---
Conqueror of the Verse
By ColdLink Writer
CHAPTER XXXV
The First Step Into Power
Arc 2 – The Shadow Conspiracy
---
Morning came quietly.
Not with noise.
Not with light bursting through the trees.
But slowly—
As if the forest itself was waking up.
A pale glow spread across the sky.
Mist hovered low over the ground.
The air felt cold.
Still.
Calm.
---
The Silence Before Growth
Arin opened his eyes.
For a moment—
He didn't move.
His body ached.
His muscles felt heavy.
Every part of him reminded him of yesterday.
The training.
The failure.
The gap.
He sat up slowly.
His grip tightened slightly.
"…I'm still weak."
The words came out naturally.
Without frustration.
Without denial.
Just truth.
---
Kashihero
Not far from him—
Kashihero stood alone.
His back facing the rising sun.
Still.
Unmoving.
But not resting.
Lucas leaned against a nearby tree.
Half awake.
Half bored.
"…You're up early."
Arin looked at him.
"…I couldn't sleep properly."
Lucas shrugged.
"Good."
"That means you're thinking."
Arin didn't reply.
Because he was.
---
The Decision
Arin stood up.
Walked forward.
Stopped a few steps behind Kashihero.
"…Teacher."
No response.
"…I want to start again."
Kashihero didn't turn.
"…Then start."
Arin blinked.
"…Just like that?"
Lucas laughed softly.
"What did you expect?"
"A speech?"
Arin looked down.
Then—
He stepped forward.
---
The First Real Training
This time—
There was no command.
No signal.
No "attack."
Only silence.
Arin took a breath.
His stance adjusted.
Slower.
More careful.
More aware.
He didn't rush.
Didn't swing immediately.
He watched.
Observed.
Waited.
Kashihero remained still.
But his presence—
Was overwhelming.
Like standing in front of a mountain.
Unmoving.
Unbreakable.
Arin moved.
A step.
Then another.
His sword rose.
Not for attack.
But for control.
---
The Change
Lucas noticed it instantly.
"…Oh?"
"That's new."
Arin's movements had changed.
Not stronger.
Not faster.
But sharper.
More focused.
Kashihero moved.
Just slightly.
A shift.
And Arin reacted.
He stepped back.
Avoided the motion.
His eyes widened slightly.
"…I saw it."
Kashihero turned slowly.
For the first time—
Their eyes met during training.
"…Again."
---
Repetition
The training continued.
No rush.
No wasted energy.
Step by step.
Movement by movement.
Failure after failure.
But something was different now.
Arin wasn't trying to win.
He was trying to understand.
And because of that—
He was improving.
Slowly.
But clearly.
---
Lucas Watches
Lucas folded his arms.
A faint smile appeared.
"…Not bad, kid."
"Still far from useful though."
Arin ignored him.
Focused.
Kashihero moved again.
Faster this time.
Arin reacted—
Too late.
The wooden sword was knocked from his hand.
It fell to the ground.
Silence followed.
Arin looked at it.
Then—
He didn't reach for it immediately.
Instead—
He raised his fists.
Lucas blinked.
"…Oh?"
---
The Choice
Kashihero watched.
"…Why?"
Arin answered without hesitation.
"If I lose my weapon… I still have to fight."
Lucas grinned.
"Now that's the right mindset."
Kashihero stepped forward.
"…Then show me."
---
The Real Gap
Arin moved.
Without a weapon.
Without defense.
Only instinct.
He attacked.
A punch.
Blocked instantly.
A kick.
Dodged easily.
But he didn't stop.
Again.
And again.
Each movement raw.
Unrefined.
But real.
Kashihero didn't counter immediately.
He observed.
Measured.
Evaluated.
Then—
He struck.
One movement.
Precise.
Arin was on the ground.
Breath knocked out.
Silence.
---
Understanding Pain
Arin lay there.
Staring at the sky.
His chest rising heavily.
His body refused to move.
But his mind—
Was clear.
"…I understand."
Lucas tilted his head.
"…You do?"
Arin sat up slowly.
"…I'm not even close."
Kashihero spoke calmly.
"Now you're starting to see it."
---
The Turning Point
Arin stood again.
Picked up his sword.
His hands steadied.
His breathing controlled.
"…Again."
Kashihero nodded.
And the training resumed.
---
The Hidden Change
But this time—
Something deeper was happening.
Not just physical growth.
Not just technique.
But something else.
Something internal.
Kashihero could feel it.
A shift.
Small.
But real.
And the system—
Noticed it too.
---
System Response
A faint blue screen appeared again.
Only visible to Kashihero.
---
[System Notification]
Linked Growth Detected.
Secondary subject (Arin) entering development phase.
---
Kashihero's eyes narrowed slightly.
The system continued.
---
[Effect Triggered]
"Guided Evolution" – Passive resonance active
---
Kashihero didn't react outwardly.
But internally—
He understood.
Arin's growth…
Was now connected to him.
Not directly.
But through influence.
Through presence.
Through guidance.
---
The Weight of Authority
The "King of the God's Authority"…
Wasn't just about power.
It was influence.
Control.
Dominance.
Even over growth itself.
Kashihero looked at Arin.
"…Continue."
---
Time Passes
Hours passed.
The sun rose higher.
The mist disappeared.
The forest became brighter.
But the training didn't stop.
Arin fell.
Got up.
Fought again.
Failed again.
But each time—
He lasted longer.
Reacted better.
Understood more.
---
Lucas Steps In
Eventually—
Lucas pushed himself off the tree.
"…Alright."
"My turn."
Arin froze.
"…What?"
Lucas cracked his neck slightly.
"You've been fighting a mountain."
"Now try fighting a storm."
Arin swallowed.
"…Is there a difference?"
Lucas smiled.
"You'll find out."
---
A Different Kind of Pressure
Lucas stepped forward.
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Unlike Kashihero—
Lucas wasn't calm.
He was unpredictable.
Unstable.
Dangerous.
"…Come on, kid."
"Show me what you learned."
Arin hesitated for a second.
Then—
He moved.
Fast.
Direct.
Lucas vanished.
Arin's eyes widened.
"…Too slow."
A voice behind him.
Arin turned—
Too late.
A light push.
And he stumbled forward.
Lucas laughed.
"…Yeah."
"You've got a long way to go."
---
The Truth
The training with Lucas was different.
More chaotic.
More aggressive.
More unforgiving.
But it revealed something important.
Kashihero was control.
Lucas was unpredictability.
To survive—
Arin needed both.
---
The Path Forward
By the time the sun began to set—
Arin collapsed again.
Completely exhausted.
Unable to move.
Lucas stretched.
"…That was fun."
Kashihero stood silently.
Watching.
Evaluating.
Then—
He spoke.
"…You improved."
Arin smiled slightly.
"…Only a little."
Kashihero nodded.
"That's enough."
---
The Quiet Night
The forest returned to silence.
The day ended.
But something had begun.
Not just training.
Not just growth.
But transformation.
Slow.
Steady.
Inevitable.
---
The Hidden Watcher
Far away—
Beyond the forest.
Beyond the capital.
In a place where shadows moved unnaturally—
A figure stood.
Watching.
Smiling faintly.
"…So it begins."
The air around him twisted slightly.
"…The Devourer."
His voice carried amusement.
"…And the vessel."
He turned slightly.
"…This will be interesting."
---
End of Chapter XXXV
---