Shards of the Shadow
The icy Chicago wind whipped through the alleys of the South Side, but for the three women standing on the rooftop, the air seemed to burn. The city was suffocating under the yoke of a local gang, but tonight, the asphalt was about to change masters.
Yumi, known as Bella Ombra, closed her eyes. Beneath her red leather jacket, an ancient heat awakened. Suddenly, an incandescent aura erupted, enveloping her in golden fire. Her katana, usually simple steel, became a blade of pure light.
"Do you feel that?" Yumi whispered, her voice vibrating with a supernatural echo. "The shadow is begging to be torn apart."
Flames burst across the woman's red jacket, engulfing the entire garment from collar to hem and spiraling over every fold. Behind her, just above her shoulder, a katana forms as a glowing silhouette. The hilt and guard condense first with flashes of golden embers, then the blade solidifies smoothly from ...