After leaving Vier to her rambling, Ming Ze and Destro could be seen making their way down the corridor, their footsteps echoing softly against the polished floor. As they strolled down the corridor, their conversation flowed naturally, punctuated by the occasional laughter and thoughtful pauses.
"I'm telling you, King, when you reach your full potential, you'll be a force to be reckoned with" Destro said, looking down at Ming Ze, a smile playing on his lips. "Under my tutelage, you'll be the most powerful Demon King of them all"
Ming Ze glanced up at Destro, his expression unreadable. "Have you ever actually taught anyone before? I'd prefer to learn from someone with more experience."
"H-Hey, I can definitely teach you!" Destro replied, his tone carrying a mix of confidence and challenge. "And don't forget, I'm one of the strongest in our faction."
"Really? And just how strong is that?" Ming Ze asked, clearly skeptical.
Destro flashed a broad, self-assured grin. "Well, I'm currently ranked third in our faction—excluding you, of course."
Ming Ze stroked his chin thoughtfully, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. "Hmm, alright then. Let's see what you've got. Let's train."
-Half an hour later-
At last, Ming Ze and Destro make their way to the training grounds, their arrival marked by a sense of anticipation.
"Finally, we're here!" Ming Ze said, letting out a big sigh. "How huge is this place, anyway?"
Destro strolled onto the training ground with a smirk. "Well, King, you'll figure that out... if you ever get there."
"Alright, let's get this lesson started..... try to keep up."
-5 minutes later-
Destro stands at the center of the arena, his imposing figure radiating a sense of calm authority. His long coat billows slightly in the gentle breeze, and his eyes are sharp and focused.
Destro spoke up, his voice steady and clear "King, today is the day you unlock your soul force, or just learn how to use anima. Your abilities are latent, but with proper guidance, you can harness them effectively."
Ming Ze thought, "He's like a totally different person when he's training.....it's a complete flip from just a minute ago."
Destro raises his hand, and a swirling aura of ethereal golden flames begins to gather around him. "First, you must understand the essence of anima. It's not just about force; it's about control. Feel the energy within you and channel it with precision."
The swirling flames around his arm begin to take shape. It performs a series of fluid, controlled movements, each one amplifying the anima around him. The flames around him shift and pulses rhythmically. "Now, you try. Focus on your core. Imagine the anima flowing through you like a river. Don't force it; guide it."
"Heh! Seems easy enough" Ming Ze said before he closed his eyes, concentrating deeply. He places his hands in front of him, palms open. A faint, unstable aura begins to flicker around him, but it quickly fizzles out. "Eh? What happened?"
"Remember, Ming Ze, energy is like a flame. If you try to control it too tightly, it will extinguish. Let it flow naturally, and only guide its path." Destro said, expression calm.
Ming Ze nods, taking a deep breath. He attempts again, his hands trembling slightly. This time, the aura around him stabilizes, glowing with a soft, steady light. At this, Ming Ze grinned. "Heh, I got it"
Just as he said this, his aura spiked, turning a blackish-blue color. Ming Ze's grin faded as quickly as it had appeared, his eyes widening in surprise. The once steady light around him now pulsed with an intense, almost menacing energy. The blackish-blue aura crackled like static, sending shivers down his spine.
"What... what's happening?" he muttered under his breath, trying to regain control. But the aura seemed to have a will of its own, swirling around him with growing intensity.
Destro narrowed his eyes, sensing the anima around Ming Ze shift. "Oye, King, focus! You need to contain it before it overwhelms you!"
As If the situation couldn't get worse, Vier came running onto the training ground.
"Destro Creegs! What do you think you're doing to His Majesty?" Vier shouted, her voice laced with panic as she sprinted toward Ming Ze, desperation in every step. Her eyes were locked on Ming Ze, fury and fear driving her forward as she raced to protect the King.
"Hold it right there, Vier!" Destro commanded as he firmly grabbed her hand and pulled her back.
Vier spun around to face Destro, her eyes blazing with fury as she unleashed a powerful kick aimed at his head.
Destro anticipated the attack and swiftly avoided it by shifting his head to the side.
"Stand down, Vier!" Destro barked, tightening his grip on her wrist as he pulled her back with a force that made her stumble.
Vier whirled around, her eyes narrowing into dangerous slits as she snarled, "You're in my way, Destro!" Without hesitation, she unleashed another fierce kick aimed squarely at his head, her movements fluid and precise.
But Destro was ready. With a calm yet deadly precision, he tilted his head just enough to let her foot slice through the air mere inches from his face. The wind from her kick ruffled his hair, but Destro remained unfazed, his grip on her unyielding.
"You're going to get yourself killed if you interfere," Destro warned, his voice low and dangerous. He locked eyes with her, a silent battle of wills playing out in the tense seconds that followed.
Vier struggled against his hold, her breath ragged, eyes blazing with frustration and concern. "And if I do nothing, he'll die! Let me go, Destro!"
Destro's expression hardened, his eyes flicking toward Ming Ze, who was still battling to control the wild anima surrounding him. "He needs to do this on his own. If you step in now, you'll only make things worse."
Vier's anger didn't diminish, but the hint of uncertainty in her eyes betrayed her internal conflict. She knew Destro was right, but watching Ming Ze struggle was tearing her apart.
"Trust him," Destro added, his tone softer now, though his grip remained firm. "He's stronger than you think."
"Tch! Damnit! Fine but If he dies I'm going to kill you" Vier said, the underlining anger clear in her tone.
Ming Ze clenched his fists, trying to channel the surge of power, but the more he tried to control it, the wilder it became. The ground beneath him trembled slightly, and the air grew heavy with the pressure of the chaotic anima. "I.....refuse to be controlled!" While being suppressed by his power, a memory from his past surfaced.
-Flashback-
In a mysterious location, a serene, reflective lake under a deep blackish-blue sky where two figures were visible.
"Hahaha! Oh, don't be discouraged, Ming. You were always destined to lose to me," one of the silhouettes declared. The figure had hazel-brown skin that seemed to glisten under the light, he had black dreadlocks wrapped in a ponytail, blood-crimson eyes that gleamed with intense fierceness, and a savage, toothy grin. He was clad in a sleek black jacket adorned with striking red markings, which seemed to emphasize his enigmatic aura. His black baggy pants hung loosely from his waist, swaying with his every movement, and his black and red shoes added a bold, striking touch to his overall appearance.
The other figure seethed, he was an identical copy of the first figure "Damn you, you bastard!" The other figure stood with hazel-brown skin, he had short neck-length black dreadlocks, and his ocean-blue eyes burned with unbridled determination. He was clad in a white, long-sleeved, form-fitting shirt, paired with loose-fitting pants and black shoes. This figure was Ming Ze.
Figure one's smirk widened even more. "hahahaha! Oh, poor Ming Ze, you have no idea who you're up against, do you."
"Well, then I'll tell you.....I get stronger the more of your negative emotions you bottle up, I am your hatred, I. AM. YOU" Dark Ming Ze exclaimed, giving the most sadistic look that had Ming Ze feeling dread. "And NOW. YOU'RE. MINE"
-Flashback Ends-
"I refuse to be controlled!" Ming Ze roared, his eyes glowing a bright blue. "I absolutely won't let it happen again!"
"You will submit to me!"
With a thunderous primal roar, Ming Ze grasps his rampaging anima, exerting all his strength to bring it under control.
"Submit! Submit! Submit!" The commanding tone echoed throughout the entire training ground as he repeated it like a powerful mantra, his voice gradually becoming more intense with each repetition.
Soon all of the anima was sucked into his body. For one moment there was silence, then, darkness erupted from him in waves, spreading throughout the area. Both Destro and Vier jumped away from the encroaching darkness that seemed to absorb everything It touched. The darkness spreads to cover all of the training ground. the pillar of darkness lasted for one minute before fading, as the darkness faded, both Destro and Vier stared in shock and astonishment.
Standing in the center of the now-destroyed training ground, was Ming Ze, glowing with a blackish-blue aura.
In front of him, was the familiar black screen with blue lines along the edges. The screen displayed a message.
-You have unlocked the skill: Anima Mastery (F)-