I kept mulling over the question - if Kylo could pass the Soul Order exam, why couldn't someone like me? I need to master this power, find information about that crazy "curse" in Soul Order. Maybe... I might even find a way out. Who knows... I might even get a cool Soul Staff like Kylo showed off.
If 'they' think they get stronger when I use power... I'll just get stronger than 'them'! Determination flashed clearly in my eyes.
"Got it, Rift. As your teacher," Sin nodded, understanding my resolve. "I'll teach you everything I can."
I nodded back, putting on my most determined expression.
"Now, try the same thing and think about lightning and wind," Sin continued the lesson. Same as before... just picture a stormy day, fierce winds howling...
Here it comes... this feeling! Energy started forming. But the moment I opened my eyes, just for a split second... the forest scene in front of me twisted, becoming a terrifying hellscape for just a moment before returning to normal.
"Again..." I accidentally muttered softly, but loud enough for Sin to hear.
"What's wrong, Rift?" Sin immediately asked with concern.
"Can't bring out the power?" he continued asking. The sword in my hand trembled slightly. The hell vision still burned in my eyes.
"N-nothing," I tried not to tell anyone about this, keeping the fear locked inside, then forced that power out again. And it came! Blue-white lightning sparks coated the short sword, along with gentle wind swirling around me.
"You're EMITTED type - releasing blade waves will work way better for you than me," Sin explained.
"Go ahead, give it a try." After Sin finished speaking, I gathered my focus, hoping to look as cool as I'd seen in anime. I slashed the sword in an X-pattern through the air, and power actually shot out! Lightning and wind energy waves mixed together, bursting forward so fast even I could barely track it!
"Here we go," Sin's voice rang out along with light glinting off his glasses. He slashed his twin swords just once - the energy wave I'd released disappeared in an instant! And before I could steady myself, Sin shot toward me!
Clang!
Seriously! I still can't use this power smoothly at all! But whatever... Sin... I'll fight you with everything I've got!
I kept picturing the storm and howling winds, coating my sword with energy again. After Sin rushed in and I managed to deflect him, he retreated back to set his stance, preparing for another assault.
But I wouldn't let him take the initiative! I slashed my sword, releasing lightning and wind waves again quickly! The blade wave shot toward Sin. In the split second it was about to touch him, his body suddenly vanished from that spot!
Only my blade wave remained, shooting through to slash a large tree behind him clean in half!
I saw him! He was bouncing off a high treetop! Coming down! I quickly jumped to dodge the attack from above by a hair's breadth!
But he didn't stop there. Sin nimbly leaped to another tree. I gathered power again and slashed my sword in all directions, hoping to cut off his movement!
But Sin still dodged with agility. The energy waves I'd released earlier made the tree he'd been using as a foothold crash down!
"Focus, Rift! Concentrate!" Sin's voice shouted from somewhere in the foliage.
"If you really want to pass the Soul Order exam... defeat me first!" After those words, he burst out from the shadows with twin swords now blazing with bright red fire elemental power!
CLAAANG!
My short sword crashed violently into Sin's twin swords! The shockwave that came through nearly broke my left arm!
And in that moment when our swords were still clashing, my lightning and wind-coated blade suddenly exploded with uncontrollable energy! I released everything I'd been bottling up inside along with that power!
CRAAACK!
Lightning roared thunderously throughout Rust Forest! The violent energy explosion sent both me and Sin flying backward in opposite directions!
"Cough... cough..." I coughed heavily. Smoke from the explosion scattered everywhere, making it hard to see anything.
"It's not over yet, Rift! Get up!" Sin's shout cut through the smoke curtain. I could sense some kind of energy shooting straight toward me at high speed!
I tried to brace myself as fast as possible while charging power to my sword again. Light from my short sword blazed, driving away the smoke around me and clearing my vision!
I spun around and slashed with full force, aiming to clash with the shadow rushing toward me! I felt resistance... but then that shadow vanished again!
"Above you!" Sin's voice shouted (whether warning or taunting, I couldn't tell) from overhead! He'd leaped into the air with twin swords raised, ready to strike down! I didn't wait - I squeezed out every bit of power I had and shot a vertical lightning and wind blade wave up to meet his attack!
BOOOOM!
And in that instant... my entire world changed again! The Rust Forest around me became an even more terrifying hellscape! Black-red flames blazed high as the sky, the ground cracked into bottomless chasms!
Cold laughter echoed from somewhere in that hell...
"I warned you..."
RUMBLE... The ground beneath my feet shook violently!