NOVEL NEXT Chapter 25: Rebellion Against Heaven - Part 12
Chapter 12: Training
The biting wind of the underworld whistled around him as Ryuusei, covered in wounds and sweat, struggled to stand. Death had launched him into his final training, one that would define his destiny as a Bastard Herald.
With the Ying-Yang Mask firmly attached, energy flowed through his body like an uncontrollable torrent. Every day was a test of endurance, every blow received, a cruel lesson. If he wanted to survive in this world, he had to master the balance between Chaos and Peace.
Touch of Entropy The first skill he trained was his ability to break anything down with his Hammers of War. He faced towering structures made of black rock and cursed metal, pounding them again and again until they crumbled into dust. But entropy didn't just affect inert objects: when he used the ability on an opponent, he watched in horror as his flesh slowly unraveled, leaving only a twisted corpse. She felt nauseous, but she didn't stop.
Vision of the Abyss To master this power, he was locked in a camera obscura, facing his own fears. Death showed him his deepest nightmares: the betrayal of his friends, the utter loneliness, the endless agony. Only by accepting them did he manage to invest power in his enemies, forcing them to see their own horrors until they went mad.
Flames of Dusk Ryuusei had to learn to summon the dark fire without losing control. The first time he unleashed it, his own hands were burned, the painful regeneration preventing him from dying but prolonging his suffering. Over time, he learned to direct flames toward his enemies without letting them consume him.
Distortion of Fate This power was the most unpredictable. In one test, he had to cross an unstable bridge with lurking enemies. By concentrating, he altered the probability: attacks missed, debris fell at the right moment, enemy footsteps missed their movements. But if he abused the skill, luck would turn against him.
Painful Regeneration Death imposed a brutal punishment on him to develop this power. Day after day, he was torn apart in combat only to rebuild with unspeakable suffering. His flesh was woven with a pain that no human should have to endure, but he survived, learning to use it as a last resort.
Powers of Peace To balance his dark side, he trained his gifts of Yang.
With Aura of Resistance, he withstood the attacks of infernal beasts without falling. Alien's Healing forced him to save his allies, even when his instinct said he should think only of himself. Zone of Balance led him to face fights where he had to nullify his own power and that of his enemies. And Echo of Life tormented him with visions of tragic pasts and uncertain futures.
After months of brutality, Ryuusei finally rose as an accomplished warrior, his body scarred by indelible scars, his mind sharp as a sword.
He was no longer just a defiant young man. Now he was the Bastard Herald, forged in chaos and peace, ready to defy even Death itself.