"Okay… let's begin," Elior said as he stretched his muscles. "What exactly are we going to do?"
"We will begin shortly, my lord," one of the elders replied. "Give us just a moment. We need to adjust a few things."
Elior moved his head from side to side to release the tension built up in his neck.
"All right," he said calmly. "Whenever you're ready, we'll start."
A few steps away, the elders gathered to speak in low voices.
Hope was the first to speak.
"There is something I must tell you," he began, while the others listened attentively. "Something important regarding our lord's body. It is quite unusual."
The elders remained silent.
"During the first phase of training," Hope continued, "no matter how much I increased the intensity, strength, and speed of my strikes, after the second or third impact the damage I received was minimal. Moreover… he was able to follow my movements with almost perfect accuracy."
He frowned.
"That made me think that our king's body might be even more lethal than that of the ancient king. His adaptive capacity could be abysmal… although I cannot be certain yet."
"Now that you mention it," Demir intervened, "something similar happened during the sword combat. After several exchanges, he was able to follow me. We must definitely observe this carefully."
The elders exchanged glances.
"We have no issue with that," said another, "but you must understand something clearly."
The eldest elder stepped forward.
"It is evident that the king does not have good synchronization, neither with his shadow nor with himself. His strikes and movements are, in many cases, involuntary. He has power, but not efficiency. We must help him understand himself, accept himself, and comprehend his power as it truly is."
He remained silent for a few seconds.
"Perhaps the best option to test what you have noticed, and at the same time work on what he lacks, would be to carry out the remaining two phases in the Void of the Realm."
Hope reacted immediately.
"It is too soon," he replied. "The Void can generate extreme confusion. Do not forget that our king has not yet died in his earthly form. He is still human. Placing him there could be dangerous."
Before he could say anything else, the eldest elder intervened.
"More dangerous would be training him here, in the space he wishes to protect," he said firmly. "This time, we will guide him. He will have to face himself. It will be a necessary confrontation… and a revealing one."
Hope pressed his lips together, then finally nodded.
"Very well," he conceded. "Let us proceed with the two phases. Prepare him and explain what we are going to do."
"At once," Demir replied.
Hope and Demir approached Elior.
"My lord," Hope said, "the time has come to begin. We will explain step by step what we are going to do."
"Perfect," Elior replied. "I'm listening."
They both explained the plan in detail. As they spoke, Elior's expression grew increasingly confused.
"The Void…?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "What exactly is that supposed to be?"
"I will explain it," the eldest elder intervened as he approached. "In the Void, you will come to know your true strength… and your true weakness. Your battle will be against yourself. Your fears, your happiness, your hatred… everything will be exposed before you."
Elior swallowed.
"You will have to face what you feel and find a way out. But keep something important in mind. One hour in Geheris is equivalent to one week inside the Void. Time will work against you."
The elder paused briefly.
"I do not want you to think poorly of this… but we will seal you inside. Your power is still too unstable. If we trained here, you could harm others."
"You are right," Elior replied without hesitation. "You thought this through. Thank you. It is best to keep everyone else safe."
He lifted his gaze, determined.
"I'm ready. We can begin."
Although he tried to remain firm, Elior could not hide his nervousness as he followed the elders. He did not know what he would have to face… only that it would be himself.
"My lord, we have arrived," one of them said.
"This is the portal to the Void…?" Elior asked, surprised. "Inside the castle? I didn't think there was a castle here. I suppose I still have much to explore."
"The Domain of Shadows is larger than Geheris," one of the elders replied.
"Larger than Geheris?" Elior repeated, blinking in disbelief.
"Much larger," he nodded. "The outskirts are extremely dangerous. Those who were expelled from the city dwell there. All kinds of beings exist. No one has gone there in thousands of years. But when you restored the city… you likely rebuilt the entire domain as well."
"That's insane…" Elior murmured. "Although it would explain why I was so exhausted."
He shook his head.
"All right, let's not get sidetracked. Let's enter the castle."
With each step Elior took, the interior of the castle began to illuminate. It was an ancient structure, far too ancient, with the same design once provided by the ancient king.
They reached the main hall. High above, the insignias were so deteriorated that their shapes were barely distinguishable. Elior glanced at them for only a moment before moving on.
Before him stood the ancient throne. It was almost intact, surrounded by dark green branches, as if they knew it had been abandoned for years.
"Is that where the ancient king sat?" Elior asked.
"Yes, my lord," they replied. "That is now your throne."
Elior stood in front of it for a few seconds.
"I don't need a throne," he finally said. "Let's go to the portal. That's what matters."
They continued toward the end of the castle. Branches intertwined everywhere, shadowy nature dominating the place. Darkness and green merged into a somewhat unsettling duality.
The portal was sealed by a massive circular stone wall covered in vines. No one could open it without the king's will.
"My lord," one of the elders said. "You must open it."
"Me?" Elior asked. "And how am I supposed to do that?"
"Place your hand in the center and desire for it to open. The door will listen to your will."
"That's it?"
"Yes. It will only open for you. It will not allow us to enter. We will guide you as we did with the ancient king, but we will not be able to speak much. Only help a little."
Elior took a deep breath.
"All right… let's do it."
He approached the circular stone door, covered in dark green vines, and placed his hand at the center.
Open.
When he opened his eyes, they radiated a light that illuminated almost the entire place. The door began to open slowly, and as it did, all sound vanished.
The elders nodded slightly, signaling for him to enter.
Elior returned the gesture… and stepped forward.
Inside, it was not a cold space, nor a noisy one. Even so, the darkness alone was enough to make anyone doubt.
In the Void, there was no clear distinction between sky and ground. Both blended into the same silent blackness. It was impossible to tell whether one was walking, floating, or falling. There was only a constant sensation of disorientation.
"My lord…" the elders' voices echoed faintly. "If you can hear us, please sit down and meditate. Make contact with yourself. The space will do the rest. You just relax."
"All right…" Elior replied aloud.
The sound died instantly. There was no echo. No response.
Elior obeyed. He sat down and closed his eyes. He did not fully understand what was happening, but he followed the instructions. He thought of nothing. Or at least, he tried to.
Then, laughter broke the silence.
"Look at him," a mocking voice said. "Sitting there like an idiot. Pathetic."
Elior opened his eyes abruptly.
In front of him stood a figure identical… and yet completely different.
It was himself, but with a deep scar beneath his right cheekbone. His eyes were those of a hunter, sharp and empty, capable of instilling fear with a single glance. Light claws protruded from his hands, and his smile was filled with contempt.
"I should annihilate you right here," the figure spat.
"Shut up," another voice intervened, much calmer. "Can't you see he's processing everything?"
To Elior's right, another version of himself appeared.
This one had silver hair, perfectly slicked back. His eyes, also silver, shone with a serene light. On his forehead stretched a golden symbol shaped like a crown of withered flowers. The petals descended down his throat and rejoined at the collarbone, as if forming a celestial seal.
Elior stared at them with his eyes wide open. He blinked several times. They did not disappear.
They were real.
Turning his head slightly more, he noticed a third presence.
Another Elior.
This one had his gaze lowered, deep dark circles under his eyes, and his body was chained. His hands and feet were bound. He did not speak. He only stared at him, conveying a heavy, silent guilt.
"What… what is happening?" Elior murmured. "Who are you?"
"And why does that matter, idiot?" roared the one with claws. "Come on. We're free now. Let's devour a few. Annihilate angels. Come on!"
His voice was filled with rage.
"You've kept me locked up for too long," he continued. "You only let me out when you're at your limit. If we destroy them all, no one will ever hurt you again. Let me help you."
"Don't listen to him," said the silver-haired one, advancing calmly. "It's true that sacrifice is necessary, but letting yourself be guided only by rage will ruin everything. Trust me. Eliminate emotions. They are a weakness. I will help you achieve the objective."
Elior stepped back.
Both had arguments.
Both pulled at him.
His hand extended unconsciously. He had no control over it.
But the gaze of the chained Elior stopped him.
"No," Elior said firmly. "I won't do it that way. They said I had to face myself. So… this must be it."
"Damn coward!" the clawed one shouted.
He lunged at him.
The impact of the blow sent Elior flying. Before the attacker could strike again, Elior caught his leg and slammed him in the face. The pain was immediate.
Not only for his opponent.
For himself as well.
Every blow he struck was reflected in his own body.
The silver-haired Elior joined the fight. He did not run. He walked. When he stood before him, he attacked.
His movements were impossible to follow. Precise strikes, without visible intent, without emotion. Two against one.
Elior's body began to adapt to the blows.
He responded. He counterattacked.
The fight balanced… until he lost control.
Shadows wrapped around his hands.
He struck without stopping. Brutally.
The more he destroyed his other versions, the more he damaged himself.
He caught the clawed Elior. He pinned his body by placing his foot on his neck and drove his hand through his chest. Pain pierced his heart. That figure disintegrated.
The silver-haired one advanced.
One against one.
They blocked every attack. Neither could land a hit.
Until Elior became faster.
Stronger.
Ribs.
Knees.
Fifty blows to the face in barely three seconds, annihilating his other self.
"Damn it!" Elior roared, completely out of control.
He turned quickly. One remained.
He walked toward the chained Elior.
Face to face.
The chained one lifted his gaze and spoke for the first time.
"Why do you blind yourself with power?" he said. "You can have all the strength you want, but it will not bring our family back. Everything is meaningless. Humans, angels, demons… we are all dust. Give up. Everyone would be better off without us."
The figure vanished like smoke.
Elior fell to his knees as a sharp ringing filled his ears.
The Void reacted.
Thousands of memories invaded his mind. He clutched his head as the pain became unbearable.
"My lord!" Demir shouted. "If you do not calm yourself, it will get worse. The more you repress your memories, the stronger they will return."
Elior's eyes turned white.
His body went still.
His mind did not. It began to wander through all of Elior's memories.
The tragedy.
The night.
The screams.
In an instant, he was standing before his village in flames, watching his younger self run toward his sister before the white light reached her. He desperately tried to intervene, but he could not. In that moment, he recognized a figure.
Death.
And it saw him.
But as it approached rapidly, Elior drifted again.
Another memory. Same night, but minutes before his family died.
An archangel fighting a demon.
"Azhael!" the demon shouted.
The name was etched into his mind.
Azhael? he repeated as his eyes lost focus. That was the name of the one who triggered the white light that killed his family.
Once again, Elior returned to the Void, gasping. His mind could not receive any more information. The Void could give him no more.
Elior's body had adapted to the environment, becoming incapable of taking further damage due to the sheer amount of information.
But as he caught his breath, a light appeared in the distance.
Thousands of stars crossed his vision, and more memories passed through his mind.
"Alice, come on, we'll be late…"
"I'm coming, dear… I don't like you rushing me."
It was not his memory.
It was the ancient king's. And Alice's.
His mind abruptly changed the scene, and as he was falling into nothingness, he landed on a chair. Sunlight instantly blinded him.
"What just happened…?"
"Dear, are you okay? Is something wrong?"
Elior, confused and unable to react, remained silent. No matter how hard he tried, he could not see the woman's face.
Once again, he returned to the Void. But the headache was excruciating. As he regained awareness, he began to vomit, and his eyes started to bleed. The pain and anxiety from all the memories overwhelmed him. He needed to get out. Now.
"That's enough. I need to leave this place," he exclaimed, shaking his head in pain.
He stood up and opened a portal outward.
He opened it by instinct to escape the Void. The elders, surprised by how easily he exited, told him that the pain would fade.
He did not hear them. Too much information was corrupting his mind.
He ran, opening another portal, falling onto the street in Geheris. Barely able to see and tortured by pain, he kept running aimlessly in search of silence, until he collided with someone.
"Shit, I'm sorry…" Elior exclaimed, clenching his teeth.
"Elior? Elior! What happened to you? Are you okay?"
"Sera… is that you? Please… help me… there's too much noise…"
"Come with me!"
Without hesitation, Seraphine held onto Elior. Her mere touch somehow stabilized his pain.
When they reached Sera's apartment, she quickly laid Elior on the couch.
"I'll call Kael. He'll know what to do…"
"No. Don't call him. Please, don't."
"But Elior, this isn't right."
"It'll pass. I just need the noise to sto—"
He did not finish the sentence. His body collapsed. Elior had surpassed the threshold of pain a person could endure, causing his body to shut down for a few seconds.
"What can I do?" Seraphine thought as she prepared cold compresses.
With Elior unconscious, Seraphine began to remove his shirt, stained with blood and sweat, placing the cold compresses on his body.
Meanwhile, in the Domain of Shadows…
"Are you idiots?" Alice shouted at the elders. "He is a child. He is human!"
"It was rushed," Hope admitted. "But we discovered something unique."
"What the hell are you talking about? Are you even aware of the damage you might have caused him?"
"The king's body… is unique in this universe, Alice."
Silence filled the space completely.
"It adapts to everything," he continued. "It even managed to adapt to the Void."
Alice clenched her fists.
"Oh, really? How wonderful. You found something unthinkable while he suffered. The idea was to help him train, not torture him."
Hours later, Elior, still unconscious, smiled. He was back in that memory with the unknown woman.
"Dear… are you okay?"
"Yes, love, don't worry. I just got a little dizzy, that's all."
Without thinking, the woman approached Elior and touched his forehead.
"You still have a fever. Do you really need to go to work? Why don't you rest instead…"
"We already talked about this. I have thousands of things to do today."
"All right," she said, sitting beside him. "I won't insist, but promise me something."
"What is it, love?"
"The moment you feel unwell, you'll rest."
Elior did not answer. He simply nodded with a smile as the woman intertwined her hand with his. Elior instinctively squeezed her hand, as if never wanting to let go. The peace that moment transmitted was something Elior had never felt before.
In Geheris, Seraphine, who was sitting beside Elior waiting for him to wake up, blushed when she noticed Elior suddenly holding her hand tightly.
"Elior…?"
But everything changed when she tried to remove one of the compresses. As she touched him, she felt a strange combination within his soul, as if his rage, happiness, guilt, all his emotions were trying to break free.
"Seraphine… just stay," Elior whispered, still unconscious.
"What is happening to you, Elior… I don't want to think that you truly are a danger."
Despite feeling happy moments before because Elior had taken her hand, sensing those things within his soul disturbed her deeply. It was grotesque. Something that, instinctively, would go out to hunt.