AWAKENING

“So when we walk in… just act natural. You’re new in town and wanted to make friends,” Sora said.

Luna puffed out her chest proudly.

“Don’t worry. Subtlety is my middle name.”

“That’s… not reassuring,” Hana muttered.

They walked in silence for a moment before Hana spoke again.

“So, I gotta ask—since you’re basically royalty, wouldn’t your people know you’re gone? Aren’t they against you leaving?”

“Our ancestors taught us that to be a leader, you must learn to follow first,” Luna said calmly. “I’m a Celestial before I’m a princess. That’s why I’m here.”

“I bet it’s fun living in a magical realm,” Hana said.

Luna’s face brightened instantly.

“Oh, absolutely! Being here makes me appreciate Helionel even more. The buildings there are all different colors and shapes—no two look alike. The streets glow with floating lanterns, and the food—don’t even get me started!” Her voice softened, a quiet ache slipping through. “Being here… I didn’t realize how much I missed home. Compared to Helionel, everything feels so… grey.”

“It’s not all bad,” Hana said gently. “There are beautiful places here too. You just haven’t seen them yet.”

Luna giggled.

“Well, I discovered coffee. That counts as something. I must bring some home.”

“Never been out much, huh?” Hana teased.

“No. Being the next heir and a Celestial has always come first. I never had time for anything this… trivial.”

“Then if you ever come back to Enoshima, I’ll show you everything you’ve been missing. Promise.” Hana held out her pinky.

Luna smiled, just a little, and hooked her pinky with Hana’s.

“Promise.”

They reached the Hanakotoba Shop—right as Sora froze with his hand on the doorknob.

His blood ran cold.

“Hana,” he whispered. “Luna—run.”

Before either girl could react, the door exploded outward. Mirrors shattered. A shockwave slammed all three of them backward, rattling the entire house.

Sora coughed, trying to force himself upright.

“Sora-nii…” Hana’s voice trembled as she stared into the living room.

A massive bull-like creature loomed in the wreckage.

“A Phantom…” Sora breathed.

And behind it—emerging from the shadows—was the same creature from the woods.

Luna and Sora scrambled to their feet. Sora quickly rushed forward. Both grabbed their devices, pressing the edges in perfect sync.

“HENSHIN!”

Light exploded around Luna, and flames roared to life around Sora as their armor materialized.

Sora punched mid-transformation but as it hit contact with the bull-like phantom. It didn’t budge.

The phantom punched Sora in the guts but luckily his armour was complete.

Sora was flying backwards.

Meanwhile, Hana using this chance to find her parents.

She frantically looking for her parents inside the house.

What she found wasn’t pleasant at all.

Back to the fight, the bull-like Phantom let out a guttural bellow, shaking the floorboards. Its massive hooves dug into the ruined tiles as it lowered its head, steam curling from its nostrils.

The Phantom charged.

Sora barely had time to brace himself before the creature’s massive horns slammed into him. The impact sent him skidding halfway across the living room, boots carving deep grooves into the floor.

He dug his heels in and pushed back, catching the horn with both hands. The raw strength of the creature vibrated through his bones. “Arrghhh!”

A wolf-like shadow leapt from the left, teeth bared. Luna summoned her staff.

“Lumina!”

A trail of golden light shot forward, piercing the shadow wolf mid-air. It screeched, dissolving into black mist—but two more lunged from its fading remnants.

Sora twisting his body, he shoved the bull Phantom’s head upward and slammed a fiery uppercut into its jaw.

The Phantom reeled back but didn’t fall.

It recovered instantly.

Its massive arm swung like a wrecking ball.

Sora blocked—but the force sent him crashing into the wall, cracking the plaster around him.

“Sora!” Luna cried out.

A shadow wolf latched onto her leg.

“Get off!” She spun, wings releasing a blinding flare. The light vaporized the wolf—but more shadows were already crawling across the ceiling like living ink.

The bull Phantom stomped once.

The ground shook.

Dark cracks spiderwebbed across the tiles as shadow wolves poured out like a tidal wave.

Luna’s eyes widened. “That’s… way more than the fable described!”

“We need to retreat now!” Sora roared.

“Sora-nii!” Hana screams

Sora turned find a terrifying Hana.

“Mom…and….dad…they” Hana trying her best to say it but deep in Sora’s heart he knew what she trying to say.

The creature attacked.

Sora ignite a flame along his arms. Each punch sent shockwaves of heat bursting outward, scattering wolves—but not slowing the main Phantom. It swung again, and Sora ducked under the blow, sliding across the debris-filled floor and launching himself upward in one fluid motion.

His flaming kick collided with the creature’s chest—

—only for the Phantom to grab his leg mid-air.

With monstrous strength, it hurled Sora across the room like a ragdoll. He smashed into the dining table, splintering it to pieces.

“Sora-nii!” Hana cried.

Luna raised her staff, channeling energy. “Solis Ray!”

A massive beam of concentrated light shot forward. It slammed into the Phantom pushing the beast back several steps.

As the smoke died down the bull phantom revealed to be someone familiar.

“A…human” Luna shocked but the one who the most surprised.

“Mr. Takashima” Hana said.

“Sorry, to burst your bubble but the man you knew as Takashima already dead. I have evolved the highest peak of humanity”

He look at Luna “The power. you robbed of humanity because you scared of us better than you. If you share it the once little boy won’t be scared everyday of his life but then again so the bullies.”

He then looked at Sora “Now, I finally found a way to be a god”

“Please, stop this Mr. Takashima!” Hana said

“Unfortunately, you are not involved in this grand scheme. So, don’t bother me” He said as he transformed back to his Phantom form.

The Phantom barreled forward.

Sora ducked under its swing and landed a quick jab to the ribs—barely enough to jolt the creature.

The Phantom spun and slammed its shoulder into him.

Sora flew back, skidding across the floor.

He coughed, forcing air back into his lungs.

The creature stomped toward him.

Sora rushed in first, aiming a kick at its knee.

The Phantom staggered half an inch—then grabbed him by the neck and hurled him across the street

Sora forced himself up, teeth clenched.

Sora takes out a card at the same time he brings out a weird device on his right hand.

Sora the put the card inside the device.

A mechanical voice echoed from the device. [SORA, ACESS GRANTED]

Luna came down and firing bolts of light,—yet the wolves kept multiplying, crawling over furniture and walls, turning the entire house into a battlefield.

Sora stood up and put the device on his hip. The device wraps around his hips and becomes some sort of belt.

He then takes his transformation device onto the belt.

“STAR BURST!” He screamed

But before Sora can do anything the bull phantom slaps Luna away and grab Sora by the neck.

The Phantom bring out a cube. The cube started to open. Suddenly, Sora chest was light up. The cube then suck out the light in Sora’s body.

Sora screaming in pain

Hana dangled helplessly. Her brother was going to die here. She couldn’t just watch.

Luna trying her hardest to get up but she doesn’t have the energy which causes her armour to fade.

Sora armour began to fall off on his body.

Panic surged. Hana grabbed Luna transformation device and pressed it

Something stirred.

A warmth in her stomach.

A spark she had felt once before.

Terrifying and exhilarating.

The fire inside her exploded.

A cosmic blaze engulfed her, bursting outward in a blinding flash. The Creature shrieked, its shadowy body disintegrating under the heat.

A giant fireball head to the bull Phantom. He throws away Sora and blocked it but unfortunately that magic was too powerful for him which burned him to ash.

“Hana!” Luna shouted, shielding herself from the heat.

Hana tried to answer. Tried to stop.

But she couldn’t.

“I—I can’t!” she screamed, overwhelmed.

Then she heard her brother's voice “Yes, you can,” Sora said, inching closer. “Don’t be afraid. It’s your power. You control it. Not the other way around.”

Hana forced herself to breathe. To focus. To pull the fire back into herself—inch by agonising inch.

The flames dimmed.

Finally, the light faded completely.

Hana collapsed. Sora manage to catch her

“It’s ok, firecracker. I got you” Sora said.

The world blurred. Hana’s limbs felt heavy. Her eyes slipped closed.

And then she fell into darkness.