The girl stood in silence, her cloak fluttering like a shadow in the wind. Ayato's fingers twitched near his branded hand, the mark still glowing faintly.
"You're not making sense," Ayato said cautiously. "All worlds? The Void? This isn't real."
The girl sighed. "It is very real. My name is Renka. I serve the Void Tribunal, and you—Voidborn—have awakened something ancient."
She pointed to the mark on his hand. "That symbol binds you to the Seal of Eternity. It's a fragment of a weapon that once held back the collapse of all realms. Now it's chosen you as its vessel."
Ayato clenched his jaw. "I didn't choose anything."
"You didn't need to. The Seal chooses on its own." Renka's gaze grew serious. "But that means enemies will come for you. And not just humans."
Before Ayato could reply, a low growl echoed through the forest surrounding the inn. The air thickened, becoming heavy—almost suffocating.
Renka's voice dropped to a whisper. "They're already here."
Suddenly, dark figures emerged from the trees—beasts unlike any Ayato had seen. Their bodies flickered between solid and shadow, with eyes that glowed red like burning coals.
Voidborn Hunters.
---
Kaito burst out of the inn, sword drawn, eyes wide. "Ayato! What are those things?!"
Renka responded calmly, her hand summoning a thin blade of pure light. "They feed on instability in the Void. Your Seal has drawn them here."
Ayato's mind raced. The mark on his hand burned as the creatures circled closer. Instinctively, the Seal pulsed again.
Without thinking, he raised his palm.
A sudden wave of swirling black energy erupted outward, swallowing two of the beasts whole. The air trembled as they were erased from existence—completely consumed by the void.
The remaining creatures shrieked, pulling back briefly. Even Kaito stared at Ayato in shock.
"What... was that?" Kaito gasped.
Ayato's breathing was heavy. "I—I don't know. I just reacted."
Renka's eyes narrowed. "You're more compatible with the Seal than I expected. But the more you use it... the more it will consume you."
More beasts lunged forward, but Renka moved like a blur, her blade slicing clean arcs of light. Kaito covered Ayato, blocking the smaller ones with his sword.
"We can't hold them forever!" Kaito shouted.
Renka glanced at Ayato. "Voidborn—can you open a rift?"
"A what?!"
She stepped closer. "The Seal grants access to the space between realms. Use your mind. Focus. Tear open a path."
Ayato closed his eyes, sweat dripping down his brow. The Seal responded to his fear, to his desperation.
Open... open…
The mark glowed brighter. The space before him cracked like broken glass, and a swirling portal of black and violet light appeared.
"GO!" Renka ordered.
They all jumped through, vanishing from the collapsing battle—leaving behind only the howling beasts and the cold, empty night.
---
End of Chapter 4