By afternoon, the shard's energy had begun to saturate Izumi's very being. He moved through the academy's training grounds, manipulating mana with a grace and precision no ordinary student could hope to match. Obstacles of stone and flame arose, conjured by instructors testing him, but Izumi flowed through them with ease.
Each movement was a symphony, his shard humming in harmony with his will. He ducked under arcs of fire, twisted around enchanted spears, and sent invisible waves of energy to redirect falling objects. The air shimmered with the raw power of someone who had lived countless lives, each loop teaching him instinct, each shard fragment sharpening his reflexes.
Jack, panting heavily from his own training, watched in awe. "Man… seriously, are you even human? I can barely keep up with one obstacle, and you're bending reality!"
Aria's eyes were calm but sharp. "He's beyond human. And he's only just beginning. Izumi… remember what I said about control. Power without restraint can destroy more than it saves."
Izumi nodded, the golden glow in his eyes intensifying. "I understand. Control is everything."
As the afternoon wore on, the shard pulsed faster, almost impatiently, drawing him deeper. Another fragment of memory surged forth—he stood on a throne of golden light, betrayed by beings he trusted, watching worlds crumble beneath his feet. The memory was vivid, visceral, and painful, but it taught him. He felt the rhythm of battles, the flow of mana, the cadence of life and death itself.
He began pushing beyond the exercises, manipulating multiple mana streams simultaneously, bending them into defensive barriers and offensive strikes without effort. Each motion was calculated yet fluid, precise yet instinctual.
Jack muttered, half in fear and half in admiration, "Okay… okay… that's… ridiculous. I don't even know what to call that. It's like watching a god play chess with magic."
Aria's gaze softened, though her words were serious. "Izumi… the shard is awakening. Soon, it will demand more than training. You will need to prepare for what lies beyond this academy. And not all challenges will come from mortal hands."
A low tremor ran through the training yard. The mountains in the distance shivered faintly, as though reacting to something beyond the world. The shard pulsed violently in response, a warning and an invitation.
Izumi clenched his fists. "I will be ready. I will not falter. Not this time."
Above, the sky darkened subtly, clouds shifting unnaturally. Somewhere, far beyond the academy, hidden eyes watched the boy who would soon challenge gods themselves.
And the shard, alive and ancient, hummed in agreement.