Marlin woke up to a dull pain in his body, but it was a tolerable one compared to the agony he had endured during his integration with the spiritual shard. Sweat drenched his forehead, and his hair clung to his skin as if he had just come from an invisible battle against himself. He sat on the edge of the bed, panting, his eyes scanning the room as if trying to confirm the reality of the place.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. That's when the images began flowing into his mind, visions of new abilities appearing before him with startling clarity. He could see himself creating a void—a space devoid of light, sound, or anything that tethered things to life. That power was a part of him now, but the more he felt in control, the more fear crept inside him—fear of losing himself within these new powers.
---
He rose from the bed quietly, his feet touching the cold floor as he tried to process what had happened. Stepping out of the room, he found Ryan and Elias waiting for him. Ryan was looking at him with the usual worried smile, while Elias observed him with a neutral gaze, silently appraising him.
"How are you feeling?" Ryan asked in his warm voice.
Marlin hesitated for a moment before replying, "Strange. It's like a new part of me has been born. The void... I feel it, like it's a part of my soul."
Elias stepped closer with measured steps, his tone calm but serious. "Can you describe what you can do?"
Marlin sighed, trying to collect his thoughts. "I can create an empty space, almost void of everything. I can disappear or hide things, but I sense there are limits to these abilities right now."
Elias smiled slightly, as though he had expected this. "The path of the void is rare, and possessing these abilities will change your future. But you must control them before they control you."
Marlin felt the weight of his words, a new responsibility settling on his shoulders. He turned to Ryan, who placed a hand on his shoulder and said, "You've survived the hardest part. Now, everything depends on you."
But the words Marlin wanted to say remained trapped inside. How could he tell Ryan the truth? That he wasn't his real brother? He decided to hold off on that confession; now was not the time.
---
"Come with me," Elias said, his voice carrying an authoritative tone as he gestured toward a hallway leading to a heavy wooden door.
Marlin followed his steps slowly, and as they crossed the door, he found himself in a massive training hall. The metal walls reflected the dim light, and complex machines were scattered around the room, most of them looking like they came from a science fiction world. In the center of the room was an empty space with a gray floor.
"What's this place?" Marlin asked, looking around in awe.
"This is the training hall of the branch. Every machine here is designed to match the user's abilities and level. Its purpose is to help you control your power," Elias replied, then added more sharply, "The void is not something you can play with. If you don't control it, it will consume you."
Elias pointed to a device that resembled a moving cannon. "We'll start with this machine. Its goal is simple: to assess your current level and provide a challenge."
Marlin felt a chill run down his spine as he watched the machine begin to move. A mechanical sound filled the air, and its eyes lit up in a blue glow before it shot toward him at high speed.
"Get ready!" Elias shouted, but Marlin could barely move. The first beam shot toward him, and without thinking, he raised his hands. He felt something inside him respond. The void manifested in front of him, swallowing the beam as if it had never existed.
For a moment, Marlin was stunned, but the machine didn't stop. It fired another beam, this time faster, pushing Marlin to summon more of the void. He hesitated for a moment but felt the void flow through him more easily, creating a barrier between him and the attack.
"Good!" Elias called out loudly. "But you're slow. Focus on the offense too."
Marlin closed his eyes for a moment, trying to sense the void inside him. When he opened them again, he aimed his hand at the machine. A small wave of void pushed the machine back, but the damage was minimal.
"You need to improve your accuracy. Again!" Elias ordered.
---
The training continued for several minutes, and with each attack, Marlin grew closer to understanding his power. Eventually, the machine stopped moving, and the blue light in its eyes dimmed.
Marlin was panting, but in his eyes, there was a new look—a look of someone beginning to accept their power. Elias looked at him and said, "This is only the beginning. You'll face much harder challenges. But today, you proved you deserve this power."
Marlin nodded silently. He was exhausted, but deep inside, there was a new feeling: a sense of hope and challenge.