The fight between us took shape, our strikes and evasions becoming a continuous, almost hypnotic flow. Alex wielded his scythe with lethal precision, while I used my body and my eyes to anticipate and neutralize his attacks. With every movement, my understanding of my own abilities deepened.
I realized my eyes didn't just see the world… they pierced through it. I could see the inner energy of things, the invisible current that kept Alex in motion—allowing me to anticipate and break certain attack patterns before they were completed.
I also discovered I could manipulate my own energy, shaping it into ravens — even from the smallest part of me. A finger, a strand of hair… every fragment could become shadow and wing.
Alissa watched with a gaze that mixed pride and satisfaction.
"He's adapting fast… too fast."
Foster, standing beside her, seemed more tense with each exchange.
"Don't be like that, brother," Alissa said, catching his discomfort. "You can talk to him later. LL isn't the kind of person you think. My eyes don't deceive me."
"It's hard to accept, Alissa," Foster replied, his eyes never leaving me. "A prisoner so capable… so dangerous. Despite your words, I feel… useless as a guard."
The wind blades forming from Alex's scythe cut through the air. I responded by increasing my speed, closing distance, exploiting blind spots. Alex was beginning to lose ground — and I knew it.
He's stronger than I thought… if this keeps up, I won't be able to keep pace. I'll have to increase my strength… let's see how far he can go.
The flow of energy inside him changed. I felt it. Instinctively, I stepped back twice. His body expanded, muscles hardening as if carved from living stone. Every vein pulsed with force, each strike now promising to shatter everything within reach.
And I… smiled.
"Lord LL," Alex said, lifting his scythe and adopting a solid stance, "as your instructor, I'll have to push you to your limit… with the titanic body of the fourth cultivation realm of a Titanis."
The air seemed to grow heavy in the next instant. His muscle fibers expanded like living steel, his aura thickening, almost suffocating. Then, he charged.
In the blink of an eye, the scythe carved an arc impossible to follow, erasing the distance between us as if space itself didn't exist.
An instant before the blade could reach me, my body exploded into a murder of ravens, black feathers scattering like living smoke.
Alex's eyes widened.
"That ability… again!"
Without hesitation, he spun, turning the scythe into a silver whirlwind to intercept any possible angle. But when he lifted the blade… he realized I was no longer on the ground.
The beat of my wings echoed in the air. I hovered above him, surveying everything from above — like a patient predator.
Now, I was more aware of the limits and possibilities of my power. I could fragment into countless ravens, yet my mind remained anchored to a single point — a core.
And beyond that…
I smiled.
From my body, several others began to emerge — solid replicas, not just shadows — swirling around me like a living storm. In seconds, a massive black vortex took shape, ready to crash down on Alex.
Alissa raised a hand to her mouth in shock. Foster took a single step back, eyes wide.
"What kind of ability is that?!" Alissa exclaimed. "Before, he could only become swarms… now he can summon?!"
The storm of ravens and replicas plunged toward Alex with devastating force. He planted his feet and spun the scythe in a perfect motion, releasing a shockwave that tore through part of the swarm — but not all.
I dove through the opening, emerging between the black wings, and grasped the scythe's handle before he could complete his next swing. The blade stopped just centimeters from my neck.
Silence reigned for a few seconds, broken only by the sound of feathers hitting the floor.
Alex breathed heavily, but a respectful smile formed on his face.
"Congratulations, my lord… you're ready to face something greater."
I recalled the ravens, returning to my full form, and answered:
"Greater… or deadlier."
Alissa smirked. Foster averted his eyes. And I… I knew this friendly bout wasn't just training. It was a warning.
---
We were seated at the makeshift table inside the house. Light streamed through the cracks in the windows, slicing through the smoke-filled air and giving the roasted meat a golden, almost menacing glow. The strong, wild scent clung to every breath.
We didn't know when the next area shift would happen, but for now, we took the chance to eat.
The meat came from the local creatures — animals that looked more like monsters. The claws, the teeth, and the fibrous texture made it clear this meal didn't belong to a normal world. Alissa and Foster handled it with the ease of people who had hunted the worst that lurked outside.
As I chewed, I let the dense flavor dissolve slowly. In the quiet between bites, I looked up at Alex.
"Alex… what was that you mentioned earlier? Mana!?"
He set down his piece of meat, wiped his hands, and replied in a firm voice:
"Mana is the energy that flows in all of us humans. Normally cultivated and stored in the heart. They say it's the force that guides our own strength… but to the Revealed, it's nothing more than a secondary energy. They claim theirs is on a far higher level."
A weight settled in my chest. My mind immediately went to the invisible Bible. Could it be… connected to this energy?
Before I could ask more, Alissa leaned forward, cutting the conversation short:
"You'll understand… and recover your memories little by little, LL. You won't stay like this forever."
Her tone was soft, but it carried something else—not just comfort. It felt more… like a calculated diversion. She didn't want me opening that door.
A metallic sound shattered the moment. Foster's sword caught a cold glint as he suddenly rose to his feet.
"Damn it! Area shift! We need to move now!"
The air in the room changed instantly. The calm was gone; our expressions hardened. Alissa grabbed her bow and quiver, already on her feet, glancing outside.
Through the gaps, I saw the sky change… colors distorting like ink in water. Dark shades spread, swallowing the light.
"Let's go," Alissa said, her eyes sharp with tension. "Looks like a sinister zone is closing in."
And in that moment, we already knew… whatever was coming wasn't just a change of scenery.