The morning after the battle, Hikari Village was filled with excitement. Everyone was talking about the mysterious boy who had saved them. But Ken did not feel like a hero. He sat quietly under his favorite tree near the forest, thinking about the strange portal and the creature that came from it.
Suddenly, he heard footsteps behind him.
"You finally used your power," a calm voice said.
Ken quickly turned around. Standing there was a tall girl with silver hair and a long dark cloak. Her name was Aiko. Ken had seen her once or twice in the village, but they had never spoken before.
"What do you mean?" Ken asked cautiously.
Aiko smiled slightly. "You're not the only one with powers. Those creatures are called Shadow Beasts. They come from another dimension. And you… you are one of the few people who can stop them."
Ken was shocked. "How do you know all this?"
Before she could answer, the ground began to shake. A loud roar echoed from the mountains nearby. Another portal had opened.
"This is bad," Aiko said. "That one is stronger."
Ken stood up, his blue energy slowly glowing again. "Then we have to stop it."
Aiko raised her hand, and a shining blade made of light appeared.
"Looks like you won't be fighting alone this time," she said.
Together they ran toward the mountain as dark clouds gathered in the sky. The next battle was about to begin, and Ken could feel his powers growing stronger.
But far away, hidden in the shadows, someone was watching them.
A mysterious figure whispered, "So… the chosen one has awakened."
The real war had only just begun.