Chapter 26: Breaking the Barrier
The late afternoon sun bathed the Augustine estate in warm light, casting long shadows over the quiet training grounds. Argus sat cross-legged in the center, eyes closed, breathing slow and steady. He had been here for hours, immersed in meditation, exploring the depths of his void powers.
Suzume stood a few feet away, leaning against a tree with her arms crossed, watching him intently. Over the past several days, she had noticed subtle shifts in his energy. Argus was getting closer to a breakthrough. His connection to the void was deepening, and she could feel it—he was on the edge of something significant.
"You're getting close, brat," Suzume had remarked earlier that morning, her usual mockery absent for once. "That wall you keep hitting? Sooner or later, it'll give."
Argus had only nodded, focusing on his breathing. For weeks now, he had felt the barrier just out of reach, pushing himself to new limits every day. Each time he meditated, each time he drew on the void, he felt it—something waiting beyond his current power level. And today, it felt closer than ever.
Suzume watched him, her eyes narrowing as she felt the growing tension in the air. Argus was nearing that moment, the one every awakened experiences when they transition from beginner to adept. It wasn't some grand event, but in Argus's case, the timing and his age made it special. Most people didn't hit this wall until much later in life, but here he was—on the brink at just nine years old.
The typical awakening was impressive, but this? This was rare.
Argus's breathing grew shallower as he delved deeper into the void, the world around him fading. The sounds of the estate, the rustling of the wind—it all blurred as he sank further into the infinite darkness inside him. The void was vast, as always, an endless ocean of cold energy stretching out in all directions. He had touched it before, wielded small portions of it. But there was more.
Much more.
And he was so close to reaching it.
Suddenly, he hit it again—the wall.
Argus's eyes snapped open, his body jolting as if struck. It wasn't a physical wall, but a barrier within his power, something blocking him from advancing. He could feel the void surging just beyond it, immense and overwhelming, but no matter how hard he pushed, it resisted.
Suzume straightened slightly, sensing the shift in his energy. She didn't move closer, just watched. She had been through this herself years ago. Every awakened faced this challenge when trying to break through to the next level. It wasn't easy, but it was necessary. This was Argus's fight.
Argus gritted his teeth, frustration gnawing at him. He had been so sure today would be the day, but the void pushed back, refusing to bend to his will. His breathing quickened, his fingers curling into the dirt beneath him.
"Come on," he muttered, his voice barely audible. He closed his eyes again, trying to force his way past the wall. The void swirled around him, cold and chaotic, but no matter what he did, it wouldn't give.
His chest tightened as doubts began creeping in. What if this was it? What if this wall was something he couldn't overcome? He had trained so hard, pushed himself further than anyone expected of him, but maybe he wasn't ready. Maybe he'd stay stuck here, a beginner forever.
Suzume's eyes never left him, but she didn't interfere. She had seen this frustration before—countless warriors, seasoned fighters, all reaching their limit and wondering if they could break through. Most did, eventually. But Argus was different. She had seen the raw potential in him, the unshakable drive. This wasn't the end for him.
Argus's frustration built, boiling over into a sudden surge of energy. He could feel the void pulsing inside him, as vast and cold as ever, but still restrained. His thoughts flickered to his mother, to Suzume's relentless training, to everything that had brought him to this point. He wasn't doing this for anyone else. This was for him.
He stopped trying to force his way through the barrier. Instead, he let go.
He let the void flow freely, without resistance. It surged through him, filling every corner of his being, wrapping around him like a cold embrace. And then, something changed.
The barrier cracked.
The void rushed forward, pouring into him like a flood. Argus gasped, his body trembling as the sheer force of it coursed through him, more powerful than anything he had ever felt. The air around him rippled, dark energy pulsing outward from his body, distorting the space around him.
Suzume's eyes gleamed with approval as she felt the shift. Argus had done it. He had broken through.
The void surged outward from Argus, expanding beyond the limits of what he had previously controlled. He was no longer just touching the void; he was one with it, connected on a deeper level than before. The power wasn't just around him—it was part of him now, flowing through every fiber of his being.
Argus's breathing steadied as the tremors in his body subsided. He opened his eyes slowly, adjusting to the new sensation. Everything felt... different. The world around him seemed more vivid, the energy in the air more palpable. He looked at his hands, feeling the power thrumming beneath his skin. The void had become an extension of him, something he could wield with far more control and precision than ever before.
He had broken through to the Adept level.
Suzume approached, her footsteps deliberate, her usual teasing smirk replaced by something almost resembling pride. "Looks like you finally did it, brat. Welcome to the Adept level."
Argus, still dazed from the breakthrough, managed a faint smile. "I guess... I'm not done yet, Master."
Suzume crossed her arms, standing over him with her trademark grin returning. "Not by a long shot. You may be an Adept now, but don't think that means you're special. You've got a long way to go."
Argus nodded, his heart still racing from the intensity of the moment. He knew this was just the beginning. Becoming an Adept wasn't the end goal—far from it. But it was a significant step, one that would open new doors in his training. Still, there was a sense of pride in what he had accomplished. Few reached this level so young.
Suzume gave him a final nod, her expression returning to her usual casual demeanor. "Enjoy the moment, brat. You've earned it. But don't get too comfortable. Tomorrow, we push further."
Argus watched her go, feeling a mix of exhaustion and quiet satisfaction. The void pulsed within him, a steady, quiet presence now that he had passed the threshold. He had broken through the barrier, become stronger. But there was still so much more to learn, so much further to go.
After a few moments, Argus stood and dusted himself off. Just as he was about to head back to the training quarters, one of the younger maids approached, bowing slightly before speaking.
"Young Master, your mother requests your presence in her chambers," she said, her voice soft and respectful.
Argus raised an eyebrow. His mother always seemed to know when something important happened, and given the breakthrough he had just achieved, it wasn't surprising that she wanted to see him. Still, he couldn't help but feel a familiar tension build in his chest. His mother's attention was always intense—obsessive, even—and he knew this interaction would be no different.
He followed the maid inside the estate, walking through the familiar halls toward his mother's chambers. The mansion was as grand as ever, its opulence a constant reminder of the power and influence his family wielded. As he approached his mother's room, he didn't need to knock. He simply entered, knowing she was expecting him.
Evangeline sat by the window, her long, dark hair cascading over her shoulders, her eyes fixed on him the moment he stepped inside. There was a softness to her expression, but beneath it lay something else—something possessive, as always.
"There you are," she said, her voice gentle but carrying that ever-present intensity. "I could feel it—you've grown stronger."
Argus nodded, stepping closer to her. "I broke through."
Evangeline stood gracefully, her eyes gleaming with pride as she reached out to touch his cheek. "I knew you would. You've always been destined for greatness, Argus."
There was something in her gaze that made Argus pause. His mother's love was suffocating, a constant pressure that loomed over him, but it was also undeniable. She cared deeply for him, even if her ways were overwhelming at times.
"I'll keep getting stronger," he said quietly. "There's still a long way to go."
Evangeline smiled, though her eyes never wavered from his. "I know you will. You're my son, after all. But remember, no matter how strong you become... you'll always need me."
Argus held her gaze for a moment longer before nodding. He had learned long ago that it was easier to agree with her in these moments. Her love was a cage, but for now, he didn't mind. He had his own path to follow, and one day, he would walk it alone. But today wasn't that day.
For now, he would let her be proud of him.