After the tag-team challenge, the academy's routine remained intense. The days were filled with strategy classes, physical combat, energy manipulation, and endurance exercises.
Months passed.
During this period, many students evolved. Some mastered their natural energies better, others became more disciplined fighters.
But Draven's evolution was different.
He wasn't just getting stronger.
He was perfecting powers that no one in that world fully understood.
Haki Enhancement
Draven had used Haki since his time in the village. It was something natural to him, developed during his hunts and fights against monsters in the forest.
Now, at the academy, he began to refine and expand this power.
Observation Haki
During training fights, Draven began to constantly use Observation Haki.
This allowed him to perceive:
small changes in his opponents' breathing
muscle contractions before an attack
hostile intentions in the surrounding environment
With months of practice, his perception became much more sensitive.
In some situations, he could react even before the enemy's movement began.
This made it seem like he was always one step ahead during fights.
Enhanced Armament Haki
The Armament Haki, which he had used since he was young, also evolved greatly.
Now Draven could concentrate Haki much more densely in his strikes.
But the real breakthrough came when he began to combine Armament with Conqueror's Haki.
When he did this, an invisible pressure enveloped his fists.
This type of attack had a special characteristic:
it ignored part of the external defense
it penetrated the target's interior
it released an explosive internal impact
Draven tested this several times against giant rocks in isolated training fields.
The result was impressive.
The stones didn't just break.
They exploded from the inside out.
He realized that this type of attack was extremely dangerous and decided not to use it in normal academy training.
Evolution of Nocteerom
While perfecting Haki, Draven also continued exploring his unique energy: Nocteerom.
With months of secret practice, his control over the dark energy increased dramatically.
Now he could perform much more advanced techniques.
Intangible Shadow Form
One of the most impressive discoveries was the ability to envelop his entire body with Nocteerom.
When he did this, his body became covered in dense shadows that seemed to absorb the surrounding light.
In this state, Draven could become temporarily intangible.
Physical attacks passed through his body as if hitting a shadow.
This technique required a lot of control and concentration, so he could only maintain it for a short period of time.
Even so, it was an extremely useful skill in combat.
Shadow Bullets
Another technique Draven developed was the creation of Nocteerom bullets.
He concentrated dark energy in the palm of his hand, compressing it until it formed small, dense spheres.
These spheres could be fired at high speed.
When they hit the target, they released a concentrated impact of dark energy.
Depending on the amount of Nocteerom used, the bullets could:
pierce wood
break stones
push opponents forcefully
This ability also opened up new possibilities for ranged combat, something Draven didn't possess before.
Secret Training with the Shadows
Every night, away from the main area of the academy, Draven continued training with his shadow soldiers.
Now the battles were much more intense.
He faced multiple shadows simultaneously while using:
Observation Haki to predict attacks
Armament Haki to strengthen blows
Nocteerom to create weapons and defenses
These training sessions were extremely demanding, but they helped Draven integrate all his powers into real combat.
Over time, the coordination between him and his shadows became almost perfect.
It was as if they fought with a single mind.
Changes noticed at the academy
After months of training, many students began to notice something different about Draven.
He moved with more confidence.
His attacks were more precise.
And his presence during fights seemed to exert a silent pressure on others.
Some students commented amongst themselves:
— When he fights seriously… it feels like the air gets heavy.
— That energy of his… is strange.
— I can't predict his movements.
Even so, no one imagined the true extent of the abilities Draven was secretly developing.
The Next Step
As he watched the training field at dusk, Draven felt the Nocteerom slowly move around his hands.
His Haki was also stronger.
But he knew there was still much to explore.
If he continued evolving at that pace, a day would come when not even the most powerful warriors in the world could keep up.