Chapter 5: The Shadow Protocol Activates
Ryo stood at the edge of the abyss, his heart racing, his mind a whirlwind of confusion and fear. He could still feel the aftershocks of the transformation that had just overtaken him—the surge of power, the strange voice in his head, the symbol that had burned itself into his very being. But now, standing before the chasm, there was no time for answers. There was only one thing left to do: survive.
The woman's words echoed in his mind. "You have to survive the next trial first. This is only the beginning."
He glanced at her, but she had already stepped forward, her figure vanishing into the darkness as though it were nothing more than a shadow. Her cryptic presence had already left him, yet the weight of her words remained.
"Survive…" he muttered under his breath, steeling himself. "That's all that matters now."
He took a deep breath, summoning the last of his courage, and followed her into the abyss.
The darkness was thick, consuming, like a living thing. It swallowed every trace of light as Ryo walked deeper into the chasm. His footsteps echoed in the empty void, the only sound to keep him company. The air was cold, colder than anything he had ever experienced. It felt as though the very atmosphere around him was suffocating, pressing in on him from all sides.
Ryo's senses had been heightened since the ritual—the awakening of the Shadow Protocol—and he could feel it all, every nuance of the space around him. The floor beneath his feet, the slight rustling in the distance, the shifting of the air. His instincts were sharper, more attuned to his surroundings than ever before.
He didn't know how long he walked. Time seemed to warp in the darkness, the oppressive silence making it feel as though the world had stopped. His thoughts were consumed by the power that now thrummed in his veins, and by the fear that his body might not be able to control it.
What was that symbol? What was this Code?
The strange voice had not returned since the vision, but Ryo could still hear it in his mind—the echoes of the words. "Your last breath… is your first code."
Every step felt heavier, as though the air itself was fighting against him, but he kept moving. Then, just as the darkness seemed to stretch on forever, a distant light appeared, faint but undeniable.
It was ahead, a flickering, pulsing light. Without thinking, Ryo broke into a run, the adrenaline rushing through his body. His feet carried him faster than he thought possible, the wind whipping past his face. The glow grew brighter as he drew closer, until it filled his vision entirely.
He rounded a corner—and then, he saw it.
A massive door loomed before him, its surface covered in intricate runes, glowing faintly in the dim light. It looked ancient, as though it had been carved into the stone by beings long forgotten. The door was unlike anything he had ever seen—elaborate, yet simple in its design. Its presence felt… alive.
Ryo stopped a few feet away from the door, his breath shallow as his instincts screamed at him. This was the trial.
He stepped forward hesitantly, placing a hand on the door. The moment his fingers made contact, the runes glowed brighter, the air crackling with energy. A deep rumbling sound filled the cavern, the ground beneath him vibrating. It was as though the door itself was waking, responding to his touch.
And then, without warning, the door swung open, revealing a vast chamber beyond. But what Ryo saw made his stomach drop.
It wasn't empty.
Inside the chamber, hundreds of figures were moving—shadowy silhouettes, twisted forms that barely resembled anything human. Their eyes glowed with an eerie, unnatural light. They moved in jerky, mechanical motions, as if they were puppets controlled by some unseen force.
The creatures were silent, but Ryo could feel their presence—feel their hunger. They were waiting for something.
The door behind him slammed shut, sealing him in the chamber. Ryo's heart skipped a beat, the realization dawning on him. This was it. The trial.
He unsheathed his sword, his grip steady despite the rising panic. The shadows closed in on him, and the creatures began to shuffle forward, their glowing eyes fixed on him.
With every step they took, Ryo's pulse quickened, his body going on instinct. His newfound power surged within him, and though he had no idea how to control it, he could feel it—it was raw, unrefined, but powerful.
A figure in the back of the chamber stepped forward. It was taller than the others, its form looming like a giant in the shadows. Ryo's breath caught in his throat. This one was different—it wasn't a puppet like the others. It moved with purpose, its eyes gleaming with intelligence.
Ryo tensed, ready for battle, but before he could react, the creature spoke, its voice low and guttural.
"You are not like the others, human."
Ryo narrowed his eyes. "What do you want?"
The creature tilted its head, a grotesque smile forming on its lips. "You've awakened. The Code is within you. But you are not ready."
Ryo's grip on his sword tightened. "I'll be ready soon enough."
The creature chuckled darkly. "We'll see about that."
Without another word, it lunged at him, its claws extending, the air around it crackling with dark energy. Ryo barely had time to react. He swung his sword in a wide arc, just barely managing to block the creature's attack. The force of the blow sent shockwaves through his body, but he held his ground.
The creatures around him advanced, their movements swift and relentless. But Ryo wasn't going to let them take him down—not without a fight.
As the creatures closed in, Ryo's mind raced. He could feel the power within him, surging, pushing at the edges of his consciousness. He didn't understand it fully yet, but he knew one thing: He couldn't fight these creatures with just brute strength.
He needed to harness the Code.
With a cry, Ryo focused all of his energy, willing the power within him to respond. And for the first time, the Code answered.
The air around him shimmered as the shadows warped and twisted. Ryo's sword glowed with a strange, ethereal light, and his senses sharpened to an almost unnatural level. He moved with a speed he had never known, his blade cutting through the creatures like hot steel through paper.
But it wasn't just his swordsmanship. It was the power of the Code—his new power—that was guiding his movements, amplifying his strength, and granting him control over the darkness itself.
The creatures screeched in agony as they were struck down, but the battle was far from over. More emerged from the shadows, relentless and ever-hungry.
Ryo gritted his teeth, his breath ragged. This is just the beginning.