Amos got into a defensive stance. Cloack did the same, knowing his opponent was no ordinary fighter.
Amos propelled himself forward, using compressed air in the form of the Void to launch toward Cloack. He tried not to use the Void King. He succeeded, then pulled his fist back, covering it with Void energy to strike Cloack.But Cloack easily blocked the blow, catching Amos's fist with both hands, a smirk spreading across his face.
Amos pulled back, breaking free of Cloack's grip. Cloack stepped forward—and in the blink of an eye, appeared behind him. Amos tried to move, but his body had become heavy.
He must have used temporal void…
Cloack prepared his strike. Amos quickly searched for a solution. Without warning, Cloack threw a punch at him. But before it could hit, Amos blocked it with his hand, seizing Cloack's wrist. Freed from Cloack's influence, his hand was now covered in a black aura.
"That's for just now."
When Cloack lifted his gaze, he saw Amos's eyes had gone void-black, dark veins spreading around them—he had activated the Void King.
"The point of the training is not to use that form," Cloack said, frustrated.
Amos let go of his hand, scratching the back of his head as he deactivated the Void King.
"Yeah, well… I didn't really want to take the punch you were about to throw at me."
Cloack sighed."Alright, let's restart—"
But Cloack was caught off guard when Amos threw a Void-enhanced kick toward his face. Cloack narrowly dodged it, then smiled at Amos's impatience to continue the fight.Amos took some distance, realizing Cloack had dodged without countering.
I need to find a way to fight him without getting too close, to avoid him slowing my movements, Amos thought, keeping his guard up and eyes locked on Cloack, analyzing his every move for an opening.
Cloack gave Amos an arrogant look.
"What's wrong, kid? Giving up already?"
An idea sparked in Amos's mind.
This might work…
He raised his arms, concentrating as Void energy gathered in his hands.Then he fired a fireball-like orb of Void toward Cloack. Cloack slowed it easily—but that had been the plan. The flames created a smokescreen, allowing Amos to vanish from Cloack's field of view.He slipped behind him. Cloack turned around—but too late. Amos was point-blank, his expression resolute as he launched a powerful punch, cloaked in Void that distorted the air around them.One could feel how much psychic energy he was pouring into the strike.
But Amos froze in midair, immobilized. He couldn't move.Cloack stepped back, then sighed, a drop of sweat on his face.
"You almost got me, kid."
Amos grimaced as he floated, suspended by Cloack's hold, before landing on the ground when Cloack snapped his fingers.Amos sat down, exhausted.
"Damn… I put everything I had into getting that speed and powering up my hit. It drained me."
Cloack straightened, resuming a serious expression.
"That was impressive. And a clever strategy. But you'll have to be even faster. Your hand-to-hand combat is not bad, but you need to learn to properly balance how much energy you put into a strike—or it'll wear you out like this."
Amos looked at Cloack from the ground, a slightly disappointed expression on his face.
"Don't blame me… it's the first time I've fought without the Void King."
"That's already progress. But you could've used spatial void—it would've been smarter."
Amos sighed."I know, but… I need to concentrate to use it. In a fight, I had to react fast."
"We'll work on that next time." Cloack extended his hand toward Amos, his expression softening.
Seeing him, Amos could feel Cloack genuinely wanted to help him throughout.He grabbed his hand, and Cloack helped him up.
"Well, since you almost beat me, I'll help you master temporal void as soon as you learn to manage your psychic energy."
Hearing Cloack's words, Amos smiled, eager to learn.
"You'll see—once I've mastered it, I'll beat you fair and square."
Cloack chuckled at Amos's comment."We'll see, kid. Don't think a Guardian is that easy to defeat."
Cloack summoned a portal, glowing with a purple light, wrapping them both under the moonlight on the plains.Seeing the portal, Amos asked a question.
"Hey Cloack, how do you and Allay create portals if you don't use any types of teleportation psychic energy?"
Cloack pulled something from his pocket—a small diamond-shaped stone with purple symbols etched into the center.
"This is a teleportation stone. It's what allows us to do that."
Amos leaned in, curiosity lighting up his eyes.
"And what does that symbol in the middle mean?"
"To put it simply, each type of psychic energy has an ambient signature. This one is the Void's. With this symbol, the stone draws from the user's energy if their psychic type matches the symbol on the stone."
Amos nodded slowly."So that's why both your portals and Allay's are different colors."
Cloack nodded."Exactly—because of the signature."
Cloack gestured for Amos to step through. Amos did, but before entering, he stopped and turned back to Cloack.
"You're not coming?"
Cloack turned away, walking in the opposite direction.
"I've got things to handle. You rest."
Amos watched Cloack leave, a little puzzled by his action, but decided to step inside.
As he entered, he reappeared in his dormitory. Yoan had already returned from his training, lying on his bed asleep, a few small scratches on his body.Amos chuckled at the sight, a smirk tugging at his lips.
"Guess I'm not the only one who had it rough."
He stretched his back, then collapsed onto his bed.
I wonder how the others' training went…
But he couldn't stay awake much longer—too tired, sleep quickly overtook him.
"Amos, Amos!"
A distant voice seemed to call out to him. It was feminine.He was in the garden of a modest house. He looked around—the place felt familiar. The voice grew closer. He turned—and there she was: a woman with black hair.The voice came from her. She seemed increasingly familiar to Amos.He began walking toward her. But the closer he got, the more the distance seemed to stretch.He started to run, but it made no difference—she kept drifting farther away.
Amos didn't know why he was running toward her. He just felt he had to.
Then he stopped. The woman suddenly appeared in front of him, as if she'd never been far away.He couldn't make out her face despite the proximity—but deep inside, he knew he recognized her.She stepped toward him.She opened her mouth.Then blood burst from it.
"Amos, hide!"
Amos woke up suddenly in his bed. Yoan was shaking him awake.
"Amos, wake up!"
Amos slowly sat up, still shaken by the dream he'd just had.
"What… what was that? That woman… she looked like Mom…"
He stared at his hand in horror.
"And those words… those were the last things she said to me…"
Amos didn't seem to appreciate the memory, a blank expression on his face.Yoan placed a hand on his shoulder.
"You okay?"
Amos sighed, trying to distract himself.
"Yeah, don't worry. I'm just a little shaken from yesterday's training."
Yoan nodded, then grabbed his things and left the room."Well, I'm off—my class is starting."
Amos watched Yoan leave, then tried to forget what had just happened.He got up and got ready for class.
Amos walked across the courtyard, heading to his first class of the day. As he walked, a thought crossed his mind, a frustrated expression immediately appearing on his face.
Ugh, right… I've gotta deal with that teacher… what's his name again… Edward something…
Amos sighed. As he walked, someone bumped their shoulder against his. The person stopped and turned.
"Watch where you're going."
Amos turned—it was Lucas.
Seeing Amos, Lucas's tone changed instantly—frustrated rather than angry.
"Oh, Lucas. It's you. Why do you look so rushed?"
Lucas's face looked like he wanted to say something but didn't want it to leave his mouth. Eventually, he decided to speak.
"I can't find the bathrooms." Lucas's cheeks flushed a little, disgusted to have to say something so humiliating for his ego.
Amos processed the sentence—then burst out laughing. Lucas growled and yelled, annoyed at Amos's reaction.
"It's not funny! I've been wandering in circles for half an hour!"
Amos tried to pull himself together, eventually stopping his laughter, his voice still a little shaky.
"Sorry—it's just… I never thought I'd hear you say that."
Lucas grumbled in frustration."Alright, shut up. No need to make it worse."
Amos caught his breath."Alright, come on. Follow me—it's this way."
Amos and Lucas walked together toward the bathrooms. Lucas looked slightly annoyed at having to lower himself like this.
They finally reached the bathroom. Amos gestured dramatically toward the door, exaggerating his accent.
"Here lies the royal throne room, Princess Lucas."
Lucas stormed in, his footsteps echoing, fury on his face.
"I swear, I'm gonna beat you up."
Amos chuckled as Lucas entered the restroom. As he waited, Amos drifted into his thoughts.
I wonder what are the other forms of the Void… why did Vyran choose me as heir? And why is the Void so different from the other elements…
Amos looked at his hand, summoning an abstract mass of Void in his palm. It floated, formless.
I wonder what Madame Vanessa is doing right now… she's probably not worried, since Nike is there to keep her updated.
The mass shifted into a miniature Vanessa. Amos was a little surprised, leaning closer.
So it can take forms as complex as a human body… interesting.
But the sound of the door interrupted him, making the mass vanish. Lucas emerged from the bathroom.
"Alright, I'm done. Let's get going." Lucas looked more relaxed after his visit.
Amos let out a small laugh. He saw Lucas less like the heartless idiot he usually seemed to be.
Amos and Lucas walked through the school courtyard. They passed a spot with a view of Artasel.Amos stopped when he saw a vehicle transporting several psychic energy users inside, all in advanced protective gear.It reminded him of the technological gap between Earth and Artasel.
"Look—Hunters. They're probably going to clear a nest."
Lucas stopped, eyeing the cart."I've heard about that."
Amos leaned in, intrigued by the group of Hunters.
"I wonder what clearing a nest looks like…"
Lucas smirked, an idea coming to him."Come on, let's follow them."
End of Chapter 17