blood of the abyss

The Awakening

Mike's eyes snapped open, and he sucked in a ragged breath as though surfacing from a deep, suffocating abyss. His chest heaved, the remnants of a nightmare clinging to him like shadows. But the voice—that deep, guttural voice—still echoed in his mind.

"Mike!" Rin's voice pierced through his haze. Her hands gripped his shoulders tightly, her face pale and streaked with tears. Kenji stood behind her, his jaw set and fists clenched, his anger barely restrained.

"What… happened?" Mike croaked, his voice hoarse as if it had been ripped from him.

Rin leaned closer, her voice trembling. "We found you near the cavern, unconscious. What were you doing there?"

"The cavern…" The word alone sent a chill down Mike's spine. The memories flooded back like a tidal wave: the seal, the whispers, and Kuro's sly grin. His stomach twisted.

"Kuro," he muttered, his voice breaking. "He… he tricked me."

"Kuro?" Rin echoed, her brow furrowed in confusion.

"A creature," Mike whispered, his hands trembling. "He promised me power… but I broke the seal." His voice faltered, the weight of his actions crashing down on him. "Shinra is free."

Rin froze, her wide eyes searching his face for some sign he might be joking. Kenji, however, didn't hold back.

"Do you even hear yourself?" he snapped, stepping forward. "You've been acting weird for weeks, Mike. And now you're telling me you set loose a goddamned Dark God?"

Mike didn't respond. His focus was on his hands, which were glowing faintly with crimson light. A slow-burning heat coursed through his veins, a mix of fire and something far more sinister.

"What's happening to me?" he whispered, staring at his glowing palms in terror.

Before anyone could answer, the earth trembled beneath them. Trees swayed violently, and in the distance, the horizon flared red with an otherworldly glow.

"Mike," Rin said, clutching his arm. "What is that?"

Mike's mouth was dry, his heart pounding in his chest. "It's him. Shinra… he's awake."

The Village Burns

The scene that greeted them upon their return to the village was nothing short of a nightmare. The once peaceful streets were in chaos—houses engulfed in flames, screams tearing through the air as villagers fled. Amidst the destruction, dark, hulking figures prowled, their red eyes gleaming like embers.

"What the hell are those things?!" Kenji yelled, pointing at one of the creatures as it slashed through a cart.

"They're coming from the forest," Rin said, her voice shaking. "They must've followed us."

Mike felt his chest tighten. This was his fault—every scream, every life lost was on him. "We have to stop them," he said firmly, forcing his fear aside.

"With what?" Kenji snapped. "We don't have—"

One of the creatures lunged at them, its shadowy form a blur. Mike's instincts took over. He raised his hands in defense, and a torrent of black and red flames burst forth, consuming the creature in an instant.

The crackling fire died down, leaving only ash. Rin and Kenji stared at Mike, stunned.

"Mike…" Rin whispered, her voice trembling. "What was that?"

Mike stared at his hands, the flames flickering faintly at his fingertips. "I… I don't know."

The First Fight

More creatures emerged from the shadows, their low growls echoing through the air. They were surrounded.

Mike's hands clenched into fists, the fire flaring brighter. "Stay behind me," he told Rin and Kenji, stepping forward.

The first creature lunged, and Mike spun, a burst of flames tearing through its form. Another came from the side, but this time, Mike ducked and unleashed a wave of darkness that sliced it apart.

Kenji watched in disbelief. "Since when do you know how to fight like that?"

"I don't," Mike said through gritted teeth. "It's not me—it's the power. It's controlling me."

One of the creatures broke past him, its claws aiming for Rin. She froze, her eyes wide with fear.

"Rin!" Mike shouted, but Kenji was already moving. He grabbed a broken plank and drove it into the creature's chest, dissolving it into smoke.

Kenji turned to Mike, fury in his eyes. "Get it together! You wanted power, right? Use it to protect us!"

A New Enemy

The last of the shadow creatures fell, but the battle was far from over. A figure emerged from the smoke, tall and imposing. Its armor was black and pulsating, as if alive, and its crimson eyes burned with malevolence. In its hand, it held a massive blade.

Mike's breath hitched. This wasn't just another shadow creature. This was something far worse.

"You…" the figure said, its voice like grinding metal. "You bear the mark of the abyss. You are bound to our master."

Mike stepped forward, the fire in his hands flaring. "I don't serve Shinra," he said, his voice firm. "I'll stop him—and you."

The figure chuckled darkly. "Foolish human. You cannot escape the abyss. It will consume you, just as it consumed him."

Mike's stomach churned at the words, but there was no time to dwell on their meaning. The soldier charged, its blade swinging with deadly precision. Mike raised a wall of fire to block the attack, but the force sent him skidding back.

"Mike!" Rin called out, but Kenji held her back.

"This is his fight," Kenji said, though his clenched fists betrayed his unease.

The Abyss Fights Back

Mike's every move felt sluggish compared to the soldier's, and with each clash of blade against flame, the gap in their power became clearer.

"You are weak," the soldier sneered, slamming Mike to the ground. "The abyss owns you now."

But something inside Mike snapped. The fire around him darkened, turning pitch black, and his eyes glowed with an abyssal red.

"You think you can control me?" Mike growled, his voice deep and otherworldly. "I'll show you who's in control."

With a roar, he unleashed a massive wave of fire and darkness, engulfing the soldier completely. When the smoke cleared, only ashes remained.

Aftermath

As the village burned around them, Mike collapsed to his knees, his body trembling. Rin and Kenji rushed to his side, but he held up a hand to stop them.

"This is my fault," he said, his voice hollow. "I broke the seal. I caused this."

Rin knelt beside him, her voice soft but firm. "Then we'll fix it. Together."

Kenji crossed his arms, his expression begrudging. "You've got a lot to make up for, Mike. But if you're serious about stopping this, we'll help. Just… don't screw it up again."

Mike nodded, determination flaring in his eyes. "I'll make this right. No matter what it takes."

In the shadows, Kuro watched, a sly grin curling his lips. "Good… let the abyss guide you, Mike. You'll need it for what's to come."