The days that followed that harrowing night passed in a strange, quiet peace—like the calm after a storm that had only just begun. Rai, Alfin, and Diana, now bonded through their shared survival, pressed deeper into the shadows of the Tuyul Forest. Every step forward brought stronger enemies, darker secrets, and greater rewards. The trio worked in perfect sync, their abilities complementing each other in a way that made them nearly unstoppable.
As the week unfolded, their scores soared far beyond the rest of the participants:
Rai: 2507
Alfin: 1956
Diana: 1768
Diana, whose connection with her khodam—a mythical nine-tailed fox—had deepened, uncovered a curious and unexpected power. By channeling her khodam's energy into the delicate fur of its tails, she could release pink-colored electricity that shimmered with a strange, sensual charge. It was beautiful… and deeply confusing.
At first, she laughed with innocent delight, fascinated by the elegant arcs of light. But when she used it in battle against a group of Tuyuls, their reactions were… bizarre. They twitched, froze, whimpered, and some even lost control of their bodily functions—collapsing with wide eyes and flushed faces.
Alfin and Rai exchanged wide-eyed glances.
"…That attack," Alfin murmured, "It's… targeting their nerves. Their most sensitive points."
Rai covered his mouth, trying not to laugh. Diana, face flushed bright pink, wished she could disappear into the earth. Especially when she remembered the legends surrounding her khodam. The nine-tailed fox had always been associated with illusions of seduction, feminine charm, and the art of temptation.
By the end of the seventh day, their team still held the top rank. But fate, it seemed, had other plans. As they journeyed to the farthest depths of the forest, the air grew colder… heavier. Then, without warning, the sky darkened.
Floating above the trees, a Whale Jin emerged—massive, ancient, and radiating an aura of suffocating dread. Its eyes, cold and otherworldly, locked onto them.
"KHUUUUAAAAA!!"
The Jin's mouth opened, wide enough to swallow the trees—and them—with ease.
Rai reacted instantly, summoning his Shadow Hand to form a protective shield. Alfin hurled his spear, spinning it with desperation. Diana's pink lightning lashed out like whips. But nothing worked. Their attacks vanished like sparks against an ocean.
And just as all hope was slipping from their fingertips…
He arrived.
From the skies descended Keil, his presence like sunlight breaking through a storm. His khodam—a majestic swordmaster with hawk-like wings—landed beside them. The warrior's blade gleamed with black voodoo energy, the air itself humming with ominous power.
With one swift, graceful motion, he slashed through the monstrous Whale Jin. The beast let out a final, trembling wail… and was cleaved in two.
Silence returned.
Rai stared, breathless, as Keil turned toward him with a faint smile. His voice was soft, almost teasing.
"Always getting into trouble, aren't you?"
Something in Rai's chest stirred—a warmth he hadn't expected. Their eyes lingered a moment too long. The chaos around them faded into the background. Rai's heart beat a little faster.
From behind, Alfin watched. His grip tightened slightly on his spear. He didn't say a word, but his gaze hardened.
After the final exam, the results were announced. As expected, Rai and his team held the highest scores in the entire class. They should have been celebrating.
But Keil had other plans.
He led Rai away from the crowd, through winding halls until they arrived at a quiet chamber lit by amber candles. There, waiting for them, was Shaman Rosso—a figure cloaked in mystery and old, forbidden power.
The shaman studied Rai in silence before finally speaking.
"Your khodam… it's rare. Dangerous. It speaks in tongues I have not heard for decades. You wield voodoo energy, a darkness so ancient it could extinguish stars. It does not belong in the hands of a girl barely beginning his path."
Rosso stepped closer, eyes sharp. "Let me train you. Let me guide you. Not just for your sake, but for the safety of everyone around you."
Rai hesitated—until she felt a gentle touch on her shoulder.
Keil stood beside her, his hand warm, steady. His voice was quiet but filled with conviction.
"I'll be with you. Whatever path you choose, Rai… I'll walk it too."
For a moment, Rai forgot to breathe. His heart felt light… and heavy at once.
In the shadows behind them, Alfin turned away, jaw clenched. He didn't understand why the sight of Keil and Rai together made his chest ache.
But he would soon.
After the ceremony, Rai, Alfin, and Diana walked home together, their steps quiet against the golden hue of the setting sun. Laughter echoed between them, light and easy—until Diana pulled out her phone and grinned at the screen.
"Who's making you smile like that?" Alfin asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Kael," Diana answered casually. "We've been chatting since the forest. I asked for his number after he saved us. He's cool—just a friend!" she added, sneaking a glance at Rai, as if testing his reaction.
Rai lowered his head, a strange tightness in his chest. Why does it bother me seeing Diana get close to Kael? he wondered. He's just a senior... right?
The Veil of Rebirth pulsed faintly against his soul, as if mirroring his confusion.
Am I jealous because I like Kael… or because I don't want to lose his attention?
He glanced sideways nervously, hoping Alfin hadn't noticed his flushed face.
Alfin, however, wore a bitter smile. My sister really is a perfect match for that nine-tailed fox spirit—charming, clever, and able to steal hearts without trying. But his jealousy wasn't directed at Diana. No, it was Kael. He remembered the way Kael had looked at Rai—not just with admiration, but something deeper, something softer.
If Diana ends up with Kael, that's one less rival... Alfin thought. But why does that idea bother me even more?
Their thoughts were interrupted as a figure appeared at the end of the path—a tall young man in a black shaman robe, a massive serpent khodam coiled around his shoulders.
"Rai, right?" the stranger said, voice calm but his eyes sharp with interest. "The master says your voodoo khodam is something special. I'm Jony—Rosso's first disciple. Looks like we'll be seeing each other often."
Rai tensed—not just because of Jony's aura, but the way his gaze seemed to search for something beneath the surface.
Alfin took a step closer to Rai, subtly protective. Kael was already a problem… now this guy too?
Diana, ever the mood-lifter, just grinned. "Wow, looks like our team's getting pretty famous!"
A two-day break awaited them, but it wouldn't just be their bodies that needed rest. With emotions stirring and bonds beginning to shift, something deeper was beginning to unfold.
Under the calm of the night sky, none of them knew what was truly rising—not just power...
But something far more dangerous.