Ezra unsheathed his new sword, its polished silver blade gleaming in the sunlight. The weapon felt different from any he'd wielded before—lighter, sharper, and brimming with untapped potential. He gave it a few practice swings, the blade slicing through the air with an almost musical hum. The balance was impeccable, each motion fluid and effortless.
Satisfied with the feel of the sword, Ezra closed his eyes and began channeling his Aether. In an instant, the silvery blade transformed. A menacing black hue seeped across its surface, swallowing the light around it in an unnatural void. The air seemed to thrum with power, and Ezra couldn't help but whistle in appreciation as he examined the blade. It looked stronger, deadlier, and more alive than ever.
Out of curiosity, he gave the sword a simple swing. To his surprise, a blade of pure Aether shot forward, carving through the air like a missile. It struck the stone wall of the training ground with devastating force, leaving a deep slash in its wake. Ezra grimaced, inspecting the damage. That was way too easy, he thought. More concerning, he hadn't even felt the usual drain on his energy that came with using Aether slashes.
Testing further, Ezra aimed the sword upward this time. With a quick series of slashes, blades of cascading darkness tore through the sky. The eerie projectiles arced high before dissipating, but not before eliciting startled screams from people on the other side of the wall.
Ezra winced. "Great. Just what I needed—panicked neighbors."
Before he could sheath the blade and leave quietly, Storm burst out from the base, rifle slung over his shoulder. "What the hell was that?!" the goblin shouted, eyes wide. "Are we under attack, or are you just trying to scare the life out of everyone?"
Korr followed shortly after, munching on another chicken leg. "Boss, you really gotta warn us before you start testing weapons. Nearly choked on my breakfast."
Ezra chuckled sheepishly, lowering the blade. "Sorry about that. Got carried away. This sword... it's something else." He gestured toward the shimmering black weapon. "I wasn't even trying, and it's already throwing out slashes like that. Feels like it's amplifying my Aether."
Storm squinted at the sword, curiosity overriding his annoyance. "That's not just any sword, is it? Where'd you get it?"
Ezra hesitated, running a hand over the blade's hilt. "It was a gift—kind of. Picked it up during the last mission. Something tells me it's not just a normal weapon."
Korr stepped closer, examining the dark aura radiating from the blade. "No kidding. That thing's giving off enough energy to make my fur stand on end. What's it called?"
Ezra shrugged. "Haven't decided yet. Figured I'd get a feel for it before naming it."
Storm smirked. "How about Neighborhood Menace? Seems fitting after the ruckus you just caused."
Ezra laughed, shaking his head. "I'll keep that in mind."
He turned back toward the wall, sheathing the sword carefully. "For now, I'll need to practice somewhere more isolated. If this thing's as strong as it seems, I'll need full control before I bring it into battle."
Korr patted him on the shoulder. "You're gonna make us look bad wielding something like that, Boss."
Ezra grinned. "You'll have plenty of time to catch up, Korr. Let's just hope I don't take down half the city in the process."
As they headed back inside, Ezra couldn't shake the feeling that the sword was more than just a weapon—it was a challenge.
Ezra left the base, heading toward the bay and beyond, to the dense forest on the outskirts of Stellaris. The noise of the city faded behind him, replaced by the rhythmic crash of waves in the distance and the soft rustling of leaves overhead. It was an ideal place—isolated, peaceful, and far enough from prying eyes to test the limits of his new weapon.
As he stepped deeper into the forest, Ezra unsheathed his sword, the silver blade catching the sunlight filtering through the canopy. With a deep breath, he began to channel his Aether, and once again, the blade darkened, absorbing the light around it until it radiated an ominous black glow.
He started with controlled swings, practicing precision and technique. The blade hummed with power, and Ezra could feel it responding to his movements, almost as if it had a will of its own. After a few minutes, he began experimenting with Aether-infused attacks.
He aimed at a tree trunk and swung. A blade of dark energy shot forward, cleaving the massive tree in half with ease. The upper half of the trunk crashed to the ground, sending birds scattering into the sky. Ezra winced at the destruction but couldn't help but feel exhilarated. "The power's incredible, but it's too easy to overdo it. I need control."
He shifted his stance and tried to adjust the flow of Aether into the blade. This time, he envisioned a smaller, more contained slash. When he swung, the resulting Aether blade was thinner and more precise, slicing through a branch without damaging the surrounding area. Ezra grinned. "Better."
Pushing himself further, he began to incorporate footwork into his strikes. Each swing of the blade sent controlled waves of dark Aether forward, striking trees, rocks, and even the ground with precision. Sweat dripped down his brow as he moved faster, combining slashes into combos.
At one point, he leapt into the air, spinning mid-jump and slashing downward. A massive wave of Aether erupted from the blade, carving a trench into the ground and sending dirt flying. Ezra landed on one knee, breathing heavily, but a smile tugged at his lips. "I'm getting there."
After a brief rest, he decided to test the sword's interaction with his Shadow Panther Style. He activated his Aether veins, feeling the energy flow through his body and into the blade. His movements became sharper, his strikes faster. Using the shadows around him, he blurred his form, reappearing behind a large boulder. In one swift motion, he slashed downward, and the boulder shattered into countless pieces.
Ezra stood in the aftermath, catching his breath. His sword still hummed with energy, but he could feel the strain now. The weapon was powerful, but it demanded a lot from him, both physically and mentally.
As the sun began to set, painting the forest in hues of orange and gold, Ezra sheathed his sword and looked around at the destruction. Trees were felled, rocks were split, and the ground was scarred. Despite the chaos, he felt a sense of accomplishment. He'd taken another step toward mastering this weapon.
"Not bad," he muttered to himself, wiping sweat from his forehead. "Still a long way to go, though."
With that, he turned and began making his way back to the base, his mind already racing with ideas for his next training session.