The morning air was thick with the smell of rain, and the sky above the academy was a seething mass of dark clouds. Kael stood before the entrance to the Special Division barracks, his heart pounding like a drumbeat in his chest.
Kaede Mizuno had been clear: today would be the first real test of his power. A power he barely understood, and one he feared might consume him if he wasn't careful.
Behind him, the academy's normal buildings seemed distant, almost foreign. This was the edge of everything. The place where the best—or the broken—were forged into weapons.
Kael tightened his grip on the straps of his gear.
"Ready?" Tetsu's voice called out from behind him. The sound of his friend's voice was a reminder that not all was lost. Tetsu had healed remarkably fast after the Fracture Beast's attack, but his once reckless grin was gone. He knew what Kael was about to face.
Kael nodded but didn't speak. His words felt too heavy to voice.
"Stay strong," Tetsu added, his usual teasing tone absent. "I'm gonna be cheering you on from the sidelines. If you need anything, just remember I'm here."
Kael's mouth twitched into a small, grateful smile. "I'll be fine."
A voice cut through the air as the steel doors to the Special Division barracks slid open with a hiss.
"Kael Renji, step inside."
Kaede stood at the entrance, flanked by several of the academy's senior instructors. Their faces were hard, devoid of empathy.
Kael stepped forward, his boots heavy on the ground. As he crossed the threshold, a wave of energy washed over him—unnatural, like stepping into the heart of a storm.
Inside was a massive training hall, filled with arcane symbols and hovering relics, their power pulsing through the air. The walls seemed alive, the very foundation humming beneath his feet. This was no ordinary training ground.
Kaede gestured to a large platform in the center of the room. "Here. This is where you'll unlock the full potential of your Last Will—or fail trying."
Kael swallowed hard.
"You're going to face your first trial today," Kaede continued. "Survive it, and you'll begin to understand your Will. Fail… well, you might not live to see tomorrow."
Kael clenched his fists, taking a deep breath. He had no choice. He had to face this. If he didn't, there was no telling how long he'd survive in this world, especially with the way his power was already trying to break free.
Kaede's eyes narrowed, assessing him like a hawk. "Get into position, Kael. Show me the shadows that answer to you."
Kael stepped onto the platform, trying to steady his breath. His heart raced. He felt the presence of the shadows stir beneath him—felt the remnants of that raw power crackling just beneath his skin.
"Remember," Kaede said, his voice low, "This isn't a battle of strength. It's a battle of control. If you lose yourself, the shadows will devour you. And those around you."
The words echoed in Kael's mind, but his thoughts began to scatter. The pressure, the weight of the moment, pressed down on him, and for a fleeting second, he wondered if he was truly ready.
Then, it hit him.
A flood of memories.
The image of Tetsu, bloodied and broken. His brother's disappearance. The whispers of that voice, echoing in his mind.
"You were never powerless…"
Kael's eyes snapped open, the words reverberating in his chest.
The shadows responded.
Black tendrils erupted from the floor, swirling around his body like living serpents. They reached for his hands, his feet, his heart.
Kael's heart beat faster. It was happening again, but this time he was ready. He could feel the raw power at his fingertips, like a blade held just inches from his skin, waiting for him to use it.
Kaede didn't move, watching him intently, waiting for Kael to make the first move.
Kael breathed in, steadying his pulse. The shadows twisted around him, tightening, pulsing with energy.
Focus.
"Voidstep," Kael whispered to himself, and just like that, he vanished, moving faster than Kaede's eyes could track. He appeared above the platform, spinning mid-air to land in a crouch.
Kaede's expression didn't change. "Impressive."
But Kael could see the challenge in his mentor's eyes. This wasn't enough.
Kaede raised his hand, and from the far side of the room, a massive golem constructed from stone and steel emerged, a twisted creation of magic and force.
The golem roared, its heavy footsteps shaking the ground as it charged toward Kael.
"Show me if you can control it," Kaede called out. "Show me if you are truly ready to wield the Last Will."
Kael felt the shadows around him surge again. It was time.
Without hesitation, Kael surged forward, slipping through the shadows again, reappearing in front of the golem. He struck with precision, using the shadows like whips to lash at its joints, aiming for its weak spots. But the golem retaliated, smashing its stone fist into the ground, sending shockwaves through the floor.
Kael stumbled back, but the shadows caught him, pulling him back upright.
Kaede's eyes glinted. "Good. But the real test has just begun."
Kael's heart was still pounding, but now he understood. This was just the beginning. He wasn't just fighting for control of his power. He was fighting for his survival.
The golem swung its fist again, but this time, Kael was ready. The shadows swirled around him, forming a shield of dark energy, absorbing the blow and redirecting it with a swift counterattack.
Kaede nodded, almost imperceptibly.
But Kael knew that this was only the first trial.
There would be worse to come.