Chapter 17: The Woven Betrayal

The ancient temple faded into the distance as Akari and Kaito followed the threads to their next destination. The path twisted and turned through unfamiliar terrain, leading them away from the bustling city and into the quiet, open wilderness.

The air was heavy, the landscape eerily still, and the threads above them pulsed with an uneven rhythm. Akari’s connection to the Loom felt fragile, like a fraying rope she was desperately clinging to.

“How far are we from the next fragment?” Kaito asked, his hand resting on the hilt of his blade.

Akari closed her eyes, focusing on the pull of the threads. “It’s close,” she said. “Just beyond those trees.”

Kaito’s gaze shifted toward the dense forest ahead. “Let’s move, but stay sharp. Something feels off.”

The forest was dark and quiet, the canopy of branches overhead blocking out most of the light. Akari walked cautiously, her steps deliberate as she followed the glowing thread that guided them. Kaito stayed close, his every movement measured and ready for the slightest hint of danger.

The thread led them to a clearing, where an old stone circle sat at the center. The air around it shimmered faintly, the chaotic energy almost imperceptible, yet unmistakably present.

“This is it,” Akari said, her voice low.

Kaito frowned, his gaze sweeping over the clearing. “Doesn’t look like much.”

“That’s because it’s hidden,” Akari replied, kneeling beside one of the stones. She reached out, her hand brushing the air above the surface. The threads around her reacted, their glow intensifying as the chaotic energy began to surface.

A deep rumble echoed through the clearing, and the ground beneath them began to shift. Kaito’s blade was in his hand instantly, his body tense as he scanned the area.

“What’s happening?” he asked.

“The fragment is buried here,” Akari said, her focus locked on the threads. “I’m trying to bring it to the surface.”

The air around them grew heavier as the chaotic energy swirled, coalescing into a dark, pulsing mass at the center of the circle. Akari stood, her hands trembling as she tried to stabilize the threads.

“We’re not alone,” Kaito said, his voice sharp.

From the shadows of the forest, figures began to emerge. Clad in dark robes and masks adorned with jagged symbols, they moved silently, their weapons glinting faintly in the dim light.

“Servants,” Akari whispered, her heart sinking.

The first servant lunged, their blade arcing toward Akari. Kaito intercepted them with a swift strike, his blade meeting theirs with a deafening clang.

“Stay back and do what you need to do!” Kaito shouted, pushing the attacker away.

Akari nodded, her focus returning to the threads. The chaotic mass at the center of the circle pulsed violently, its energy threatening to overwhelm her senses. She reached out mentally, trying to weave the threads back into place, but the servants’ presence made the task far more difficult.

Kaito moved like a shadow, his blade cutting through the air with precision. He parried another attack, his movements unrelenting as he fought to keep the servants away from Akari. But for every one he struck down, another seemed to take their place.

“How many of them are there?” Kaito growled, narrowly dodging a strike aimed at his shoulder.

“They’re tied to the fragment,” Akari replied, her voice strained. “The chaos is feeding them.”

“Great,” Kaito muttered. “No pressure, then.”

The chaotic mass at the center of the circle began to change, its energy twisting and writhing as if alive. Akari could feel its resistance growing stronger, the threads slipping from her grasp.

“Come on,” she whispered, her hands trembling. “Hold together.”

The threads pulsed faintly, their patterns slowly beginning to stabilize. But just as Akari thought she was gaining ground, a sharp voice cut through the chaos.

“Enough.”

The servants froze, their movements halting as a new figure stepped into the clearing. They were tall and imposing, their face obscured by a golden mask etched with intricate patterns. The aura of authority around them was undeniable, and the chaotic energy seemed to bend to their will.

“Another one,” Kaito muttered, his blade still raised.

The figure tilted their head, their gaze settling on Akari. “You must be the Weaver,” they said, their voice calm but edged with disdain. “I’ve heard much about you.”

“And you are?” Akari asked, though she already knew the answer.

“I am Kanna,” the figure replied. “Once a guardian of the threads, now their liberator.”

“You betrayed the Loom,” Akari said, her voice filled with quiet anger.

“I rejected its lies,” Kanna corrected. “The Loom is a prison, forcing destiny into patterns that stifle freedom and choice. The Threadbreaker showed me the truth—a tapestry free from the constraints of order.”

Kaito stepped forward, his blade gleaming. “And how many lives are you willing to destroy to make that happen?”

Kanna’s gaze shifted to him, their tone unyielding. “The tapestry is built on sacrifice. You of all people should understand that, samurai.”

Without warning, Kanna raised their hand, and the chaotic energy surged. The servants moved as one, their blades striking toward Akari. Kaito intercepted them, his movements swift and precise, but the sheer number of attackers forced him to retreat toward Akari.

“They’re not giving up!” he shouted, his voice strained.

Akari’s heart pounded as she struggled to stabilize the fragment. The threads resisted her touch, the chaos fighting back with every move she made.

Kanna watched from the edge of the clearing, their presence a constant reminder of the battle’s stakes. “You cannot win, Weaver,” they said. “The tapestry is already unraveling. Your efforts are futile.”

“Then why are you trying so hard to stop me?” Akari shot back, her voice trembling with determination.

For the first time, Kanna hesitated, their silence speaking volumes.

Kaito’s blade cut through the last of the servants, their forms dissolving into mist. He turned to face Kanna, his breathing heavy. “If you’re done hiding behind your lackeys, let’s finish this.”

Kanna tilted their head, as if considering his challenge. “You are bold, samurai. But boldness alone will not save her.”

They raised their hand again, and the chaotic energy surged toward Akari. Kaito moved to intercept it, his blade slicing through the tendrils, but the force of the attack sent him staggering.

Akari cried out as the chaos closed in around her, the threads slipping further from her grasp. But just as the darkness threatened to overwhelm her, she felt a surge of energy—a faint but steady light within the tapestry.

Drawing on the connection, Akari reached out one last time, her will overriding the chaos. The threads snapped into place, the fragment stabilizing with a burst of light that filled the clearing.

Kanna staggered back, their form flickering. “You… have grown stronger,” they said, their voice laced with disbelief.

“And I’m not done yet,” Akari replied, her voice steady.

Kanna’s gaze lingered on her, their tone softening. “We will meet again, Weaver. The Threadbreaker’s vision will not falter.”

With that, they dissolved into the air, leaving the clearing silent once more.

Akari collapsed to her knees, the exhaustion of the battle weighing heavily on her. Kaito knelt beside her, his hand on her shoulder.

“You okay?” he asked, his voice filled with concern.

Akari nodded weakly. “I stabilized the fragment. But Kanna… they’re stronger than the others.”

Kaito’s jaw tightened. “Then we’ll get stronger, too.”

Akari looked up at him, her exhaustion tempered by a flicker of hope. “We have to,” she said softly. “The tapestry depends on it.”

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***