The three of them entered a mysterious chamber filled with mirrors, their surfaces glowing with a magical shimmer that reflected not just their images… but something far deeper.
Black Ghost (voice echoing):
"You have proven your courage by passing the first gate… but this cave will not allow you to proceed without facing further trials. In each test, you must reveal your true hearts—or lose your way forever."
Each of them found themselves surrounded by a tall mirror, reflecting a scene from their past—or a nightmare they feared most.
Ken saw himself as a child, surrounded by the corpses of his family, while Cirrus's voice echoed through the glass, laughing at him.
Cirrus (from the mirror):
"You were weak, and you always will be."
Ken (with fury):
"I'll crush you!"
Akio saw a vision of himself losing control of his lightning powers, destroying an entire village.
Akio:
"That's not me… I won't let that happen!"
Vico saw himself fleeing a battle, abandoning his friends.
Vico (crying):
"I'm not a coward… I will be strong!"
Ken (angrily):
"These mirrors are cursed. Stop looking into them!"
Akio (glancing at Ken):
"How do we escape them? They're everywhere!"
Vico (wiping his tears):
"If these mirrors reflect our fears, then the answer… is to face them, right?"
Ken:
"Vico's right."
Ken walked slowly toward his mirror, his eyes locked on the distorted reflections of his fallen family—his mother, father, Dan, Emily—all surrounding him in painful silence. In the background, Cirrus's disgusting laughter echoed. Ken lit a fresh cigarette, took a long drag, then exhaled the smoke calmly and said:
Ken:
"You're all… part of the past now."
Suddenly, the ground beneath him trembled. From the shadows emerged a familiar figure—a phantom version of Cirrus, smiling with that same arrogant expression burned into Ken's memory.
Phantom Cirrus:
"I thought you'd be braver than this, Ken… Show me your strength, if you have any."
Ken stepped forward, his eyes blazing with rage.
Ken:
"I know you're just an illusion… but that won't stop me from destroying you!"
He launched a barrage of fireballs, rapid and fierce—but the phantom dodged them all with ease, as if anticipating every move. That only enraged Ken further. On the other side of the room, Akio's body began to tremble violently, lightning crackling uncontrollably around him.
Akio (panicking):
"No… I can't control it… I might hurt you!"
His lightning exploded outward in erratic bursts. Rocks shattered, and cracks split the cave walls. Vico, trying to shield himself, spotted a giant shadowy creature emerging—heading straight for Akio.
Vico (terrified):
"What the—?! It's going for Akio! I have to stop it!"
Without hesitation, Vico charged toward his friend, while Ken shouted over his shoulder:
Ken:
"Vico! Watch Akio—I'll handle this bastard!"
The battle between Ken and the Cirrus phantom raged. Ken summoned all his strength, but the illusion's skills were overwhelming—as if it knew every weakness.
Vico stood his ground before the beast, locking eyes with it.
Vico (firmly):
"I won't let you get near Akio!"
He stepped back, then sprang into the air like a trained ninja, vanishing into the shadows.
Vico (calmly):
"Direct attacks won't work… You'll regret walking toward me."
Using the darkness to cloak his movements, Vico reappeared behind the monster and hurled small smoke bombs, creating thick clouds that obscured its vision.
Vico (with a confident grin):
"You think your size protects you? That's adorable."
He leapt onto the monster's back using a grappling hook, trying to bind its limbs. Ken, watching from afar, smirked slightly.
Ken (murmuring):
"That idiot… still as fast as ever."
Just then, a bolt of lightning burst from Akio—nearly hitting Vico.
Akio (yelling):
"Vico! Watch out!"
Vico dodged just in time, then pulled out a shuriken and threw it at the creature's foot, hitting a vulnerable spot and making it roar in pain.
Vico (as he backflipped):
"You're not laying a finger on him while I'm alive, you miserable nightmare."
He kept striking from the shadows—fast, sharp, precise.
Vico (calling out):
"Akio-senpai! You need to calm down! You're stronger than this—you can control it!"
Ken (clashing with the phantom):
"You're not the real Cirrus! You're just a shadow… an illusion!!"
Akio (hoarse and shaken):
"I… I can't control myself! The lightning is tearing me apart! My head feels like it's going to explode!"
Vico locked eyes with Akio, his voice steady but warm:
Vico:
"Akio-senpai, your true power isn't the lightning. It's your will! You're stronger than you think… Just remember who you are—and believe in that!"
Ken (thinking as he dodged):
"If I can't defeat this illusion… how will I ever face the real one? There's no room for fear now."
At that moment, something shifted in Akio's expression. Fury surged through his features, his eyes glowed with light, and then he let out a deep, guttural scream:
Akio (roaring):
"That's enough!! I won't let my power consume me! A samurai who can't control himself… doesn't deserve to dream of becoming Shogun!!"
He closed his eyes and drew a deep breath. When he opened them again, the lightning around him focused and stabilized. His bangs blew back from the energy, revealing a yellow lightning-shaped mark glowing on his forehead.
A controlled explosion of lightning burst from him. With a series of swift, precise strikes, he sent jolts toward the Cirrus phantom—dissolving it instantly into smoke.
Akio (calm and resolute):
"Now… I'm ready."
Ken (grumbling):
"Really? I was about to finish him myself."
He glanced at Akio—then paused, noticing the change. A strange new energy surrounded him… that mark still glowing.
Ken (quietly, amazed):
"Guess I did underestimate you."
Vico approached Akio, staring at the glowing mark. He reached out and touched it cautiously.
Vico (curious):
"What is this? It looks like a tattoo made of light!"
Akio (laughing):
"It's not a tattoo… I was born with it. I didn't know what it meant… until now."
Ken lit another cigarette with a flick of flame from his finger, causing Vico to glance at him with a mix of irritation and awe.
Vico (pretending to grumble):
"Look at this show-off… doesn't even need a lighter! I wish I had a Vakin!"
Akio (smiling as he patted Vico's shoulder):
"You don't need it, Vico. You're a ninja—we can't do what you do."
Vico (revived):
"Hah! You're right! Who needs Vakin when you're as fast as me?"
But their joy didn't last.
Suddenly, the cave trembled violently. Rocks cracked, the ground began splitting under their feet.
Vico (panicked):
"What's happening now?!"
Before they could react, the floor collapsed beneath them. They plunged into a deep, dark abyss. Vico and Akio screamed as they fell—while Ken remained silent, eyes shut, as if… he had been expecting the fall all along.
To be continued…