clenched her fists.
"Then… try it."
The Djinn tilted its head slightly. Its green eyes flashed for a moment.
"What is your name?"
"My name is Aiko."
"My name is Raiko. Now that we've learned each other's good names… we can start fighting."
"That's exactly what I wanted."
At that moment, Raiko lunged at Aiko with all its strength. Green light was approaching rapidly.
Aiko gritted her teeth.
"Here we go. I must not be afraid anymore. I must attack."
And with these thoughts, Aiko also lunged at Raiko with all her strength.
They clashed fists right in the middle.
BAM!
A large orange flash of light erupted. Both staggered back a few steps.
There was slight surprise in Raiko's voice.
"Impressive. Your Po is truly impressive. Almost at the same level as mine."
But Aiko didn't pay attention to these words. She attacked again. She threw a straight right punch – followed immediately by a left hook. But Raiko easily dodged these simple punches.
There was disappointment in Raiko's voice now.
"Hey, come on… is that all? Do more. Don't disappoint me, don't you dare!"
Aiko still didn't answer. She kept attacking.
Raiko thought to himself.
"I can read her Ren. How is this happening? Is it because I'm a Mind Djinn? But that's absurd – this is a physical fight."
He paused for a moment.
"That means her level is much lower than mine. Otherwise my Ten wouldn't work. This is good… this fight is already over, then."
Just then, Aiko threw a spinning kick.
Raiko's inner voice: "Hah, I know this one."
Before the kick could even get close to Raiko, Raiko immediately stepped back. The kick missed.
Then Raiko attacked. His left fist filled and overflowed with orange light – Po. And he struck the exposed Aiko with all his strength.
BAMM!
Aiko flew ten meters back. She spun in the air and fell to the ground. It wasn't over – she rolled a few more times on the ground and finally stopped crawling.
Aiko's breath was cut short. Blood was seeping from the corner of her mouth.
"Ahh… that hurt… But I must not give up. Not yet. The time hasn't come yet. I will win this fight… I'm sure of it. I just need to be a little more patient."
She spat blood and struggled to her feet. Her pink hair was disheveled, scratches on her face. But her green eyes were still shining.
"Your Po level is impressive. It hurt a lot. But unfortunately… you couldn't knock me out with one hit. I will win this fight – just so you know."
Raiko's laughter echoed through the void. His voice was full of mockery.
"HAHAHAHAHA! What a hopeless case you are, you bastard. Come on now, come, come… and let me take that worthless life of yours!"
Outside the seal, Kaito watched the seal anxiously.
"Master, do you think Aiko is struggling? She's going to win, right?"
Even Ren had broken his silence. His blue eyes were worried.
"Be patient, Kaito. It's only been a few minutes since she entered."
Woli's voice was calm.
"He's right, brat. Be a little patient. The fight has probably only just begun."
Then he fixed his eyes on Kaito.
"Besides… you should worry about yourself."
Surprised by this answer, Kaito asked.
"Huh? Why, Master?"
Woli's voice grew heavy.
"You're the last one. That means this: the Djinn Summoners are exhausted. A… strong Djinn might come for you."
He paused for a moment.
"Normally, at most two rituals are performed. But this is an exceptional case. So be prepared. Your chance of dying there… is very high."
Kaito paused for a moment. He sank into deep thought. His family's faces passed before his eyes. Zaryx's cold smile.
Then he answered immediately with a determined look. His brown eyes were shining.
"No matter what… I will win."
Inside the seal, Aiko and Raiko were still fighting.
Raiko again concentrated his fist with Po and struck Aiko's liver with all his strength.
BAM!
Aiko flew meters away again. She dragged on the ground, tumbled, and finally stopped. She spat blood again and struggled to her feet. She barely straightened up. Her legs were trembling, but she wasn't falling.
There was curiosity in Raiko's voice now.
"I see. You can only use Po. You don't have Zan or Ten. I don't understand how this is possible. But this will be the last. Get ready."
Raiko attacked again.
Aiko, however, was just standing still. There was no reaction. Her green eyes were focused on the ground, staring blankly. As if she had given up on the fight.
At that moment, Raiko drove his Po-concentrated fist into Aiko's face.
BAMMM!
Aiko flew a full twenty meters. She dragged on the ground for meters. Finally, she stopped.
But this time, there was no movement.
Not even a twitch.
Outside the seal…
The seal had suddenly come almost to the point of extinction.
The lights flickered, going out and coming back on.
Kaito's voice cracked.
"M-Master? The seal suddenly almost… went out. What happened? Tell me, Master… what happened?"
Even Ren was panicked. His blue eyes had widened with concern.
"Master, the seal is about to go out. What's happening? The black-robed ones have already moved to the middle seal. What does this mean, Master? Why did the seal go out so quickly?"
Woli, for the first time, swallowed nervously and answered. His voice was heavy.
"I-I think… Aiko lost."
At that moment, the environment fell completely silent.
No one made a sound. The swallowing sounds of Kaito and Ren slightly broke the silence. But they too were still silent, shocked.
Inside the seal…
Aiko was still lying on the ground. Her pink hair was spread on the ground, her eyes closed.
Raiko approached her. Its green eyes looked at Aiko. There was disappointment in its voice.
"It was a very boring fight. How can someone who can't even use Ten and Zan be summoned to a ritual? I don't understand."
It shook its head.
"Anyway… this is over."
After these words, Raiko placed its hands on Aiko's chest. Green light began to glow. It began to drain Aiko's life energy.
Green energy from Aiko's body began to be slowly pulled toward Raiko's body.
There was victory in Raiko's voice.
"There… there it is. I feel myself getting stro—"
BAM!
Raiko suddenly flew five meters back. It crashed to the ground, rolled. It quickly got up. Its green eyes had widened with shock.
"Huh? What's happening? You… were dead?"
Aiko slowly sat up. She dusted herself off. There was a faint smile on her face. The traces of blood were still there, but her eyes were shining.
"Or… I just made you think that."
She tossed her pink hair back.
"The real fight… starts now."
Enraged by these words, Raiko immediately attacked. He concentrated all his remaining Ren into his left fist. The green light became dazzling. Then he struck Aiko with all his strength.
BOOMM!
A huge flash of light erupted. But it faded immediately.
When the flash of light subsided, the result was surprising.
Because nothing had happened to Aiko.
Raiko's voice cracked with shock. Its green eyes had widened with fear.
"H-how is this possible? Y-you… couldn't use Zan?"
Aiko shook her head. Her pink hair danced on her shoulders.
"No. I just… wanted you to think that, that's all."
Raiko stepped back. He tried to use his Ten. But it wasn't working.
"N-now… I can't read your Ren either? You mean… all of this was a game from the very beginning?"
Aiko's green eyes glowed coldly.
"And you… fell for the whole game."
She raised her fist.
"And now… the final move!"
Her hair swayed in the air as if blown by wind.
"Let me show you what real Po is."
She took a deep breath.
"PO!"
Aiko suddenly concentrated all her Ren into her right fist. Her fist was glowing with an orange light – so strong that it was almost blinding.
Then she sent her fist toward Raiko with all her strength.
BAMMM!
The moment Raiko took the punch, he lost consciousness momentarily. He collapsed right where he stood.
Nothing else happened. He just lay on the ground.
Raiko's voice turned into a whisper.
"I-I… lost…"
Aiko's breath was deep. Her green eyes were shining.
"And I… won."
And at that moment, Raiko transformed into a small green sphere. The light floated in the air, then entered directly through Aiko's chest.
Aiko's eyes flashed green for a moment. Something inside her body had changed.
Outside the seal…
Aiko suddenly found herself outside the seal.
Kaito's surprise had increased tenfold. His mouth hung open.
"AIKO?! How are you alive? The seal had gone out?"
Ren was equally surprised. His blue eyes were wide open.
"Yes! How are you here?"
A faint smile appeared on Woli's face. His voice was calm, but there was pride in it.
"I guess it hadn't completely gone out, brats."
He turned to Aiko.
"Aiko… congratulations. You have completed the ritual."
Aiko bowed her head. Out of breath, tired, scratches on her face. But her eyes were shining.
"Thank you, Master."
Woli asked curiously.
"So… what is your power?"
Aiko paused for a moment. She blinked her green eyes.
"I don't know, Master. The Djinn was green. Everything was… green."
Woli nodded.
"Never mind, we'll ask my Djinn Summoners about that after the ritual."
He turned his face to Kaito. He was about to speak when…
"Now it's the other brat's turn. Hey brat, the se—"
But Kaito was already walking.
On his own, without waiting for anyone, with slow but steady steps, he stepped into the middle seal.
His black hair swayed in the darkness, his brown eyes blazing like fire.
He didn't even look back.
"I'm impatient…"
His voice echoed in the dark room.
"I'm impatient to gain my powers. And to take my revenge!"
The seal's lights began to glow.
To be continued...