Chapter Five: "Energy Supression Training"

Chapter Five: "Energy Supression Training"

Tenkai Training Grounds — Dawn

The sky bled orange across the horizon, casting long shadows through the towering spirit-forged trees surrounding the Tenkai training field. Silence hung heavy in the air—dense, almost sacred—broken only by the hum of arcane sigils burning into the earth.

Takashi stood barefoot inside a glowing circle, breath misting in the cold morning. His body throbbed with exhaustion, but his hands still tingled from last night's dream. His sister's voice still echoed in his mind.

Across from him, Sensei Rengoku stood motionless, arms crossed. His black coat swayed in the early breeze, his face unreadable.

"You're late," he said.

Takashi straightened. "I didn't sleep well."

"Bad Dream?"

Takashi nodded, eyes shadowed. "Dreaming about Airi and the demon that inhabits her body."

Rengoku's expression darkened and he said to himself. "That demon is carving deeper into her soul. If he wants to save her, he must learn to suppress your energy. That starts now."

He stepped forward, tracing a glowing sigil in the air with two fingers. The ring around Takashi pulsed crimson.

"W.....what is this?", Takashi asked in confusion.

"This is a Suppression Seal. It magnifies your aura, then turns it against you. Either you control it… or it breaks you."

Takashi's heart hammered. "What happens if I fail?"

Rengoku's smirk was cold. "You'll know."

He turned and walked a few paces away. "Begin."

Takashi closed his eyes.

Inhale.

Exhale.

Focus.

He reached inward—and the storm answered.

Red-black energy burst from his core in a spiraling wave, shaking the ground. His aura pulsed wildly, lifting dust, rattling leaves, and cracking the Suppression Seal.

"Contain it!" Rengoku shouted.

Takashi strained, jaw clenched, fists shaking. Blood trickled from his nose. The energy screamed to be unleashed. His knees hit the ground.

Then—silence.

Everything collapsed inward. His aura vanished. The seal dimmed.

Takashi gasped, barely conscious.

Rengoku walked toward him, arms behind his back. "Six seconds."

He offered a hand. "Again. Let's go for ten."

Just as they were about to begin, Natsumi and Akihiro came out of their dorm with Natsumi rubbing her yawning-covering her mouth and Akihiro stretching like an elastic rubber band.

"What are they doing?", Natsumi asked yawning.

"It must be the energy suppression stuff", Akihiro responded.

"You mean the energy suppression technique?", She asked.

"Yh, whatever it's called, that's what they are doing"

FLASHBACKS

Takashi's Mind — Memory Fragment

The heat faded into calm. Darkness became sunlight.

Takashi stood in a quiet backyard garden, age ten, surrounded by cherry blossoms. His mother, Natsumi, knelt beside him, drawing small glowing patterns in the dirt.

"Control isn't about force," she said, gently guiding his fingers. "It's about balance. Like dancing with the fire inside you. You don't suppress it. You harmonize with it."

He smiled. "I'll get it, Mom. I promise."

She ruffled his hair. "One day, you'll be strong enough to protect everything you love, even us."

The Shadows of Tenkai — Unknown Observer

Across the field, high on a rooftop veiled in shadow, a cloaked figure watched silently. A black mask covered it's face. Silver eyes glinted beneath the hood.

"He's adapting faster than expected," the figure whispered. A talisman in his hand pulsed with dark energy. "Oblivion stirs. The King of Demons is back."

It vanished into the mist as silently as they came.

PRESENT

Training Grounds — Evening

After hours of repeated trials, Takashi stood in the Suppression Seal once more. His body ached, and his legs threatened to give out. But his eyes blazed with determination.

He centered himself.

Inhale.

Exhale.

Hold.

This time, the aura flared—then stilled. Contained.

Ten seconds.

Fifteen.

Twenty.

He collapsed with a heavy breath, but smiling.

Rengoku nodded approvingly. "Now you're getting it."

But just as Takashi rolled onto his back, something shifted in the air. His head jerked upright.

A voice—soft, pained—echoed in his ears.

"Takashi... help me…"

Airi's voice. No mistake this time.

He stood, wild-eyed, spinning in place. But no one was there.

"What is it?" Rengoku asked.

"She's in pain again. I felt it."

Rengoku's expression turned grim. "Then we're running out of time. Your training must accelerate."

To Be Continued….