The dawn bathed the temple in a golden light as I headed to the training yard. The air was fresh, and the sound of the wind rustled the leaves of the trees. Although my body still felt the weight of yesterday's battle, my mind was focused on what was to come.
The old man was waiting for us at the center of the yard, accompanied by Kaori, the three girls, and the boy with the katana. They all appeared fully recovered, and their expressions were different from yesterday's: they no longer looked at me with distrust, but with a mixture of respect and expectation.
"Young Leo," the old man said firmly, "before you begin your training, you must understand one thing: the power you possess is unique, and if you don't control it, it could turn against you. You will not train just to become stronger, but to understand and master what is within you."
I nodded.
"I'm ready."
The old man smiled faintly.
"We'll see about that."
He snapped his fingers, and in an instant, I felt a shift in the atmosphere. The ground beneath my feet vibrated, and within seconds, an energy barrier enveloped the training yard. I turned, surprised. The temple was still there, but the surrounding landscape had transformed into a vast plain with the sky covered in constantly moving clouds.
"This is a training space," Kaori explained, noticing my reaction. "Here we can unleash all of our power without affecting the outside world."
"Interesting..." I murmured, observing the surroundings with fascination.
The old man raised his hand and pointed to the girls and the boy.
"Your first trial will be simple: resist."
"Resist what?" I asked cautiously.
The girls smiled with mild amusement, and the boy unsheathed his katana.
"Resist us," Kaori said.
Before I could react, I felt a pressure in the air, and in the blink of an eye, the five figures rushed toward me with overwhelming speed.
My instincts kicked in immediately. I raised my aura and dodged the first attack, but before I could regain my stance, one of the girls appeared beside me and launched a direct blow to my side. I blocked it with my forearm, but the force pushed me back several meters.
The boy with the katana moved behind me, his sword cutting the air with deadly precision. I turned just in time to block his strike with an energy wave, but the impact shook me completely.
"They won't give you a break," Kaori said, appearing a few meters away with a challenging smile. "This training is not about winning… it's about enduring."
I took a deep breath and clenched my fists. If they wanted to test me, I would show them that I was ready.
I steadied myself and allowed my aura to flow with greater intensity. The battle was just beginning.
As I activated my aura, I felt my body become incredibly light, more so than ever before. It was a strange yet fascinating sensation, as if all the weight and resistance had suddenly disappeared.
The girls and the boy with the katana approached me, ready to strike. But instead of reacting immediately, I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. In that instant, something changed. My body began to move on its own. I could see everything clearly, I was aware of every movement, but my mind wasn't making the decisions… it was as if another part of me was acting on instinct.
The girls' attacks were fast and coordinated, and the boy with his katana moved with impressive speed. However, my body responded without me having to think. I dodged every strike with absolute precision, moving between them as if I knew exactly what they would do before they did it.
My aura continued to shine intensely, but now it no longer emitted sharp vapor that used to rise toward the sky. Instead, the energy had compacted closer to my body, wrapping around me like a second skin. Thin white vapor emanated from it, rising gently, giving me an even more imposing appearance.
The girls and the boy stopped for a moment, surprised by the difference in my fighting style. Even I didn't fully understand what was happening, but I knew my power had taken an unexpected leap.
The old man, who had been watching the fight closely, spoke in an amazed tone.
"You are a very special person, Leo..." he murmured. "Your power keeps evolving with each battle, for no apparent reason."
His words resonated in my mind as I continued dodging my opponents' attacks. Even though the five of them had increased their strength and coordination, none had managed to touch me. I moved with a speed and precision that I didn't fully understand.
Five minutes passed, in which I dodged non-stop while they, little by little, showed signs of exhaustion. Their breathing became heavier, their movements less fluid, but they still didn't give up. I admired their determination, but I knew my body was also starting to show signs of fatigue.
That's when I tried to take control of my movements… but I couldn't. My body kept responding on instinct, without me being able to influence it.
Suddenly, the three girls rushed at me with perfect synchronization, while Kaori and the boy with the katana quickly approached from behind. In seconds, I was completely surrounded.
My mind analyzed the situation in an instant. I only had one option: jump as high as I could to avoid the ambush.
Just as I was about to propel myself, I felt a strong pressure on my ankles. I looked down and saw that Kaori had gripped me firmly.
"We've won!" she exclaimed with a slight smile.
My mind barely had time to process her words before the girls and the boy reached me. In an instant, an explosion of energy surrounded me, pushing me with brutal force.
The impact was devastating. When the dust cleared, I saw my five opponents completely exhausted on the ground, unable to continue fighting. I, on the other hand, was still standing, though with great difficulty. I barely had the energy to keep myself up, so I activated my normal aura to stabilize myself.
Kaori looked at me with a mix of surprise and excitement.
"You have incredible potential..." she whispered. "You can become someone incredibly powerful."
I took a deep breath, feeling my body tremble from exhaustion. I had only just begun to explore my abilities, and I had already discovered a completely new facet of my power.
And something inside me told me this was just the beginning.
When I tried to take a step, my body simply didn't respond. I fell to my knees, feeling the air suddenly become scarce. An intense, almost unbearable pain shot through every fiber of my being.
I could do nothing but place my hands on the ground, trying to steady my breathing, which was becoming increasingly erratic. The pain intensified without warning, as if my own body were breaking from the inside.
Suddenly, an aura of red and purple began to emanate from me, enveloping me like a thick vapor. Small electric sparks crackled around, popping in the air.
"Agh... Aaaah!" I screamed in agony, feeling my body twist in pain.
The old man, the girls, and the boy watched me in pure astonishment. But when I managed to lift my gaze and focus on them, I realized that they weren't just surprised... they were trembling.
The pain kept increasing until my consciousness began to fade. My vision became blurry, my senses gradually shut down, and before I lost consciousness, I felt hands gently holding my head.
Then, everything turned dark.
When I woke up, I found myself lying on a Japanese-style bed. It took me a few seconds to regain my bearings, but the first thing I noticed was the silhouette of Kaori sleeping next to me. Her breathing was calm, her expression serene, as if she had been watching over my sleep and had finally been overcome by fatigue.
I looked out the window. It was nighttime. Wanting to clear my mind, I carefully got up and walked out into the garden.
As I walked, I reflected on what had happened. The pain, the strange aura... I couldn't help but wonder what it all meant.
While I was lost in my thoughts, I noticed I wasn't alone. The old man was walking through the garden and, upon seeing me, approached with his characteristic air of wisdom.
"How do you feel, young Leo?" he asked in a calm tone.
"I feel a little better... but what happened?" I replied, still confused.
The old man pondered for a few seconds before answering.
"After observing your case, I believe there are two possibilities. Perhaps you pushed your body to its limits and you're not yet ready to withstand such power... or maybe this is a consequence of exceeding the limits of the fragment of a god's power."
His words left me thinking. Both options made sense, but I myself didn't fully understand the true extent of my abilities.
"For now, we will investigate more about this," the old man added. "We need to understand what's happening with you before it happens again."
I simply nodded. I didn't have a clear answer, but at least I wasn't alone in this.
The old man decided to retire to rest, and I also thought about getting a little more sleep.
When I returned to the room, I saw Kaori asleep again. The bright light of the moon illuminated her face, highlighting her delicate features.
I couldn't help but stare at her for a few seconds. At that moment, I realized she was truly beautiful.
An impulsive thought crossed my mind. I slowly approached, almost unconsciously, until our faces were only inches apart.
For a moment, I considered the idea of stealing a kiss.
But something inside me made me stop.
I quickly pulled away, feeling a slight warmth in my face.
"Tsk... what an idiot I am," I whispered to myself, regretting not following my impulse.
Finally, I lay back down and closed my eyes, letting the fatigue take over.
The day finally arrived. I could feel my eyelids gradually lighting up from the sunlight. Before fully opening my eyes, I noticed a soft hand on my forehead.
I blinked slowly until my vision cleared, and the first thing I saw was Kaori staring at me intently.
"How do you feel?" she asked in a calm voice.
Still half-asleep, with my mind a bit foggy, I blurted out without thinking:
"Am I dead...? Or have I reached paradise?"
Kaori looked at me surprised for a second but quickly smiled. It was a sincere smile, different from the ones she'd shown me before.
"I'm going to bring you breakfast," she said before getting up.
Something felt different about her today... I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but her aura seemed warmer.
As Kaori headed to the kitchen, I heard murmurs from the other side of the door.
"What happened to Kaori today?" one of the girls asked, her tone curious.
"Yeah, she seems to be in a good mood. What's got into her?" said another.
"Maybe she dreamed of a kiss," added the guy with a teasing tone.
My thoughts came to a sudden halt.
A kiss?
I froze completely.
Does that mean Kaori pretended to be asleep last night...?
A nervous feeling began to spread through me. My mind started to fill with questions.
Did she see me getting close? Did she notice what I was about to do? What if she hates me now? What if she thinks I'm a pervert...?
Suddenly, I wanted to hide under the covers and pretend I was still asleep forever.
It wasn't long before the door opened again. Kaori entered with a cup of tea and some snacks on a tray.
She gave me the same smile as before as she set the food on the table beside the bed.
"I'm going to train with the guys. You can rest a little longer if you need it."
As she was about to leave, she stopped at the door.
Without turning around, she murmured something in Japanese with a soft but clear tone:
—私はあなたが言ったことすべてを見た...そしてあなたが何をしようとしていたか (I saw everything... what you said... and what you were about to do.)
And with that, she closed the door behind her.
At that moment, I had a sip of tea in my mouth... and I immediately spat it out.
What?! She saw everything?!
My heart started pounding.
Fear and embarrassment hit me at the same time.
Does she hate me? Is she teasing me? Why did she say it like that?
I didn't want to see her. I didn't want to go outside. I would rather stay in bed and disappear from the world for a while.
But after a few minutes of internal debate, I sighed and forced myself to get up.
When I went to put on my clothes, I noticed they were torn from yesterday's fight.
Beside the bed was a bag with a note:
"Put it on."
Inside, I found a set of light clothes: a short yukata, a gray t-shirt, and some comfortable pants.
After changing, I decided to find the old man.
Using my technique to detect presences, I started following the energy of the people around.
When I found the old man, he was watching the others train closely. His focus was evident, but as soon as he saw me, his expression softened and, with a slight smile, he asked:
"Did you rest well, young Leo?"
I nodded and answered firmly:
"Yes, I have much more energy this time."
The old man smiled faintly, and after a few seconds of silence, he began explaining what had happened the day before. He confessed that he had been reflecting on that moment when my body was overwhelmed by excruciating pain. According to him, my body is the perfect vessel to contain a gigantic power, but because of that, controlling it is extremely difficult.
"If your power evolves with each fight, that could become a disadvantage in a real battle," he said seriously. "You could lose control at the worst possible moment."
Those words left me thinking. I knew my power was different, but I never considered it a burden until now.
"However," the old man continued, "when you fought that being, you managed your power impressively. That shows you have the potential to control it. So, my recommendation is to keep training, but not just physically. You must strengthen your mind as much as your body."
After saying that, the old man left the training area, leaving me with a lot to think about. I decided to leave the temple for a while to clear my head.
The streets of Kyoto were calm and orderly. The cherry trees adorned the paths, their petals dancing in the wind, and the sound of the sea gently reached my ears. Everything felt peaceful, in stark contrast to the intense battle from the day before.
I walked for a while until I found a small secluded spot, a perfect place to rest and reflect on everything I had learned. I sat down, closed my eyes for a moment, and let the sounds of the world around me envelop me.
But deep in my mind, the old man's warning still echoed. Could I really control my power before it was too late?
As I made my way back to the temple, I stopped at a small street stall selling takoyaki. With the little Japanese I knew, I managed to order a serving. The vendor smiled at me trying to speak the language, and in a matter of minutes, I had a box of steaming octopus balls covered in sauce.
I ate as I walked, enjoying the warm flavor and the crispy texture on the outside, but soft on the inside. Despite everything that had happened in the past days, that simple moment made me feel a bit of normalcy.
By the time I arrived at the temple, the sky was already dark. Everything seemed quiet, as if everyone was already asleep. I headed to the room expecting to find Kaori, but to my surprise, she wasn't there.
I quickly checked other rooms but didn't find anyone. Something didn't add up. I stopped for a moment, closed my eyes, and activated my ability to sense others' presence.
That's when I felt it. Everyone was gathered in the garden, focused on something.
I approached cautiously and saw them. They were in a circle, deep in meditation. The energy they were emitting was calm, in perfect harmony. I didn't want to interrupt, so I decided to go back to my room and meditate as well.
As I sank into tranquility, my mind began to wander. Two days had passed since I arrived here, and suddenly, a thought hit me like a bolt of lightning.
"My family!" I whispered, opening my eyes wide.
They must be worried. Are they looking for me? Have they noticed my absence?
I couldn't waste any more time. I immediately stood up and, without hesitation, activated my teleportation. In an instant, the air around me changed, and the familiarity of my room enveloped me once again.