Who's ring is this?

Holding moonlight in his blue eyes, Taro rested upon the dry grass.

"Uh…" Taro sighed, feeling the throbbing blur his vision, clouding his correlation. "I felt like I was sensing something completely different." The black smoke faded from Taro’s eyes.

“That’s part of the spirit realm. Son, you are linked with ghost trigger. You should have had a better chance of reaching the spirit realm, but only for a limited time. I didn’t recommend it right then. The climate was harsh on everybody who wasn’t used to the realm.”

Holding up the blood-stained pistol, he found it heavier than he thought it was. “Taro, you are the only one who can wield this pistol. You have to proceed with caution from now on. This is what you can do; let me pass this onto you. It was way overdue for me…Unless I could become thirty years younger again,” laughed Mr. Z.

“Caution you say, Dad? What do you mean?”

“Like I said, you can enter the spirit world just not for too long.”

“Dad, what happens if I stay in for too long?” Mr. Z didn't respond, gazing side to side and sighing. “Dad!”

“Your soul would rip between the spirit and physical realm.”

“Oh, alright, then I won’t let that happen,” stated his son.

“Other spirits could enter your soul, and try to force you out of control, losing your body. Being in prison inside the mind with no operation.”

“I’ll prevent that from happening, Dad. No one's gonna control me without a fight to death.”

“You will be a deadly foe to your enemies, if you learn to control the ghost trigger more.”

Taro’s clouded eyes blurred to gray sapphire. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and white flames crept up the arm holding the ghost trigger. “Let’s keep training, Dad, so that’ll become true.”

CHERRY VOL.1

“Pai, you just keep running, I'll hold these bugs off!” They dashed up the foggy damp mountain, while more greasy bugs chased them. “Don’t use your essence again, it’ll only slow us down,” pleaded Sola.

“Look how many there are. I have to! Isn’t this my training?”

“You'll just get in the way. I can handle this all by myself!” Sola snapped her fingers; shining micro stars fell from the sky. Sola controlled them with her eyes. The mini beams reeled through the bug's brain. Their lifeless bodies rolled down the mist.

“What the hell was that power?”

“It’s the embodiment of my people and culture, once used long ago.”

“Once used,” he looked back, seeing her destruction rained upon them.

“Just focus on getting your holy ring, don’t worry about my history.”

Once they made it to the top, a crowd of bugs awaited them, blocking the entrance of the lightened cave. Many stars fell upon the mountain, killing the bundle of creatures.

Two more dashed towards them, however, one massive star landed flat, spraying fluids, leaving their heads behind. Holy shit, that's some crazy power. What did she go through to get to this state? No wonder she was prepared to take anything on with her essence.

Sola’s eyes gleamed with golden essence as she forced both hands together, and a teensy little star appeared between her palms. “Star style BLITZ!” Many stars of all colors and sizes screamed from Sola’s dry palms, obliterating the bugs, leaving only ashes, and causing rocks to shake down the mountain.

“What’s this?” Fiery text appeared in front of the entrance: Defeat yourself before you enter, endure pain, control or be controlled. “Looks like all we have to do is enter now,” said Sola.

Taking a step forward, a long arrow flew out of the entrance. Sola dodged the arrow, but the entrance closed a little. “Why is it closing on us,” said Pai. “I don’t know, but we can't go back empty handed,” replied Sola.

Another arrow flew out, but Sola reflected it with a star. The entrance was inched down more. "Dammit, what’s going on? It keeps going down. Why didn’t Z tell us about this part?" Two arrows flew towards her, but before Sola could reflect them, Pai jumped ahead of her. The two arrows pierced into his back, and smooth, thick blood spilled under his shirt.

“You can dodge those! Don’t let yourself get hit!” Sola pointed over to the entrance. “Look, it didn't close this time.” Another arrow rained towards Pai, and he caught it with a tight grip, blood slipping between his fingers. One more arrow reeled out, hitting him in his thigh.

“Pai, stop this, you're gonna get yourself killed!” One arrow hit Pai in the shoulder, and he stumbled back a little, but he kept moving forward. “If we don’t get the holy ring, I’ll be dead anyway. So how about I become your shield, Princess,” Pai giggled.

Pai's stomach was pelted with more arrows, and red colors stained his teeth. Where's this drive coming from? I don’t need you dying on me, dumbass. Another arrow slashed through the foggy air, causing Sola's eyes to water.

“No! Not like this!” She dashed for Pai, but she knew she wouldn't make it in time. She shot a star from her sweaty palms, aiming straight for Pai’s pink hair. However, without flinching, he stood tall, and Sola erased the shot, along with the arrows inside Pai’s body. The thick mist fled over the forest, and the entrance barely closed, leaping red and orange rays into the foggy night.

“Let me give you a hand.” Pai wrapped his arm over Sola's, and together, they headed for the cave.

“I’m in so much pain,” sighed the boy.

“No shit, I bet it did.” Their laughs warmed the cold summer night.

Entering the cave, they were presented before a throne, covered in spider web blankets, with a sitting old skeleton. Statues holding crossbows surrounded the old fallen ruler. Golden stars glisten essence throughout the cold powered covered cave, revealing scattered skeletons on the floor, with char marks wrapping the bones. All these people were chasing the same thing. They had risked their lives to obtain this power. "What if he ends up like those damn skeletons, all for what uncertain power?"

“So those are the assholes who shot at me.” Danika appeared. “There it is, My King, the holy ring.” A ring glowed red in the palm of the skeleton. “Pai, I have to give you a warning, you aren't the first person to try and obtain it. Look around you."

“The last test is to control or be over controlled. All these people couldn't handle the holy ring's might. Let's hope the red sun’s a perfect fit. If not, you'll join them,” said Danika. You can’t control this. It will only bring you pain, even with your red sun. It can't be helped. They'll die someday…Not even a selfish Seeker can’t help you. The voice creeps in Pai’s head.

“Did you hear that voice?”

“A voice? No, I didn’t hear anything. Are you okay? Do you still want to do this? Don’t go get cold feet on me, you lost too much blood to take back now,” told Sola, pointing at bloody arrows.

You will fail to protect those who you love, red sun. "Shut up, you don’t know me, or what I’m capable of. So I suggest you screw off," Pai shouted to the open air.

Creeping towards the holy ring, Pai thought, "I can take its power now, just let me protect everyone with this." The ring glowed brightly as Pai reached for it. He could sense the ring withdrawing essence from him. He put it on his index finger, and Danika's essence flickered.

“WAIT, MY KING,” The seeker screamed out.

Bright lights seemed to illuminate the dark surroundings, and Pai knew he'd rather outshine the brightest light and scream for everything. Bright pink essence flashed through every mountain creek. Explosions erupted, warming the cold, dense forest. Waves of pink and red essence slowly chased over the planet.