Chapter 10: The Weight of Power
Pod's entire body hummed with the strange energy that filled the training chamber. As he stood in the center of the glowing circle, sweat dripping down his forehead, he realized how much control he still lacked. For a fleeting moment, he'd managed to subdue the darkness inside him, but the effort left him drained, his limbs trembling from the strain.
Morgan stood on the edge of the circle, watching him with those sharp, calculating eyes. There was no warmth in his gaze, just cold assessment. Pod couldn't tell whether he approved or was disappointed. But it didn't matter. He had to master this power, had to control the Choujin abilities that were slowly unraveling his mind.
"You did well for your first attempt," Morgan said, breaking the silence. "But don't get comfortable. Control is fleeting, and the darkness is always waiting for a moment of weakness."
Pod nodded, still catching his breath. He wasn't sure how much longer he could endure this training. The power inside him wasn't just wild—it was alive, a constant presence in his mind that whispered to him, tempting him to let go, to surrender. The more he trained, the louder that voice became.
"What happens if I can't control it?" Pod asked, the question hanging in the air like a heavy fog. He hadn't voiced his deepest fear until now.
Morgan's expression didn't change, but there was something in the set of his jaw that told Pod the answer wasn't going to be comforting.
"You've seen what happens," Morgan said slowly. "Look at Lira. Look at the others. Those who fail to control their powers become nothing more than beasts. The darkness consumes them until they're no longer human, just monsters driven by pure instinct."
Pod swallowed hard. He had seen the aftermath of those who had lost control, their twisted forms rampaging through the city, leaving destruction in their wake. The thought of becoming one of them terrified him more than anything.
"But…" Morgan added, his voice taking on a darker edge, "you're different, Pod. Your power isn't just about controlling your own darkness. You can amplify the darkness in others, draw it out, and awaken their true potential."
Pod's eyes widened. "What do you mean?"
Morgan took a few steps toward him, his face stern. "That fight with Lira wasn't just a coincidence. When you faced her, you awakened something inside her—a side of her power that had been lying dormant. It's part of your Choujin ability. You don't just absorb darkness; you can bring out the Choujin potential in others."
Pod's heart raced. "I can create Choujin?"
"Not exactly," Morgan said, his voice lowering to a near growl. "You can awaken those with the potential. But that's what makes you so dangerous. The churches, especially Midnight Sun, see you as a tool. They'll want to use you to create more Choujin, more soldiers. They'll stop at nothing to get what they want."
Pod felt a chill crawl down his spine. The churches, the powerful organizations that governed the Choujin and kept order in the world, weren't just interested in keeping the peace. They wanted to control him, to use his power to create an army of Choujin under their command.
"No wonder they wanted me," Pod muttered under his breath.
Morgan gave a grim nod. "That's why you have to learn control. Not just for yourself, but to make sure no one else can use you. Right now, you're vulnerable—everyone will try to manipulate you. The churches, the other Choujin… even me."
Pod's eyes snapped to Morgan's face. There it was—an admission of the truth he had suspected all along. Morgan wasn't training him out of the goodness of his heart. He had his own agenda, just like everyone else.
"And what do you want from me?" Pod asked, his voice cold.
Morgan smirked, a dangerous gleam in his eyes. "I want to survive, just like you. The churches are more powerful than you realize, and they're corrupt to the core. If they get their hands on you, they'll bend the world to their will. My goal is to make sure that doesn't happen. And for that, I need your power."
Pod's fists clenched. He was tired of being used, of being manipulated by forces beyond his control. First Lira, then the Midnight Sun, and now Morgan. Everyone seemed to want a piece of him, but none of them cared about what it was doing to him—how it was eating away at his sanity.
"I'm not your pawn," Pod said through gritted teeth.
Morgan chuckled darkly. "No, you're not. But that doesn't change the fact that we need each other. You need me to teach you control, and I need you to make sure the churches don't tear this world apart."
Pod's mind spun, the weight of it all pressing down on him. His power was far more dangerous than he'd realized, and now he understood why everyone was after him. But what was he supposed to do? Who could he trust when even his supposed allies had ulterior motives?
As if sensing his inner turmoil, Morgan's expression softened ever so slightly. "Listen, Pod. You don't have to trust me. But you do have to survive. If you want to make it through this, you'll need to be stronger, smarter than anyone else. The world won't wait for you to figure it out."
Pod met Morgan's gaze, the challenge clear in his eyes. He didn't have all the answers yet, but one thing was certain—he couldn't afford to be weak. Not anymore.
"I'll keep training," Pod said after a long pause. "But I'm doing this for myself. Not for you, not for the churches."
Morgan nodded. "Good. Then let's begin again."
Without warning, Morgan's hand shot out, sending a wave of spatial energy crashing toward Pod. His instincts flared, and he ducked just in time, narrowly avoiding the blast. The air around him shimmered as Morgan manipulated space itself, warping the environment into a twisted battlefield.
Pod's senses heightened, his mind sharpening as he tapped into his power. The darkness stirred within him, but he kept it under control, focusing on the fight. He needed to stay sharp, to learn how to harness his power without losing himself.
Morgan was relentless, attacking from all angles, warping space to disorient and confuse him. But Pod was faster now, his reflexes honed by the constant pressure. He dodged, countered, and fought back, using his enhanced senses to anticipate Morgan's moves.
The battle raged on for what felt like hours, but eventually, Pod found his opening. With a burst of speed, he launched himself at Morgan, striking with a surge of shadow energy that forced the older man back.
Morgan smirked as he steadied himself. "Not bad. You're learning."
Pod didn't reply, his chest heaving with exertion. The power inside him was still dangerous, still volatile, but he was getting better at keeping it in check. And with every fight, every lesson, he grew stronger.
As the dust settled, Morgan straightened up, his expression serious. "You've made progress, but don't get cocky. The real battle is still ahead of you."
Pod wiped the sweat from his brow, his mind buzzing with everything he'd learned. He wasn't just training to survive—he was preparing for war. A war against the churches, against the Choujin, and maybe even against himself.
He glanced at Morgan, who was already turning to leave the chamber. "What's next?" Pod asked.
Morgan paused at the doorway, his back to Pod. "Tomorrow, we begin preparing for what's coming. The churches won't stay quiet for long. They'll come for you soon, and when they do, you'd better be ready."
With that, Morgan disappeared into the shadows, leaving Pod alone in the chamber. The silence was heavy, the weight of his power pressing down on him once again. But this time, Pod didn't feel as overwhelmed. He wasn't just a boy stumbling through a world of chaos and destruction anymore.
He was a Choujin—a force to be reckoned with. And whether the churches, Morgan, or anyone else liked it, Pod was going to carve out his own path.