ZEPTHON RECORDS
CHAPTER 2: TRAINING BEGINS
Zepthon shot up from his sleep, gasping for air.His chest rose and fell violently as sweat soaked through his clothes. His heart wouldn't slow down. The images were still there burned into his mind.Fire,Screams.His village collapsing into ashes."No… it was just a nightmare," he muttered, trying to calm himself.But deep down, he knew the truth.She is gone.His fists clenched tightly.I must become strong. Strong enough to save my brother.
Sensei…Zepthon glanced to the side and froze.The bed beside him was empty."Gosh… where did that man run off to?" he said, already standing up.He stepped outside the hut and immediately stopped."What the heck…?"Sensei Kurenk stood in the clearing, staring intensely at a large rock as if it were something precious."Oh," Kurenk said without turning. "You're finally awake."Zepthon blinked. "What's that?"Kurenk smiled slightly. "My rock. Sweet, isn't it?"Zepthon stared at him in silence.My sensei is a rock lover… interesting."Mmm… Sensei?" Zepthon said."Yes?""When can we start training?"Kurenk snapped his fingers. "Ah! I almost forgot. You ready?" he asked, a smirk forming on his face.Zepthon grinned. "Bring it on!""Good energy," Kurenk said. "Run twenty laps around the forest."Zepthon scoffed. "Twenty laps? This should be easy."By the third lap, his legs were burning.By the fifth, his breathing was completely off By the seventh, he stumbled and nearly fell."How many… are left…?" Zepthon asked, panting heavily.Kurenk didn't even look concerned. "Just thirteen more laps. Then you're done.""THIRTEEN?!"Somehow through pain, stubbornness, and pure will Zepthon finished all of them. The moment he stopped, he collapsed flat onto the ground.Kurenk nodded approvingly. "Great job. Now that your warm-up is done, let's begin."Zepthon's eyes widened.Warm-up?!
Then what is the actual training going to be like?!"Come," Kurenk said calmly. "Training doesn't begin with strength. It begins with understanding."They walked into a wide clearing surrounded by towering trees. The ground was solid stone, carved with strange symbols that glowed faintly, as if alive."This is a Phantom Circle," Kurenk said.Zepthon looked around. "What does it do?""It reveals what's inside you," Kurenk replied. "Every living being has Phantom Energy. Most never awaken it. Some do… and are destroyed by it."He turned and looked directly at Zepthon."Sit."Zepthon obeyed."Close your eyes," Kurenk instructed. "Breathe. Forget the world."Zepthon tried.But the world refused to disappear.Bearen screaming.Nun Sofia falling.Fire swallowing everything he loved."I can't," Zepthon whispered. "It won't stop."Kurenk's voice softened. "Good. That pain is the key."Two fingers pressed gently against Zepthon's forehead."Phantom Energy is born from what you refuse to let go of," Kurenk said. "Grief. Rage. Desire. Regret."The symbols beneath Zepthon suddenly flared.BOOM.An overwhelming pressure crushed down on him. Something twisted violently inside his chest, like a door being forced open."Aghhh!"Dark, shadow-like mist leaked from his body, curling around him like living smoke. The ground cracked. The air vibrated.Kurenk's eyes widened just a little."…Interesting."Suddenly, the pressure vanished.Zepthon collapsed forward, gasping for breath."What… was that?" he asked weakly."That," Kurenk replied, "was your Phantom Energy trying to awaken too early."Zepthon looked up at him. "Did I fail?"Kurenk shook his head. "No. You survived."He turned away. "Rest. Tomorrow, we begin conditioning."Zepthon clenched his teeth."Sensei," he said quietly, "how strong do I need to be… to destroy the Dark Rifles?"Kurenk stopped walking."…Strong enough to lose something again," he answered.That night, Zepthon lay awake, staring into the darkness. The glowing symbols of the Phantom Circle burned into his mind.I must master this. I must get strong.Several days later, Zepthon felt his body grow light."Whoa!" he shouted. "I'm flying?!"Kurenk shook his head. "No. Levitation spell. Neat, isn't it?"As Zepthon floated, his eyes caught movement in the bushes.Creatures,Watching,Waiting."Sensei look out!!" Zepthon shouted.Kurenk slowly turned, his eyes closed."Series One," he said calmly. "Open."The creatures leapt.Kurenk opened his eyes."Technique: Mercury Blade."The nearest creature was sliced cleanly in half.Zepthon's eyes widened. "Sensei there are more up ahead!""You just don't learn," Kurenk replied.His body vanished."Series One, First Wave Light Feet."He reappeared in flashes of motion, cutting through the creatures effortlessly.He jumped into the air."Mercury Blade Piercing Beam!"A powerful beam tore through the clearing, piercing every remaining creature.Silence followed.Zepthon floated in the air, staring in complete awe.This… is power.