Episode 5 - "The Outcast's Training"
The archives were no longer enough. As the weight of his newfound powers grew, Ikaru sought solitude far from prying eyes. Under the cover of night, he slipped out of the castle grounds and ventured deep into the forbidden forests surrounding the Kingdom of Ethril.
The forest was ancient, its towering trees veiled in a permanent mist. Moonlight barely pierced through the thick canopy, leaving the ground cloaked in darkness. The air was damp, carrying the scent of moss and wet earth, and the occasional cry of nocturnal creatures echoed like distant warnings.
Ikaru stood in the heart of the forest, where the shadows felt alive, swirling and shifting as if drawn to him. He closed his eyes, allowing the Void to rise within him. It was both exhilarating and terrifying, a force that demanded absolute control.
He started learning Techniques of Void... There were 10 Basic techniques and some Ultimate Techniques.
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As Ikaru practiced, the forest bore the brunt of his growing power. The Binding of Darkness wrapped around ancient trees, snapping them like twigs. The Blackhole tore through boulders, leaving deep craters in the earth. Each attack left Ikaru breathless, sweat dripping from his brow as he struggled to maintain control.
But the Void was not a power that could be tamed easily. It whispered to him, tempting him to unleash its full potential without restraint.
"Power is meant to be used," the voice seemed to say. "Why hold back?"
Ikaru gritted his teeth, forcing the shadows to dissipate. "No," he thought. "I have to master it. If I lose control, I'll destroy everything."
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Days turned into weeks, and Ikaru's isolation grew. His hands were calloused, his body bruised, but his resolve remained unbroken. Yet, a shadow of doubt lingered in his mind.
"Am I a monster? This power… it's nothing like Sakura's light. It's cold, destructive. How can I ever stand beside her?"
He remembered the admiration in everyone's eyes when they spoke of his sister. "Sakura is a beacon, the hope of the kingdom. And me? I'm just a shadow they've forgotten."
But even as despair threatened to consume him, a flicker of determination ignited within. "If they won't see me, then I'll make them. Not as a hero… but as something they'll never forget."
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While Ikaru trained in secret, life in the castle continued as if he didn't exist.
The King spent his days in council meetings, discussing matters of state. Maps and scrolls cluttered the grand table in the war room, where advisors debated strategies for upcoming alliances and trade agreements.
The Queen supervised Sakura's training in the courtyard. Under the watchful eyes of Ethril's finest knights, Sakura sparred with a practice sword. Each swing was precise, her movements fluid and graceful. The onlookers whispered in awe, marveling at her talent.
"She'll surpass the Light Knights of old," one knight said.
"A true prodigy," another agreed.
Sakura, however, was distracted. Her strikes faltered, and her gaze kept drifting to the castle walls, where she had last seen her brother disappear.
"Focus, Sakura," the Queen said sharply.
"Yes, Mother," Sakura replied, forcing herself to concentrate. But in her heart, she couldn't shake the feeling that Ikaru was slipping further away.
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As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of crimson and gold, Ikaru stood in the center of a clearing. He raised his hand, summoning the Void one final time. The shadows obeyed, swirling around him in a chaotic dance.
This time, there was no hesitation. With a deep breath, he extended his palm and whispered: "Eternal Void."
The air grew cold, and the ground trembled as a massive sphere of darkness formed before him. It pulsed with raw energy, bending the light around it until the clearing was plunged into an unnatural night.
For a moment, Ikaru felt unstoppable, a god in his own right. But as the sphere grew larger, it began to destabilize. The shadows lashed out, cutting into the surrounding trees and rocks.
"Stop!" he shouted, pouring all his will into dispersing the sphere.
The Void resisted, reluctant to release its hold. But with a final surge of determination, Ikaru forced it to collapse. The clearing was left in ruins, the ground scorched and barren.
Ikaru fell to his knees, gasping for air. His body ached, but he couldn't help but smile.
"I'm getting stronger," he thought. "One day, no one will be able to stop me."
As the stars began to twinkle in the night sky, Ikaru stood and turned back toward the castle, his heart filled with both hope and defiance. The shadows clung to him like an old friend, whispering promises of power yet to come.
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After Two years-
The forest, once a foreboding expanse of ancient trees and eternal mist, had become Ikaru's sanctuary. Over two years, the shadow-laden wilderness witnessed the birth of something extraordinary. Ikaru, a boy once dismissed as an outcast, had transformed into a force that transcended comprehension.
The mornings began with the sun barely kissing the treetops, casting long, eerie shadows on the forest floor. Ikaru used the early hours to meditate, his mind delving into the depths of the Void. As the day matured, the forest came alive with the whispers of leaves and the rustling of unseen creatures. It was as though the shadows themselves bowed to him, offering their presence as his allies.
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Ikaru pushed his limits with every session, refining each technique until it obeyed his will effortlessly. His ultimate techniques, once chaotic and overwhelming, now flowed through him like second nature.
Each success came with a price. His body grew stronger, but his soul felt the burden of his powers. The whispers of the Void grew louder, tempting him to abandon his humanity.
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Two years of relentless training had elevated Ikaru to a level beyond anything the world had ever known. The gods who once ruled with divine authority, the demons who terrorized realms with untamed chaos—none of them could compare to the being he had become.
He was no longer mortal. His strength surpassed imagination, his mastery over darkness absolute. Yet, despite this, Ikaru made a choice.
"No one must know," he thought, staring at his reflection in the calm waters of a forest stream. His eyes glowed faintly with the energy of the Void, a reminder of the power that dwelled within him. "If they see me for what I am, they will fear me. They will never accept me."
He clenched his fist, the shadows coiling around his hand before dissipating. "I will keep this hidden. They don't need to know. I'm just Ikaru—the weak, aimless boy."
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When Ikaru returned to the castle after his training, he wore the same mask he always had. His steps were unhurried, his expression unreadable. He moved through the halls unnoticed, just as he had before.
The knights still whispered about Sakura, the prodigy destined for greatness.
"She defeated three captains in training today," one knight said.
"She's already the strongest candidate for Light Knight Highness," another replied.
Ikaru passed them silently, his face calm, his heart heavy.
In the throne room, the Queen and King showered Sakura with praise. She stood tall, her presence radiant as ever. But when her eyes met Ikaru's, they softened.
"Brother," she called out, her voice warm. "Where have you been?"
"Nowhere important," he replied with a faint smile. "Just wandering."
Sakura frowned but said nothing. Deep down, she sensed something had changed in him, but she couldn't place what it was.
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That night, Ikaru sat in the castle garden, the stars twinkling above him. The cool breeze carried the scent of blooming flowers, a stark contrast to the darkness that lingered within him.
"How long can I keep this up?" he wondered, staring at his hands. "This power… it is something beyond everyone's knowledge. But if they will get to know, they'd see me as a monster."
His resolve hardened. "I'll keep lying. For Sakura. For the kingdom. They don't need to know what I've become."
As the night deepened, the shadows around him seemed to whisper their approval, wrapping him in their embrace. Ikaru closed his eyes, the weight of his secret settling over him like a cloak.
For now, the world would see him as nothing more than an ordinary boy. But within him, the Void waited, ready to be unleashed when the time came.