---
Yuki stood alone in the swirling darkness of the void, the silence pressing in like a thick fog. He inhaled slowly, trying to keep his heartbeat steady.
Aiko was still out there… somewhere. And Himari's words had stuck with him.
"You must become strong enough not to break when you do."
He clenched his fists.
The energy around him shifted, reacting to the spike in emotion. The void twisted, shimmered, pulsed like a heartbeat. Yuki took a step forward, and then another, until the darkness opened into a wide plain of nothingness. This was the center—where his power resonated most.
He closed his eyes and focused.
Super strength. Speed. Reflexes. Aura control… No. That's not enough.
He dug deeper.
The void inside him stirred—like a beast waiting to be unleashed. Yuki could feel it snarling, aching to be used. But if he gave in completely, he'd lose control again. He had to command it.
The air snapped around him as he forced his emotions into balance. Not suppressed—channeled.
Suddenly, a pulse of power rippled outward from his body. The void energy danced around his arms, crackling like lightning, but quieter, darker. Controlled.
He opened his eyes, now glowing faintly with a violet hue. A barrier of void energy shimmered around his body—stable.
Yuki smirked. "Now we're talking."
From the darkness ahead, a figure emerged. Not real. A manifestation conjured by the void itself.
It looked like… him. But twisted—wild-eyed, corrupted by rage and power.
A test.
Yuki didn't hesitate. He lunged forward, and the two clashed in an explosion of void and aura. Their fists met mid-air, the shockwave cracking the space around them.
Blow after blow, Yuki fought himself—his fears, his doubts, his darkness.
And with each strike, he grew stronger.
More precise.
More in control.
Finally, with a roar, Yuki unleashed a focused blast of void energy directly into the heart of the twisted doppelganger. The figure dissolved, screaming into the darkness.
Breathing hard, Yuki dropped to one knee. He was drained—but victorious.
He had passed the test.
A soft voice echoed behind him. "You've taken your first step."
Yuki turned slowly to see Himari watching from the edge of the void.
"Thanks, Himari," he said.
"For what?" she asked.
"For not letting me fall apart."
---
End of Chapter 19
"If you're enjoying the ride, don't forget to leave a power stone or a comment—it really helps this grow!"