The creature leapt at them with glowing yellow eyes and sharp claws. Rika grabbed Sky's arm and pulled him back.
"Run!" she shouted.
They turned and dashed through the trees. Branches whipped past, and Sky stumbled a little, still feeling weak. But the sound of the monster chasing them kept him moving.
"It's not stopping!" Rika cried, looking over her shoulder.
Sky turned for just a second. The shadow creature was fast—too fast. "We won't outrun it," he said. "I'll stop it."
"What?! You don't even know what it is!"
"I don't… but something inside me feels like I can fight."
Sky stopped running and turned to face the monster. Rika gasped and turned around too, staying behind him.
The creature growled and charged.
Sky took a deep breath. His chest began to glow—soft red light coming from the star-shaped mark. His hand lifted on its own.
Then, light burst from his palm—bright and hot.
The creature screamed and stopped, covering its face with smoke-like arms. It didn't like the light.
Sky stepped forward. "I don't know who I am… but I won't let you hurt her."
The light grew stronger. A red shape, like a blade of energy, formed in his hand. It wasn't a real sword, but it felt like one.
With one swing, Sky cut through the shadow. The creature let out a screech and vanished into smoke.
Sky fell to one knee, breathing hard.
Rika ran to him. "That was amazing! Are you okay?"
"I think so," he said, smiling a little. "That... was my first fight."
"You saved us."
Sky looked at his glowing hand, which slowly dimmed. "What am I?" he whispered.
Rika didn't answer. She didn't know either. But deep in her heart, she knew this was only the beginning.