章 61: Chapter 60: What just happened?
Two weeks had passed since the battle at the Tower of Fate, and the Hall of Justice buzzed with a renewed energy. In the expansive training chamber, the sound of footsteps echoed as Toneri stood before three of the team's finest: Aqualad, Superboy, and Kid Flash. The young heroes had gathered in front of him, their faces set with determination. Over the past few days, Toneri had drilled them relentlessly, honing their skills, pushing them to the brink of their limits, and guiding them toward a deeper understanding of their abilities.
Toneri's milky white eyes scanned each of them, taking in their focused expressions and steady postures. They had come a long way in a short time. He could see it in the way they moved, the subtle shifts in their stances, the quiet confidence in their eyes.
"Begin," he said simply, his voice calm and composed.
In an instant, they sprang into action, moving in perfect synchrony. Aqualad, with his Atlantean hydrokinesis, summoned twin water swords that shimmered in the air. Superboy's powerful frame tensed as he prepared to strike, his fists clenched with controlled strength. And Kid Flash, ever the speedster, darted around them, a blur of red and yellow.
Toneri remained still, observing their approach. Wally had become more level-headed, no longer rushing headlong into the fray without thinking. His speed was still his greatest asset, but now he used it with precision, timing his movements with the rhythm of the battle. Aqualad, with his calm and tactical mind, had sharpened his hydrokinesis, using it not just for brute force but for subtlety, creating precise strikes and defenses. Superboy, once prone to overreliance on raw power, had learned restraint. He now understood the need for control, especially in the heat of combat.
They were impressive, no doubt, their movements fluid and coordinated. The trio worked as one, covering each other's weaknesses, amplifying each other's strengths. Wally circled around him, striking from unexpected angles, forcing Toneri to shift his focus constantly. Aqualad's water blades sliced through the air with deadly precision, while Superboy's fists brought overwhelming force, tempered with careful control.
Yet, despite their improved tactics and synchronization, Toneri dodged each attempt with effortless grace. He danced between their attacks, weaving through Wally's strikes, sidestepping Aqualad's blades, and slipping just out of reach of Superboy's powerful punches. As Aqualad aimed a swift, low slash at his legs with his water swords, Toneri leaped into the air, narrowly avoiding the attack.
In that split second, he caught sight of Superboy's fist hurtling toward his face. At the same time, Wally, anticipating his dodge, kicked forward, aiming to pin Toneri in place. Toneri smiled inwardly. 'They are improving,' he thought, impressed by their growing strategic awareness and teamwork.
In a fluid motion, Toneri twisted his body mid-air, narrowly dodging Superboy's fist. The momentum of the dodge caused Superboy's punch to head directly toward Kid Flash's leg. Instantly, Superboy adjusted, pulling back just enough to avoid shattering Wally's bone, his control impeccable. The team's ability to adapt and protect each other, even in the heat of battle, was a testament to their progress.
As they regrouped, readying for another attack, the computer's voice suddenly cut through the intensity of the moment. "Training session complete. Time up."
Toneri landed lightly on his feet and clapped his hands together, a proud smile on his face. "Impressive. You all have improved greatly."
Despite the praise, Superboy frowned, disappointment etched on his features. "But we still didn't land a hit on you," he said, his voice tinged with frustration.
Toneri chuckled softly, shaking his head. "That's understandable. But take it from me—if you fought Blockbuster the way you just did now, you'd decimate him in minutes."
Before anyone could respond, the Zeta Tube announced a new arrival. "Recognized: Robin, B01."
Robin appeared in a flash of light, a sheepish grin on his face. "Sorry I'm late," he said, rubbing the back of his head as he approached the group.
Toneri looked at him with a gentle smile. "Well, training just ended."
Robin groaned, his shoulders slumping. "Aww man, this sucks!"
Wally, ever the optimist, zipped over to Robin's side in an instant. "Yo, dude, cheer up! There'll be training tomorrow. We'll get plenty of chances to kick some butt."
As Wally spoke, Artemis and Miss Martian entered the hall. They greeted Toneri, who nodded in return. "Training's over," he informed them kindly. "You're all free for the rest of the day."
With that, Toneri turned to leave, heading toward his room. The team watched him go, each of them feeling the weight of the training session, yet also a sense of accomplishment. They had grown, and they knew it. Even as they joked and relaxed, the lessons they had learned from Toneri stayed with them, pushing them to strive for more.
As Toneri walked away, his mind remained on the young heroes. They had potential—great potential. And if they continued to train and push themselves, he knew they would become a force to be reckoned with. They had made remarkable progress in just two weeks. It was only the beginning.
Toneri entered his room, closing the door behind him. The quiet atmosphere gave him space to reflect on the training session. He truly believed they had improved. Each of the young heroes had shown growth, not just in power, but in their ability to work together and adapt.
'Artemis has become more precise with her aim,' Toneri thought. 'Her timing in battle is sharper, and her instincts are honed to a fine edge. Miss Martian, too, has made great strides. Her telepathy is a powerful tool, but now she's learning how to use it more effectively in combat. By subtly messing with the minds of her opponents, she can create openings for herself and her teammates—similar to the Uchihas and their Genjutsu.'
He paused, thinking back to the legends he had studied. 'Itachi Uchiha... His mastery of Genjutsu was unmatched. Miss Martian still has a long way to go, but bit by bit, she's improving. The potential is there.'
Toneri shook his head. 'Enough of that for now.' He focused his chakra, his eyes shifting into the brilliant flower pattern of the Tenseigan. The room was bathed in an emerald glow as he gathered his chakra into his hands.
"Tenseigan: Chakra Clone," he intoned, his voice calm yet powerful.
The clone formed from pure emerald chakra, emerging without the usual puff of smoke that accompanied regular Shadow Clones. This was different. This clone, infused with Tenseigan chakra, had enough power to rival a tailed beast—specifically, the Four Tails. Unlike a standard clone, this one wouldn't simply dispel upon taking damage. It had the ability to regenerate its own chakra by absorbing natural energy, making it nearly indestructible. Unless Toneri himself dispelled it, drained all its chakra, or sealed it away, the clone would continue to exist.
The clone opened its eyes, identical to Toneri's, and stretched its arms before nodding at the original. There was a silent understanding between them, a connection that transcended words.
The clone's eyes shifted into the same Tenseigan pattern as the original's, and with a simple movement, it opened a portal. Toneri pumped a high amount of Yang chakra into the swirling vortex, stabilizing it.
The original smirked, a hint of amusement in his voice. "My, my, how polite of me to open the door for myself."
The clone chuckled, the sound laced with sarcasm. "Of course, your grace. I am but a humble servant, after all."
They both laughed at the irony of talking to themselves, the humor not lost on either of them.
Toneri stepped toward the portal, the swirling energy crackling around him. "I'll be back, and hopefully this works," he said, more to himself than anyone else. As he stepped into the portal, the energy pulsed with power.
But just as the portal began to close behind him, the clone noticed something—a flash of reddish-black lightning crackling around the edges of the vortex. The energy twisted unnaturally, as if something had interfered with the portal's structure.
The clone's eyes widened. 'That wasn't supposed to happen,' it thought, alarmed by the sudden disruption. The energy was chaotic, unstable, and unlike anything he had anticipated.
"What the hell was that?" the clone muttered, staring at the spot where the portal had closed. His mind raced as he tried to make sense of what had just occurred.
Then, a thought struck him, causing a cold realization to settle in his chest. 'Chaos energy...'
The words echoed in his mind, bringing with them a sense of dread. The portal had been messed with, and the implications were unsettling. Whatever—or whoever—had interfered was powerful 'KLARION?', and now the original Toneri was on the other side, potentially in danger.
The clone stood there, the room feeling suddenly colder, as he contemplated his next move. Whatever had happened, it couldn't be ignored. Chaos energy was not something to be taken lightly.
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