The morning sun painted the mountains in soft hues of gold, illuminating the training grounds where Kian stood, his fists clenched and eyes sharp with determination. The atmosphere crackled with residual energy from his morning routine lightning dancing around his fingertips, flickering like restless sparks. He was no longer just throwing power around; every movement, every surge of energy, was more deliberate, more controlled.
Chandler watched him from the edge of the clearing, arms crossed and eyes narrowed. "You're throwing out too much energy," he called out. "Resonating with the world doesn't mean wasting it. Condense it and Focus it."
Kian nodded, steadying his breathing. He closed his eyes, visualizing the currents of energy inside him, crackling and chaotic. He reached out not with his hands, but with his mind and began to pull the energy back, pulling it tighter, compressing it until it hummed just beneath his skin.
Green lightning flared brighter for a moment before dimming, becoming more stable. Kian opened his eyes, and there was a glimmer of pride in Chandler's gaze.
"That's it, boy. It's not about how much you can unleash, but how much you can control," Chandler said, stepping forward. His heavy boots crushed the gravel beneath him as he approached. "Your lightning is just one part of you. Your father's chaos energy is physical. You need to start thinking of it as a foundation, not just an add-on."
Kian's brows furrowed. "You mean… I can use it to get stronger physically?"
Chandler nodded, tapping his temple. "Think of it as a boost. Lightning is speed and sharpness, but chaos? That's raw strength. Your father used to amplify his body with it, made him damn near invincible in close combat."
Kian clenched his fists, green sparks running up his forearms. "So… it's like reinforcing my body?"
"Exactly," Chandler confirmed. "You've been focusing on the flash, but the real trick is in the foundation. Your veins are strong enough to handle it you just haven't tried." He took a step back and gestured for Kian to follow. "Today, we're doing it my way."
Kian hesitated. "Your way?"
Chandler cracked his knuckles, a grin spreading across his face. "My way means breaking you down and building you back up. We're gonna see just how far you can push those Mythical veins of yours."
Without another word, Chandler surged forward, his hand coated in invisible force. Kian barely had time to throw up a shield of lightning before the blast struck, sending him skidding back.
"Come on!" Chandler shouted. "If you want to protect anyone, you're gonna have to be stronger than that!"
Kian's eyes flared, and he threw himself forward, fists charged with electricity. He collided with Chandler's barrier, the force rippling outwards, bending the trees around them. But it held firm.
"More!" Chandler shouted, his telekinetic grip increasing in pressure. "Focus the chaos into your body! Reinforce it!"
Kian gritted his teeth, feeling the surge of energy bubbling beneath his veins. He reached deeper, tapping into the Aether Surge, his father's legacy. Energy poured into his muscles, his bones, his very core. His next strike didn't just crackle it boomed.
Chandler's eyes lit up with approval. "That's the spirit!" he roared, pushing back even harder. "Again!"
Kian's body felt like it was going to explode, but he didn't stop. Green lightning crackled around him, while invisible waves of chaos energy pulsed from his core, making each step heavier, each punch harder. It was raw, unfiltered strength and it felt good.
Their training continued for hours, Kian collapsing to his knees by the end of it, his breathing ragged but his spirit soaring. For the first time since the tournament, he felt powerful and, more importantly, in control.