The academy was bustling with energy once again. Ryuu, Hana, and Tetsu returned to their rooms after their intense training, each of them looking a little different, more focused, and stronger than before. They had trained with the world's top wielders, each learning new techniques and refining their skills to the highest level.
But despite their growth, there was a feeling of anticipation in the air—Kael had not returned with them. He was still training, far away, isolated in the vast arena where Raizen continued to push him beyond his limits.
Kael's Training:
The arena was silent except for the soft hum of energy flowing around Kael. His clothes were tattered from the brutal training sessions, and his body ached, but the fire in his eyes was undeniable.
Raizen stood off to the side, observing him closely. Kael had come a long way since he first stepped into the arena—he had learned to warp dimensions, control the flow of time within his body, and manipulate objects with ease. But now, Raizen was guiding him toward something new, something even more dangerous.
Kael stood in the center of the arena, his breath steady despite the exhaustion weighing down on him. "What's next?" he asked, his voice quiet but firm.
Raizen's eyes gleamed with wisdom. "It's time to unlock your true potential, Kael. You've learned to control the space around you, to bend time, but now you must learn to channel the energy of your past."
Kael's heart skipped a beat. He knew exactly what Raizen meant—the dark energy of Kurothar, the very power that had almost consumed him during his battle. It had been sealed within him, buried deep in his soul, but now, it was time to bring it to the surface.
Raizen gestured for Kael to focus. "This energy was once a source of destruction. But if you learn to control it, it will become a weapon like no other. A power beyond anything you've ever known."
Kael closed his eyes, letting the familiar, heavy presence of Kurothar's energy rise within him. It was unlike anything else—raw, chaotic, yet strangely familiar. He could feel the energy coursing through his veins, his body trembling as he tried to harness it.
Suddenly, Kael opened his eyes, his pupils glowing with black energy. A burst of black electricity crackled around his fists, the air thick with power. The energy swirled around him, charging up in preparation for what was to come.
"I can feel it," Kael murmured, his voice now filled with conviction. "I can feel the power inside me."
Raizen nodded. "Now, you must learn to direct it."
Kael extended his hand, focusing all the dark energy into his palm. The energy crackled violently, forming a ball of black electricity that pulsed with immense power. As he pulled his hand back, preparing to release it, the ground beneath him trembled.
Kael threw his fist forward, releasing the energy in a massive surge. The blast tore through the air, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The shockwave sent debris flying in every direction, and the arena shook with the intensity of the blast. The black electricity crackled violently, a force of pure destruction.
"Good," Raizen said, his voice calm as always. "Now, learn to control it. Your power isn't just about destruction. It's about speed and precision."
Kael nodded, breathing heavily. "I'll master it."
Back at the Academy:
Ryuu, Hana, and Tetsu had returned from their training, and the academy felt more like home again. They were stronger, their powers more refined. The academy had always been a place of growth, but now, it felt like they were living in the aftermath of something much bigger—something Kael was still working on.
They were in the courtyard when they felt it. A surge of energy so powerful it rattled the very foundation of the academy.
"Kael," Ryuu whispered under his breath. "He's done it."
Hana's eyes widened. "What kind of power is that?"
Tetsu clenched his fists, a mix of concern and excitement in his eyes. "That's not just Kael. That's something else. Something dangerous."
Kael's New Power:
Back in the training grounds, Kael stood with his hand extended, still crackling with black electric energy. He could feel the energy surging through him, faster than before, almost as if it were guiding his every movement.
It was like a storm of power, raging inside him, making him faster, more agile than he had ever been. His movements blurred with speed as the black electricity surrounded him, coating his body in a protective shield of dark power. The energy was not just destructive—it made him move like lightning, faster than he had ever been.
Kael closed his eyes and clenched his fists. The power surged again, this time with even more force, and he could feel the Kurothar energy wrapping around his body like a second skin. His form rippled with energy, becoming faster with each passing second.
"I've unlocked it," Kael whispered to himself. "This is the power I need."
Kael leaped into the air, moving faster than the eye could follow, the black electric energy trailing behind him like a comet. He landed with a force that cracked the ground beneath him, his body surrounded by an intense aura of raw power.
As he stood there, panting from the exertion, Kael's mind raced. He had unlocked a power unlike any other, a combination of speed and strength powered by Kurothar's energy. It was the power that would allow him to face any challenge, no matter the odds.
Back at the Academy:
Ryuu, Hana, and Tetsu had gathered in the courtyard, watching Kael's energy burst out across the academy grounds.
Tetsu looked at the others. "We need to prepare. Kael's not just stronger than before. He's a completely different force now."
Hana nodded, her eyes filled with a mix of awe and concern. "What does this mean for him? For all of us?"
Ryuu clenched his fists. "It means we've got a lot of catching up to do."