The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows across the training grounds as Aiden and Riko made their way to the quieter, less populated area of the academy. Most of the other students had already gone back to their dorms after the intense combat session with Master Kellan, but Aiden and Riko weren't ready to call it a day. They had more work to do—work that couldn't wait.
The sound of their footsteps echoed through the empty training fields as they approached the designated power practice area, an open space surrounded by tall stone walls to contain the effects of their training. Riko glanced over at Aiden, who was already cracking his knuckles, a focused look on his face.
"You sure you're up for this?" Riko asked, a hint of concern in his voice. "We've been pushing ourselves pretty hard these last few days."
Aiden gave a short nod, his mind already racing ahead to the challenge. "I have to be. If I can't control my powers like this, how am I supposed to protect anyone? I'll need to be able to handle multiple black holes at once."
Riko raised an eyebrow. "You want to create multiple at once? You do realize how dangerous that could get, right? Even if you can deactivate them as fast as you say, it's still risky."
Aiden's eyes glinted with determination. "That's why we're here. To test the limits, to push past what we think we can do." He paused, then added, "Besides, I trust you to make sure I don't completely wreck the place."
Riko's lips twitched, though he didn't smile. "I'm not sure that's reassuring."
But Aiden was already getting into position, stepping away from Riko and taking his stance. He could feel the rush of adrenaline that always came with trying something new, trying to push his powers to their limit. He inhaled deeply and centered himself. The vast open space felt more like a challenge than an opportunity for mistakes.
"Alright," Aiden said, his voice low but full of confidence. "Here goes."
He focused on the energy swirling within him, feeling the gravitational pull in his body that allowed him to create the Black Holes. At first, it had been a single black hole—difficult to control, but powerful. But now, he needed more. He needed to create multiple at once, all while keeping his control tight.
His hands shot out in front of him as he focused his energy. Black Hole Creation flared to life, but instead of one singular point, multiple black holes began to appear in the air before him, each swirling with a dark, consuming force. He gritted his teeth, pushing the energy to its limits. He could feel the black holes tugging at his body, trying to pull him into their depths. But he wasn't about to let them overwhelm him. He had to control them.
One... Two... Three... Aiden counted silently as he willed them into existence, focusing on maintaining the small spheres of destruction without letting them destabilize. His heart raced as he quickly moved between them, keeping them active while avoiding the pull of their gravity.
"Okay," Aiden muttered, his voice strained but focused, "now, deactivation."
He snapped his fingers, activating and deactivating one black hole after another in rapid succession. Each time, the black hole disappeared with a small implosion of energy, and the air around him felt lighter for just a moment.
"Not bad…" Riko called out, stepping back a few paces to avoid the energy fluctuations. "You're doing better than I expected."
Aiden didn't reply. His focus was on the task at hand. He couldn't afford to lose control now. The more he deactivated one, the faster he could create another, pushing his mental focus to its absolute limits. His heart raced, sweat beading on his forehead as he alternated between activating and deactivating them, willing them into existence just as fast as he could.
But then, just as he felt a sense of accomplishment, something unexpected happened. One of the black holes flared too large, growing uncontrollably as it began to suck in the surrounding air, distorting the fabric of space. Aiden's eyes widened as the force tugged at him, and his body involuntarily moved toward it.
"Riko!" Aiden shouted, panic rising in his voice as the black hole expanded further.
Riko's reaction was instantaneous. With a flick of his wrist, Gravitational Manipulation kicked in, and the pull of the black hole immediately shifted, drawing the energy into a safer direction. But Aiden's focus was broken for a moment, and the black hole began to destabilize again.
"I can't focus!" Aiden grunted, struggling to maintain control. The force pulling at him was overwhelming, his body swaying under its weight.
"Focus, Aiden!" Riko barked, his own powers keeping the energy in check. "You can't let it control you! You control it!"
With Riko's assistance, Aiden regained his footing. His mind snapped back into focus as he felt the power swirling in his hands. His breathing steadied, and he took a deep breath before snapping his fingers again. One by one, the black holes began to shrink, the gravitational pull releasing with each swift movement until they all imploded, disappearing with a small, almost imperceptible whoosh.
Aiden exhaled deeply, his body sinking to one knee from exhaustion. "That… was too close."
Riko walked over, his expression unreadable, but Aiden could see the way his hands trembled slightly. "That was reckless. You got it under control, but don't push yourself too hard. You're still new to this."
Aiden looked up at his friend, a wry smile forming on his lips. "Don't worry. I won't be reckless again. But I need to be able to do that... on my own."
"I know," Riko said quietly. "And I'll be here to make sure you don't blow up the academy in the process."
Aiden chuckled weakly, the adrenaline still coursing through his body. "Thanks, Riko. But next time, I'll be ready. I won't need you to step in."
Riko nodded but didn't say anything more. He stood next to Aiden, watching him catch his breath. For a moment, the two of them just stood there in the quiet of the training field, both mentally and physically drained, but with a shared understanding.
They were growing stronger. But there was still a long way to go.