After that tragic moment, the rain did not stop. Terrmomix walked away from there, wandering aimlessly.
His face no longer showed anything; his eyes were dull and tired, his mind remained blank, unable to think of anything.
His body had no strength left, but he kept moving forward. Each drop felt like a blow, but he didn't seem to care.
After walking for several hours through the forest, he reached a shore. Perhaps a solitary island could be seen from there.
Using wood from the trees, he built a boat to head to the island. He didn't know why, but something in his mind told him he had to become stronger – maybe it was because of the promise he had made to his loved ones.
Upon reaching the island, he disembarked from the boat. His gaze still showed no expression. The island was not uninhabited; there were dangerous animals like venomous snakes, black bears, and wolves.
Terrmomix had arrived at an island where only these animals lived, without knowing it. The island was unknown, so there were no laws preventing him from staying.
He entered the forest without a second thought. It wasn't him – it was his body that wanted to train. He didn't understand the reason, but he knew he had to do it.
In one week, he had wiped out half the island's animals. His mere presence triggered the survival instinct of every creature.
Within the forest, he began training to the brink of death. Each session was more grueling than the last.
Every day, from dawn until dusk, without stopping, without showing fatigue. It seemed as if he wanted to die, but every time he was on the verge of it, his body prevented it.
One day, as he trained as he did every day, chunks of ice burst from his katana when he struck.
He was confused at first, but then he realized that finally, after so much time, his technique had emerged. He didn't know how to use it yet, but he had it now.
At night, while he slept, tears streamed from his eyes without him understanding why. He remembered that moment, but felt no pain or sadness – only his eyes wept.
The next day, he decided to test his technique.
-How was it? Ice Technique: Freezing Slash.- He unleashed a horizontal slash forward.
The slash cut the trees in half as always, but now it also froze everything in its path – even a squirrel that was there.
After launching the attack, suddenly his eyes and mouth began to bleed. That was something new; his body was not used to using such power.
He understood that he was still weak. Even though he had trained nonstop for several weeks, it was still not enough.
Techniques do not create attacks – their wielders do. All techniques do is grant power over a certain element. Wielders also choose the names.
If a body is weak or incompatible with the technique, it can cause severe internal damage. Only very few wielders have managed to master their technique without being compatible.
The elements of techniques are not determined by the wielder's body; they are completely random.
The katanas used at the moment the technique is awakened are the only ones capable of channeling it. Wielders must take care not to break their katana and perform regular maintenance – without a katana, there is no technique.
Terrmomix spent half a year training with even greater intensity, all to be able to use his technique without issue. After that time, his body and mindset had changed.
He felt nothing anymore – no emotions, no pain. He no longer cried at night. He was more serious and cold.
As he walked through the forest, he encountered a huge black bear. It appeared to be the pack's leader.
He stood facing the bear, no expression on his face, and grasped the katana's hilt with one hand. The bear advanced quickly to attack him, but Terrmomix just kept walking forward without stopping.
Before the bear could land its blow, its head fell to the ground, and the rest of its body froze solid.
-Ice Technique: Freeze.
He continued walking, leaving the frozen body behind. After walking for a while, he came across some abandoned ruins and entered without hesitation.
The place was dilapidated and dark, illuminated only by sunlight streaming through the entrance. Terrmomix noticed some kind of drawings on the walls.
The drawings showed four beings on the ground that did not look human. Above them stood three humans with katanas. Further on, another drawing showed those same three humans with what looked like a school beneath them.
He didn't understand any of the writing, but he remembered that when he was younger, his father had told him about how three humans defeated four beings not from this world.
At the time, he hadn't understood what his father was saying and had thought it was just a story. But now, with these drawings, he began to believe it was true. His master Son had never spoken of this.
He left the place, which seemed to be an old temporary shelter that had been used once.
After a few more months, the day finally came to go to the academy. Terrmomix left the island, and his destination was now an island located off the southern African coast.
The island was well-known, but tourist access was not permitted. Only students and teachers could enter.
Terrmomix arrived at the airport. It was unusual to see a young boy traveling alone.
-Where are you heading, young man?- Asked a security inspector.
Terrmomix showed him the card that had come with the letter from a year ago. When they saw the card, the inspectors tensed up. They looked at him again, their eyes lowering to his katana.
They immediately let him pass, alerting all security personnel about Terrmomix. The inspectors allowed him to skip all security protocols.
The card was an identification showing he was a student at the academy – irreplaceable, with only a handful existing in the world.
They took Terrmomix to a private plane, where a pilot was already waiting to take him to the academy's island.
The two boarded, and the plane took off. Mid-flight, the pilot asked him:
-What does it feel like to be a student at the world's most prestigious academy?
-Mmm... I don't know. Fine, I suppose.- Said Terrmomix without expression, as he looked out the window.
The pilot thought he was arrogant and self-centered. But that wasn't the reason – the real reason was that Terrmomix simply felt nothing anymore. Even if he wanted to, he couldn't.
After a long journey, the plane landed on the island's outskirts. Terrmomix got off the plane, and before he left, the pilot said:
-Go straight ahead, and you'll find the academy there.
Terrmomix nodded.
-Thank you for bringing me here and for your help.
The pilot smiled and started the plane up again. Terrmomix walked for a while; the island was much larger than the one he had been on. When he reached the center, there it was – The Academy: "Humanity's First Defense". Some students were already entering. This is the beginning of Terrmomix's new life.
ARC 1 — THE ORIGIN OF THE VACUUM.
COMPLETED.