Akaza
Akaza sat cross-legged on the ground of the amphitheater in the 6th floor of Nazarick, his breathing steady but labored, his chest rising and falling as beads of sweat rolled down his bare, battle-scarred body. The cool, mystical air of the amphitheater did little to alleviate the heat radiating from his relentless training. His hands were clenched into fists, the ground beneath him cracked and scorched from his exertion.
Since the day Alex had resurrected Koyuki, Akaza's world had changed. For a demon like him, resurrecting the dead was a miracle, a power so foreign and incomprehensible that it bordered on divine. Yet Alex had done it, and for that, Akaza owed him everything. But Alex's act of generosity had come with a single, unwavering condition: achieve the Transparent World.
Failure was not an option. Alex's words echoed in his mind like the tolling of a relentless bell: "If you don't succeed, Koyuki will die again."
The thought was a blade twisting in his chest. He wouldn't—couldn't—allow it to happen. He had already failed her once. He had let her die. This was his second chance, and he would achieve the Transparent World even if it meant destroying himself in the process.
His fists trembled as he stared at the ground, his vision narrowing to the task ahead. He had spent countless hours on this floor, practicing, fighting, and meditating. The amphitheater, a vast space imbued with the magic of Nazarick, amplified his senses and allowed him to push beyond his limits.
"I need to go further," Akaza muttered to himself, his voice a growl of determination. "I can't let her die again."
His mind flashed back to Koyuki's face, her gentle smile, her soft voice that once gave him hope. He could still hear her laughter, the warmth in her eyes as she spoke his name. The thought of losing that again was unbearable.
Akaza rose to his feet, his legs unsteady but resolute. He shut his eyes and focused on his breathing. The Transparent World was not just a technique; it was a state of being. He needed to clear his mind, to let go of all distractions, to see beyond the physical.
The voice of his master, Keizo, echoed in his mind, a memory from his human days.
"To see clearly, you must empty yourself, Hakuji. The world is already transparent; you only need to look beyond what your eyes show you."
Akaza clenched his jaw. He knew the theory, but achieving it was another matter entirely. He began to throw punches into the air, slow and deliberate at first, then faster and faster. Each strike was a test of his focus, his willpower. He visualized the world around him, every particle of dust, every shift in the air, every faint sound.
Time blurred as he trained, his body moving on instinct. Sweat poured down his face, but he didn't stop. He couldn't stop.
A voice interrupted his thoughts, smooth and commanding.
"You. Are. Pushing. Yourself. Hard," the voice stated, each word deliberate, like the grinding of stone.
Akaza paused mid-punch, turning toward the source. Cocytus, the towering insectoid warrior of Nazarick, stood at the edge of the amphitheater, his imposing figure framed by the dim magical glow of the space. His gleaming armor reflected the faint light, and his crimson eyes seemed to pierce straight through Akaza.
Akaza straightened, his breathing ragged. "Cocytus," he acknowledged, bowing his head slightly. "What brings you here?"
Cocytus stepped forward, each movement precise and deliberate, the ground shaking faintly beneath his weight. "I. Have. Observed. Your. Efforts. Lord. Alex. Has. Given. You. A. Task. One. That. Must. Be. Completed. At. All. Costs."
Akaza nodded, his fists tightening at the reminder. "I have no choice but to succeed."
Cocytus regarded him silently for a moment, the faint clicking of his mandibles breaking the silence. "This. Transparent. World. I. Do. Not. Know. What. It. Is. But. If. Lord. Alex. Deems. It. Important… Then. It. Must. Be. Powerful."
"It is," Akaza replied, his voice low but resolute. "It's a state of perception that allows me to see through all barriers—to predict every movement, to understand my opponent's intent before they act."
Cocytus's head tilted slightly, his eyes narrowing in thought. "A. Worthy. Goal. For. A. Warrior. Such. Clarity. Could. Turn. The. Tide. Of. Any. Battle."
Akaza wiped the sweat from his brow. "But I can't reach it. No matter how hard I try, it feels just out of reach."
Cocytus's mandibles clicked thoughtfully. "Perhaps. You. Are. Approaching. It. Incorrectly."
Akaza frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Warriors. Often. Make. The. Mistake. Of. Focusing. Too. Much. On. Strength. Alone," Cocytus explained, his voice calm but firm. "Strength. Without. Focus. Is. Chaos. Power. Without. Purpose. Is. Waste."
Akaza's eyes narrowed. "I'm not relying on brute force. I'm trying to clear my mind, to focus on the world around me."
"Then. Why. Do. You. Strain. So. Hard?" Cocytus asked, stepping closer. His massive clawed hand gestured to Akaza's trembling fists and sweat-drenched form. "Clarity. Cannot. Be. Forced. It. Must. Be. Found. In. Stillness. As. Well. As. Struggle."
Akaza blinked, the weight of Cocytus's words settling over him. He thought back to his endless hours of pushing his body to the limit, of his desperation to achieve the Transparent World at any cost. Perhaps he had been too focused on the struggle, too consumed by fear and urgency.
"Stillness…" Akaza murmured, his voice soft.
"Yes," Cocytus affirmed, his tone unwavering. "To. See. Clearly. You. Must. Empty. Yourself. Of. Distractions. You. Must. Balance. Effort. And. Calm. Do. Not. Chase. The. Transparent. World. Let. It. Come. To. You."
To see clearly, you must empty yourself, Hakuji… Cocytus said the same as his human master.
When Akaza opened his eyes, he bowed deeply to Cocytus. "Thank you. Your advice… it gives me hope."
Cocytus inclined his head slightly, his towering form radiating an air of silent approval. "Good. Now. Show. Me. That. You. Are. Worthy. Of. Our. Lord's. Trust."
~~~
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