"Hello, humans. It's nice to meet you."
The Special Darkside Spirit smiled gently.
Its appearance was disturbingly human. Long hair fell around its face, and its piercing green eyes looked almost ordinary. Its body was so similar to a human's that it even appeared to be wearing clothes, despite being completely naked.
"He... he can speak?" the Court Captain stammered. "How is that even possible?"
Fear spread through the Shinras.
No one dared to move.
The creature strolled toward them with a relaxed smile, as though they were meeting under peaceful circumstances rather than standing on a battlefield.
"Now then..." it said casually. "Who should I devour first?"
Its gaze swept across the group.
"You Shinras?"
Its eyes shifted toward the glowing Renshi Orb.
"Or perhaps your precious Renshi Orb?"
"Don't freeze up."
Falco's voice broke through their fear.
"We either stand and fight or die. Giving up isn't an option."
The Special Darkside Spirit turned toward him.
"A noble speech..."
Its smile faded.
"For a worthless piece of trash without any Renshi."
It casually flicked its fingers.
BOOM.
An invisible force struck Falco, launching him through the air. He crashed onto the ground far from the others.
"Ugh..."
Falco slowly pushed himself up.
For a brief moment, the thought of running crossed his mind.
Should I run?
He looked toward the Special Darkside Spirit.
No.
His fists tightened.
If that thing defeats them, catching me will be effortless. I'll end up dead anyway.
He forced himself to stand.
It's better to fight together than die alone.
With that, Falco turned and sprinted back toward the others.
"Mages," the Court Captain shouted. "Pour all your Renshi into strengthening our defenses. We're attacking now."
"Y-Yes, sir."
The trembling Mages raised their hands.
Renshi spread around the Shinras, forming protective barriers over their bodies.
One Mage leaned toward another.
"Come to think of it, the Head Captain encountered both a Special Darkside Spirit and an Alpha Darkside Spirit."
He glanced around the battlefield.
"But we're only seeing one here."
The other Mage's expression darkened.
"That must mean they sent both powerful ones to face the Head Captain."
He swallowed nervously.
"They knew a single Special Darkside Spirit wouldn't be enough against him."
"You insects dare resist me?"
The Special Darkside Spirit's voice suddenly turned cold.
"Then die..."
Its smile returned.
"...and become my meal."
It snapped its fingers.
CRACK.
The ground split apart.
Several Shinras plunged into the widening chasm.
"Ahhh."
Falco was already rushing toward the group when he saw the earth opening beneath them.
"Jump."
He leapt into the air.
Mega and several other Shinras followed, springing away from the collapsing ground.
A moment later, the earth slammed shut.
BOOM.
The fallen Shinras disappeared beneath the ground.
Silence descended over the battlefield.
"We just lost half our unit..."
The Court Captain stared at the sealed earth in horror.
"All from a snap of its fingers."
His hands trembled.
"How are we supposed to fight something like this?"
"I have an idea."
Falco rushed toward him.
"Mages, cast a flotation spell."
The Captain turned to him.
"What?"
"Just one meter off the ground," Falco explained urgently. "If we're not touching the earth, that trick shouldn't work."
The Mages immediately understood.
"Right."
Mega stared at Falco in disbelief.
"You're alive? I didn't think you'd come back."
Falco glanced at him.
"I told you. I'm not dying alone."
"Oh, the garbage boy returns."
The Special Darkside Spirit chuckled.
"You really must want to die."
Falco glared at it.
"I'm not a boy, you impostor human."
He pointed toward himself.
"I have three boys of my own, so keep that trash talk to yourself."
Mega stared at him.
"Seriously?"
"Flotation spell complete."
A Mage interrupted them.
"You'll remain suspended one meter above the ground for over an hour. However, while the spell is active, we won't be able to cast any support spells."
He looked toward the fighters.
"You're on your own."
Suddenly---
CRACK.
The ground split apart again.
"Rocks," a Shinra shouted.
Massive boulders tore free from the earth, each nearly fifty times larger than a man.
Then they hurtled toward the Shinras.
"Don't waste your Renshi," the Court Captain ordered. "Dodge."
The fighters scattered.
The Captain sidestepped one boulder, narrowly avoiding its path.
But another suddenly slammed into him from behind.
BOOM.
He crashed to the ground.
His flotation spell shattered.
The moment his body touched the earth, the spell's effect spread through the group.
One by one, the Shinras lost their suspension and dropped back to the ground.
The Special Darkside Spirit smiled.
"This is your end."
It raised one hand.
The massive boulders began to rise again, gathering above the fallen Shinras.
The creature was preparing to hurl them at its helpless opponents.
Then it stopped.
Its eyes widened.
It tilted its head, staring toward the dust.
"This..."
Its expression shifted as it sensed something.
"This Renshi..."
Amusement vanished from its face, replaced by an intense hunger.
"What is this power?"
A dark aura suddenly spread across the battlefield.
The dust began to swirl.
Then Falco stepped forward.
Dense Renshi enveloped his entire body, swirling around him like a dark storm.
Mega struggled to his feet, staring at him in disbelief.
"What...?"
He could hardly believe what he was seeing.
"He doesn't have any Renshi..."
His eyes widened further as the aura continued to surge around Falco.
"So how...?"
The sheer amount of Renshi surrounding Falco was overwhelming.
"How is he wielding ten times more than me... or even more?"
The Court Captain watched in silence.
"This isn't an awakening."
His gaze followed Falco's movements.
"It feels like something he's kept hidden all along."
His eyes narrowed as he observed the dense aura surrounding the blacksmith.
"Look at how precise his control is."
He paused.
"He must have lived with this power his entire life."
Falco lowered his head.
His expression turned cold.
Inside his mind, his own voice echoed.
I swore I'd never use this power again.
Since I was twelve...
I tried to live like a Mage without Renshi.
His dark aura grew stronger.
Because this power... this darkness... shouldn't exist.
Falco slowly raised his head.
But I don't care anymore.
His fists tightened.
I'll use anything to get back to my family.
The Special Darkside Spirit stared at him.
Its body trembled.
Then its smile widened.
"A jackpot..."
Its eyes burned with hunger.
"Devouring this Dark Renshi..."
It began to laugh.
"...will push me to the next level."
Its laughter echoed across the ruined battlefield.