In the days following his fateful conversation with his father, Amon threw himself into rigorous training, locking himself away from everything and everyone that had once mattered to him. Under Jaguar's relentless tutelage, he pushed his body, mind, and spirit to their limits, embracing pain and hardship in pursuit of strength.
Jaguar was an unforgiving teacher, far more brutal than Amon had anticipated. Each lesson, each strike, was calculated to push Amon beyond his boundaries, to make him endure. There were no comforting words, no encouragement—only the cold, harsh push toward improvement. Amon learned to discard his fears, to embrace the darkness, and to channel every bit of anger and resentment he felt into his training.
His powers in the Noctelion Draconic Martial Arts grew as he refined his mastery over the forms he already knew, pushing each one to their peak. When the pain became overwhelming, he remembered the image of Adam, venturing into the dungeon with newfound strength, and it only fueled his resolve. Amon's hatred for weakness, and for the favor he believed Adam was unfairly shown, drove him further.
One evening, as he trained alone in the secluded courtyard, Amon began experimenting with his martial techniques, pushing each form beyond its intended limit. After hours of relentless practice, he found himself exhausted, yet the stirring in his heart urged him forward. In a moment of desperation, he channeled his internal energy to the brink, summoning an aura darker and colder than before.
Jaguar, watching from the shadows, observed this transformation with approval. His son's natural talent was blossoming, and he saw the birth of a new form taking shape within Amon. But Jaguar also noted the fire in Amon's eyes—a blend of pain, ambition, and darkness. This boy was on the brink of something extraordinary, and Jaguar knew his training methods had shaped that.
Weeks passed, and Amon continued his relentless training under his father's watchful eye. With each grueling session, he grew stronger, more focused, and darker. The intense drive he carried, fueled by resentment and ambition, guided him through countless hours of perfecting his skills and refining his energy.
In the quiet solitude of one evening, as the stars glimmered above him, Amon felt the buildup of power within him reach a critical point. The energy surged, building and stretching, growing almost unbearable. His breath quickened as he focused on the sensation, drawing on every fragment of training and skill he possessed. Then, in a single, focused push, he felt a breakthrough.
Amon's Mana Circle surged, growing and expanding, morphing into the eighth Mana Circle. The power resonated within him, filling him with a newfound strength. The energy thrummed in his veins, solidifying a sense of purpose and potential he had never felt before. With this level unlocked, his abilities and reach had transcended his previous self, marking the beginning of a new path—one where he would stop at nothing to grow stronger.
As Amon looked down at his hands, now vibrating with raw energy, a dark smile crept onto his face. This was just the beginning, and he knew that with each new milestone, he was drawing closer to his goals, unrestrained by the ties he once held dear. He was no longer the boy who trained in the shadows of others—he was forging his own path, one that would set him apart from everyone else.
The surge of power coursing through Amon intensified as he adjusted to the new level of strength his eighth Mana Circle had granted him. Every cell in his body felt alive with energy, his senses sharpened to a razor edge. He could feel every subtle shift in the air, the faintest pulse of power from his father's presence nearby, and the echo of magic surrounding the Tenebryss Noctelion estate.
Jaguar observed his son with a proud, calculating gaze. He could see the darkness settling into Amon's heart, the determination that had grown far beyond mere ambition. It was a thirst—a hunger to carve his own destiny, regardless of the cost.
"Good," Jaguar said, his voice a low rumble. "You're beginning to understand the essence of true power."
Amon clenched his fists, feeling the weight and the promise of his newfound strength. "I want more," he replied, voice steady but laced with a cold edge. "I don't want to stop here. I want the kind of power that nobody can match."
Jaguar gave a slight nod, his expression a mixture of approval and warning. "Then you must be prepared to pay the price. Power isn't simply given; it demands everything—sacrifice, pain, and unbreakable resolve."
"I'm ready," Amon answered, his voice hard as steel. "I'll give whatever it takes."
Jaguar turned, gesturing for Amon to follow him deeper into the training grounds. As they walked, he spoke of the ancient techniques passed down through the Noctelion line, secret skills and forbidden arts that only those with unwavering resolve could hope to master. He began to describe a training regime that would push Amon beyond anything he'd experienced—a regime that would test not just his body and magic, but his very spirit.
"Each technique has a toll," Jaguar explained. "As you grow stronger, the cost of wielding such power will also grow. Your body, your mind, and even your soul—they will all be tested. And should you falter…"
Jaguar's voice trailed off, leaving the unspoken warning hanging in the air. Amon met his father's gaze, undeterred. The resentment and loneliness that had fueled his recent growth had now transformed into a ruthless determination. He had severed ties with his family, with the warmth he once shared with Elu and Adam. Now, he saw them as obstacles in his path, relics of a time that no longer held meaning.
This was the path he had chosen, and he would walk it to the end—alone, if necessary.
Jaguar's lips curved into a rare, approving smile. "Very well," he said, placing a hand on Amon's shoulder. "Then let's begin."
As the stars burned brightly above, Amon entered into a training that would push him past all limits, forging him into a force of his own—a lone shadow bound by nothing, with eyes only for power.