The altar rose like a jagged crown in the middle of the abandoned cathedral, its stones glowing faintly with runes that pulsed in rhythm with Akira's heartbeat. Chains still held her wrists and ankles, humming against her skin, feeding off her power.
The armored figure stepped forward, raising his hands. "The ritual begins. Extract her essence, or she will tear herself apart."
Akira grinned despite the pain. The chains weren't just binding her—they were showing her something. Each pull seemed to awaken hidden strength, fragments of power she didn't know she had.
Rin's voice came from the shadows. "Don't let them control you. Remember who you are."
The cultists activated the altar. Light flared, red and black, bathing the cathedral in a dangerous glow. Her vision swirled. Memories of past victims, fragments of her own power, and the surge of Rank 9 all collided.
Instinct took over. She bit her lip, channeling the chains' energy back into herself. A pulse shot outward, destabilizing the altar. The chains burned, shrieking, but her aura flared brighter, twisting in shapes no one had seen before.
For the first time, she could feel the magic of the ritual trying to sync with her blood. Not just feeding her power—it was trying to merge with her.
Akira laughed, a low, dangerous sound. "You think you can use me? I'm not a tool."
With a sharp movement, she redirected the energy into the air above the altar, causing the glowing runes to fracture and the floor to crack. Sparks rained down, the cultists screaming in panic.
Rin appeared beside her, eyes wide. "Akira… what just happened?"
Akira's red-and-gold eyes glimmered with a new intensity. "Something new," she said, flexing her fingers. Her nails now glinted like black steel, and a faint, humming pulse surrounded her—a taste of the power the altar tried to steal.
From the shadows, the armored figure's voice boomed:
"This isn't over. You may have survived… but the Architect watches, and he will not tolerate defiance."
Akira smirked, chains falling slack but still faintly glowing. "Then I'll just have to give him a reason to fear me."
🔥 Cliffhanger: Akira survives the ritual, unlocking a new mysterious blood ability, but the Architect now has personal stakes in her. The game is far from over, and the next chapters will show just how far she can push her new powers—and the consequences.