Kinara had been feeling a little bit sick so she went to the hospital where Dana (Kenji's mother) worked. Dana ran some tests and told Kinara to wait in her office. Kinara started looking around the office and noticed a picture of Dana, her husband (Adam Hashido) and Kenji as a baby sitting on her desk.
Kinara: (muttering to herself, pacing slightly) I wonder what the test results will say. Am I sick? Do I have cancer? Maybe it's a tumor in my stomach that's going to slowly eat me away?! (her face morphs into a cartoonish expression of panic) I DON'T KNOW, AND IT'S DRIVING ME CRAZY!!!!
Dana: (entering the office with a reassuring smile) Kinara, the tests have come back. And…
Kinara: (interrupting, wide-eyed and cartoonishly distressed) I'm going to die, aren't I?
Dana:(matching her exaggerated expression) Why would you think that? It's actually good news!
Kinara: (confused, her expression softening) Good news? Really?
**************
A few hours later at the Hashido estate, Kato trains against Arou, demonstrating remarkable progress in his combat skills. Each blow he throws is met with Arou's steady defense, but the force behind Kato's attacks is impressive.
Arou: (to himself, observing Kato) Impressive. He channels so much power into his strikes. He learns quickly, and it's as if his body was meant for this—almost like a Shadow's body, not a human's. Maybe the shadow bug bite enhanced more than just his energy. But he still struggles to counter my attacks fully. He has more room to grow.
Ervin: (suddenly entering) Hey, you two!
Arou: Mr Ervin.
Kato: Mr Ervin?? What are you doing here?
Ervin: I wanted to check in on your training, and from what I just saw, it looks like you're doing great! Good work, Arou. (turning to Kato) But I have something else to teach you, so you're coming with me.
Kato:Yeah... but I was training with Mr. Arou, and I'm supposed to start my shadow technique training today.
Ervin: Exactly! That's why I need to share some important knowledge with you before you dive into your shadow technique training.
Kato:(making a cartoonish face) Another information dump?
Ervin: (cartoonish face) Precisely!!
Kato: (cartoonish face) Why is there so much information????
Arou: (patting Kato on the back and chuckling) You'll be fine, Kato.
Ervin: It's not my fault! I didn't make the rules for how our powers work. Now, come closer. (he pulls Kato in, and they begin to float off the ground)
Kato: (eyes wide, cartoonish expression) HUH????!!! WE'RE... WE'RE FLYING????!!
Ervin: I'm flying, actually. I'm just holding you close. Today's lesson will be taught outside the classroom, so hold on tight. And cover your mouth—don't want any flies getting in there!
Kato: (gulping nervously) Right!!
Ervin floated and then took off into the sky holding Kato with him to ensure he didn't fall off. They flew for about five minutes before getting to their destination which was a wasteland. It was a city that had been abandoned and now all the buildings looked old, some were destroyed and shadow monsters were everywhere.
As Ervin said this, a giant shadow beast that looked like a gorilla with "X" tattoo markings around its body, emerged from his shadow and stood beside him. The beast's name was KOU. The presence of this shadow beast attracted a lot of shadow monsters and they started coming towards Ervin and Kato. Ervin sent his shadow beast to fight the shadow monsters around the abandoned city.
Kato: Where are we?
Ervin: This is state E. Remember when I told you the history of the shadows and lighters and that Sorin Hashido turned a total of 100,000 people into shadow monsters? This is where it all happened. Now people are afraid to live here because it has the most amount of shadow monsters anywhere in the country. And it's a perfect place for our lesson for today. Plus I can use my full power without any casualties.
Kato: Full power? If that's the case, then won't a lot of Shadow monsters be here to eat us?
Ervin: Yeah sure but it's not like they can kill me and I won't let anything happen to you.
Kato: That's reassuring.
Ervin: Now to why I brought you here. I wanted to teach you about the Harmonic Techniques. Now these are techniques that can be used by both Shadows and lighters. When a shadow wants to use his/her techniques they chant the word "Black" because that is what starts the gathering of the shadow energy to power up the techniques. The same thing applies to lighters but they chant the word "White". If the words "black" or "white" are not chanted, the techniques will not start. Harmonic techniques are techniques that you don't need to chant black or white before they can be used.
Kato: But why do the harmonic techniques not need the "Black" or "White" chants to activate?
Ervin: The shadows, lighters and the conduits are all connected by something called THE NEXUS. THE NEXUS is a space that serves as the converging point between shadow and lighter energy and the energy formed from that is called GRAY ENERGY. Gray energy is the energy the ALL MOTHER possessed 800 years ago and is what would be created if a shadow or lighter were to have a child. But that's impossible.
Kato: So how does THE NEXUS connect to the harmonic techniques?
Ervin: Well shadow and lighter energy are both formed from GRAY ENERGY and gray energy is the absolute power of all things. Normally shadows or lighters cannot use their various energies to perform harmonic techniques because their energies are not strong enough to power the techniques. So to use harmonic techniques, a shadow or lighter would have to connect to that NEXUS space. And when you connect to it, the nexus would then allow you to use harmonic techniques by temporarily connecting to it so you won't need chants to establish the connection. But establishing that connection takes tons of time and effort and a lot of energy to do it.
Kato: (cartoonish face) Oooooohhhh.....
Ervin: Only the All Mother was able to connect to the NEXUS permanently because her presence created its existence. If she had a child who was just like her, they would be able to do it too. Sounds cool right?
Kato: (cartoonish face) Yeah.
Ervin: (smiles) Now let's continue. Now there are only three Harmonic Techniques in existence right now and they are
1. Harmonic Mantle Essence
2. Harmonic Restoration
3. Perfect Manifestation
Kato: So both lighters and Shadows can use these Techniques.
Ervin: Yes but not all shadows or lighters can use them. The easiest to learn among them is the HARMONIC MANTLE ESSENCE. This is a technique that uses the energy of the user to protect them from the attacks of others. In other words, it neutralizes the effect of someone's techniques on you. But you can't use HARMONIC MANTLE ESSENCE along with you technique.
Kato: So basically it's like a shield that protects you but it won't allow you to use your techniques in the process?
Ervin: Yeah. This is because it'll make use of the energy you'd use to power up your techniques to defend you. Now to HARMONIC RESTORATION. This is a technique that allows you to heal from life threatening injuries. Example....(brings out a small dagger he hung on his waist and used it to cut off his left arm)
Kato: (cartoonish face) HUHHHHHHH??????!!!!!!! WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?????!!!!! DOESN'T THAT HURT A LOT?????!!!!!!
Ervin: Yeah it does but this is the best way to show you how HARMONIC RESTORATION works. Now stop yelling. You'll attract those shadow monsters I told you about. Now look here. (Ervin focused all his shadow energy to his left arm and it immediately grew back).
Kato: Woah.....so that's Harmonic Restoration?
Ervin: Yeah. It's a very rare technique among both Shadows and lighters and very difficult to awaken let alone master it. But among us the Heirs the potential to learn and master it is already there.
Kato: So that means that if I do awaken the God Eye, I'd be able to learn Harmonic Restoration?
Ervin: You can learn Harmonic restoration even if you don't awaken the God Eye. Also a person's technique can allow them to learn Harmonic Restoration faster than most even if they aren't an heir. Therefore Harmonic Restoration can be applied in different ways and isn't limited to just one method like mine.
Kato: So if I was a vampire, the way I'd use Harmonic Restoration to heal myself would be different from how you would use it to heal yourself?
Ervin: (smiles) You catch on pretty quick. Now on to the last one which is the PERFECT MANIFESTATION. Now the PERFECT MANIFESTATION is the ultimate expression of a shadow or lighter's innate technique. It allows the user to use their techniques in ways that it cannot be used before and it also boosts the power of that technique to 140%.
Kato: 140%????????!!!!!
Ervin: (nods his head) 140%!!!!!
Kato: It's like those powerups in anime.
Ervin: (nods in agreement) Perfect manifestations can take any shape or form so it's very hard to predict what it'll actually look like until you awaken it. Now to use perfect manifestation, you have to have a complete understanding of your technique and how it fully works. You also have to be able to use your energy to connect to the NEXUS and maintain a perfect manifestation for as long as possible. The larger the energy you have, the longer you can maintain the perfect manifestation. Are you following Kato??
Kato: (cartoonish face and steam coming out of his head) Yeah. Yeah I am.
Ervin: You okay?
Kato: Yeah I am. Just getting too much information all at once
Ervin: Well don't worry because I'm almost done.
Kato: (sighs) OKAY then.
Ervin: You won't know what kind of perfect manifestation you could have until you awaken it. And you have to awaken it through extreme training. Then again it's rare so not everyone can establish a connection to the NEXUS and awaken it. The Heirs are the exception though.
Kato: Kinda figured you'd say that.
Ervin: (laughs) Also even if a person has more than one technique, they can only have the perfect manifestation of the technique they are born with and if a shadow or lighter is born without a technique, they can't awaken a perfect manifestation. Anomalies are a little different to this though. Take Mira for example. She-
Kato: (cartoonish face) Umm...Mr Ervin? I don't think I remember what Anomalies are.
Ervin: (sighs) So Anomalies are shadows or lighters who are born with more than one technique and have a large amount of energy that puts them almost on the same level as the Heirs. Like I was saying before, Mira is an anomaly and when she was born, she had two techniques.
Kato: For real??? So it means she's stronger than she looks.
Ervin: Don't underestimate my daughter. She's not weak.
Kato: (laughs) Yes I won't. Sorry.
Ervin: Anyways, Anomalies are born with two techniques so the combination of those techniques is what becomes their perfect manifestation. And one more thing, even though a person has a perfect manifestation, you can't just activate it when you want. You need to reach the threshold first.
Kato: Threshold?
Ervin: Yes. A threshold is the condition that everyone has to meet in order to use their perfect manifestation and it involves the technique that is linked to the perfect manifestation.
Kato: How does that work? I don't get it.
Ervin: So to reach the threshold, you have to have used your technique to a specific point in battle before you can use your perfect manifestation.
Kato: But how would you know when you reach that threshold?
Ervin: You'll just know it.
Kato: "I'll just know it"?
Ervin: Yes. Now for my final demonstration.
Kato: (cartoonish face) Are you going to cut off your hand again?????
Ervin: No. I'm going to show you my own perfect manifestation so look closely.
Kato: Wait, don't you need to have used your technique to the threshold point?
Ervin: Yes. And I've been doing that for a long time now. Why do you think I sent KOU to fight the shadow monsters when we first arrived? Kou is part of my technique and Kou can reach my threshold for me without me actually doing anything.
Kato: That's so cool
Ervin: (smirking) I know right? [BLACK: KOU, RETURN]
KOU followed the orders of his master and returned to his side. As it did this, all the other shadow monsters followed and began rushing towards KOU, Kato & Ervin.
Kato: (cartoonish face) Mr Ervin. The shadow monsters are approaching.
Ervin: (put his two hands together and forming the "MI" hand sign) [PERFECT MANIFESTATION- UNITY]
Suddenly, KOU, the shadow monster summoned by Ervin, shrank down and seamlessly merged into Ervin's body. The distinct tattoo markings of KOU appeared on Ervin's skin, marking their bond. As shadow monsters approached, Ervin extended his hand, concentrating deeply. A massive orb of shadow energy began to form, growing larger and larger in the air before him.
Ervin: [BLACK: SHADOW BURST]
Ervin then unleashed the technique, firing the massive orb of shadow energy at the approaching shadow monsters. In an instant, they were vaporized, leaving nothing behind. The sheer force of the attack also devastated the surrounding landscape, altering the terrain dramatically.
As the shockwave from the explosion knocked Kato off balance, he began to fall, but Ervin quickly caught him, ensuring he stayed upright.
Ervin: (smiles) Are you okay?
Kato: (still amazed) Yeah.
Ervin Hashido wields the Shadow Beast Manipulation, a hereditary technique unique to the Hashido clan. This powerful ability allows him to summon a shadow monster to aid him in combat and provide protection. When Ervin activates his Perfect Manifestation, he becomes one with the shadow beast, gaining access to its techniques. The shadow burst that Ervin unleashed earlier was a manifestation of KOU's own power.
What makes this technique even more impressive is that a typical member of the Hashido clan is limited to summoning a single shadow beast. However, as the Heir with the shadow heart of the All Mother, Ervin has the rare ability to summon up to three additional shadow beasts, granting him access to a total of four. With four beasts at his command, Ervin can choose to merge with any of them during his Perfect Manifestation, resulting in four distinct forms he can adopt.
Kato watched Ervin in awe, recalling the elders' claims that Ervin was the strongest shadow of their era. Witnessing this power firsthand confirmed that statement was no exaggeration.