The next morning dawned crisp and clear, the courtyard filled with the eager hum of students preparing for their first true test: the Style Trial Combat. This event was a rite of passage at Seiki Academy, designed to push newcomers to demonstrate control, creativity, and mastery over their Seiki.
Kaito, Hina, and Riku gathered among a sea of competitors, each exuding an aura that marked their Seiki style. Tensui users radiated raw power, muscles taut and primed. Shirabe manipulators seemed to dance as invisible threads wove around them, while Hisui wielders projected strange and unpredictable energies.
Miyako stood at the center of the arena, her voice ringing clear. "Today, you will face opponents in a series of controlled matches. Your goal is not simply to overpower, but to display understanding and synergy with your Seiki. Remember—your Yakusoku will guide you. Respect it."
Kaito felt the familiar churn of the Void within, a tempest barely restrained by the vow he had forged. His fists clenched tightly, the void energy whispering to break free.
The first match was announced: Kaito versus a Tensui user named Takuya, known for his brute strength and aggressive style. The crowd's murmur swelled with anticipation.
The arena shifted—transparent barriers encased the fighters, allowing the spectators to see without interference.
Takuya charged like a raging bull, muscles bulging, aura blazing a fierce crimson. Kaito instinctively dodged, trying to stay calm, focusing on the vow that anchored his power.
The battle was raw and intense. Takuya's punches thundered toward Kaito, but the Void allowed Kaito to sense the flow of energy around him. With a sudden burst, Kaito extended tendrils of dark energy, not to destroy but to entangle Takuya's limbs.
The audience gasped as Kaito's void threads coiled like serpents, restricting movement without breaking the Tensui user's bones.
"You're holding back," Takuya growled, struggling fiercely.
Kaito shook his head. "This fight isn't about breaking you."
Their clash continued—Kaito weaving between offense and defense, learning how to use his void not as a weapon of pure destruction but as a tool of control.
When Takuya finally yielded, the crowd erupted in applause. Miyako nodded approvingly from the sidelines.
Next, Hina's match began. Her fists flared with brilliant orange energy as she faced off against a Shirabe manipulator named Sora. Threads of shimmering silver wove through the air as Sora tried to trap Hina in a web of control.
But Hina's power was a storm—fierce and relentless. She shattered the threads with explosive punches, the sound echoing like thunder across the arena.
Kaito watched, heart pounding. "She's incredible."
Riku smiled faintly. "Strength tempered with precision. A good combination."
Finally, it was Riku's turn. Calm and calculating, he faced a Kakera user who conjured sharp crystalline constructs. Riku's threads moved with flawless grace, weaving through the crystals and unraveling their form.
Kaito's next match loomed—a Hisui user named Yuna, known for unpredictable and bizarre techniques. As the fight began, Kaito's void surged uncontrollably. He felt a sudden, painful backlash—his body shuddering as the power tried to break free.
Panicked, Kaito focused on his vow, grounding himself. Slowly, the hunger receded. He unleashed a precise burst of void tendrils, disrupting Yuna's constructs without harming her.
The crowd was stunned by his control. Miyako's eyes shone with approval.
After the matches, the students gathered in small groups, exchanging strategies and observations. Kaito realized his power was both a curse and a gift—one that required more than brute force to master.
Riku approached him quietly. "Your vow saved you today. But remember, the void demands a price. Be mindful."
Kaito nodded, determination hardening inside him. "I'll learn to control it—no matter the cost."
As the sun set behind the mountains, the academy's lights flickered on, casting long shadows and promising new challenges ahead.