Gensu swallowed hard before standing, his heart still pounding violently. There was no room for doubt or hesitation anymore. Everything around him in the training hall was alive, pulsating with energy.
The students from the Seven Great Families trained at their utmost limits. Swords vanished and reappeared in their hands, invisible energies shot through the air, and the tense laughter that escaped them reminded everyone that this was no ordinary training.
An instructor approached him—a tall man with white hair and eyes like steel, every movement precise and sharp.
"I am your first instructor, Gensu. Today, you will begin your foundational training. Focus, and do not overlook any detail. Every mistake here can be costly."
Gensu trembled slightly but lifted his head.
"I'm ready," he whispered, as if the word came from the depths of his heart.
The instructor pointed to a small platform in the center of the hall.
"You will be working with a Yami simulation device. There is no real danger, but it will test your focus and your ability to control your power. Concentrate on every movement, every breath, every feeling inside you."
Gensu sat in front of the device, while his fellow trainees—other chosen individuals—watched closely. Some observed with curiosity, others continued their own rigorous training. The sense of awe was overwhelming, but something inside him whispered: he was no longer weak; he was no longer an ordinary student.
He took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment, concentrating all his energy on his Inner Explosion, even though he did not yet know the full extent of his power.
The moment he opened his eyes, the device simulated a Yami: a massive shadow, glowing red eyes, distorted form, its body appearing as if made of pure darkness itself.
Gensu leapt forward, unleashing his energy, attempting to channel the Inner Explosion within him. The sensation of power was strange, yet it was the first time he felt control.
The instructor shouted, "Good! Keep going! Focus on the energy within you! Keep everything under control!"
With each attempt, Gensu felt his power growing. He discovered the limits of his body, his strength, and his control over the Inner Explosion.
After hours of intense training, Gensu sat on the ground, exhausted but satisfied. His eyes glowed with something new: a partial understanding of his power, a sense of capability, and the realization that the path ahead was long—but he was no longer just an ordinary boy.
The instructor smiled. "Today was only the beginning, Gensu. Every day here will make you stronger, but first, you must learn to control yourself above all else."
Gensu looked around the training hall, at the children of the great families, at the other chosen ones, and finally at himself.
One thing became clear: there was no turning back. His true journey had begun.