The quiet after the raid felt heavier than the chaos itself. Kaito walked through the scorched remains of the courtyard, the echoes of the previous night’s battle haunting his every step.

Genji found him near the training grounds, sitting on a splintered bench with the relic resting across his lap.

“You’re going to burn yourself out,” Genji said, his tone light but tinged with concern.

Kaito looked up, exhaustion etched across his face. “I don’t have a choice. The Hunters aren’t stopping, and I can’t keep hiding behind everyone else.”

“You’re not alone, you know,” Genji said, sitting beside him. “The clan is still here. I’m still here.”

Kaito hesitated. “For how long? I’m the reason they’re attacking us. The relic—”

“The relic chose you for a reason,” Genji interrupted. “Maybe instead of trying to fight it, you should trust yourself a little more.”

Before Kaito could respond, a piercing horn sounded in the distance. The two exchanged a grim look before bolting toward the main gates.

The gates shuddered as a wave of dark energy rippled through the air. Shadows spilled over the walls like living creatures, taking the forms of cloaked figures with glowing crimson eyes.

“The Shadowcloaks,” Sayuri muttered, her hand resting on the hilt of her blade.

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Kaito’s stomach churned as the whispers from the relic grew louder. The Shadowcloaks moved with an unnatural grace, their forms flickering like embers caught in the wind.

“They’re after the relic,” Sayuri said, stepping in front of Kaito. “Stay close to me.”

The battle erupted in a flurry of steel and flame. Clan warriors clashed with the Shadowcloaks, but the invaders’ shadowy forms made them difficult to hit. Kaito hesitated, the weight of the relic feeling heavier than ever.

“Unleash me...”

The blade’s whisper sent a shiver down his spine. He gritted his teeth and drew the weapon, the flames springing to life instantly. A Shadowcloak lunged at him, but Kaito swung the blade, the fiery arc cutting through the creature with ease.

For a moment, triumph surged through him—until the whispers grew louder. The flames around the blade flickered wildly, threatening to consume him.

“Kaito, focus!” Sayuri shouted, deflecting another attacker.

He took a shaky breath, forcing the flames under control, but the effort left him drained.

The battle raged on, but Kaito’s focus snapped to a figure standing calmly amidst the chaos. Ryo watched the fight with an unsettling smirk, his blade sheathed at his side.

“What are you doing?” Kaito demanded, running toward him. “Help us!”

Ryo turned, his eyes gleaming with something unfamiliar. “Help you? Why would I waste my energy protecting someone like you?”

Kaito froze. “What are you talking about?”

Ryo took a step closer, his smirk widening. “You think the relic is your destiny? That you’re some chosen hero? Don’t make me laugh. You’re nothing but a pawn in a game you don’t even understand.”

Before Kaito could respond, Ryo raised his hand, and a pulse of dark energy erupted from his palm, knocking Kaito to the ground.

Sayuri appeared instantly, her blade flashing as she intercepted Ryo. “You’re working with the Hunters,” she said coldly.

Ryo laughed. “Working with them? No, Sayuri. I’m working for myself. And when this is over, the relic will be mine.”

As dawn approached, the Shadowcloaks began to retreat, their forms dissolving into the shadows. The clan’s warriors stood bloodied but alive, their gazes filled with exhaustion and fear.

Sayuri knelt beside Kaito, who clutched the relic tightly, his breaths shallow.

“We need to regroup,” she said. “Ryo’s betrayal has left the clan vulnerable. And the Hunters won’t stop until they’ve taken everything.”

Kaito pushed himself to his feet, his grip on the relic steady despite his trembling hands. “Then we fight back. We find out what they want and stop them—no matter what.”

Sayuri nodded, her expression grim. “If you’re serious, the next step is finding the Ember Forge. It’s the only place where you can unlock the relic’s true power.”

Kaito met her gaze, determination burning in his eyes. “Then let’s go.”