Silence filled the gravity chamber.
Not calm—
Heavy.
Oppressive.
The weight of Caelion's words still lingered in the air, pressing against our minds like an invisible force.
The closer you are to the beast…
The greater the risk of losing control.
No one spoke.
But everyone was thinking.
---
"…Alright," Caelion said casually, breaking the silence.
"That will be all for today."
The tension didn't leave.
If anything—
It deepened.
---
Our eyes shifted from him…
To the books floating before us.
I reached out and grabbed mine.
The moment my hand made contact—
> [Downloading…]
A blue screen flickered before my eyes.
> [Complete.]
—
My vision distorted.
A flood of knowledge surged into my mind.
Not just information—
Understanding.
Techniques.
Paths.
Concepts layered upon concepts, forcing themselves into place.
My head spun.
"…Tch."
So this is how he teaches.
Not through words—
But through force.
---
The Path of Transcendence.
The Divine Path.
Two systems.
One goal.
Control.
---
Caelion stood up from his seat.
His gaze swept across us one last time.
Me included.
Then—
"Good day."
He turned and began walking toward the exit.
---
One by one, the others stood.
Some excited.
Some silent.
Some overwhelmed.
I remained seated for a moment longer.
Thinking.
Processing.
---
Instinct without control leads to destruction.
Control without instinct leads to weakness.
---
"…So that's your angle," I muttered.
Then I stood and followed after the others.
---
Halfway to the exit—
Danger!!!
My instincts screamed.
My pupils flickered—
Red.
Just for a moment.
A sharp irritation surged through me.
Unprovoked.
Unnatural.
Like something was trying to drag something out of me.
I suppressed it.
Forced it down.
And kept walking.
---
Then—
A sound.
Low.
Deep.
A growl.
---
Everyone froze.
The air trembled.
Subtle at first.
Then sharper.
More violent.
---
A gasp came from ahead.
I looked up.
One of the trainees had stopped moving.
---
His body trembled.
Violently.
---
At first—fatigue.
That's what it looked like.
After-effects of training.
But…
No.
---
His breathing changed.
Too heavy.
Too uneven.
Too… primal.
---
"Hey… are you okay?"
Someone stepped closer.
Careful.
Uncertain.
---
No response.
---
The trembling intensified.
His shoulders shook.
Fingers curled like claws.
---
Then—
He laughed.
---
Low.
Broken.
Distorted.
---
"Heh…"
"…hehe…"
"…HAHAHAHA—!!"
---
The sound sent a chill through the room.
It wasn't human.
---
My eyes narrowed.
---
So this is what he meant…
---
His head snapped up.
His pupils—gone.
Replaced by a feral glow.
Empty.
Wild.
Lost.
---
Then—
He turned.
---
And locked onto me.
---
My red pupils met his.
Cold.
Still.
---
SWISH!!!
BOOM!!!
---
He moved.
No hesitation.
No thought.
---
His body began to change mid-charge.
Bones cracking.
Muscles expanding.
Energy surging violently.
---
By the time he closed the distance—
He was no longer human.
---
A humanoid white tiger.
Blue lightning crackled wildly across his body—
Unstable.
Explosive.
---
The ground shattered beneath his step.
Then—
He vanished.
---
Speed increased.
Uncontrolled—
But overwhelming.
---
He reappeared in front of me.
---
SWISH!!!
---
My body moved before thought.
My arm rose.
A blue energy blade formed instantly—
Cutting upward.
---
He stopped.
---
Just inches away.
---
The blade hovered at his throat.
---
My expression didn't change.
My red eyes remained calm.
Detached.
---
I could transform.
End this instantly.
---
But for this?
---
A waste.
---
The thought irritated me.
More than it should have.
---
…Why am I thinking like this?
---
BAM!!!
He attacked again.
Faster.
More erratic.
---
I caught the strike mid-air.
Palm forward.
Perfect timing.
---
My eyes flickered briefly—
Toward Caelion.
---
Still standing by the exit.
Watching.
---
Of course.
---
BAM!!! BAM!!! BAM!!!
---
The tiger unleashed a storm of attacks.
Wild.
Relentless.
Unstructured.
---
But inefficient.
---
I blocked everything.
Minimal movement.
No wasted energy.
---
Control.
---
This wasn't a fight.
---
It was a demonstration.
---
BAM!!!
A flash of red lightning surged through my arm—
My fist connected with his face.
---
BOOM!!!
---
His head burst apart into pure energy.
No blood.
No flesh.
---
The body flew backward.
---
Gasps echoed behind me.
Some stepped back.
Some watched in silence.
Some… looked excited.
---
The body flew straight toward Caelion.
---
BAM!!!
---
It twisted mid-air.
Landed.
On all fours.
---
The ground cracked beneath it as it slid—
Leaving deep grooves behind.
---
Then—
Energy condensed.
Reformed.
---
A new head regenerated instantly.
---
Silence fell again.
---
Everyone understood now.
---
This wasn't an accident.
---
It was him.
---
A test.
---
Or a warning.
---
All eyes turned to Caelion.
---
He said nothing.
---
ROAR!!!
---
The tiger roared again.
Its aura surged violently.
Unstable.
Oppressive.
---
Pressure filled the chamber.
---
My irritation spiked.
Stronger now.
Harder to suppress.
---
My aura flickered.
Blue—
Then—
For a brief moment—
Red.
---
My eyes narrowed.
---
This isn't just him losing control…
---
Something is pushing it.
---
Something is triggering it.
---
And…
---
It's affecting me too.
---
For a split second—
My thoughts slowed.
---
My instincts sharpened.
---
And deep within—
Something responded.
---
Not resisting.
---
But…
Awakening.
---
I looked up.
Straight at Caelion.
---
He was smiling.
---
"Good…"