The sun had barely risen over Lumeria Academy when the air shimmered unnaturally. The training yard, usually calm at this hour, vibrated with latent energy. Izumi stood in the center, golden light reflecting off his eyes, his shard pulsing with urgency.
Jack leaned against a tree, still half-asleep, muttering, "Why does the morning always feel like the end of the world with you?"
Aria ignored him, her attention on Izumi. "The disturbance from last night… it's not gone. Something will appear. Be ready."
Izumi's senses extended beyond the physical. He could feel the threads of reality twisting, faint tendrils of divine energy probing the academy like curious predators. The shard thrummed violently, responding to forces that had existed long before mortals had names for them.
Then the shadows appeared.
They were not mere illusions. Figures cloaked in darkness, their forms shifting and dissolving, emerged from thin air. Each exuded an aura of malice, their movements predatory and unnaturally precise. The students froze, fear written on every face.
Jack's jaw dropped. "Uh… Izumi? Those shadows are… moving… like… alive."
Izumi did not answer. He extended his hands, letting the golden threads of the shard radiate outward. The shadows recoiled slightly but pressed forward relentlessly.
Aria's voice was steady. "Control, Izumi. Let them test you… but do not falter."
The first shadow lunged. Instinctively, Izumi stepped forward. His shard flared, golden tendrils wrapping around the shadow, forcing it back. His movements were fluid, precise, almost preternatural. Memories of countless loops, countless battles, guided his actions.
One by one, he engaged the shadows, each encounter more intense than the last. They were fast, intelligent, relentless—but the shard responded in perfect harmony with him. Threads of energy wove into barriers, redirected strikes, and launched counterattacks without thought.
Jack ducked behind a tree. "Okay… seriously, this is insane. He's… he's like a walking army!"
Aria's eyes followed Izumi, sharp and analytical. "He is awakening beyond mortal comprehension. But even so… he must not underestimate them. These shadows are not random—they are probes, testing his limits, his resolve."
The battle continued, Izumi moving seamlessly through attacks, his golden aura flaring brighter with each clash. Then, the final shadow paused, dissolving into a mist that carried a whisper:
> "Izumi… your awakening will not go unnoticed. The Ten Great Gods watch, and the Trial has begun."
The shard pulsed violently. Izumi's heart thumped, but he felt no fear. Only resolve.
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