A warm wind rustled through the dense canopy of the Great Desolate Forest as the first light of day hung on the edge of the horizon. Su Vaen sat cross-legged on a wide, weathered rock a little far from his outpost, his respirations slow and measured. His body, though still adjusting to Tenebris Energy, was lighter, stronger, yet foreign.
This energy. it was his now, but there was a weightless burden.
He breathed softly, switching on his awareness for the first time since the dream.
Suddenly the world was revealed to him—not before his eyes, but in something greater. Forms and contours clarified, formed by the natural energy passing through all things. Trees stood with a presence of quiet wisdom. The grass beneath his feet murmured as the wind ruffled it. Even the insects glimmered with a dim, flickering reality.
And then, through the leaves, the vastness of the sky. The dawn.
Not something he'd ever witnessed with his physical eyes, but in awareness. Golden-red crests of Origin Qi blended with the blackness of the sky, boiling in waves of power. It was the first time in years that he'd been able to perceive the wonder of the world.
Su Vaen's hands curled into fists. This was only the beginning.
Sitting in a tense meditation posture, he focused inward. The Luminous Heart, the hub of his Tenebris development, pulsed weakly in his chest. Unlike a dantian, which stored energy, the Luminous Heart purified and perfected it, so that energy flowing through his frame was entirely his to order.
Then, the energy condenses in the Umbral Repository.
He began to cleanse.
Dark hairs of Tenebris Energy flowed in from the external universe, drawn into his body with each breath. But purging was a gradual affair. The Luminous Heart at Rank 1 could only process Rank 1 energy, and even that was not instant.
Each cycle of cleansing brought warmth through his veins, fortifying his respiratory system and heart. He felt his lungs fill with each carefully measured breath, as if filling with more than air a new strength, a new power.
Time lost its shape.
As minutes ticked into an hour, sweat drops formed on his forehead. The labor was exhausting, yet he continued. For growing stronger, this was necessary.
After many years of practice, Su Vaen stood up at last, stretching out his stiff limbs. His strength had not really grown but his body began to acclimate to the new strength. That would be enough for the time being.
Nearby, his blade rested against a tree, a simple, well-forged sword.
He lifted it, following the hilt with his hand.
Unlike the other growers, he had no sword techniques passed down through the family, and he had never formally trained in any. Before his blindness, he had learned only the most basic fight movements. And now he was starting all over.
His fingers clutched harder.
He dropped into a low stance, feeling the balance in his legs. And then, in one swift motion, he whipped the sword forward.
The sword sliced through the air with a piercing whistle.
Another strike. And another.
Without form, these were mere crude motions unpolished, without aim.But that was not important. Control was paramount. Form was paramount.
Once more, he struck. Once more, he did it again.
It wasn't a matter of power, or of speed. It was a matter of understanding the sword in his hand.
A swordsman wasn't merely one who bore a sword—he was one who lived the sword.
Gently puffing, Su Vaen paced slower, the sword resting against his leg. Sweat clung to his back, but his mind was clearer than ever before.
He activated his sight once more.
This time, he marveled not just at the energy around him, but at himself at his movements, his breathing, the thud of his heart.
Then, he looked out.
The trees. The distant hills. The river that ran. Even the slightest variations in wind and energy were obvious to him.
And then, his thoughts went to people.
Would he be able to see them like this? Their faces, their emotions?
He shook his head. He didn't have the right to think of that now. He had just started on this path, a path that would drain all out of him.
For now, he had only one thing in mind: to grow stronger.
The sun had fully risen now, casting golden light over the tall trees. The forest awoke with the rustling sounds of waking animals.
Su Vaen breathed in deeply, sheathing his sword.
From today on, he will never stop refining himself. Never stop practicing.
Because if he did, he would never be able to conquer the world.
And he would overcome it.
For General.
For himself.
For the truth hidden under it all.
With firm strides, he turned away from his outpost, vanishing into the light of morning.