The forest was heavy with mist, but Daniel moved with newfound confidence. His body had healed overnight thanks to the lingering power of the Devil-Demon Fire Fruit, and Scarlune now felt like a living extension of his soul. Vorrath hummed with its usual hunger, but Daniel had learned to temper it—control it.
He paused in a clearing, breathing in the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves. The air was thick with tension. Somewhere nearby, a predator waited—stronger than anything he had faced since claiming Scarlune.
But tonight was different. Tonight, he would test more than his strength.
THE SUMMONING TRIAL
Daniel closed his eyes and focused, recalling the motions he had practiced in isolation. The First Blade, Vorrath, pulsed faintly in his hand. Scarlune vibrated, radiant and intense, almost impatient. He whispered, "Come back… to me."
Both blades leapt from his hands as if alive. Vorrath spun through the air, Scarlune blazing with molten light. They circled him, then—like arrows drawn by magnetism—shot back into his grasp, perfectly aligned, the blades fitting into his hands as if they had never left.
Daniel's eyes widened. I can summon them… at will.
The power felt intoxicating, a deep connection forming between himself and the blades. Not only could he wield them; they now obeyed his command as an extension of his will.
A growl interrupted his awe. From the shadows, a Crimson-Tusked Behemoth emerged. Twice the height of a man, covered in obsidian-like armor, its tusks curved like scythes. Its eyes glowed like molten lava, and a low, menacing roar reverberated through the trees.
THE FIGHT
Daniel summoned both blades instantly. Vorrath and Scarlune returned to his hands in unison, spinning around him before locking into position. The Behemoth charged, smashing the forest floor with its massive feet, splintering trees in its path.
He ducked, slashing with Scarlune. Fire lanced from the blade, cutting deep into the creature's arm. It bellowed, swinging its tusked head. Daniel rolled, barely avoiding the strike, and struck again with Vorrath. The blade hummed violently, biting deep.
The creature's resilience was staggering. Every strike of Scarlune cauterized wounds, every slash of Vorrath shredded corrupted muscle, but the Behemoth endured.
I need more… I need precision… control…
He remembered the forest's whispers, the subtle tremors in the ground. The Behemoth was powerful but predictable. Timing, speed, and cleverness would win the fight, not just brute force.
With a roar, Daniel leaped, both blades spinning around him like twin comets. Scarlune ignited the surrounding air, scorching the ground as he spun. Vorrath's hunger sliced the creature's torso. Then, as he landed, he whispered the blades' names and the summoning call:
"Vorrath! Scarlune! Back to me!"
Both blades shot forward like homing missiles, slamming perfectly into his hands. The Behemoth froze, stunned by the sudden, precise strike from a distance it hadn't anticipated.
With Scarlune blazing and Vorrath humming, Daniel lunged, slicing cleanly through the creature's heart. Its roar echoed, then faded. The forest seemed to exhale as the monster collapsed.
AFTERMATH AND REFLECTION
Daniel dropped to one knee, chest heaving, blood and sweat mixing with ash from the scorched clearing. The summoning technique had worked. Not only could he control the blades physically, but now they responded to his command like extensions of his will—a new level of mastery.
He pressed his palm to the handkerchief Mimi had given him, inhaling its faint, sweet scent. I will see her again. I must.
The forest around him was alive with unseen eyes, creatures lurking, measuring, waiting. Daniel knew that each victory was only temporary—monsters grew stronger, and so would the threats to Astrid's fragile kingdoms.
But tonight, he had gained something more. Power. Skill. Confidence. The connection to his blades had deepened, and with that connection, he felt nearly unstoppable.
A DARK OMINOUS WHISPER
From the edge of the clearing, a shadow watched. Not a creature, not a fiend, but something intelligent. Its eyes glimmered red, reflecting the flames of Scarlune. A whisper slithered through the forest:
"The boy grows stronger… but he knows nothing of what waits."
Daniel did not notice, but the forest did. And so did destiny.