Chapter 4 - Chapter Four: Facing the Shadows in Acréon

Cale Oren stood in front of the new gate, the blue light glowing in front of him as if Acryon's heart was beating in this place. Although he felt exhausted after the first test, he knew that this moment was more dangerous. It was not just a test of energy this time, but rather a test of strength, of the mind, and of the heart's ability to distinguish between friend and enemy. Ensu Varys was beside him, her eyes watching his every movement, as if she was reading the future itself. "Kyle," she said in a calm but stern voice, "what you will encounter here is completely different. It will not be just virtual creatures or mental tests. There is someone out there seeking to stop you, to prevent you from learning full control." Kyle nodded, feeling a shudder inside. He did not know what awaited him, but he felt that this time, the challenge was not only internal, but also external. Every step towards the portal was like jumping into the unknown, but he was ready to face anything. When he entered, the world changed again. The place was a huge square floating in the air, surrounded by tall metal buildings that reflected blue light. The ground beneath his feet was a moving plate of energy, moving and changing with every step he took. Suddenly, a true opponent appeared before him, an entity that was half robotic and half pulsing light, seemingly made of everything that symbolized power and control. The being spoke in a deep voice, shaking the air with it: "Kyle Oren, you have entered Acreon, and were not invited. Here, not only your strength will be tested, but your will. Are you ready to face what hides within and without?" Kyle felt intimidated, but he raised his head confidently. "I'm ready. I won't back down." The opponent moved at a terrible speed, the lines of light around him shining like lightning, and began his attack. Cale felt strong energy blowing towards him, but he remembered the first training, and remembered what Insoo had taught her: focusing on the inner pulse, controlling fear, and converting energy into counterforce. He raised his hand and focused on the mysterious pulsing within him. The ground felt like it was breathing with him, the energy lines fused with his will, and a powerful wave of light shot towards the opponent. The creature retreated, but did not fall, but returned to attack it from another angle, faster and more accurate. Kyle was starting to feel tired, but something strange happened. A feeling of confidence emerged within his heart, something like a newfound power, or perhaps an echo of the matter he had carried since the Last Earth. He knew that control was not just physical strength, but an understanding of energy, and an awareness of his surroundings. Suddenly, a small portal of shadow appeared behind the opponent, and another entity emerged from it, half water and half dark light, attacking him from behind. Kyle feels real danger for the first time: attacking from multiple directions, and the opponent seems smarter and more tactical than anything he encountered in his first test. Remember Inso's words: "Actions are more important than words. Every step, every thought, every feeling, counts here." Gathering all his concentration, he began to stir the energy within him in a way he had never dared to experience before. The energy lines around him reacted to his will, turning into a luminous protection net, pushing the background entity away. But the main opponent did not back down. He approached quickly, and began a direct attack. Kyle felt the strange pulse inside his body speeding up, and decided to take a risk. He focused all of his power on one point, on the inner peak of energy, and released it in a powerful burst. Light exploded around him, and the ground shook as if to applaud him. The opponent fell to the ground, but did not completely collapse, but rather vanished in a wave of light, leaving behind a sense of constant threat. Insoo approached him and said with a smile, "You passed the test. Not because you defeated your opponent, but because you learned to use the command in reality, not just in training. True strength lies in control and perception." Kyle felt relieved, but there was no time to celebrate. Suddenly, another shadow appeared, this time in the form of an almost human figure, but distorted, half of its face made of energy, the other half normal. He looked at him with eyes glowing dark blue, and said in a calm voice: "Kyle Oren, you don't know yet who you can trust here. Everyone who stands in front of you could be a friend or an enemy." Kyle felt confused, but he got the message. This world does not know simplicity, it does not know the traditional friend and enemy, but everything is relative, and every step must be carefully calculated. Insoo whispered to him, "Get ready, this is just the beginning. From now on, you will face opponents who appear at unexpected times, and may disappear before you understand their true goal. You have to trust yourself, but do not trust anyone easily." Cale nodded, raising his hand towards the blue light emanating from the ground. He felt the inner pulse interacting with everything around him, and every step he took gave him a greater understanding of this world. He knew that this adventure was not just a test of strength, but a test of mind, heart and soul. Suddenly, a corridor of light opened in the middle of the arena, as if inviting him to cross, as if Acrion himself was saying to him: "You have proven that you are capable of learning, but the road ahead is long. Every step leads you to greater knowledge, every test brings you closer to understanding the secret of the orders and the prophecy it carries." Kyle took a deep breath, and smiled to himself. Despite the odds, despite the danger, he felt for the first time that he had the power to face all that was to come, and that this world, with all its complexity and mystery, would not be just a testing ground, but a true school of strength and will. Thus, with his first real confrontation, Kyle Oren begins to understand the meaning of friendship and betrayal, power and control, and the danger that surrounds him at every step. Acrion is no longer just a new world, but has become a scene for discovering its true power, and its preparations for the journey that will change the fate of all worlds.