The field was still.
Only the sound of wind moving through the grass filled the night.
Nico stood in the same spot as before, chest rising and falling slower now. His body had adjusted slightly, but the fatigue was still there, sitting deep in his muscles.
"…Again."
He clenched his fists.
For a second, nothing happened.
Then
Light burst out.
His fur flashed light green. The aura snapped into place around him, sharper than before, more controlled.
His eyes narrowed.
This time, he held it.
One second.
Still there.
A second passed.
Then another.
The aura flickered violently.
Gone.
Nico staggered forward, catching himself before falling.
"…Two."
A grin spread across his face.
"Two seconds."
He laughed under his breath, exhausted.
"That's better."
He straightened up slowly, rolling his shoulders.
His body hurt.
Every transformation felt like it was pulling something out of him that didn't fully belong yet.
But it was working.
Step by step.
"…Again."
He inhaled deeply, focusing harder this time.
The memory of that energy.
That overwhelming pressure from before.
He forced his body to recall it.
To match it.
The aura burst out again.
Cleaner.
Faster.
More stable.
His fur shifted instantly, glowing under the moonlight.
Three seconds.
The ground beneath his feet cracked slightly from the pressure.
Four
The aura snapped.
Nico dropped to one knee, breathing hard.
"…damn."
Sweat dripped from his face onto the grass.
But he was smiling.
Progress.
Real progress.
He pushed himself back up again, legs shaking slightly.
"…Again."
No hesitation.
No break.
The night lit up once more as his energy flared, the green aura cutting through the darkness again and again.
Each attempt lasted longer.
Not by much.
But enough.
And Nico didn't stop.
He couldn't.
Because now he knew.
He was getting it back.