It has been six months.
I have mastered 42% of Time Shift, but Shadow Extraction… that power feels like a ghost of a memory. Maybe it was a one-time thing. Maybe I was never meant to wield it.
Korir sat cross-legged on the cold stone floor of the training hall, sweat dripping from his brow. He could feel the distortion in the air around him, the subtle shift in time whenever he activated his ability. Time Shift was becoming second nature. He could accelerate, slow down, and even predict movements with a fraction of a second's advantage. But every time he reached for Shadow Extraction… nothing.
Across the hall, Zero leaned against a wooden post, watching. "You're forcing it," he muttered. "That's why it's not working."
Korir clenched his fists. "And what am I supposed to do? Just wait for it to happen again?"
Zero smirked. "Exactly."
Before Korir could argue, Renji Sao Manua walked in, his heavy boots echoing through the hall. "Enough whining. You wanna master your powers? Then stop thinking of them as separate. Your body, your marks, your abilities—they're all connected. Until you get that, you're just playing."
Korir exhaled sharply. He knew Renji was right. The old man had drilled it into them for months: mastery wasn't just about strength, but understanding.
Renji crossed his arms. "It's time you learn the bigger picture."
Renji motioned for them to follow as he led them deeper into the hideout, into a chamber filled with ancient scrolls and maps. He unrolled a massive parchment, revealing the emblems of different hidden societies.
"There are nine hidden societies, but only two hold true power—Toma and Mombasa Mabas."
Korir and Zero exchanged glances.
Renji continued, "The others stay in the shadows, but don't mistake their silence for weakness. Each one has its own ideology, its own hierarchy, and some even have warriors as strong as the top ranks of Mombasa Mabas."
He pointed at Toma's sigil—a swirling mark resembling an endless knot. "Unlike Mombasa Mabas, Toma believes in growth. You don't just get a rank—you earn it. Troops can rise through skill, not just power."
Korir studied the sigils carefully. If the other societies were staying hidden, that meant they were either waiting… or preparing for something.
Renji's voice darkened. "And then there are the Dual Users."
Zero stiffened. "You mean the ones who can use two marks?"
Renji nodded. "Extremely rare. Only a handful exist in every generation. If you ever meet one, assume they're ten times stronger than you."
Korir felt a chill run down his spine. The Veil Ascension—the ultimate stage where all marks are conquered—was already godlike. But Dual Users? That was something else entirely.
Renji's gaze hardened. "Which is why you need to hurry up and get stronger. The world isn't gonna wait for you."
As they spoke, someone was watching.
High above the hideout, perched on a crumbling rooftop, Beric observed them through narrowed eyes. His breath was steady, his movements silent.
"The only reason you killed Leo…" he murmured to himself, "is because he hadn't awakened yet."
His fingers tightened around the hilt of his blade. "But I have. And soon… we'll see just how strong you've really become."