No Path but the Void

The cavern echoed with guttural growls and clicking sounds that reverberated in the stale air. Zami stood in a dimly lit corridor deep within the colony, his senses heightened. He could feel them approaching—a group, not a lone adversary. His hand instinctively rested on the hilt of his katana, the symbols on the blade faintly glowing as if responding to the imminent danger.

He exhaled slowly. This was new. Most of the time, he encountered creatures one at a time, their territorial instincts keeping them apart. But now, a coordinated effort seemed to be at play. Perhaps these were creatures of higher intellect, ones capable of working together.

The first to appear was a towering humanoid figure with jagged protrusions jutting from its shoulders. Its elongated arms ended in claws that scraped the stone walls. Behind it followed three smaller creatures, their hunched forms resembling wolves but with sinewy limbs and glowing yellow eyes.

Zami tightened his grip on the katana. He had no time for hesitation.

The towering creature lunged first, its claws slashing downward with terrifying speed. Zami sidestepped, focusing solely on the point of attack. The world seemed to slow, his heightened senses locking onto the enemy's movement.

*Critical Dues.*

In a blur, Zami slipped behind the creature and delivered a devastating double-palm strike to the back of its skull. The force reverberated through its body, causing it to stumble. But before he could follow through, the wolf-like creatures leapt into action.

The first lunged at his side, jaws snapping. Zami pivoted, dodging the bite, and unleashed *Arrow Flow*—a spinning kick that sent the creature sprawling into the cavern wall. The second wolf lunged at his legs, forcing him to leap into the air. While airborne, he delivered a series of precise strikes with *Multi Kick,* each blow breaking bones and forcing the creature back.

The towering humanoid roared, recovering from the earlier blow. It charged again, forcing Zami to roll forward to avoid a deadly swipe. As he rose, the third wolf-like creature attempted to flank him.

Zami's mind worked quickly. He couldn't afford to let them surround him. Drawing his katana in a fluid motion, he unleashed *Multiple Slashes.* His strikes were precise and rapid, slicing through the air as he moved with calculated agility. The katana cleaved through the flanking wolf, its body collapsing in a heap.

The remaining two wolves hesitated, circling him now. The humanoid beast, however, showed no fear. It lunged again, its claws aiming for Zami's head.

*Super Fast Pierce.*

Zami drove the katana forward, the blade breaking the sound barrier with a sonic boom that echoed through the cavern. The strike pierced the humanoid's chest, shattering its ribcage. Blood and viscous black fluid sprayed as the creature let out a final, gurgling growl before collapsing.

The two remaining wolves darted in unison, sensing their chance. Zami's options were limited. His katana was slick with black blood, and his arm throbbed with the strain of his last attack. He reached deep, igniting his blood cells to fuel his next move.

Exploding Blood Cells.

Flames erupted along his arm and onto the blade of his katana, engulfing it in a fiery glow. With a wide arc, he swung the burning blade, the fire scorching the wolves before they could reach him. Their bodies ignited, thrashing and howling before crumpling into smoldering heaps.

But the cost was evident. Zami's arm trembled, the skin raw and blistered from the flames. He sheathed his katana slowly, breathing heavily as the searing pain coursed through his limb. He had survived, but the use of his technique came at a price.

Zami sat against the cavern wall, staring at his burned arm. He retrieved a small vial from his cloak—an herbal concoction he had crafted from the colony's fauna. Applying it to his wounds, he reflected on the fight.

This was a reminder of his limits. Even with all his training, the colony was a place that pushed him to the brink. He could not afford to grow complacent.

The faint sound of movement drew his attention. He glanced toward the darkness, half-expecting another attack. But there was nothing. Only the endless shadows of the colony.

Zami exhaled, leaning back as the adrenaline faded. His thoughts wandered to his father, to the lessons Juro Agatoru had taught him. Survive. Endure. Adapt.

Tomorrow, the cycle would begin again. Training. Surviving. Searching for purpose in a world that seemed determined to crush him.

But for now, he allowed himself a moment of quiet.