The training hall was no longer a hall.
It had become… a battlefield.
---
Cracks in the floor.
Slashed walls.
Traces of energy lingering in the air.
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I stood in the centre.
With a katana in my hand.
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The Kuroi vibrated quietly.
The spirits swirled nearby.
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And inside…
A SCAR.
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'Today…' I said quietly.
'No holding back.'
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A pause.
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The spirits froze.
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'Are you sure…?' whispered one.
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'No.'
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I smiled.
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'But I'll try.'
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A deep breath.
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I closed my eyes.
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Lightning.
Spirits.
SCAR.
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Three forces.
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And not a single one…
is fully under my control.
---
"Let's begin."
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I took a step forward.
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EXPLOSION.
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The energy burst forth all at once.
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Too abruptly.
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CRACK!
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The floor beneath me caved in.
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— Damn…
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I managed to hold on.
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— Too much.
---
SCAR laughed.
---
— Of course.
---
— You're weak.
---
— You can't even hold me.
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I clenched my teeth.
---
— Shut up.
---
— Then control it.
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I exhaled sharply.
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— Right.
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First…
lightning.
---
I concentrated.
---
It appeared.
---
Pure.
---
No surges.
---
— Fine…
---
Now…
spirits.
---
— Come closer.
---
They approached.
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Carefully.
---
I didn't force them.
---
I… called them.
---
One entered the blade.
---
The second — into the hand.
---
The third remained nearby.
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Balance.
---
— That's better…
---
Kuroyami quietly confirmed:
---
Stability increased.
---
I nodded.
---
— Now…
---
A pause.
---
The hardest part.
---
SCAR.
---
Silence.
---
— Give me a little strength.
---
The reply came immediately:
---
— Take it all.
---
— No.
---
I shook my head.
---
— Just a part.
---
A second.
---
And…
he gave it.
---
A small portion.
---
But even that—
---
weighed heavily.
---
HARD.
---
I clenched my teeth.
---
— I'm holding on…
---
The lightning flickered.
---
The spirits hissed.
---
Kuroi tensed.
---
— TOO MUCH! — the spirit shouted.
---
— No… more…
---
I raised my katana.
---
Three forces clashed within.
---
Lightning.
Spirits.
Darkness.
---
And they began…
to tear each other apart.
---
— No… not like that…
---
I closed my eyes.
---
— Don't fight…
---
A pause.
---
— Synchronise.
---
Silence.
---
I exhaled.
---
And let go of control.
Partially.
---
Not to hold back.
---
But to guide.
---
And at that moment—
---
everything…
slowed down.
---
The lightning stopped crackling.
---
The spirits stopped resisting.
---
SCAR…
fell silent.
---
— Just like that… — I whispered.
---
I took a step.
---
A light swing.
---
Silence.
---
And then—
---
A BLOW.
---
Not an explosion.
---
Not destruction.
---
But…
a clean cut.
---
The wall in front of me…
split apart.
---
And remained standing.
---
I froze.
---
'This is…'
---
Kuroyami said quietly:
---
Harmony.
---
The spirits glowed brighter.
---
'You're beginning to understand…'
---
SHRAM smiled.
---
'Not bad.'
---
I lowered my blade.
---
Breathing heavily.
---
But…
for the first time—
---
I didn't feel like I was losing control.
---
I…
kept myself together.
---
A pause.
---
And suddenly—
---
Akarania activated.
---
[STATUS: SYNCHRONISATION OF THREE FORCES — PARTIAL]
[PROGRESS: 12%]
---
I smiled.
---
— Just the beginning…
---
But the next moment—
---
my body trembled.
---
THE POWER vanished.
---
I staggered.
---
— …and the limit.
---
I fell to one knee.
---
The spirits retreated immediately.
---
The Kuroyami fell silent.
---
SCAR laughed again.
---
— See?
---
— You're still weak.
---
I was breathing heavily.
---
But…
I smiled.
---
— Then…
---
I stood up.
---
— I'll get stronger.
---
Silence.
---
And this time—
---
not a single force argued.
---
Because…
---
I had taken the first step.
---
Towards taming myself.