Whispers of Shikiban:The king walk among us

Day 4

"Ishigo, can you tell me where we are right now?" Reika asked, her voice laced with unease, her eyes scanning the dark expanse before them.

Ishigo's gaze swept the dense forest, his body tense. The air was thick with the scent of earth, damp leaves, and something else—something unsettling. The PPI members were scattered around them, eyes shifting, alert, waiting for the next phase of this deadly trial.

"This place…" Reika paused, her voice dipping into a tone of suspicion. "It's eerily similar to Kuroyami Forest, but there's something different about it. The air feels… wrong."

Daigo, ever the optimist, flashed a grin, oblivious to the gravity of their situation. "Yo, today's gonna be a blast, huh?" His tone, light and carefree, sent a ripple of discomfort through Ishigo. Daigo could talk non-stop in any situation, a trait that made Ishigo long for silence. How could anyone maintain that much energy without being swallowed by the weight of what lay ahead?

Their group of Kageshiki trainees lined up, their trainer standing at the forefront, his silhouette stark against the oppressive forest backdrop. The PPI members fell into perfect formation, disciplined and silent. Reika stood still, her face neutral, unreadable, while Daigo—typical of him—slung an arm over Ishigo's shoulders.

"Seriously, Daigo, take that damn arm off me!" Ishigo grumbled, trying to shrug it off, but Daigo's strength was unyielding. "One day, my neck's gonna snap under that weight."

Daigo laughed, his voice deep with amusement. "Then I'll just have to pay you back, Ishigo," he joked, but there was a touch of something darker in his eyes.

The trainer's voice rang out, cutting through their casual chatter. He snapped his fingers, and a holographic screen materialized in the air, displaying a detailed list.

Kageshiki Trainees: 200

Disqualified: 70

Current Qualified: 130

Disqualified for Injury: 33

Died in Kuroyami Forest: 37

Injured in Kuroyami Forest: 9

Injured in the Ability of Run: 15

Injured in Flexibility: 8

His cold gaze swept across the crowd, assessing, calculating. "What you see here is the result of the last three training sessions. Over half of you have already been disqualified, and many more have died in Kuroyami Forest," he said, his tone devoid of any empathy. "Right now, only 130 of you remain. Survival is all that matters. Be prepared."

The trainees exchanged uneasy glances, but Reika stood unflinching, her face a mask of composure. Ishigo, however, had a darker thought creeping into his mind. The more that die, the greater our chances. This isn't just about survival; it's about who's left standing when it's over.

Daigo, ever the twisted optimist, laughed heartily. "Hell yeah! The more that die, the more opportunity we get to show off."

Ishigo muttered under his breath, his voice thick with disgust. "You're insane."

The trainer raised a hand sharply, silencing the murmurs. "Enough chatter. Today, we're in Shinjuku Forest. But this is no ordinary place. The previous forest had wild beasts, traps, and dangers. Here, it's even worse."

He paused for effect, letting the weight of his words sink in. "The Bubi Traps here are automatic. They test your reflexes, not just your strength. If you don't stay sharp, one wrong move, and you're finished."

The trainees stiffened, the reality of their situation dawning on them.

"The Bubi Traps used to be simple. Step wrong, and the trap would trigger. But here, the traps strike quickly and without warning. Speed, precision, focus—it's about survival instincts. If you miss a knife flying at you, you're dead."

Ishigo's heart thudded in his chest. He could feel the pressure of those words tightening around him, a knot in his stomach. This wasn't just training anymore. This was life and death.

The massive gate before them groaned open, revealing the ominous depths of Shinjuku Forest. The beauty of the place was deceptive, a twisted illusion. The trees towered above them like silent sentinels, their dark branches intertwining to form a thick canopy. The light filtering through created an ethereal, dreamlike glow—but the eerie undercurrent of danger was undeniable.

Reika's gaze hardened, her expression filled with suspicion. "This place is a distraction," she murmured, her voice low and cautious.

Ishigo tilted his head, confused. "What do you mean?"

"Smell the air," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's like a perfume. Subtle, designed to make you lose focus. And there's something else in the air… something that messes with your mind."

Daigo shrugged off her warning. "You're overthinking it, Reika. Just stay focused on the path ahead."

But Reika wasn't convinced. "Stay alert. If we lose focus here, we die."

They ventured deeper into the forest, the scent growing heavier, almost intoxicating. The landscape was beautiful, but there was something wrong about it—an unsettling calm that made every step feel like a potential misstep.

Suddenly, Reika's sharp eyes caught movement—a flash in the distance. Without thinking, she signaled to Ishigo.

"Look out!" Daigo shouted, but his voice was tinged with mock excitement, masking genuine concern.

Ishigo barely dodged as a massive tree buckle came hurling toward him. He reacted instinctively, throwing himself to the side, but the ground beneath him shook with the impact of the tree hitting the earth with a deafening crash. His heart raced as the buckle continued its deadly path, slamming into another trainee. The air thickened with the sickening sound of flesh being torn apart, blood spraying everywhere. Ishigo could hardly breathe, the horrific sight catching in his throat.

Reika's expression remained stoic, but she couldn't hide the churn in her stomach. This was the brutality of their world. This was the reality of their survival.

"Thanks for the warning, Daigo," Ishigo said, shakily pulling himself to his feet, his voice trembling.

"No need to thank me, bro," Daigo replied, his grin widening. "I'm just doing my job. Keeping you alive."

Ishigo forced himself to swallow the bile rising in his throat, his mind spinning. This isn't just a test. It's a game of survival. We're pawns in a much larger game.

As they moved forward, each step felt heavier, as though the forest itself was alive, watching, waiting. The scent became almost overpowering, clouding his senses, making every breath a struggle. But Ishigo couldn't afford to lose focus. He couldn't afford to die here.

Reika, her eyes sharp and focused, remained ever vigilant. Her thoughts echoed in her mind like a drumbeat, a mantra she clung to: I have to survive. No matter what.

And then, a glint of metal—a knife hurtling toward her. Without hesitation, she leapt into the air, narrowly missing the blade that flew by her head. But there was no time to rest. Another knife shot through the air, followed by another, each one faster than the last. Reika's body moved on instinct, using the knives lodged in the trees as footholds to launch herself higher, to dodge, to survive.

But the forest… it wasn't done with them yet. The trees began to shift, their roots rising from the earth like massive, twisted fingers. Reika froze, her instincts screaming that this was no longer just a test of strength—it was a test of mind. The forest was alive. It was a trial of mental fortitude as much as physical endurance.

"This is it," she whispered under her breath, her voice almost drowned out by the chaos. "The real test begins now."

And with that, she plunged deeper into the forest, determined to survive. No matter what it took. No matter the cost.