The safe zone wasn't safe.
Eli realized that within minutes.
It wasn't crawling with monsters.
It wasn't collapsing.
It wasn't even chaotic.
But it wasn't safe.
Not really.
Because everyone inside it—
Was surviving.
Not living.
Eli leaned against the cold concrete wall, arms crossed, watching the people around him.
Some rested.
Some whispered.
Some just stared into nothing.
"…Yeah," he muttered. "Definitely not a vacation spot."
"Stop looking around like a tourist."
Eli glanced to the side.
Mira stood a few feet away, arms crossed.
"…I was just observing," Eli replied.
"You're wasting time," she said.
Eli smirked.
"…You say that like I have a schedule."
"You do," she replied.
"…Oh?"
She stepped closer.
"…Training starts now."
Eli sighed.
"…Of course it does."
He pushed himself off the wall.
"…What's first? Meditation? Running? Near-death experience?"
Mira didn't hesitate.
"Control."
Eli blinked.
"…That's it?"
"That's everything," she said.
Training Ground – Underground Chamber
The space was rough.
Bare.
Cracked concrete floor.
Minimal light.
Enough room to fight—
Or fail.
"…Alright," Eli said, looking around. "What's the plan?"
Mira pointed to the center.
"Stand there."
"…That's it?"
"Yes."
"…Feels underwhelming."
"Stand."
"…Okay, okay."
Eli walked to the center.
Turned.
"…Now what?"
Mira's gaze didn't waver.
"Use your power."
Eli paused.
"…You sure that's a good idea?"
"No," she said.
"…Comforting."
Eli exhaled slowly.
"…Alright."
He raised his hand.
Focused.
The familiar energy stirred.
Dark.
Heavy.
Unstable.
"…Here we go."
"Shadow Fracture."
The ripple formed—
But this time—
It didn't release cleanly.
It flickered.
Distorted.
Then—
"—!"
Pain surged through his chest.
Eli staggered.
"…Yeah, there it is…"
[CORE INSTABILITY TRIGGERED]
"Control it," Mira said calmly.
Eli glared at her.
"…I am trying!"
The energy surged again.
Stronger.
More violent.
His breathing became uneven.
"…It's not listening!"
"Because you're forcing it," she said.
"…What else am I supposed to do?!"
"Guide it."
"…That's the same thing!"
"No," she said. "It's not."
The energy flared again—
Spreading through his arms—
Burning.
"AH—!"
Eli dropped to one knee.
"…Okay… that's worse…"
"Don't suppress it," Mira said.
"…Then WHAT?!"
"Feel it."
Eli froze.
"…Feel it?"
"Yes."
"…It's trying to kill me!"
"Then understand it," she replied.
Silence.
Eli clenched his teeth.
"…Fine."
He closed his eyes.
Focused inward.
The energy was there.
Like a storm.
Chaotic.
Violent.
Uncontrolled.
But—
Not random.
It moved.
Shifted.
Reacted.
"…It's alive," Eli whispered.
"Of course it is," Mira said.
The energy surged again—
But this time—
Eli didn't fight it.
He watched.
Followed.
Adjusted.
"…It reacts when I resist…"
The pressure eased slightly.
"…But when I let it move…"
The pain lessened.
Not gone.
But manageable.
"…Okay…"
He slowly stood up.
The energy still flickered—
But steadier now.
Mira nodded slightly.
"…Better."
Eli exhaled.
"…That actually worked."
"For now," she said.
"…I'll take it."
Second Attempt
"Again," Mira said.
Eli groaned.
"…Already?"
"Yes."
"…You don't believe in breaks, do you?"
"No."
"…Figures."
He raised his hand again.
Focused.
This time—
Slower.
More controlled.
"Shadow Fracture."
The ripple formed—
Cleaner.
More stable.
It released—
BOOM.
The wall cracked.
Not violently.
Not uncontrollably.
Just enough.
Eli blinked.
"…That was… better."
Mira nodded.
"…Again."
"…Of course."
Hours Later
Eli collapsed onto the ground.
"…I'm dead."
"You're not," Mira said.
"…Feels like it."
"That means it's working."
"…I hate that logic."
Sweat covered his face.
His breathing was heavy.
But the energy—
Felt different.
Still dangerous.
Still unstable.
But—
Less chaotic.
"…I can feel it now," Eli said quietly.
Mira looked at him.
"…Explain."
Eli hesitated.
"…Before… it was like grabbing something wild."
He clenched his fist.
"…Now… it's still wild…"
"…but I know how it moves."
Mira nodded.
"…Good."
"…That's it?"
"Yes."
"…You're really not big on compliments."
"They're unnecessary."
"…Rude."
Sudden Shift
The lights flickered.
Eli frowned.
"…That's not normal, right?"
"No," Mira said.
Her expression changed instantly.
Serious.
Alert.
A loud noise echoed from above.
Then—
Screams.
Eli stood immediately.
"…That's bad."
"Yes."
"…We going up?"
"Yes."
"…Of course we are."
Surface – Moments Later
Chaos.
People running.
Shouting.
Fear everywhere.
Eli's eyes scanned the area—
Then he saw it.
A group of creatures.
Stronger than usual.
Faster.
More aggressive.
"…Not good," he muttered.
Mira stepped forward.
"…Stay behind me."
Eli snorted.
"…Yeah, that's not happening."
One creature lunged.
Eli reacted instantly.
"Shadow Fracture!"
The ripple hit—
The creature froze—
Eli moved in—
Grabbed it—
[POWER LINK ESTABLISHED]
"…Careful!" Mira shouted.
The core reacted instantly.
Pain surged—
But Eli didn't lose control.
"…I got this!"
He focused—
Balanced—
Took just enough—
Then released.
The creature collapsed.
[ENEMY DEFEATED]
Eli stepped back.
Breathing hard.
"…Okay…"
"…That worked."
More creatures approached.
Mira fought efficiently.
Precise.
Deadly.
Eli joined in.
Not reckless.
Not desperate.
Controlled.
Each movement—
Measured.
Each use of power—
Limited.
Careful.
"…You're improving," Mira said.
Eli smirked.
"…Don't sound so surprised."
Then—
A stronger presence.
Heavier.
Familiar.
Eli froze.
"…No way…"
From the shadows—
A larger creature emerged.
Not boss-level.
But close.
Mira tensed.
"…That's not normal."
Eli's grip tightened.
"…Yeah…"
"…But I've seen worse."
The creature roared.
Charged.
Eli stepped forward.
"…This time…"
His eyes sharpened.
"…I control it."
He raised his hand.
Focused completely.
No hesitation.
No panic.
"Shadow Fracture."
The ripple hit—
The creature froze—
Longer this time.
Eli moved—
Grabbed—
[POWER LINK ESTABLISHED]
[STEALING: CONTROLLED]
The core reacted—
But didn't explode.
Didn't overwhelm.
Eli smiled.
"…Got it."
The creature weakened—
Collapsed—
Gone.
[ENEMY DEFEATED]
Silence fell.
Mira looked at him.
"…You didn't lose control."
Eli exhaled.
"…Yeah."
"…I didn't."
For the first time—
He wasn't just surviving.
He was adapting.
Elsewhere
Veyr stood in the distance.
Watching.
Always watching.
"…He's stabilizing," he murmured.
His eyes glowed faintly.
"…Faster than expected."
A faint smile appeared.
"…Good."
Back to Eli
Eli looked at his hands.
Steady.
Controlled.
Stronger.
"…I'm getting there," he said.
But deep inside—
The core pulsed again.
Not weaker.
Waiting.