Unleashing the Unknown

Haru stared intently at the two rings in his palms. The Zenith Rings pulsed as if carrying a hidden heartbeat within them. Taking a slow, deep breath, he slid the rings onto his middle fingers. The moment he did, a warm current surged through his body. It was as if a force deep within his chest had awakened and traveled all the way to his fingertips. Brief flashes of blue and purple light waves flickered before his eyes.

Seraphis observed him carefully. "You’re starting to feel your energy, aren’t you?"

Haru gave a small nod. "Yeah… But it feels strange. Like my body is lighter, but at the same time, it’s carrying some kind of weight."

Riven crossed his arms and smirked. "That’s exactly why you can’t just rely on energy alone. You need to improve physically too. We’re going to start training you, Haru. Otherwise, you might end up blowing yourself up before you even learn to control those rings."

Haru looked at Riven in disbelief. "What?! Training? Again with this?! But I… I’m not good at fighting."

Riven shrugged and stretched lazily. "Better get used to the idea. If you can’t control those rings, you won’t even be able to defend yourself. The Zenith Rings don’t just grant you power—they unlock your potential. You need to be strong enough to wield them."

Seraphis nodded. "Riven is right. But it’s not just about physical strength; you need to train your mind as well. The Zenith Rings are most effective when your focus is sharp. To consciously direct their energy, you need mental balance. That’s why we’ll have Luna help you."

Haru blinked in surprise. "Luna? How is she supposed to help me?"

Seraphis gave a slight smile. "Luna’s weapons are entirely based on mental projection. Whatever she imagines, she can shape with the metal in her hands—a sword, a spear, even a whip. To control that ability, she has to completely clear her mind. If she can master her power, then she can teach you how to direct your rings."

Haru pondered for a moment. "So, if I learn to control my mind… I can control the energy in the rings too?"

Seraphis nodded. "Exactly."

Just then, a figure silently passing by caught their attention. Azael, his hands in his pockets, glanced at them with a seemingly indifferent expression. But it was clear he had been listening. As he neared them, he paused briefly, tilting his head slightly before speaking in a cold voice.

"So you’re going to ask Luna for help…" His gaze lingered on Haru for a moment. "Interesting."

Haru tensed, but Azael didn’t seem openly hostile. Instead, an amused smirk appeared on his face as he added, "I’ll tell her to assist you. Let’s see how this turns out…"

With that, he turned and walked away, acting as if he didn’t care. But Haru’s instincts told him that wasn’t entirely true.

Seraphis narrowed his eyes, taking a deep breath. "It’s strange that Azael agreed so easily… but this works in our favor."

Haru was still battling the countless questions swirling in his mind. But one thing was clear—if he wanted to control this power, he had to prepare himself physically and mentally.

Riven clapped him on the back with a firm pat. "Alright, enough complaining. Time to get to work! First lesson: How not to let the rings blow you up!"

Haru let out a deep sigh. "Great…"

                                                                                   ***

Seraphis clasped his hands behind his back and scanned those around him, his brows slightly furrowed. "We’re all heading to the training grounds," he announced firmly. "We need a larger space to properly test Haru’s abilities. Luna will join us there shortly."

Riven stretched his arms and grinned. "This should be interesting. Alright, Haru, are you ready?"

Haru took a deep breath, still feeling uneasy, but nodded. As the group made their way to the training grounds, they found Luna already there, standing with her arms crossed. A few steps away, Gilbert stood in his white lab coat, his pink hair tied neatly, his pearl-strung glasses swaying slightly as he adjusted his cane. Beside him, his small robot companion, Lunette, bounced eagerly.

Gilbert tapped his cane lightly on the ground and smirked. "Well, well… Seems like we have quite the spectacle lined up. I wouldn’t miss this for anything."

Lunette leaned forward slightly, her voice chiming with amusement. "A big show, huh? But can Haru even handle the pressure? Hope his system doesn’t crash!" she giggled in her mechanical, high-pitched laughter.

"It’s time to put your power to the test, Haru," Seraphis stated. "You’ll only understand what the rings are capable of by trying them out. But remember, uncontrolled power leads only to destruction. Be careful."

Riven folded his arms and smirked. "I say he should start with something simple. Maybe release a small energy wave? I doubt he can handle much more than that."

Haru nodded, took a deep breath, and slightly flexed his fingers. But the moment he did, his entire body shuddered. The energy within him surged outward like an untamed river. The warmth pulsing in his palms expanded into waves, rippling through the air. The ground beneath his feet quivered as if it had turned to liquid, and the air thickened with vibrating pressure.

Seraphis and Luna observed carefully, while Riven raised an eyebrow. "This… might be a bit stronger than I expected."

Haru’s body trembled from the force of the uncontrolled energy. A strange distortion rippled through the space around him, causing loose stones to lift off the ground. An unseen force suspended them in midair as if gravity had momentarily lost its grip. Soon, the floating rocks clashed together, creating small sparks that spiraled into a growing vortex.

"Haru, direct your energy!" Seraphis shouted. "If you lose focus, it will spiral completely out of control!"

Haru clenched his teeth. He had no idea how to control it. Panic flickered in his eyes. Just then, the rings flared, and the gathered energy erupted in a powerful burst.

A massive shockwave rippled outward. Deep cracks tore through the ground, stones shattered and scattered, and a nearby tree groaned as it split and toppled. The air twisted as if reality itself had momentarily warped. Seraphis swiftly stepped back, while even Luna and Riven staggered to regain their footing.

Luna darted forward and lightly struck Haru’s shoulder. "You need to stop before it gets worse! Instead of just releasing energy, you must learn to direct it! This power can only be controlled through inner focus."

Riven narrowed his eyes. "Yeah, like Luna’s weapons. If you don’t learn mental control, the rings will start controlling you. And trust me, that’s not something you want."

Haru sighed, his head spinning, but he managed to steady himself. "How am I supposed to do that? I’ve never used anything like this before."

Seraphis stepped forward, extending his arm. "Your mind and body must work as one. That’s why I want Luna to guide you. Riven will train your physical strength, while Luna will help you learn mental balance. Only by mastering both can you truly use the rings."

Luna narrowed her eyes at Haru. "Your energy takes shape based on what your mind imagines. If you learn to focus, you’ll be able to control the rings’ power. Otherwise… what just happened will be nothing compared to what could go wrong."

Haru exhaled deeply and nodded. "Got it. I’ll give it a try."

Watching them from a distance, a silent figure finally moved. Azael had been listening intently, his dark eyes scanning Haru with a contemplative expression. Taking a few steps closer, he paused beside them.

"I hope you’re not wasting your time. If this kid truly becomes a threat… I’ll be the one to take him down," Azael said coldly.

Seraphis ignored his remark, keeping his attention on Haru. "It’s too early to decide anything before he unlocks his full potential. First, he needs to learn control."

Haru inhaled deeply and closed his eyes. But this time, something was different. There was something inside him that didn’t belong. The rings weren’t just unlocking his own power… they were drawing energy from their surroundings as well.

As Haru struggled to rein in his power, an unusual disturbance rippled through Orbis’ energy system. Waves of disruption emanated from his very presence. And in that moment, far away, lost beyond time and space, something stirred within a deep void, sealed away from the world.

Seiren…

Without even realizing it, Haru had begun shaking the foundations of its prison.

Suddenly, a voice echoed through the darkness. "This energy… Unexpected, yet… familiar."

A cold, calculating consciousness had awakened. And its gaze had fallen upon Haru, the boy who had unknowingly entered this world.