Whispers of Shikiban:The king walk among us

The jungle was alive with whispers. Leaves rustled in the suffocating darkness, their trembling barely masking the sound of low, guttural breathing. A deep, primal hunger.

Reika's pulse pounded in her ears as she gripped her nunchaku, her knuckles white from tension. Her body ached from hours of relentless combat, but she couldn't afford to waver—not now.

Across from her, the black panther prowled through the shadows, its massive frame nearly blending into the night. But its eyes—those glowing, hunger-ridden eyes—pierced through the darkness like molten gold. It hadn't eaten in days. Maybe longer.

Then it roared.

The sound ripped through the air like a physical force, rattling Reika's ribs, her breath hitching in her throat. Its fangs, like curved daggers, gleamed under the moonlight, razor-sharp and wet with hunger.

Ishigo stood beside her, his stance relaxed, but his eyes—sharp and calculating—never left the beast.

"Reika," he murmured, his breath steady despite the overwhelming tension. "It looks like it can identify our weak spots."

Reika narrowed her eyes. That would explain why it had been circling them like a vulture, waiting, analyzing. Testing.

Then—the panther lunged.

A black blur streaked toward her with terrifying speed.

Move.

Reika twisted at the last moment, her reflexes kicking in just in time. The panther's claws tore through the empty air where her throat had been a second ago, grazing her shoulder instead. Pain seared through her skin, but she gritted her teeth.

No hesitation. No fear.

She lashed out—her nunchaku snapped forward, smashing into the beast's skull.

The impact sent a shudder through the panther's massive frame, its body recoiling for the briefest moment. Its golden eyes flickered. Weakness.

"Ishigo, I hit its head—it flinched!" Reika's voice was breathless but sharp. "That's its weak spot!"

Ishigo's eyes flickered with realization. He tightened his grip on his own nunchaku, the chain coiling between his fingers like a viper ready to strike.

The panther snarled and leapt again.

This time, both of them moved as one.

Ishigo swung first, his nunchaku slicing through the air in a deadly arc. It connected—CRACK!—the beast staggered, its snarl turning into a guttural cry.

Reika didn't hesitate. She whirled forward, her weapon a blur, bringing it down onto the exact same spot—again. And again.

Each blow landed with sickening force. Each strike more brutal than the last.

The panther reeled, its legs buckling, its massive body crashing into the dirt.

Reika muttered under her breath, her gaze locked onto the beast. "I will."

With one final, crushing blow, the nunchaku cracked through the panther's skull.

Silence.

Then, slowly—the beast began to burn.

Flames erupted from its wounds, swallowing its flesh in eerie blue fire. Reika stepped back, her breath ragged, watching as the panther's body disintegrated into embers.

But amidst the ashes, something gleamed.

A crystal.

It sat there, pulsing faintly with violet light, its smooth surface thin as glass—but inside, a strange, glowing liquid swirled like living fire.

Reika bent down, her fingers trembling as she picked it up.

"Ishigo," she murmured, her voice unsteady. "This… this isn't normal."

Ishigo's brows furrowed. "Take it. It might be important."

She slipped the crystal into her pocket. But before she could process the events, a sharp wire lashed around her leg.

Her eyes widened. A trap.

The wire sliced through her boot, digging into flesh. Pain erupted up her calf as blood seeped down her leg. Before she could react, she lost her balance.

Her heart seized as she saw what lay below—rows of knives, gleaming like the fangs of a beast, waiting to impale her.

A split second before impact, Ishigo grabbed her wrist.

"Gotcha!" he gritted out, yanking her back with all his strength.

Reika's breath hitched, her vision spinning. If he had been a second late… she would have been dead.

Ishigo knelt down, cutting the wire from her leg. "Booby trap," he muttered, his tone dark.

Reika gritted her teeth against the pain. She could feel the warm trickle of blood running down her skin, soaking into the dirt beneath her.

"I'm injured," she whispered, her voice empty. Her fingers curled into fists. "I'll be disqualified."

No.

No.

She couldn't fail now.

As if hearing her silent despair, the crystal in her pocket pulsed.

Reika's breath caught as she pulled it out. The violet glow intensified, illuminating the entire area. Then—the liquid inside shifted.

Before she could react, the liquid spilled out—turning into fire.

But instead of burning her, it wrapped around her wounded leg.

The pain vanished.

Reika's eyes widened. Her leg—healed.

Ishigo stared, stunned. "That… that thing just healed you."

Understanding dawned in Reika's mind. "It's the lifeblood of these beasts… they hold power. This training—it's not just about physical strength. It's survival of the mind, too."

Ishigo nodded, exhaling deeply.

As Reika pushed herself up, the first light of dawn began to creep over the horizon.

A new day.

Another battle won.

And deep in her chest, a fire had ignited.

She would become Kageshiki. No matter what.

Even if it meant becoming a monster herself.