🌌 Late Night, Ramen Shop Back Alley
The night air was thick with steam from the ramen pots, mixing with the distant hum of city life. Jin was wiping down his shop's worn wooden counter when Ren appeared, hood up, eyes shadowed but determined.
Kazuki, the battle-hardened chicken, strutted beside him, feathers ruffled but proud as ever.
"Alright, old man," Ren said, folding his arms. "What's next? Because 'fight monsters' is starting to sound like a full-time job."
Jin laughed, a deep rumble that echoed under the streetlamp. "You're not wrong. But it's more than fighting."
Ren sighed. "Yeah, yeah — training, mastering your powers, saving the world… I got it."
Jin gave him a sidelong glance. "And there's something you need to understand. This isn't just about power. It's about who you become because of it."
Kazuki clucked loudly, as if agreeing. Or mocking. Probably both.
🔥 Training Under the Moonlight
That night, Jin led Ren to the roof again, the city stretched beneath them like a sea of stars and neon.
"Tonight, you'll learn control — not just strength," Jin said, eyes sharp. "Your power's tied to your emotions. Fear made you explode last time. Anger nearly got you killed. Control that, or it'll control you."
Ren took a deep breath, steadying himself.
Jin stepped back. "Show me what you've got."
Ren closed his eyes, focused inward. Slowly, the energy that normally flared wildly now simmered like a calm fire. His hands glowed faintly blue, light pulsing with his heartbeat.
"Not bad," Jin nodded. "But next, you'll have to use it while moving."
Ren groaned. "Because standing still is too easy?"
Jin smiled thinly. "No, because monsters don't wait for you to cat
ch your breath."
🌪 The First Real Test
Before Ren could respond, a sharp screech split the night.
The same aberrant shadow monster, limping but alive, burst from an alley below, tentacles flailing.
Ren's pulse quickened.
"Ready?" Jin asked.
Ren nodded, heart pounding like a drum.
Kiyomi appeared silently beside them, flames flickering on her back, eyes glowing.
"Let's dance," she said.
The fight was brutal.
Ren dashed, Pulse Stepping to dodge the creature's flailing limbs.
He channeled his energy into a focused blast, hitting one of the many eyes, blinding it temporarily.
Kiyomi struck with precise fiery strikes, searing the monster's smoky limbs.
Jin moved like a shadow, every punch and kick precise, calculated — an elegant storm of power and experience.
The beast shrieked, lashing out wildly.
Ren felt a surge of fear.
> Don't lose control. Don't lose control.
He steadied himself and launched a concentrated energy wave that ripped through the creature's core.
With a final, ear-piercing screech, the aberrant collapsed i
nto a smoking heap.
💬 Aftermath: Lessons and Bonds
Ren collapsed on the rooftop, breath ragged but victorious.
Kiyomi smirked, brushing soot from her sleeve. "You're improving. Faster than I expected."
Ren chuckled, shaking his head. "I'm just trying not to explode."
Jin sat beside him, handing him a bottle of water. "Strength without control is a weapon against yourself."
Ren looked at the city below, now calm and peaceful.
"But why me?" he asked quietly. "Why did my family's secret fall on me?"
Jin's face grew serious.
"Because you carry the Sky Mark. Because you are the lock on the Rift. And because the world needs you — whether you like it or not."
🕯 A Glimpse into the Past
Later, Jin pulled out an old photograph.
It showed a younger man, a boy with blue hair — Ren's father — standing next to a stern-looking older man.
"Your uncle wasn't always a ramen chef," Jin said. "He was a warrior once. One of the few who stood against the Rift."
Ren stared at the photo.
"And my family?"
"Part of an ancient line tasked with guarding the seal. But the crash... it wasn't an accident."
Jin's voice dropped.
"Enemies wanted you gone. But you survived. That means something."
Ren clenched his fists.
"Then I'm not just fighting monsters out there. I
'm fighting ghosts."
🐔 Kazuki's Wisdom
Kazuki hopped onto Ren's lap, pecking at his sleeve.
Ren laughed, the tension breaking.
"Maybe that chicken's the smartest one here."
Jin smirked.
"Don't underestimate him. Kazuki's seen more battles than you have."
Ren rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, yeah. Battle-hardened chicken. Got it."
🔥 Chapter 11 Teaser:
> Old secrets stir. A mysterious new ally arrives with knowledge that could change everything. But first, Ren must face the most human challenge of all — high school drama… and the pressure of being a reluctant her
o.