The Ytherrian Luminary

Chapter 52: Chapter 52: Shiri



The silence of the forest wrapped around Xalin and his group, thick and tense as they gathered their thoughts after the recent, intense confrontation. The ground was scorched, and the air still crackled faintly from the residual energy left behind. Each of them bore the signs of the clash—the fatigue, the cuts, and the bruises—but their spirits burned brighter than ever.

Xalin looked down, hands clenched, recalling the shadowed figure who had watched their every move. He hadn't sensed such a powerful aura before, not even during his past encounters. The way that opponent toyed with them, countering every move with such terrifying precision, had exposed the limits of his abilities. Determination set into his jaw, and he turned to his companions.

"Lira, Kell," he said, his voice steady but intense, "we can't let ourselves stay at this level. We need to go deeper—to push beyond the surface of our powers and truly understand them. That opponent…they didn't even go all out."

Lira nodded, wiping a trickle of blood from her lip. "I felt it, too. That wasn't just raw strength; it was control. They were holding back but still felt leagues ahead of us. If we're to stand a chance…we need something more."

Kell looked down, brow furrowed, his shadows flickering at his fingertips. "I know exactly what you mean," he muttered. "My ultimate move, 'Shadow Covenant,' it should have drained my reserves, but I felt the strain far less in that fight. I think it's time to fully master it."

A voice broke through the quiet, making the trio tense up, hands ready for battle. Emerging from the shadows was an unfamiliar figure. His face was serene, yet his eyes held an ancient knowing—a deep wisdom tempered by lifetimes. It was Shiri, but this time, he'd taken over a human vessel.

"I see the fight you endured has pushed you all to your limits," Shiri said, his voice tinged with amusement. "Onyxrazor must have quite the influence over you now, Luminary."

Xalin narrowed his eyes, defensive. "What do you mean?"

"Onyxrazor wasn't an ordinary spirit," Shiri continued, hands behind his back as he slowly paced around the clearing. "In the spirit realm, he was an outcast—a force misunderstood, his darkness feared rather than understood."

Shiri's expression softened as he explained. "You see, Onyxrazor was born from chaos, a manifestation of fear and survival. From his creation, he fought against the ancient spirits who deemed him 'tainted.' He grew stronger and stronger, but the world saw only his darkness. They cast him out, banished him to the fringes, and made him the villain they feared."

The trio exchanged glances, captivated by the spirit's history. Lira's gaze softened. "So…he was a victim?"

"Of misunderstanding, yes," Shiri confirmed. "But resentment is a dangerous seed. Onyxrazor turned that hurt inward, letting it transform him. The darker his power grew, the more he embraced it, until even he began to believe himself as the monster they saw him to be."

Xalin looked down, troubled. "And now he's…within me."

Shiri nodded gravely. "Yes, he is, Luminary. But that darkness is part of what makes you strong. Onyxrazor's power is vast, yet it's your heart that guides its path."

Before Xalin could ask more, Shiri's eyes flashed, and the spirit left the human vessel, leaving behind a dazed and confused stranger.


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