After that decision, everything started moving quickly. Mizuki and Raiden gave me no time to relax. They knew that the power within me could not be delayed any longer, and the larger world was already starting to move, waiting to welcome me—either as a leader or as a threat.
We met in a quiet spot outside the city. Raiden led us to a hidden location deep within a dense forest. This place looked very different from what I was used to. There was something ancient and mystical about it, as if this place had witnessed countless battles and conflicts from the distant past.
"This is a safe place for you to train," Raiden said, looking at me with a serious expression. "Your power as Arlan Von Echeveria may have been dormant for a long time, but now is the time to awaken it."
I nodded, feeling the anxiety and tension beginning to course through me. I knew this wasn't just any regular training. This was a life-or-death trial. The world I had imagined to be simple was far more complicated, and I couldn't avoid the role that had already been mapped out for me.
Mizuki stood next to Raiden, her eyes fixed on me intently. "We'll help you, Haruto, but this training will be difficult. Your power is not something that can be easily controlled. It can be a double-edged sword."
I recalled Mizuki's earlier words. What exactly had happened to my power? So far, I only knew a little about what I could do, and I feared that if I couldn't control it, my power would end up destroying everything I loved.
Raiden stepped forward and patted my shoulder. "There's no turning back, Haruto. You've made your choice. Now it's time to face reality."
Without giving me much time to reflect, Raiden raised his hand, and suddenly the air around us shifted. The sound of wind rustling filled the space, and a powerful aura surrounded us. It felt as though an immense force was pressing against my body, trying to force out the power that had been buried inside me for so long.
"I'm going to test how far your abilities go, Haruto," Raiden said, his eyes sharp and challenging. "Awaken the power within you. I want to see what you can do."
I stood tall, trying to focus. Something began to stir inside me. It was like a fire burning, heat radiating from deep within my body. I could feel the presence of an extraordinary power, just like Mizuki and Raiden had said. The power of a warlord—a power I once wielded carelessly, a power now dormant within me.
But I didn't feel ready. The power flooded my body, but I feared that if I unleashed it, I would lose control. I just wanted a normal life—but here I stood, in the middle of a training ground, preparing to face a reality I couldn't escape.
Raiden looked at me, and it seemed like he could sense my uncertainty. "There's no room for doubt, Haruto," he said, his voice deeper. "This power is within you. Don't wait, awaken it and control it. Don't be afraid to become who you truly are."
Mizuki gazed at me with a hopeful look. "We're here to help you. But the most important thing is, you have to trust yourself."
I took a deep breath, trying to calm my mind. I remembered the past—those days on the battlefield, when I led my army without hesitation, when I made decisions without fear of the consequences. But this time, I wasn't leading an army. I was just a teenager trapped in a weaker body. How could I control a power so vast?
But something inside me awakened. I began to feel something much larger than myself. The power enveloping my body, the power calling me to rise, to face it.
With a silent scream in my heart, I raised my hand, and in an instant, an incredible energy surged from my body. The aura was so powerful, it felt like lightning splitting the sky. The air around us vibrated, and the ground beneath our feet trembled with the force I had unleashed.
I almost lost my balance, but somehow, I managed to stabilize the power, holding it back from destroying everything. The tension in the air eased, and I stood there, panting, but with a growing sense of victory flowing within me.
Raiden smiled, though there was a hint of concern in his eyes. "Good, Haruto. That's the first step. But this is just the beginning. You need to master control over that power. Without control, your power will destroy everything."
Mizuki approached and gently touched my shoulder. "You're starting to understand, Haruto. But this is only the initial training. The world you're facing won't be easy."
I looked at both of them, and for the first time since I was reborn, I felt a bit more confident. Even though I didn't know what would happen next, I knew one thing—I wouldn't give up. If this world needed me to rise, then I would fight. For my life, for Aoi, and for everyone around me.