"Energy signature holding steady," Neo reported, monitoring Leo's vitals as he maintained a perfect shadow cloak. "Ninety seconds and counting."
The darkness enveloping Leo's body no longer flickered or wavered. Instead, it clung to him like a second skin, rendering him nearly invisible in the dimly lit Shadow Box. The weeks of meditation and training had transformed his control from erratic to precise.
"One minute forty-five seconds," Marcus announced, practically bouncing with excitement. "A new personal record!"
Leo allowed the shadows to dissipate, revealing himself completely as he exhaled slowly. The drain was still significant, but nowhere near the total exhaustion he'd experienced during earlier attempts.
"The Lumina meditation is working," Neo observed, reviewing his energy readings. "Your cells are regenerating faster and maintaining higher capacity."
"Not to mention looking less like death warmed over," Marcus added cheerfully.
Leo couldn't help but smile. "So what's next? Shadow Step again?"
Neo shook her head, approaching a new setup at the far end of the room. "Today we focus on Energy Siphon. Now that your control has improved, it's time to explore your ability to absorb energy from external sources."
The setup consisted of various electronic devices arranged on a table. Everything from simple light sources to more complex equipment with power indicators.
"Think of it as refueling during battle," Neo explained. "When your Lumina cells are depleted, siphoning energy from available sources can give you a critical advantage over people who only rely on Luminating."
"It'll be like stealing someone's lunch when you're hungry," Marcus offered helpfully.
Neo ignored him. "Start with something simple. The lamp. Try to connect with its energy the same way you did with the drone."
Leo positioned himself before the small desk lamp, extending his hand toward it. He focused on creating a thin shadow tendril, visualizing it as a straw through which energy could flow.
The shadow extended from his fingertips, wavering slightly before making contact with the lamp. Leo felt the familiar cool sensation as energy began transferring through the connection.
"Good," Neo coached. "Maintain a steady flow. Don't rush it."
The lamp's light dimmed gradually as Leo absorbed its power. The shadow tendril thickened slightly, pulsing with each transfer of energy.
"I can feel it strengthening me," Leo observed, surprised at how quickly the borrowed energy integrated with his own.
"Enhanced energy absorption is the primary advantage of your shadow abilities," Neo explained. "Most Awakened can only use Lumina energy in the air. You can directly tap electronic sources, power grids, even other energy-based powers."
"Practical applications include," Marcus interjected, counting on his fingers, "escaping dark facilities, restoring depleted abilities during extended combat, and making dramatic entrances by killing all the lights at once."
"Focus, Leo," Neo warned as the shadow tendril began expanding too quickly.
But it was too late, the tendril suddenly expanded, engulfing the entire lamp in darkness. The light died completely as Leo absorbed its entire power reserve in one gulp. The surge of energy made his shadow cloak reactivate involuntarily, darkness rippling across his skin.
"And that's why we practice," Neo sighed, making notes on her tablet.
"Fascinating response," Marcus commented, adjusting his sensors. "Your body automatically channeled excess energy into your ability."
Leo dispelled the shadows with effort, feeling uncomfortably energized. "So... it's like a sugar rush?"
"An apt comparison," Neo agreed. "And equally dangerous. Excessive energy absorption can overwhelm your Lumina cells, potentially causing permanent damage to them."
Marcus nodded soberly. "Like trying to fill a water balloon with too much water. Eventually, something bursts."
To demonstrate his point, Marcus activated a holographic display showing cellular structures. "These are normal Lumina cells," he explained, indicating glowing blue spheres. "And these," the image shifted to show distorted and cracked cells, "are cells damaged by energy overload."
"The Yamashita Incident of 2097," Neo added grimly. "An A-class Awakened attempted to absorb a nuclear power plant's energy with his crystals during a containment breach. His remains were never found."
Leo winced. "Message received. Don't get greedy."
"Let's try something more controlled," Neo suggested, activating a series of smaller devices with varying power levels. "Practice maintaining consistent transfer rates regardless of the source."
For the next hour, Leo worked on connecting with different energy sources, learning to regulate his absorption rate. He gradually improved, though occasional surges still occurred when his concentration would waver.
During one particularly focused attempt, Leo accidently expanded his awareness beyond his immediate targets. Suddenly, he could sense every power source in the room, lights, computers, even the energy signatures of Neo and Marcus themselves.
Without conscious intention, shadow tendrils extended in all directions, connecting with ceiling lights and equipment throughout the chamber. The room plunged into darkness as Leo absorbed power from multiple sources simultaneously.
"Leo!" Neo's voice cut through his trance. "Pull back now!"
With effort, Leo severed the connections, allowing the emergency lighting to flicker back on. The room hummed as systems rebooted.
"Well, that was dramatic," came Kaori's dry voice from the doorway. The Resistance leader stood with arms crossed, eyebrow raised. "Should I start budgeting for additional power generators?"
"Sorry," Leo managed, still processing the rush of energy coursing through him.
Kaori approached, surveying the room. "I see you've stolen my right hand, Neo. The tactical division has been asking for you all morning."
"Leo's training takes priority," Neo replied unapologetically.
Kaori's expression softened slightly as she observed Leo's improved control. "My family would approve of your progress," she said unexpectedly. "The Yamashita clan believed power without discipline was merely destructive force."
"Your family trained you from childhood?" Leo asked, surprised at this personal revelation.
Kaori nodded. "I was not even awakened at the time. Yet, every morning began with four hours of Lumina meditation before sunrise. This was to build the Lumina energy in my body before the cells awakened. Every failure meant another day without food." Her voice carried no self-pity, merely a statement of fact. "Control was everything."
Neo and Marcus exchanged glances, clearly unaccustomed to Kaori sharing personal history. As for Leo, he was thinking about how Kaori had been luminating since childhood. 'No wonder she looks this good!'
Leo glanced at Neo, eyebrows raised. "So… I bet you've been luminating a lot too."
"Huh?" Neo was confused, but hearing no response from him she carried on. "I'll design specialized equipment for siphoning practice," Neo offered. "Devices with measurable energy outputs that can safely handle your absorption rates."
As the others discussed technical specifications, Leo experienced a strange sensation, a cold, familiar whisper at the edge of his consciousness.
"Such small feedings," a voice in Leo's head mocked. "When you could devour worlds."
It wasn't the Warden. It was that strange cold voice he'd heard in the Shadows Realm, the one that promised him power.
For a brief, terrifying moment, Leo sensed the truth in the words spoken, his siphoning ability could be capable of much larger things. The Voice's version of this power could drain entire systems in seconds, consuming life and technology alike.
Leo shuddered, pushing the whisper away. Some abilities weren't meant to be mastered, no matter how powerful they might make him.