The morning greeted me with silence.
But now it was different.
Not empty.
But… full.
---
I stood in the training hall.
A katana in my hand.
Kuroyami.
---
The blade vibrated almost imperceptibly.
As if…
it were breathing.
---
'So, you're with me now, are you?'
---
A faint response.
---
Not in words.
In feeling.
---
I took a step forward.
---
SWING.
---
The air split.
Cleanly.
Without resistance.
---
— Light…
---
I tightened my grip.
---
Another strike.
---
LIGHTNING.
---
But…
this time it didn't burst out.
---
It…
was absorbed.
---
Into the blade.
---
I froze.
---
— Are you… absorbing it?
---
The answer came immediately.
---
Yes.
---
And at that very moment—
---
a flash appeared before my eyes.
---
[WEAPON SYNCHRONISATION: 3%]
---
— …What?
---
[ARTIFACT DETECTED]
[TYPE: ADAPTIVE WEAPON]
---
The text hung in the air.
As if…
a system.
---
I frowned.
---
— What on earth is this…
---
[KUROYAMI — CLASS: EVOLUTIONARY KATANA]
---
And the information began to unfold.
---
Name: Kuroyami
Type: Living weapon / artefact
Special feature: Adapts to its owner
Height: Depends on strength, emotions and combat experience
Synergy: Amplifies the owner's innate energy
---
I exhaled slowly.
---
— So… you're growing alongside me.
---
The blade trembled ever so slightly.
---
Yes.
---
I smiled.
---
— Good.
---
I took up a fighting stance.
---
— Then let's see what you're capable of.
---
The training began.
---
STRIKE.
---
Slowly at first.
---
Then faster.
---
Even faster.
---
Step. Turn. Strike.
---
Every movement became…
more precise.
---
Kuroi guided me.
---
Corrected me.
---
Sometimes even…
got ahead of me.
---
— Are you moving yourself…?
---
Partly.
---
— It's a bit creepy.
---
But…
it feels right.
---
I sped up.
---
LIGHTNING.
---
This time—
it passed through the blade.
---
And…
it changed.
---
It became denser.
Darker.
---
CRASH!
---
The floor cracked.
---
I froze.
---
— This isn't just an enhancement anymore…
---
Kuroyama replied:
---
EVOLUTION.
---
Pause.
---
And suddenly—
---
another surge.
---
[NEW SKILL ACQUIRED]
---
I frowned.
---
— Seriously?
---
[SKILL: ASSESSMENT — ACTIVATED]
---
Everything around me…
had changed.
---
I looked at the katana.
---
And immediately saw:
---
Kuroyami
Synchronisation Level: 7%
Status: Stable
Potential: Unknown
---
I abruptly shifted my gaze to the wall.
---
Material: Stone
Durability: Average
Vulnerability: Point pressure
---
— …is that a cheat?
---
A voice replied.
But…
not Kuroyami's.
---
Another's.
---
[SYSTEM ACTIVATED]
---
I froze.
---
— Stop.
---
[ADDITIONAL SYSTEM: AKARANIA]
---
Silence.
---
I slowly lowered my blade.
---
— Another system…?
---
[CONFIRMED]
---
— But I already have…
---
Aetheria.
---
For a second—
everything froze.
---
And then—
---
[WARNING]
[AKARANIA IS NOT AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE]
---
I narrowed my eyes.
---
— Why me?
---
A pause.
---
And the answer.
---
[CONDITIONS MET]
[SCAR — CATALYST]
[ARTIFACT — TRIGGER]
---
My heart beat faster.
---
— So…
---
I looked at Kuroyami.
---
— Did you open this?
---
Yes.
---
— And what does this… Akarania do?
---
Silence.
---
And then—
---
[FUNCTION: ANALYSIS / EVALUATION / HIDDEN DATA]
[ADDITIONAL: UNLOCKING POTENTIAL]
---
I smiled slowly.
---
— Hidden data…
---
Now that's interesting.
---
But at that very moment—
---
something stirred inside me.
---
SCAR.
---
It… was watching.
---
'Don't you like that?'
---
Silence.
---
But I understood.
---
This…
is dangerous.
---
Very.
---
Because now—
I have more than one power.
---
Not two.
---
But…
something greater.
---
I raised my katana.
---
— So…
---
A light swing.
---
— let's start over.
---
Kuroyami replied quietly.
---
YES.
---
And somewhere deep down—
two systems…
stared at one another.
---
Like predators.
---
Waiting.
---
To see who would make the first move.