The Academy's peaceful rhythm was shattered in an instant. Kujo had been heading back to his dorm after training, expecting to find Niko already asleep, waiting for him with one of the books he loved to read. But as he approached, something felt wrong. The air was thick with a strange, unsettling tension, and then—a scream, distant yet unmistakable, tore through the night.
Before Kujo could react, the Academy grounds erupted in chaos. Students and instructors scattered, their voices panicked, shouts and cries filling the once-quiet halls. Kujo's heart raced as he sprinted toward the dorms, the faint glimmer of his powers humming at his fingertips as he braced himself for whatever was coming.
In the courtyard, a figure moved with terrifying speed, cloaked in darkness, their every step leaving destruction in its wake. The intruder moved with deadly precision, dispatching anyone who tried to stand in their way. Bodies lay scattered across the courtyard, and Kujo's stomach twisted as he realized the brutality of the attack.
He had one thought, one focus—Niko. He pushed past the crowds, calling his brother's name, his voice barely audible over the cacophony around him. "Niko! Where are you?"
He reached the dorm building, throwing open the door and tearing down the hall, his heart pounding. And then, at the end of the corridor, he saw him—Niko, crumpled on the floor, his small body limp and unmoving.
"Niko!" Kujo shouted, rushing forward, dropping to his knees beside him. He reached out, his hands trembling as he turned the boy over, his heart shattering at the sight.
Niko's eyes were half-open, glazed and distant, his face pale. A small, dark stain spread across his chest, and Kujo realized with horror that it was blood—Niko's blood. His little brother, the boy he'd sworn to protect, was slipping away before his very eyes.
"No... no, no," Kujo whispered, cradling Niko's face in his hands. "Stay with me, Niko. Please. You're going to be okay. I'm here."
Niko's eyes focused slightly, a faint, pained smile flickering across his face. His voice was barely a whisper. "Kujo... you... you're here."
"I'm here," Kujo choked out, his vision blurring as he fought back tears. "You're safe now. Just hold on."
But Niko's gaze grew dimmer, his breaths shallow and weak. His small hand reached up, gripping Kujo's shirt with the last bit of strength he had. "Thank you... for being my family," he murmured, his voice trailing off as his grip loosened, slipping away.
"No... no, Niko, don't go," Kujo begged, his voice breaking. "Please, don't leave me."
But it was too late. Niko's hand fell, his body going still in Kujo's arms. Kujo sat there, numb with shock, his heart splintering as he realized he'd lost him—the little brother he'd taken in, the boy he'd come to care for more than he ever thought possible.
In that moment, something within Kujo shattered. The Academy around him seemed to fade, the sounds of the chaos blurring into silence as he held Niko's lifeless body, his mind reeling with grief and rage. He'd sworn to protect him, to give him a life worth living, and now, that promise lay broken, just like the boy in his arms.
Kujo's vision sharpened, his hands curling into fists as he slowly stood, his gaze turning toward the courtyard where the attacker still wreaked havoc. A dark, cold fury burned within him, a need for vengeance taking root in his heart. The person who'd done this, who'd taken Niko from him, would pay.
He took a step forward, his powers flaring to life, the metal around him vibrating, coiling like serpents waiting to strike. His mind was a blur, his focus narrowing to a single, relentless purpose. Whoever this attacker was, they would face the full force of his wrath. They would know the pain they'd caused, and he would stop at nothing to make sure they regretted it.
As he moved through the halls, his fists clenched and his jaw set, Kujo knew he was no longer the same. The family he'd found had been torn from him, and now, all that remained was the cold, unyielding resolve to avenge the boy he'd loved like a brother.
And as he stepped into the night, ready to face the monster who'd shattered his world, he felt nothing but the dark, silent rage driving him forward.
YOU ARE READING
Phantom Awakening
Fantasy[ALL CHAPTERS PRE-WRITTEN] a world where those with powerful abilities shape the fate of nations, fourteen-year-old Kujo enters the legendary Academy, a place known to forge heroes-or break them. Gifted with the rare power to control metal, Kujo hop...
