Inner Realm – Temple of the Spirit Core
The calm following the universal wave did not last long.
Anay sat beneath a canopy of stars in the stillness of the Inner Realm, his breath aligned with the rhythm of the cosmos pulsing within him. His soul had expanded—his aura now a luminous violet swaying with subtle waves of indigo and dark purple.
But suddenly—
The light around him flickered.
The stars above vanished one by one like dying embers.
And the ground beneath his feet cracked, shifting into a circular arena forged of spiritual stone. At the center, a massive lotus-shaped sigil glowed faintly beneath his feet.
He opened his eyes.
His voice low, aware.
"…Another trial?"
A familiar presence stirred within him.
Zettai Anant's voice echoed gently:
"To wield me fully, your spirit must balance. The body is strong. The soul is vast. But now… the elements will test your heart."
A ripple of energy surged outward from the lotus floor.
Then—
Four portals opened—like spirit gates—each formed of raw, churning elemental power:
To the East: Flames, spiraling upward like a crimson storm.
To the West: Waves, liquid and quiet, yet deep with weight.
To the North: Winds, sharp and chaotic, scattering light.
To the South: Stone, slow and trembling, heavy as fate.
From each portal… stepped a figure.
Not enemies. But versions of himself.
Each wore his face.
Each radiated a different energy.
Each… carried a different wound.
First Trial: Fire – The Echo of Rage
The fiery version of Anay stepped forward—eyes burning like molten gold, voice sharp and bitter.
"You trained in silence while they mocked you. You let it go while they judged you."
The fire crackled louder, licking around him like a beast hungry to consume.
"You could've burned everything. You still want to. Don't you?"
Anay didn't answer.
He stared into the flame-born reflection—and for a moment, he felt it.
That anger.
That need to prove himself.
The part of him that once wanted to shout in the face of the world and ask why they never saw him for who he was.
His hands clenched. Aura flared.
But instead of pushing it away, Anay stepped forward.
He looked into the eyes of the Fire Echo.
And said, "I was angry. And I might still be. But I won't let that be all I am."
The flame flickered.
Then—it bowed.
And disappeared into his core.
Second Trial: Water – The Echo of Doubt
The water version emerged slowly, ripples forming beneath each step.
This one looked tired. Eyes glazed. Voice quiet.
"You think you're special. But how long can you pretend?"
It looked at him as if through a mirror made of pain.
"What if you fail when they need you most?"
The waves churned around Anay's feet, cold and unsteady.
"Why were you chosen?" the Echo whispered.
Anay faltered.
For a heartbeat, he remembered the nights he stared at the stars, wondering if it was all just luck. That maybe he didn't deserve Zettai Anant.
He closed his eyes.
And let the cold in.
The water rose up his legs, chilling, threatening to drown him in self-doubt.
But he spoke through it.
"I don't know all the answers," Anay said softly. "But I'm still standing. I'm still walking. That's enough."
The water paused.
Then flowed upward—gently—merging with his heart.
And vanished.
Third Trial: Wind – The Echo of Confusion
The wind version of himself spun wildly, hair tousled, voice erratic and fast.
"You think this path is the only one? What if you're wrong?"
The air crackled with indecision—shifting constantly, never landing.
"What if the Academy was a mistake? What if you're chasing a dream that's not yours?"
The wind screamed around him, throwing thoughts, illusions, flashing choices.
Fight or flee.
Attack or defend.
Stay… or vanish.
Anay stood in the center, buffeted by a hundred conflicting winds of thought.
His breathing slowed.
He closed his eyes.
And then—
He whispered:
"I choose this."
The wind stilled.
The storm calmed.
The Echo smiled—and scattered like leaves in spring.
Fourth Trial: Earth – The Echo of Burden
The earth version appeared last.
Heavy.
Solid.
Eyes full of sorrow.
"You carry the weight of others. Naman's hopes. Master Kai's teachings. Sato's respect. Their faith in you."
Stone grew around his arms, dragging down. Burdens. Expectations.
"Do you even know who you are under all of it?"
The stone pressed on Anay's back.
He fell to one knee.
But his eyes never lost clarity.
He reached out—toward the stone.
And whispered, "Their hope is not my cage. It's my strength."
The stone pulsed.
Then broke apart like dust.
When the final Echo dissolved, the arena faded.
The starfield returned.
The four elemental lights circled Anay's chest—Fire, Water, Wind, Earth—and merged into his purple core.
His aura pulsed again—brighter now.
Not only dark purple, but laced with flickers of red, blue, green, and silver.
He rose slowly.
Breathing steady.
Eyes fierce.
And Zettai Anant spoke once more, voice clear and proud:
"Your balance is awakened. Now… call me."