Kairo staggered through the forest, energy still coursing through his veins.
The power he had absorbed from the thugs was intoxicating, yet it was also a curse.
Every fiber of his being screamed.
His Black Dragon Body and the Evil Cultivation energy within him fought violently, misaligned, each refusing to yield.
The clash was unbearable, a storm inside his bones, igniting every nerve with agony.
He fell to his knees, teeth gritted, sweat pouring from his brow.
His muscles spasmed involuntarily, and the ground beneath him seemed to tremble.
The once manageable forest path now felt like a battlefield lined with unseen jagged traps.
Mountains loomed before him, distant yet impossibly close, taunting him with their unyielding presence.
Somehow, despite the relentless pain, some twisted will within him urged him forward.
Step by step, he crawled toward the jagged cave that yawned ahead, its mouth dark and silent.
The moment he entered, his knees buckled and he fell again.
Pain exploded through his body like molten iron. Bones shattered. Tendons tore. Skin cracked.
Yet, the Black Dragon Body, ancient and resilient, began knitting itself back together.
Layer by layer, bone fused, skin mended, but the red energy of his Evil Cultivation clashed with the black of his body in violent waves.
His chest heaved, muscles twitching uncontrollably as the two forces warred for dominance.
A scream tore from his throat as his body convulsed violently.
The pain was unbearable.
His skin ripped apart, then fused again.
Bones broke and reformed.
The cavern echoed with the sound of destruction and rebirth, his body trembling under the unimaginable pressure.
Every nerve ending burned, and the power surging through him was so immense that it felt like it could tear the earth apart.
A massive surge of energy blasted outward, the cave trembling as if afraid of what had been awakened within him.
Somehow, through the haze of agony, Kairo's mind clung to consciousness.
The clarity that came was terrifying.
He was alive, yet he had glimpsed a power far beyond comprehension—a glimpse of what it meant to possess both the Black Dragon Body and the Evil Cultivation energy.
But the price was almost more than he could bear.
Pain still gripped him like chains as his vision blurred, and eventually, darkness claimed him.
Meanwhile, the world above went on as if Kairo had never existed.
At the Kelric estate, morning had passed into bright sunlight, the air warm and lively.
By 10 a.m., Ketlos was training with his siblings.
Laughter rang through the training grounds, a stark contrast to the chaos in Kairo's body.
The seven siblings mocked and pushed each other, teasing, testing, sparring with energy and joy.
Ketlos moved toward his fourth sister, Mayra, preparing for a sparring match.
Though he was strong, she was older, more skilled, and far more powerful.
The fight began—and ended almost instantly.
Mayra's experience and power overwhelmed him with ease.
Yet, she smiled softly, brushing a lock of hair from her face.
Not bad, Ketlos, she said, teasing but approving.
Keep training like this, and you'll grow stronger.
Ketlos nodded, a shy grin on his face.
Yes, Mayra.
Her eyes softened.
When you come to the academy, join my team.
You'll need guidance, and we can't have you struggling alone.
Ketlos eagerly agreed, I will. I promise.
Team members? she asked.
Ketlos listed confidently:
Elena, Louisa, and several others. Together we'll be unstoppable.
The estate basked in warmth and laughter, oblivious to the storm that had awakened miles away in the cave.
Hours passed.
The sun climbed high, glaring over the forest.
Deep inside the jagged cave, Kairo's body finally stilled.
The clash of energies had subsided...
just enough. His chest heaved. Sweat and blood dripped from his cracked lips.
Pain still lingered, gnawing, but slowly—imperceptibly—clarity returned.
He opened his eyes.