Ice and Shadows

Nika found herself grappling with the challenge of reaching General Varques. Despite her efforts, it became apparent that he was occupied with matters on the east side of the wall. The difficulty in establishing contact posed a significant problem, as Nika needed to relay crucial information to the Triton Leader for another round of discussions in light of the newly acquired insights.

"Damn, Kai hasn't arrived either" Nika cursed. 

Alone at the outer perimeter of The Wall, with the sun sinking below the horizon, Nika sensed an unexpected presence nearby. Reacting swiftly, she rose to her feet and summoned her soul weapon—an ice sword materializing in her hand. Adopting a defensive stance, she honed her battle instincts, keenly aware of the unseen threat lingering in the vicinity.

"Who are you?" She shouted.

"I'm just a concerned friend," A man said, right behind her.

Creating distance between herself and the unseen presence, Nika leaped forward, swiftly rushing at the person. In a fluid motion, she swung her sword with intent, only to find it halted by the person's bare hand. A solitary drop of sweat traced down her forehead, a visible manifestation of her nervousness in the face of this formidable adversary. Before her stood none other than Akashi, his overwhelming aura exuding menace and sinistral intent, casting an ominous shadow over the encounter.

Overwhelmed by Akashi's strength, Nika found herself unable to move her sword, an unsettling confirmation of the vast power differential. In a desperate attempt to gain some advantage, she shifted her tactics, pointing her hand to the ground. With a swift upward motion, she conjured an ice spike aimed directly at Akashi. The sudden maneuver prompted Akashi to jump backward, creating a brief respite for Nika in the face of the overpowering threat.

As Akashi closed in, intending on getting hold of her, Nika realized the gravity of the situation. In a defensive move, she summoned giant pillars of ice, hurling them towards Akashi. Though he pressed forward, seemingly unfazed by the direct impact, the aftereffects became apparent. His skin visibly began to freeze, a chilling transformation that failed to deter his advance. What heightened the unease was the eerie smile etched across Akashi's face, a disturbing contrast to the freezing effect taking hold.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" She questioned as she conjured thin yet pointy ice spikes and threw them at him. 

The ice spikes, injected into Akashi's body, initiated an accelerated freezing process that brought him to a sudden stop. Seizing the opportunity, Nika swiftly encapsulated him within an ice sphere, layering it with four distinct sheets of ice, each measuring four inches in thickness. As she completed her frosty enclosure, a frigid exhale escaped her, a testament to the intensity of the effort she had exerted in subduing the formidable foe.

"Let's hope thai contains him for a while" She said. 

Just as Nika was preparing to leave and attempt to contact General Varques once more, a palpable surge in power caught her attention. Her movements ceased abruptly as the unmistakable presence loomed behind her once again, sending a shiver down her spine. The familiar, yet ominous aura hung in the air, signaling that the encounter with Akashi might not be as concluded as she had hoped.

"Neat little trick you got there" Akshi said 

The brevity of Nika's containment became painfully evident as Akashi swiftly broke free. As she pivoted to launch another offensive, a paralyzing realization set in—she was now locked in a frozen stance, unable to act. In that moment, Akashi transformed into a predatory force, and Nika found herself cast in the role of the prey, vulnerable to the imminent threat that loomed before her.

"We are going to have fun together, and Kai will surely be surprised," Akashi said, a shadow engulfing her, erasing every trace of her. 

Meanwhile…

As Kai and the others approached the island, it came into view, revealing a shocking sight—the almost destroyed wall. A sense of foreboding settled among the group of friends as they grappled with the pressing question: What could have led to such devastation on the island?

"Kai, I feel an ominous power lingering around, a very old and powerful spirit, almost Ancient. It feels similar to that of the man named Blaze Savage" Nocturnis said. 

"But if the spirit is similar to Blaze's it means that…" Before Kai could finish he was interrupted. 

"It means the host is very strong as well," Darya said. 

A furrow appeared on Kai's brow, a testament to his uncertainty about the impending challenges on the island. However, one thing was crystal clear in his mind—confronting a formidable opponent would likely yield substantial experience points, a crucial aspect of his mission to save Suro. The prospect of facing adversity and reaping the rewards fueled his determination as they approached The Wall.