After some time, Hana asked them to stop. "That's enough for today. We'll continue with other training tomorrow. Remember, Itsuki, this won't be an easy journey. But only with determination and self-control can you master this power."
Itsuki looked ahead, still panting, but there was a flicker of relief in his eyes. He knew the training had only just begun and a long road awaited him. Yet for the first time, he felt a little more prepared. He could sense that he was on the right path, even if that path was dangerous and full of uncertainty.
"So, what should I do next?" Itsuki asked, his voice more resolute, though his heart was still filled with fear.
Reina looked at him, and for the first time, a warmer smile appeared on her face. "Learn to know yourself, Itsuki. Learn to accept your new self. You are the heir of the Black Emperor. And only by embracing that truth can you move forward."
Itsuki nodded slowly, though there was still much he didn't understand. But one thing he knew for certain: this new world wouldn't give him much time to hesitate.
Outside the room, the night grew deeper. The dark sky cloaked the world, but for Itsuki, the night felt heavier than ever. The spirit world was beginning to stir, and his complex destiny had begun.
---
The next day, Itsuki awoke feeling heavier than before. Though he had accepted the reality that he was no ordinary human, the training that had just begun yesterday had pulled him deeper into a world full of mystery and danger. His body ached, his mind was full of confusion, but one thing was clear—his once normal and monotonous life was over.
After a breakfast of dry bread and a cup of tea prepared by Hana, the second day of training began with more intensity. This time, Reina led the session. They were in a different training room—a larger space with high ceilings and walls carved with strange engravings. The place felt like a ritual chamber, filled with an almost tangible energy. There was no sound but their breaths and the soft trickle of water from an ancient well in the corner.
"Begin by feeling yourself," Reina said in a serious tone. "Today, we'll learn how to sense the energy within you—the energy that comes from the blood of the Black Emperor."
Itsuki sat on the floor as he'd been taught and closed his eyes. Though he had begun to sense the energy within, controlling it still felt like a futile struggle. A fierce sensation surged within him, but over time, he became more aware of it—like a current flowing from inside, impossible to hold back.
Reina observed him closely. "Don't fight that current. Let it flow naturally. Only by accepting and flowing with it can you learn to control it."
Itsuki took a deep breath and let the sensation come. Like an unstoppable river, he felt the dark energy surging through his body, pressing to be released. This time, he didn't resist. He let it flow, feeling every vibration within him, every pulse of energy like flames igniting inside.
But as he began to let the energy flow, a mysterious voice echoed in his mind. It wasn't Reina or Hana—it came from something deeper, something beyond himself.
"You will die," the voice echoed sharply in his head, full of threat. "You are an unwanted resurrection. Your presence will bring only ruin."
Itsuki was startled, almost falling over. His eyes shot open, and he tried to calm himself. "What was that? What did I just hear?"
Seeing his reaction, Reina immediately stepped forward. "That was a voice from the spirit world. You're beginning to draw closer to the energy of your ancestors, and with that, you're starting to sense other forces that dwell there. Don't be afraid, Itsuki. This is part of the process. The spirit world responds when someone with great power like yours begins to awaken."
"So… that wasn't just in my head?" Itsuki asked, worried, trying to stay calm.
"No," Reina replied. "The spirit world isn't just in your mind. It exists outside of us, between two connected worlds. The power within you is a bridge between the human world and the spirit world. And the stronger your power grows, the more attention you'll attract from that realm."
Itsuki tried to absorb everything Reina had just said. He felt like he was trapped between two worlds—the real human world and the mysterious, threatening spirit world. Even now, he felt something lurking in every shadow, waiting to strike.
Reina saw the anxiety in Itsuki's eyes and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You need to learn how to protect yourself, Itsuki. The spirit world isn't always kind. Many entities there want to possess human bodies to fulfill their goals. They'll try to control you—but you must be stronger than them."
That was why this training was so important. As Hana had said, Itsuki had to learn to control his power before it controlled him. But even as he tried to understand and master it, he felt something greater was waiting for him.
"But how will I know who's a friend and who's a foe in the spirit world?" Itsuki asked anxiously.
Reina gave a thin smile that wasn't entirely reassuring. "That's the hardest part. Not everything that looks like an enemy truly is, and not everything that helps you is a true ally. The spirit world is full of deception. Often, what appears obvious is just an illusion."
Hana, who had been listening, finally spoke, joining their training. "There's one thing you must remember, Itsuki," she said in a deep voice. "Your power comes from the blood of the Black Emperor. It's an extraordinary force, but not without cost. Within you lies the potential to destroy or protect the world. The spirit world desires your power—and they won't stop until they get it."
Itsuki felt the weight of those words. "So… they'll keep coming for me?"
"Yes," Hana replied, looking him straight in the eye. "And sooner or later, you'll have to face them. It's part of your fate now."
After a long day, the training ended, and Itsuki was given time to rest. But his mind would not settle. This new world felt like a nightmare he couldn't escape. Every time he closed his eyes, he sensed something watching, waiting to emerge. The spirit world was no longer a distant concept—it was inside him now, and he had to be ready to face it at any moment.
That night, as he tried to sleep in the small room prepared for him, the mysterious voice returned—this time clearer.
"You can't run from me. I am part of your destiny."
Itsuki awoke, gasping for breath, cold sweat trickling down his forehead. He knew, even though he didn't fully understand the power inside him, he had already been drawn into a game far greater than he had imagined.
That night, he made a decision—to face it. The spirit world would not wait for him to be ready. And in the midst of darkness, he knew one thing for certain: he had to learn to control his destiny—or the world would fall into the wrong hands.
---
Just as Itsuki caught his breath, a cold chill crept through the cracks in the walls. The air in the room changed instantly—heavier, thicker, like an invisible fog enveloping space and time. Without warning, the dim oil lamp in the corner flickered… then went out.
From the darkness, a shadowy figure appeared at the far end of the room. It wasn't human. Tall, slender, seemingly formed from shadow itself. Its eyes glowed red like embers, and the voice—the same one from before—now echoed aloud, reverberating in the air.
"You have opened the gate, heir of the Black Emperor. I did not come to warn—but to test."
Itsuki stood up, trembling. He wasn't ready, but his instincts knew this wasn't a dream. It was real. The energy inside him stirred, reacting violently to the figure's presence, like fire igniting in a storm.
The figure stepped forward—its movements made no sound, but each one shook the air. "Show me… Are you worthy to inherit? Or just another puppet to be burned by fate?"
In an instant, the room changed. The walls vanished, replaced by endless darkness. Itsuki stood on a faint circle of light—the only spot not consumed by the void. Reina and Hana's voices were gone. He was completely alone.
The figure raised its hand, and from the shadows emerged grotesque creatures—half spirit, half beast. They surrounded Itsuki, growling and laughing with haunting malice.
For a moment, Itsuki froze in fear.
But something within him changed. Like embers fanned by wind, the dark power he had feared ignited brightly from within. He didn't know where the courage came from—perhaps from his blood, perhaps his resolve.
He closed his eyes, drew a breath, and let the power flow.
When he opened them, the circle beneath him transformed into a glowing black sigil. Energy surged from his body, forming a dark shield around him. The shadow beasts lunged—but disintegrated the moment they touched the barrier.
The tall figure did not move, but its eyes narrowed.
"Interesting. But this is only the beginning, heir. We will meet again."
With a single motion, everything vanished. The room returned to normal. The oil lamp flickered back to life, and the sound of the night breeze returned.
Itsuki collapsed to the floor, his body weak, his breath heavy.
He had just faced his first contact—his first trial—with a being from the spirit world. One that not only threatened, but watched. Tested. Waited.
Yet behind the fear, another feeling arose—conviction. That he was not completely helpless. That within him lay a power capable of resistance.
And that night, when he finally closed his eyes to sleep, Itsuki knew one thing for certain, The call from the other world had been answered.