The Ice Queen and The Dark Prince

That Wears

Minatiro stood in the center of the training field, his hand wrapped tightly around the hilt of the Abyssus Noctis, the onyx katana pulsing with dark energy. The shadows around him twisted and shifted unnaturally, as if alive, drawn to the abyssal power of the blade. Across from him, Esdeath stood with her arms crossed, a small smile playing on her lips. She was eager to see what he could do with his new Teigu.

The rest of the Jaegers watched from the sidelines, their expressions ranging from intrigue to wariness. Wave looked especially nervous, his eyes darting between Esdeath and Minatiro, while Kurome, always composed, observed with a keen interest. Bols stood silently, as was his nature, and Run hovered nearby, arms crossed, studying every movement.

Esdeath called out, breaking the silence. "Show me what that Teigu can do."

Minatiro nodded, unsheathing the Abyssus Noctis. The moment the blade left its scabbard, the air around him grew thick with darkness. Shadows rippled from the ground, forming tendrils that lashed out unpredictably. A wave of oppressive energy radiated outward, causing a few of the Jaegers to flinch.

"Whoa," Wave muttered under his breath. "That's intense."

Kurome, usually indifferent, raised an eyebrow. "It's like the blade's alive. You can feel it, can't you? The malice."

Bols, ever the stoic, shifted slightly. "It's not just malice. There's pain in that weapon... suffering."

Run, always the strategist, adjusted his glasses as he watched Minatiro closely. "Abyssus Noctis isn't just a tool. It's reacting to him, feeding off his emotions. If he doesn't control it, it could overwhelm him."

Without warning, Esdeath lunged at Minatiro, her rapier flashing through the air with lightning speed. Minatiro barely had time to react, raising the Abyssus Noctis to block. As the two blades collided, a shockwave of dark energy exploded from the katana, sending ripples through the ground.

Minatiro grunted, struggling to maintain control. The katana's power was immense, and each strike felt like it was drawing more out of him than he intended. He swung the blade again, this time intentionally unleashing the shadows. Dark tendrils erupted from the ground, spiraling toward Esdeath like hungry serpents.

Esdeath dodged with ease, her movements graceful as ever. "Not bad, but you'll need more than that to keep up."

Minatiro gritted his teeth and slashed again. The shadows formed jagged spikes, attempting to impale Esdeath from all directions. But she was too fast, weaving between the attacks with deadly precision.

Wave winced as he watched the exchange. "Man, Esdeath's not even going all out, and he's struggling."

Kurome, arms crossed, smirked. "Esdeath's testing him. The real challenge isn't her—it's that sword."

Run nodded in agreement. "If he can control the Abyssus Noctis, he'll be a force to be reckoned with. But if he lets it take over, he'll be nothing more than a puppet to its will."

Esdeath finally struck back, launching a barrage of ice spears toward Minatiro. He swung the Abyssus Noctis upward, and the shadows responded, forming a swirling barrier that absorbed the icy projectiles. The air around them crackled with tension as the dark energy collided with the frost.

Bols spoke up, his voice low and thoughtful. "He's holding on, but for how long? That kind of power... it's not something you can just wield without consequence."

Wave nodded. "Yeah, but you can't help but respect him for trying. Most people would've crumbled by now."

Back on the field, Minatiro was reaching his limit. The Abyssus Noctis was relentless, urging him to tap into more of its power, whispering in the back of his mind to let go. He shook his head, refusing to give in. With a deep breath, he focused, slashing the katana with more intent. This time, the shadows responded in full force, forming a massive wave of dark energy that surged toward Esdeath.