Spark in Darkness: Unworldy encounter/Prototype

Spark 15: All gone

The Nayshard bellowed, and tried to swipe at Shinesh. But Shinesh was a step faster. He smashed his shining fists into the mask of the Nayshard, causing the Nayshard to stumble backwards, smoke rising from the wound.

The Nayshard let out another groan as he swung his fists around, trying to land a blow on Shinesh. Shinesh dodged them with agility, and with a battle cry, launched a barrage of fist blows onto the Nayshard, each fist shining brighter than the previous one. Haruki could make out specks of black aura rising from each punch.

"ORA!"

With the two fists shining in a dazzling light, they smashed into the Nayshard.

Shinesh panted heavily as the towering monster before him fell.

"The reason why you lost...is because you pissed me off!" Shinesh snarled. His whole body was releasing an aura of hatred, which sent a chill down Haruki's spine.

Nonetheless, Haruki was left breathless at the skillful blows Shinesh had landed on the Nayshard, each one strong and beautiful. This...was the strength of the Torch.

As Haruki hurried down the building towards Hak, he wondered vaguely if he could pull off such a dazzling attack.

When he reached Hak, Shinesh was already beside the lifeless body, shaking it in a futile attempty to wake his friend up.

"Hey...Hak...what are you doing? The battle has ended...you can wake up now...hey..." Shinesh nudged the bloodied body, his voice shaky.

Haruki could only stare as the fact settled in. The tanned boy who was his senior was dead. His voice just minutes ago already felt so distant. This...this was the war he had to fight. Against the Nayshard.

Two streams of hot liquid streaming down his face, Haruki clenched his fists tightly. There was Rinya Nightblade, and then there were the other Nayshards. His mind went back to Gless Moria and the boars he fought so far. They were all Nayshards, so why were they so different?

The cries of the two young men were especially heartbreaking, in the silence that followed the battle.

***

The townspeople had agreed to let Hak be buried at the Town of Harve's cemetry. Everyone mourned for the passing of a great Spark, and the townspeople were especially grateful the Sparks had defeated the Nayshard.

"Now...all that's left is his Spark, huh." Shinesh said, pointing at the spear lying beside the tombstone.

"Strange...it's supposed to disappear when the user die, right? Why...why is it still here?" Haruki asked.

When you infuse a large amount of Spark into the Torch, the Spark will keep the Torch materialised for a while more before disappearing, regardless of the user's death."

Haruki nodded. "I see..."

His hand stretched out subconsciously to touch the weapon, and the moment his fingertips brushed against the cold steel, it vanished into particles of light.

The particles of light floated around Haruki for a while before landing on him, arm, chest, head and all. He felt warm, as though a person was hugging him.

"This..."

"Hmph. Seems like that guy kept his promise, huh." Shinesh smirked, a contrast to his tear-stricken face.

"Eh?"

Shinesh looked at the tombstone and continued. "We made a promise after getting our Torches. That if we were no longer around, we would grant you 'Flame'."