Whispers of Shikiban:The king walk among us

The heavy air pressed down on the group as they stood before the massive iron gates, the tension thick enough to feel like a physical weight. The gates loomed tall and imposing, their dark ironwork stark against the dimming sky. A nervous murmur rippled through the crowd like a hive of unsettled bees.

Reika stood at the front, her back straight and eyes scanning the scene, cutting through the sea of nervous faces with a gaze as cold and sharp as ice. Beside her, Ishigo fidgeted, his breath shallow, his hands trembling at his sides.

"I… I don't know if I can do this, Reika," Ishigo whispered, his voice cracking with fear. His eyes darted about, unwilling to settle on anything for too long.

Reika turned to him slowly, her expression devoid of any pity. "Then leave," she said, her voice as cold as the iron gates in front of them. "If you're scared, this isn't the place for you."

Ishigo flinched, his grip tightening on his sleeve. He stammered, "I… I need to make it through. I can't go back."

Reika's lips curled into a humorless smile, her thoughts sharp and biting. Crazy, or just overly brave? Either way, it doesn't matter.

She turned her gaze back to the gates. Survival was the only rule here. Weakness had no place.

A towering figure stepped forward then, his massive form casting a shadow over the trainees. His scowl was so fierce, it could freeze the very air. The trainer's voice was low and unwavering, cutting through the nervous whispers like a blade. "Yesterday, fifteen people were removed after the first round."

The weight of his words hung in the air, and Reika's stomach tightened. Injuries. Weakness isn't tolerated here.

"If you get injured, you're out," the trainer continued, his eyes sweeping over the group like a predator hunting for its next meal. "No exceptions."

A murmur rippled through the crowd, filled with uncertainty. One boy raised his hand, his voice weak with dread. "But… we were selected. Does that mean if we get hurt… we're out too?"

The trainer's eyes narrowed, and he answered, his tone even colder. "The organization selects only those with the potential for supernatural strength. You will be tested, not just physically, but mentally. The ones we removed yesterday weren't strong enough. You will be tested to your limits. This is survival."

Reika's heart raced at the word survival. This is real, she thought, the gravity of the situation settling into her chest. No room for mistakes. No time for hesitation.

The trainer's next words were a sharp cut through the thickening silence. "Today's test will be in the Kuroyami Forest."

A collective gasp rose from the trainees, and the air grew even more tense. The trainer's voice dropped, growing colder and more ominous. "The forest is unlike anything you've faced before. Wolves, razor-sharp panthers, venomous cobras, crocodiles guarding the river. And hidden within the trees, deadly Bubi traps. Step into one, and you won't walk out."

Reika's pulse quickened, but her breath remained steady. Dangers… This isn't just a game.

"And," the trainer added, his gaze unflinching, "You'll train through the night."

A ripple of confusion spread through the crowd. Reika frowned, her focus sharpening. At night?

One boy, his voice barely audible, asked, "How are we supposed to see anything in the dark?"

The trainer's eyes locked onto him with a cold intensity. "A normal human can't see in the dark. But those of you with supernatural strength—you will see. If you can't adapt, you fail."

A thick silence followed, and Reika's heart thudded in her chest. I'll adapt, she thought, her fingers curling around the Nunchaku at her side. I will survive.

"We will arm you with Nunchaku," the trainer's voice sliced through the silence, and a low murmur ran through the group. "These are your tools for survival. You'll use them to fight off the creatures in the forest. The goal is simple: survive. You can hide—but the beasts will find you."

Reika's grip tightened around the Nunchaku. It was familiar in her hands, but now it felt different. This is real.

Ishigo's small, trembling hand gripped her sleeve, his voice barely a whisper. "Reika… please… don't let them get me…"

Reika glanced down at him, her expression unreadable. Save him? The bitter laugh she stifled only made her resolve stronger. "Focus, Ishigo. Survival's not about saving anyone. It's about saving yourself."

The gates groaned as they creaked open, the sound echoing like a death knell. Beyond them lay an impenetrable darkness, the unknown stretching out before them like a hungry void. As the trainees began to file through, Reika's heart beat faster. There was no turning back now.

The gates slammed shut behind them, a finality in the sound that sent a chill down her spine. A thick fog began to roll in, cloaking the forest in an unnatural mist. The trees towered above them, twisted and gnarled, their skeletal branches creaking in the wind. The world around them felt suffocating—every sound, every movement, heightened to an unbearable intensity.

Reika's eyes swept across the forest, her senses on high alert. Every shadow, every crackling leaf, could be a threat. "Can you see anything?" she whispered, her voice barely audible, the words swallowed by the darkness.

"Not much…" Ishigo muttered beside her, his voice faint with fear.

Reika froze, her eyes locking onto something half-buried in the dirt. A skeleton. Its bones were shattered and jagged, the tattered remains of a uniform stained with dried blood.

"Those who failed," Ishigo whispered, his voice quivering. "The forest… takes them."

Reika's heart skipped a beat. This is it. This is survival.

"Focus," she snapped, her voice as cold as ever. "Keep moving. Stay alert."

The fog pressed in tighter, the trees twisting above them like gnarled fingers. The air thickened, and the silence grew more oppressive with each passing second. Suddenly, a sharp snap of a twig pierced the stillness, followed by a low growl that vibrated through the ground beneath their feet.

Reika's pulse spiked. She froze, every muscle in her body coiled like a spring. Her eyes scanned the darkness, searching. There, emerging from the shadows, was a massive panther, its molten gold eyes glowing in the mist. Its growl reverberated in her chest, sending a chill down her spine.

Ishigo stumbled behind her, his breath shallow and frantic. He kept his eyes on the ground, unwilling to face the darkness head-on. Then, a twig snapped again, and Ishigo took a hesitant step forward, gripping his Nunchaku with trembling hands.

"I… I'll help," he whispered, more to himself than anyone else.

Reika glanced at him, her expression unreadable. His face was pale, but there was something in his eyes—a flicker of resolve. Ishigo, finally.

She gave a curt nod, turning her attention back to the panther, which was circling them, its growl growing louder. Without warning, Ishigo stepped forward, swinging his Nunchaku in an unsteady arc. The weapon struck a nearby tree with a sharp crack, startling the beast.

The panther's attention snapped to Ishigo, its eyes flashing with fury. Reika seized the moment. She was faster, smoother, her movements sharp and deadly. In a blink, she closed the distance between herself and the panther, swinging her Nunchaku with precision. The blow struck the panther's side, sending it reeling back.

The panther roared in fury, its massive form thrashing wildly, but the blow had bought them time.

Ishigo stood straighter now, his grip on the Nunchaku firmer, his face flushed with adrenaline.

Reika glanced at him for a split second, a flicker of something—approval? "Good," she muttered, almost imperceptibly. "Stay focused."