The arena was silent. The scorched earth cracked under Akira's feet, smoke and dust swirling around the remnants of battle. Lord Kharis lay defeated, his dark aura dissipating into nothingness. But victory felt hollow.
Temaki's body was crumpled on the ground, eyes closed, neck stained with dark streaks of blood. Akira's crimson aura roared violently, flames spiraling like a living storm around her.
"No… Temaki!" she screamed, dropping to her knees beside him. Her hands trembled as she checked for a pulse that wasn't there. The reality hit harder than any enemy strike—he was gone.
Akira's mind raced. Memories of their partnership, their banter, the small moments she hadn't realized she'd cherished—they all flashed before her eyes. Rage, grief, and guilt collided inside her, fusing into something hotter than any Rank 15+ power she had ever unleashed.
Her aura flared brighter, blood-fueled energy pulsing like a second heartbeat. Flames licked across her body, illuminating the ruins, her tears glinting in the firelight. She had survived alone before—but this… this was different. She had someone worth protecting, and now he was gone.
For a long moment, she sat silently, crimson fire coiling around her like a protective cage. And then, slowly, a realization settled in: she couldn't stay broken. She couldn't let the world—or his death—destroy her.
Akira stood, eyes blazing, resolve hardening. "I'll survive. I'll grow stronger. I'll… find a way to bring you back." Her voice trembled but carried a quiet, unwavering determination.
The arena's shadows shifted around her, whispers of movement catching her eye. She wasn't a loner anymore—not entirely. Someone—or something—was watching, waiting. A new partner, a new challenge, and a new chapter of power awaited.
Akira inhaled deeply, letting the crimson flames settle around her. The pain of loss still burned, but now it was a forge, shaping her into something stronger than she had ever been before.
"Temaki… just wait," she whispered, voice soft amidst the roaring flames. "I'm coming for you… I promise."
Cliffhanger: Alone once more, Akira steps into the unknown, stronger, blood-fueled, and ready to face whatever—or whoever—comes next. The path to resurrecting Temaki begins, but first, she must find a new ally… and survive the dangers that lurk in the shadows.