Chereads / Solo Protagonist(Project Zero) / Chapter 17 - Chapter 17:Spriggan

Chapter 17 - Chapter 17:Spriggan

The moon hung low in the night sky as Kaito, full of curiosity, stood at the edge of the mystical forest where Eldertree Matron Verdura lived. The wind whispered secrets, and Kaito's heart beat faster with excitement.

As he approached the guarded gate, Kaito knew he couldn't just walk in without being noticed. Project Zero watched over the area carefully. But Kaito, with his new elemental powers, was determined to find out what was hidden inside.

He focused on the fire element, remembering what he learned from the stolen books. The air around him shimmered, and flames flickered at his fingertips. With a determined look, Kaito used a technique called "Light Shade," which made him nearly invisible by turning his body into flickering light.

One of the guards felt something was wrong and looked around. Hidden in the light, Kaito moved silently like a shadow.

"Who's there?" the guard called out, sensing something strange. Kaito held his breath, trying to stay completely still. The guard squinted into the shadows, looking uneasy.

"It's just my imagination," the guard muttered, trying to calm himself. Kaito quietly sighed in relief as the guard turned away, giving him a chance to slip through.

Kaito focused again, surrounding himself with flames that formed a brief cocoon of light. He passed through the gate bars, his body becoming a stream of flickering lights that were hard to see.

Kaito was amazed as he passed through the gate, which was meant to stop anyone from getting in. It was a perfect mix of technology and elemental magic.

The forest loomed ahead as he made it to the other side, full of ancient secrets waiting to be uncovered. Now inside Eldertree Matron Verdura's territory, Kaito knew every step would bring him closer to his destiny.

The stolen books spoke of more secrets, and Kaito, hidden in the light, was ready to face the unknown in the heart of the mystical forest. As he moved quickly through the old trees, blending in with the shadows, the forest seemed to welcome him.

The stolen books had also taught Kaito a water technique called "Flow," which gave him incredible speed. He dashed through the forest, guided by the sound of rushing water, as the secrets of the forest whispered around him.

After hours of running, Kaito noticed a change in the atmosphere. He felt a strong presence nearby, signaling that he was close to the mysterious figure he was searching for. Pushing forward, Kaito reached a peaceful clearing with a single rock, a symbol of nature's beauty.

On the rock, sitting cross-legged, was the silver-haired man Kaito had met before. The man was meditating peacefully, the air around him feeling magical. As Kaito approached, the man's golden eyes, full of ancient wisdom, opened and stared deep into Kaito's soul.

Suddenly, a shadowy figure appeared behind Kaito, gripping his throat. The forest grew silent as the silver-haired man spoke, his words heavy with meaning.

"What do you want with me, Void?" he asked, his voice echoing through the clearing.

Kaito, steadying himself, met the man's intense golden eyes. "I want you to teach me," Kaito replied.

The silver-haired man released Kaito and turned to face him fully. Standing before the master, Void felt a strong energy in the air, promising to reveal deep knowledge.

The master's eyes locked onto Void, thinking about his request. "Teach you?" The master paused, then nodded. "Very well. But the path I follow is not easy. It requires discipline, selflessness, and a strong commitment to balance."

Void nodded, his determination clear. The forest seemed to agree, marking the beginning of a journey beyond the ordinary.

With each step, Kaito learned the secrets of "Flow" and mastered water techniques, all under the guidance of the silver-haired master. The forest, with its sounds of flowing water and rustling leaves, watched over their training.

Kaito absorbed the ancient wisdom from the master, combining elemental magic with the shadows that surrounded him. The clearing became a sacred space where shadows and water merged, creating a harmony that echoed through the mystical forest.

"I am Spriggan," the master said, his voice full of ancient knowledge. "And you, Void, have a rare gift—the power to control Primordial Qi, the essence of creation itself."

Kaito felt the weight of these words. Primordial Qi was a force beyond normal energy, capable of shaping reality, bending time, and crossing dimensions.

"But," Spriggan continued, his gaze deep and intense, "something is missing within you. A void that must be filled. To truly unlock Primordial Qi, you must master Death Energy, the force that lies at the edge of existence."

Kaito, both intrigued and serious, nodded. The balance between life and death, shadows and light, now held new meaning. His journey was not just about mastering elemental magic but also about understanding life's ultimate end.

Under the moonlit sky, the clearing became a place of learning as Spriggan prepared to guide Kaito into the realm of Death Energy. The air was thick with anticipation, and the shadows whispered secrets only the brave could uncover.

"You want to control Death Energy," Spriggan said, his voice powerful. "But to do that, you must face mortality itself, the balance between life and death."

Spriggan led Kaito to the heart of the forest, where an ancient, twisted tree stood. Its branches reached out like skeleton fingers, casting eerie shadows in the moonlight.

"Here," Spriggan said, "is where you will connect with Death Energy. But be careful—the path is dangerous, and the spirits here demand a price."

Kaito nodded, determination in his eyes. Spriggan told him to sit beneath the ancient tree and meditate. The shadows seemed to close in, wrapping around Kaito like ghostly arms.

"Now," Spriggan instructed, "close your eyes and clear your mind. Feel the pulse of the forest, the rhythm of life and death."

As Kaito entered a deep meditation, the shadows around him began to move. Wisps of darkness swirled and danced, reflecting the cycle of life and death. Spriggan's voice guided Kaito, urging him to open up to the energies around him.

Suddenly, the air changed. The ancient tree's branches trembled, and a presence—an echo of lost souls—appeared before Kaito. The spirits, tied to mortality, gazed at him with hollow eyes.

"To control Death Energy," Spriggan whispered, "you must understand pain, sacrifice, and the inevitability of life's cycle. Let the spirits share their essence with you."

The spirits, seeking release, began to merge with Kaito. The experience was intense—a flood of emotions and memories filled his mind. Pain, sorrow, joy, and despair all intertwined in a dance that went beyond human understanding.

Kaito, connected to the ancient tree by shadows, felt Death Energy flow through him. The forest echoed with his heartbeat, now synced with the rhythm of life and death.

As the ritual peaked, Kaito opened his eyes, which now glowed with a strange gray-red light—proof of the fusion of shadows and Death Energy within him.

Spriggan, seeing this, nodded in approval. "You have taken the first step, Void. The shadows now live within you, and Death Energy is yours to control. But remember, you must keep the balance, or the shadows may consume you."

The ancient tree, having witnessed Kaito's connection with Death Energy, stood silent—a guardian of the secrets hidden in the mystical forest.