The city of Fenralis stretched before Kijotsu, its towering red spires shimmering in the pale morning light. The streets were bustling, yet every gaze seemed to fix on him, as if they could sense the strange energy pulsing within his chest. The diamond in his pocket throbbed faintly, as if alive.

*Kijotsu, what is this place…?* he thought, his fists clenching. *And why am I the only one… different?*

Beside him, Notsu Manajika strode with measured confidence, his massive red sword resting on his shoulder. 

- “Welcome to Fenralis,” Notsu said, his voice calm yet commanding. “This world thrives on the power of spirits. Each being here carries one… and some are dangerous.”  

Kijotsu swallowed hard.  

- “Spirits…? You mean like… the diamond?”  

Notsu’s sharp gaze softened briefly.  

- “Yes. That diamond you touched has awakened an energy within you. I can feel it. It is strong… but untrained. One misstep could be catastrophic.”  

A sudden alarm bell rang across the city. The ground shook faintly as distant screams echoed.  

- “Shadows are attacking the southern district,” a guard shouted, running past.  

Notsu’s expression hardened.  

- “Stay back, Kijotsu. This is my fight.”  

Despite Notsu’s warning, Kijotsu felt an instinctive pull. Fear and curiosity warred inside him as he followed, keeping a safe distance. The southern streets were chaos—buildings smoldered, and monstrous creatures of black smoke and glowing red eyes tore through the city.  

Notsu leaped into battle, the red glow of his sword cutting through the darkness. Kijotsu froze, watching helplessly as each clash of steel sent shockwaves through the air. His heart pounded in his chest.

Then one of the shadow creatures lunged at him. The diamond in Kijotsu’s pocket flared, a surge of blue light erupting without warning. His body stiffened as energy raced from his chest through his arm. Without knowing how, he thrust his hand forward—and a blinding wave of light knocked the creature back, scattering the others.

Kijotsu staggered, gasping for breath. He stared at his trembling hands.  

*What… just happened?*  

Notsu approached, eyes wide with a mixture of awe and concern.  

- “You’ve released raw spirit energy… uncontrolled. That was dangerous, Kijotsu. Even the strongest warriors struggle to wield such power.”  

Kijotsu’s chest tightened, a mix of fear and exhilaration flooding him.  

- “Is… is this really me?” he whispered.  

Notsu’s gaze was steady.  

- “Yes. And if you want to survive here, you must learn to control it.”  

A faint whisper echoed in Kijotsu’s mind, soft but insistent:  

*“Soon… you will understand, Kijotsu. But not yet…”*  

As the city slowly settled from the attack, Kijotsu clutched the diamond tighter, a spark of determination lighting his gray eyes.  

*I will learn… I will get stronger…*