The forest was silent, except for the faint sound of the wind rustling through the trees.
Draven stood in the clearing, observing the three monsters he had recently defeated—now transformed into his first shadows.
He reached out and murmured:
"Stay alert. Protect my flanks."
The Kryphid, the Gorefang, and the Torrak took their positions obediently, but still moving somewhat slowly. Draven realized that the command still required complete concentration, and that each of their movements needed to be guided by his will.
He began the training:
Basic Coordination:
Moving the shadows laterally, Draven tested their ability to obey instructions without hesitation.
Each shadow responded partially, and he adjusted small gestures and verbal commands.
Coordinated Attack:
Draven pointed to a fallen tree as a test target.
"Attack!"
The shadows advanced, Kryphid striking with tentacles, Gorefang biting, and Torrak forcefully striking the trunk.
Each blow hit the target with precision and force, showing that the Haki + Noctharum integration worked best when he focused his mind.
Combined Defense:
Draven imagined an attack coming from all sides and gave the command:
— Protect me!
The shadows moved, creating a defensive perimeter, blocking imaginary attacks, reacting quickly.
Over time, Draven began to notice weaknesses in the control:
If he focused too much on one shadow, the others lost coordination.
Very complex commands caused hesitation.
The intense use of Haki and Noctharum quickly tired his body and mind.
He took a deep breath, regaining focus.
— You will improve — he said in a firm voice, almost as if speaking to real soldiers.
— Me too.
To finish the training, Draven conducted a final test: simultaneous attack and defense.
He pointed one shadow to attack the trunk, another to protect the perimeter, and the third to attack diagonally, covering possible blind spots.
Each shadow reacted, coordinated, agile, and powerful — and Draven realized for the first time that he was capable of commanding multiple units at the same time, even if still in an initial way.
— Well… that's enough for today — he murmured, looking at the shadows that were already beginning to disperse.
— But tomorrow… we'll try something even more complex.
As he observed the forest, he thought of Zayra. They hadn't trained together again yet, but he knew that the young warrior would also grow with time.
— One day — he thought — you two will be able to fight together. But first, I need to master this.
The Great Sage mentally recorded:
Progress detected:
- Command of multiple shadows initiated
- Haki/Noctharum integration improved
- Simultaneous attack and defense capability confirmed
- Concentration and mental resistance still limited
Draven took a deep breath, feeling the responsibility and power growing within him.
It was only the beginning of what would become an army of shadows—and he knew that, with training and patience, he could command them like no one ever could.