Elements: Age of Creation

A Rising Threat

The fog thickened, consuming the campus in a dense, unnatural mist. The streetlights flickered, their glow struggling to pierce through the eerie haze. Hikaru's heart pounded in his chest as the smoke-covered figure loomed above them.

"The Element of Light… I've found you."

Hikaru gritted his teeth. Whoever–or whatever–this thing was, it wasn't human. The way it moved, the waay the fog swirled around it… this was something else.

Behind him, Yami, Aoi, Hikari, and Mei stood frozen in confusion and fear.

"We need to get out of here," Aoi whispered.

Hikaru turned to them. "You need to get out of here. Now."

Hikari immediately shook hehr head. "I'm not leaving you, Hikaru!"

"Hikari–"

Hikaru clenched his fists. He didn't have time for they stayed here, they'd be caught in the fight, and he had no idea what Smokewraith was capable of.

"Hikari, listen to me!" he snapped. "I need you to take Aoi and Mei and find Teshii. He'll know what to do."

Hikari hesistated, her golden eyes filled with frustration.

But Hikaru grabbed her shoulders, his gaze serious. "Please."

She bit her lip but finally nodden. "…Fine, But you better not do anything stupid."

"No promises," Hikaru muttered.

Yami stepped forward. "And me?"

Hikaru met his old friend's gaze. "Yami, go with them. Make sure they get somewhere safe."

For a moment, it looked like Yami was going to refuse. His sharp violet eyes studied Hikaru carefully. Then, finally, he sighed. "Don't die."

With that, he turned and led the others away, disappearing into the fog.

Hikaru let out of breath, then turned back toward his enemy.

It was just him now.

Confrontation on the Rooftop

Following the shifting smoke, Hikaru sprinted toward one of the taller buildings on campus. His instincts screamed at him–this thing wanted to fight.

And he had no choice but to face it.

The rooftop was eerily silent. The fog swirled unnaturally, thick and suffocating. And in the middle of it stood Smokewraith, their form constantly shifting between solid and vapor. Their glowing ember-like eyes locked onto Hikaru.

"You're brave," the entity mused, voice distorted as if it came from multiple places at once. "Or foolish."

Hikaru clenched his fists. "What do you want from me?"

Smokewraith tilted their head. "Your power. I need to know if you're worthy of it."

Without warning, the fog rushed toward him.

Hikaru barely had time to react. He leaped to the side just as tendrils of smoke shot toward him, slamming into the rooftop where he had stood moments before.

The impact cracked the concrete.

That would've crushed me…

Hikaru steadied himself, but there was one problem–

He had no idea how to use his powers.

An Unfair Fight

Smokewraith moved swiftly, dissolving into a cloud of black smoke before reforming behind Hikaru.

"Too slow."

A solid kick slammed into Hikaru's back, sending him skidding across the rooftop. He gasped, rolling to a stop before forcing himself up.

His ribs ached. His body screamed in protest.

Smokewraith barely seemed interested. "Pathetic."

Hiaru gritted his teeth. Come on… think!

Back in the alley, his Element of Light had awakened–his body had responded instinctively. But now? Now he needed to control it.

He focused, trying to summon that power again.

Nothing.

Smokewraith raised a hand. The fog condensed into a massive spear, forming in their grip.

Hikaru's breath caught in his throat.

"Let's see if you survive this."

Smokewraith hurled the smoke spear straight at him.

Hikaru's mind screamed–

Move!

His body reacted.

And for the first time, the light inside him sparked to life.