Chapter 18: The Laughing Hero and the Hidden Power

The sun had barely risen when Seraphina dragged Kai and Luna out of Sector 7 Academy to their new training grounds—an abandoned industrial yard on the city's outskirts.

Kai yawned dramatically, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "Man, you guys really know how to ruin a perfectly good morning."

Luna adjusted the strap of her combat gear, shooting him a glare. "Try to take this seriously, Kai."

Kai smirked. "Oh, don't worry. I'm fully prepared to fail spectacularly."

Seraphina ignored them, stepping into the center of the training field, her golden eyes gleaming. "Kai, your Rift energy is unstable. If you don't learn to control it, next time it flares up, you could destroy half the city."

Kai grinned. "No pressure, then."

Seraphina raised her hand—

And golden chains materialized out of thin air, binding Kai instantly.

Kai blinked, glancing at the glowing restraints around his arms. "Uh. Okay. Not the kind of training I had in mind."

Seraphina's voice was calm, firm. "This is a test. Your power is unstable. You have to learn how to control it before it controls you."

Kai sighed. "Fine, fine."

He closed his eyes and concentrated. The Rift energy inside him stirred, pulsing beneath his skin like a living thing.

Luna watched closely. He's really trying this time…

Then—

BOOM.

A violent shockwave erupted outward, shattering the chains—

And sending Kai flying into a tree.

Luna pinched the bridge of her nose. "We're gonna be here all day, aren't we?"

Kai grinned from the dirt. "You bet."

Seraphina sighed. This is going to take a while.

A Hidden Power Awakens

Hours passed.

Kai kept trying—kept summoning his power, kept losing control, kept getting knocked down.

But every time, he got back up.

Luna stood nearby, watching closely. Every time Kai's power flared, she noticed something strange.

At first, it was just unstable blue lightning.

But now…

Now, there were traces of something else.

Something darker.

Her stomach twisted.

"Kai," she called.

He turned to her, still catching his breath. "Yeah?"

Luna hesitated. Then, she stepped forward, placing a hand on his arm.

The second she touched him, a jolt ran through her body.

And for a split second—

She saw something.

A burning city, engulfed in flames.

A massive shadow, standing above the destruction, Rift energy pouring from its body.

And in the center of it all—

Kai.

But his eyes were completely silver.

The Rift's Warning

Luna stumbled back, gasping.

Kai caught her arm. "Whoa, you good?"

Seraphina frowned. "What happened?"

Luna looked at Kai, her heart pounding.

That vision—was it the future?

Or was it something even worse?

Kai raised an eyebrow. "You're looking at me like I just grew a second head."

Luna clenched her fists. "Kai… there's something inside you. Something more than just Rift energy."

Kai blinked. "I mean, yeah. I figured that out after the fifth explosion."

Luna shook her head. "No. I saw it. You—"

She hesitated. She didn't want to tell him what she had seen.

Not yet.

Seraphina watched them carefully. "Luna. What did you see?"

Luna swallowed.

Finally, she spoke.

"I saw… something else inside him."

Kai frowned. "Something else?"

Luna nodded. "Your power isn't just unstable, Kai. It's changing."

Kai was silent for a long moment.

Then, finally—he smirked.

"Cool. Hope I grow wings next."

Luna groaned. "Kai, I'm serious!"

Kai chuckled. "Yeah, I know. That's the problem."

Seraphina exhaled. "If your energy is evolving, then we need to accelerate your training. The Rift isn't going to wait for you to figure this out."

Kai rolled his shoulders. "Alright. Let's get back to it, then."

Luna watched him carefully.

Because no matter how much Kai joked around…

She could tell.

That vision had shaken him.

And deep down—he was scared.

Elsewhere…

Deep within the Black Hole Rift, a shadow stirred.

A low, distorted voice rippled through the void.

"He is getting closer."

Another voice responded, smoother—almost amused.

"Yes. But will he survive it?"

The Rift pulsed again—growing wider.

And the unseen figure smiled.

"Let's find out."