บท 24: Never knew It would be so Powerful

Ryosuke stared at her aunt, shocked by her words. "A... monster?"

Yuki nodded slowly, her expression now completely serious. "Yes, a monster."

She paused, her gaze still fixed on him. "Your answer shows you have the necessary madness to survive. But it also shows you could become something... darker if you're not careful."

A shiver ran down Ryosuke's spine. This wasn't the first time he'd felt out of sync with others since gaining his abilities, but hearing these words from his aunt made it all the more unsettling.

"I... I don't want to become a monster," he whispered.

Yuki's lips curled into a slight smile. "Well, that's what I'm here for. What kind of aunt would I be if I let my favorite nephew turn into a monster?" She gently patted his shoulder. "And trust me, I'm not going to go easy on you."

Ryosuke met her gaze, a mix of apprehension and determination in his eyes.

The truth was, he never wanted to be thrown into this dangerous world, but now that he was in it, he knew he had no choice. With the power he had received, he was determined to see it through to the end.

Still smiling, Yuki stretched and raised her arms above her head. "Now that we've got that sorted, we can finally get to business." She stepped back, arms crossed, observing him with interest. "Today, we'll learn the basics."

She stepped further back, gesturing with her hand.

"Come forth, darkness deeper than the night, cleanse this impurity, source of woe," she chanted.

Moments later, the sky darkened slightly, and a swirling, dense mist began to form around them. It rose like an ethereal barrier, creating a gigantic dome that enclosed the entire clearing.

Ryosuke watched, eyes wide with fascination. Seeing it in person was far more incredible than he had imagined. Knowing that he, too, could do this filled him with excitement.

Yuki slowly turned her head toward him, a smirk playing at the corners of her lips.

"What you're seeing, Ryosuke, is a barrier technique. This black dome is a veil, a form of protection. It surrounds us and hides us from the outside world."

Ryosuke glanced at her. "So, we're completely invisible from the outside? No one can see us?" he asked, feigning an attempt to grasp the concept.

Yuki nodded. "Exactly. As long as we stay inside this dome, no one can observe what's happening here, or even sense our presence. Whether they're non-sorcerers or even sorcerers, they can't see a thing. Unless, of course, they step through the barrier."

Ryosuke let out a whistle. "That's really useful."

Yuki nodded. "Today, I'm going to teach you the basics." She paused for a moment before her tone became more authoritative. "But first, I want you to release your cursed energy. Completely. All at once."

Ryosuke stiffened at the request. He had felt the energy boiling inside him many times, but he had never released it fully.

"You told me you've learned to control it, right? You should understand what I'm asking."

Ryosuke nodded, taking a deep breath.

He had been curious about his energy reserves. Alone, he hadn't dared push himself too far, but with his aunt here, he figured he could let loose, right?

Closing his eyes, he focused on the energy within. Slowly, he felt that raw power rising to the surface, flooding every fiber of his being, burning like an invisible fire.

Then, without holding back, he released it all at once.

The effect was immediate.

A wave of vapor erupted from his body, swirling around him like a cyclone. The air pressure shifted, and a fierce wind began to tear through the clearing.

Dead leaves, small branches, anything that wasn't rooted to the ground, was swept up in the storm. The trees around them bent under the force of the wind, and birds, startled, took to the sky in flocks. Even the animals in the surrounding woods fled.

Yuki, though still standing, took a step back, visibly surprised by the intensity of the energy. Her hair whipped around her face, and her expression shifted to one of shock mixed with admiration.

"Ryosuke! Stop!" she suddenly shouted, her voice cutting through the roar of the wind.

Her cry made Ryosuke open his eyes. Seeing the look on her face, he realized he might have unleashed too much power.

He quickly stopped the flow of energy, and the vapor began to dissipate. The pressure in the air lifted, and the wind died down almost instantly, leaving the clearing in an eerie silence. Only a few stray leaves fluttered back to the ground.

Ryosuke looked around, wide-eyed. He had known he possessed a great deal of power, but he hadn't expected it to be so... overwhelming.

He glanced at his aunt, who still seemed shocked.

"I... I didn't realize it would be that strong," he murmured, almost apologetically.

TO BE CONTINUED!

Next Chapter: A Matter of Equations