Soulless Lord: Empty life

The journey out of the cavern was tense, each step heavier than the last. Tobi could still feel the lingering energy in the air, like a faint hum vibrating in his bones. He didn't dare speak, not even to Friend, whose normally sharp banter had been replaced with a contemplative silence.

Moritaka broke the stillness. "That thing… the wraith. You think it was targeting him?" He glanced over his shoulder at Tobi, his tone accusatory. "You think that's going to keep happening?"

"Yes," Hiki replied bluntly, her pace steady. "And it's only going to get worse."

Tobi winced at her honesty but couldn't deny it. The wraith had been unlike anything he'd faced before, and the thought of encountering more—especially something stronger—filled him with dread.

"Then why are we bringing him along?" Moritaka snapped. "He's a liability."

"Enough," Hiki said sharply, her voice cutting through the tension like a blade. "Tobi's powers are unstable, but we need him. The enemies we're facing—whoever summoned that wraith—aren't going to stop. He's part of this now, whether we like it or not."

Moritaka muttered something under his breath but didn't argue further.

Tobi kept his head down, a mix of shame and determination swelling in his chest. He didn't want to be a burden. He didn't want to be the reason anyone got hurt. But how could he prove himself if his power was more danger than strength?

They reached a narrow tunnel that sloped upward, the air growing colder and thinner. Hiki paused, gesturing for the group to stop.

"We're approaching the Old District," she said. "The abandoned sector. Stay sharp. The terrain is unstable, and we're not the only ones who use these paths."

"Abandoned?" Tobi asked. "Why?"

"Collapses," Hiki explained. "Tunnels gave out decades ago. The city didn't bother rebuilding—it wasn't worth the resources. Now it's a haven for outcasts, scavengers, and worse."

Friend's voice echoed in Tobi's mind. "Sounds cozy. Let's hope the locals aren't in a welcoming mood."

As they pressed on, the atmosphere grew heavier, the walls of the tunnel widening into what had once been a bustling underground district. Crumbled buildings and broken walkways stretched into the shadows, remnants of a forgotten era.

Tobi felt an unsettling presence, as if the ruins themselves were watching. He glanced at Friend, who was sniffing the air, his ears twitching.

"Something's off," Friend said, his tone unusually serious. "We're not alone."

Before Tobi could warn the others, a faint voice echoed through the cavern. It was soft, almost melodic, but it carried a chilling undertone that sent shivers down Tobi's spine.

"Lost little children… wandering where they don't belong."

Hiki froze, her hand moving to her weapon. Moritaka raised his energy blade, his expression tense.

"Show yourself!" Hiki commanded, her voice steady despite the growing tension.

The voice chuckled, the sound reverberating around them. "So bold. So fragile. You tread on sacred ground, yet you know nothing of what lies beneath."

From the shadows emerged a figure cloaked in tattered robes, their face obscured by a hood. They moved with an unsettling grace, their steps silent despite the debris underfoot. Behind them, more figures appeared, their forms barely distinguishable from the darkness.

"Cultists," Moritaka muttered, his grip tightening on his weapon. "Great."

Hiki's eyes narrowed. "You're with the Shadow Faction."

The hooded figure tilted their head, as if amused. "We are merely the keepers of the truth. The surface, the stones, your precious Gifts—they are all lies. But you… the boy…" They turned their gaze to Tobi, and though their face remained hidden, Tobi felt the weight of their attention like a physical force.

"You carry the mark," the figure continued. "The power to break the cycle. Or to doom us all."

Tobi's breath hitched. "What are you talking about?"

The figure raised a hand, and the other cultists stepped forward, forming a circle around the group. "Come with us willingly, and we will show you the path. Resist, and you will perish."

Hiki didn't wait for Tobi to respond. She drew her weapon, a sleek rifle that hummed with energy, and aimed it at the cultists. "You've made your choice."

The cavern erupted into chaos. Bolts of energy lit up the darkness as Hiki and Moritaka engaged the cultists. Tobi scrambled for cover, his heart pounding as the fight unfolded around him. Friend appeared at his side, growling fiercely.

"Time to step up, Tobi," Friend said. "Unless you want to see how this ends without you."

Tobi hesitated, the stabilizer trembling in his hands. He knew he needed to act, but the memory of losing control still haunted him. What if he hurt Hiki? What if—

"Tobi!" Hiki's voice snapped him out of his spiral. She was pinned behind a crumbling wall, firing at a cultist who was closing in. "Now would be a good time to use that power of yours!"

Tobi gritted his teeth and took a deep breath. He raised the stabilizer, focusing on the energy within him. It was chaotic, like a storm, but he could feel its rhythm, its pulse. He just had to guide it.

The stabilizer hummed as Tobi unleashed a controlled burst of energy. The blast struck the cultist nearest to Hiki, sending them flying into the shadows. For a moment, the battlefield stilled, the cultists seemingly taken aback by the display of power.

"That's more like it," Friend said with a smirk.

But the reprieve was short-lived. The hooded figure raised their arms, chanting in a guttural language. The ground beneath the group trembled, and from the cracks emerged shadowy tendrils, writhing and reaching for Tobi.

"Get out of there!" Moritaka shouted, slashing at the tendrils with his blade.

Tobi tried to move, but the tendrils were too fast. One wrapped around his leg, pulling him toward the hooded figure. Panic surged through him as he struggled against the grip.

"You cannot escape your destiny," the figure said, their voice rising above the chaos. "The mark has chosen you."

Tobi felt the energy inside him flare, a surge of raw power that burned against his skin. Without thinking, he released it, a blinding wave of light and force that shattered the tendrils and sent the cultists reeling.

When the light faded, the hooded figure was gone, along with their followers. The cavern was silent again, save for the sound of Tobi's labored breathing.

Hiki approached him cautiously, her expression unreadable. "You okay?"

Tobi nodded, though his legs felt like jelly. "What… what did they mean? About the mark?"

Hiki's gaze darkened. "I don't know. But whatever it is, it's more than just your Gift. We need answers. Fast."

Friend sat beside Tobi, his eyes gleaming with a mix of pride and concern. "Looks like the shadows aren't the only ones with secrets, kid."

Tobi clenched his fists, determination hardening in his chest. Whatever the cultists meant, whatever the mark was, he was going to find out. And he wasn't going to let it control him.