Kairo sat on the cold floor, his body trembling from the effort of his recent training. His hands were still clenched in fists, but the air around him remained calm—silent. The hum of his aura, once chaotic, was now steady. He had been here before, training in Zetsu, but now something had shifted. It was as though the energy inside him was finally his to command.
After the failure with Roderick's punishment game, Kairo had spent days focusing solely on Zetsu. He didn't dare let his mind wander. Each breath was a conscious effort, each heartbeat a rhythm he had learned to follow. He practiced controlling the flow of his aura, slowing it down when needed and allowing it to rest. The goal was simple—control. The mastery of Zetsu had brought him a kind of peace. His aura wasn't leaking anymore; he no longer wasted energy.
Yet, as the days passed, Kairo couldn't shake the feeling that it wasn't enough. He needed more than just control. He needed to take the next step—Ren.
Kairo had heard the term from Roderick before, but now it was time to understand it for himself. Ren was more than just focusing the aura—it was about releasing it. He had felt the force of Ren once, when Roderick had unleashed a blast to knock him back. That feeling of raw power, of energy spilling out uncontrollably, was something Kairo couldn't forget. It was terrifying, exhilarating, and, above all, it was something he needed to master.
Roderick found him in his room that morning, sitting in a meditative posture, his focus unwavering. He didn't speak at first. There was no need. Kairo could feel the presence of his instructor standing in the doorway, watching. He had learned not to react. Roderick didn't care for gestures or pleasantries. What mattered was what Kairo could do next.
After a long silence, Roderick finally spoke.
"Your Zetsu is solid," he said with little emotion. "But that means nothing unless you can harness it in Ren."
Kairo stood up slowly, wiping the cold sweat from his brow. He wasn't ready for Ren, not yet, but he knew the path forward wasn't about being ready. It was about being capable.
Roderick led him to the training room, a large open space with thick padded walls. He gestured for Kairo to stand in the center, arms at his sides.
"Ren requires balance," Roderick explained, "It's not enough to just control your aura. You have to intensify it, gather it, and release it when needed. That's what we'll be focusing on today."
The words were simple enough, but Kairo could feel the gravity in them. He understood that this would be the true test. Control was only the beginning. This was where he would either break or learn to adapt.
Roderick stood across from him, his eyes sharp, observing every breath Kairo took. There was no warmth in his gaze, no encouragement, just an expectation.
"Start by gathering your aura," Roderick instructed. "Focus on your Zetsu, but let the pressure build. When it's enough, release it."
Kairo closed his eyes and focused inward. The familiar pull of his aura filled his senses. He had become used to the quiet, restrained feeling of Zetsu, but now he had to do more. Slowly, he began to gather the energy, allowing it to surge within him. His hands twitched as the pressure built, but he held it back, focusing on control. The warmth in his chest began to spread, a faint thrum of power.
Release.
The word echoed in his mind. Kairo unclenched his fists and let the aura burst forth.
It didn't go as planned. The wave of energy exploded out of him in a chaotic burst. His body was knocked backward, a powerful shockwave pushing him against the padded wall. He hit the ground hard, his chest rising and falling quickly as he gasped for air.
Roderick was already standing over him, arms folded, his expression unchanged.
"You're too eager," he said, his tone clipped. "You lack control. Ren isn't about speed. It's about timing. Gather the energy slowly. Let it build, but don't let it overflow."
Kairo pushed himself to his feet, a surge of frustration boiling inside him. His body was exhausted, but his resolve hardened. He wasn't going to repeat the same mistake. The next time, he would get it right.
He took a deep breath and tried again. This time, he focused more on gradual buildup, letting the energy accumulate slowly, patiently. His aura swirled inside him, a growing warmth that threatened to spill out.
When the time felt right, Kairo pushed the energy outward. The burst was less violent this time, more controlled. He still felt the force of it—still heard the pulse of his aura—but it wasn't overwhelming. It was still too rough, but it was progress.
Roderick observed in silence for a moment, then nodded. "Better. But not enough."
Kairo's shoulders sagged with the weight of his instructor's words. This wasn't going to be easy. It wasn't supposed to be easy. But as he took another breath, he knew he would keep pushing. Each failure, each moment of frustration, brought him closer to what he needed to become. The raw, untapped potential that lay within him—this was just the beginning.
And when he was ready, he would use it to break free.