Day 5.
Their routine had become established: wake up, consume a bland Lumen-melon, drink purified water, and engage in training. The once-dreadful silence of six days' night transformed into a blank slate for possibilities. The pyramid served as their battleground, with Kaito acting as its single, fervent overseer.
He had pushed Auri's control and endurance to the brink, and now it was time to shift focus to strategy. The outside world presented a dynamic challenge, filled with perilous, moving shadows. She needed to be ready for that.
Kaito dragged the heavy main console screen to the chamber's center. He gathered some large, flat pieces of debris and set them upright, forming a basic obstacle course.
"Alright, Auri, we've got a new game," Kaito announced, his voice resonating slightly in the expansive space. A grin spread across his face; this was far more engaging than any virtual reality competition. "Let's call it... Shadow Tag."
He adjusted the screen so it projected elongated, dancing shadows from the obstacles. Using a piece of chalk, he marked small targets on the floor—some in the light and others in the shifting shadows.
"The rules are simple," he clarified, gesturing with the chalk. "You need to hit the targets hidden in the dark. But don't shoot randomly. First, eliminate the shadow. Use a Gleam Dart to dispel it, then take your shot at the target before the shadow returns."
Auri tilted her head, seeming puzzled. Kaito could sense her confusion through their connection. 'Light… fight dark?'
"Exactly," he confirmed, excitement gleaming in his eyes. "Now give it a shot. Aim for that one."
He pointed to a target shadowed beneath a large metal slab. Auri launched into the air, aimed, and fired a Gleam Dart. It struck the shadow, causing it to shimmer momentarily before it reformed. Her next shot missed the target by inches.
Kaito sighed, running his fingers through his unruly hair. "No, that's not quite it," he said, maintaining a patient yet firm tone. "You're trying to blast through it. Think of it like this: it's like trying to punch a reflection in a puddle. You need to stir the water to make the reflection dissolve."
He approached the screen and adjusted its angle, causing the shadow on the floor to shift shape. "See? The shadow isn't real. It's just a trick of light. So we play the trick back."
For the next hour, Kaito not only trained Auri but also discovered the environment alongside her. He manipulated the light, repositioning the screen and angling smaller debris to fabricate new, intricate shadows. He was training her to perceive the battlefield as a dynamic puzzle rather than a flat surface.
Gradually, she grasped the concept. Instead of aiming directly at the shadow, she focused on the illuminated edges, the points where the shadow was weakest. A precisely placed dart could disrupt the light just enough to make the shadow flicker and vanish for a brief moment, creating an opening for her to strike the target.
Their connection deepened with each successful shot, and they began to think as one.
During a break, Kaito leaned against the console, watching Auri groom her feathers. His thoughts wandered back to the day he had caught her. Many players had tried their luck, countless others had studied the lore and employed the same tactics. Why had he succeeded?
It wasn't merely the three-beat melody; that was just the trigger. He had always understood that. The real reason lay in his complete grasp of the game's essence. He had perceived the hidden links and logic beneath the surface. By analyzing the game's light-refraction algorithms, he had adjusted his lure placement. He viewed the binding ritual not as a spell, but as a meaningful sequence of steps. Instead of just following directions, he had comprehended their intent.
His thoughts shifted to her Ascended Form, the stunning, humanoid figure he had caught a glimpse of. What could that be? Was it an additional hidden level of the game waiting to be unlocked?
He focused intently on the LuminaDrive, posing the question.
[QUERY: ASCENDED FORM.]
The response was cryptic, a single line of text appeared in his mind.
[ASCENSION POTENTIAL: LOCKED. REQUIREMENT: HIGHER BOND SYNCHRONIZATION. TRIGGER: UNKNOWN.]
'Higher bond synchronization.' That was the key. It was not only about honing her skills; it was about fortifying 'their' bond. A thrill coursed through him, filled with boundless potential.
"Alright, Auri," he said, his voice infused with newfound ambition. "Let's amp up the challenge."
For the rest of the day, he orchestrated a chaotic dance of light and shadow. He constantly moved the screen, compelling Auri to adapt in real time. He introduced dynamic targets, swinging pieces of debris on cords to create moving shadows for her to pursue.
It was exhausting for both, but by the time the artificial "night" of their fifth day enveloped them, Auri could consistently hit a moving target within a complex pattern of shifting shadows. She had become a blur of golden light, a phantom crafted by Kaito's own design.
She eventually settled on his shoulder, fatigue evident, yet radiating pride. Kaito felt a surge of pride as well. Together, they were forging a weapon of extraordinary precision in the dark.
He gazed out at the dark window, contemplating the silent, slumbering world beyond. A fierce resolve washed over him. Let the monsters come; they would be prepared.