35 Reflection

Arata was currently sitting on his bed with his legs crossed and eyes closed, meditating. There was a low groaning in the room. That was Ryouma, who lay on the floor shivering and covered in ice. Arata was ignoring him as he focused on his inner Energy. He could feel the subtle changes from the past two days quite clearly now that he had the time to stop and observe.

He felt the power his physical body now held after the Tempering from the Yin and Yang Sphere. His body felt lighter yet heavier at the same time. It was a confusing feeling yet he knew that it was a good thing. He could move light but hit heavy. This was a powerful shift for him and he knew it.

His Elemental Reservoir was also brimming with power after their trip to the Shadow Realm. After the King's interference, he could feel a change in the quality of his Energy. He found that it was more flexible and adaptable when he would pass other Elements through his body, however, he wasn't sure how to properly utilize this change.

So he was meditating hard to get the attention of the King. He wanted to talk to him and ask him everything that he was curious about. Who the King really was? What the Void he spoke of was? How to use this power within him? What were the dreams and memories he had about? Noodles or rice?

Arata continued to meditate, trying to contact this King person and go to that strange space in his mind. Ryouma slowly got up. Arata opened his eyes at the noise and glared at Ryouma. Ryouma froze and looked down.

"I'm sorry Captain. I promise to not disturb you again! "

Arata glared for a second more before smiling.

"OK, sounds good. Over the weekend, we are going to the Clan for your ceremony. After that, you will go to the Clan for special lessons with Father's Shadowguard's. "

Ryouma nodded, glad that Arata was smiling and the atmosphere was light again.

"Yes, Captain."

Arata smiled at Ryouma for a few more seconds before going back to a serious glare.

"Now, get out."

Ryouma felt a chill go down his spine, and it had nothing to do with the ice still on him. He hurriedly bowed and rushed for the door. After he left, Arata applied the spell on the door again. As he did, he heard a voice on his way back to his bed.

"Well that was unnecessary, wasn't it?"

Arata paused at the sound of the voice. He ran to his bed, sat down and closed his eyes. He did his best to still his mind and focus. After a few minutes, he heard a sigh.

"You are annoyingly stubborn today. Fine, get in here."

Arata felt the feeling of rushing into himself and when he opened his eyes, he was floating in space again. King was now sitting on a chair as he floated, he gave Arata a look of frustration.

"It is still too early for us to speak."

Arata was about to say something when King waved his hand and Arata felt his vocal chords switch off and he was unable to speak. King continued talking.

"As I said, it is too early for us to speak, but I sense that it may start sooner than usual. Something about this time seems strange."

Arata looked at the man with a look of confusion and annoyance.

'Would it kill you to use actual sentences and phrases that made sense? Can you only speak in nonsensical riddles?'

King glared at Arata.

'Right, you can read my thoughts. Then what was the point of turning my voice off?'

"It isn't as loud. I can not explain who I am and why I am here yet, but you must trust that I am here to help. If you can trust me in that, I can help you grow."

Arata paused as he thought for a moment. As he wanted to grow and that was one of the questions he wanted to ask, he agreed. He trusted the man, for some reason. King nodded.

"Very well. I can not explain everything now as it is too dangerous and you are not ready. But I will help you with your direction in cultivation."

King stood up and floated towards Arata. King then gave Arata a serious look.

"Memorize what you see."

King began to move his Energy within him. Arata was able to see and feel the way King was moving and using his Energy. His Energy moved through his body naturally, Arata felt comfortable to this movement as it was how he normally moved it. Then Arata's eyes widened. In shock, he realized that he couldn't see or sense King's Energy. The Energy within him was still circulating within him and he could tell that this was the way King was circulating and moving his Energy, but Arata couldn't sense the Energy at all.

King then began to explain.

"This is the first Stage of cultivating the Void. The Void is, as I have said to you before, the Void is the next level of Non-Elemental Energy. You have scraped the surface but have not properly entered the realm of the Void. The Void is essentially everything contained within nothing. Understanding the universe and its intricacies by becoming a blank slate for the universe to write on. If you can become still and calm, you can reflect the power of the universe."

Arata remembered what King had said the first time he came here.

'By being nothing, you can comprehend all.'

King grinned as he nodded.

"Correct. By clearing your mind and spirit, you open it to the cosmos and invite it's power to flow through you."

Arata nodded his head. Although he thought that this all sounded like mystical nonsense, but he could feel and sense that King was speaking the truth. The way his power had disappeared was proof of that. King continued speaking.

"What I want you to start learning is the first level of the Void: Reflection. This state is what you see now."

Arata stared and concentrated on King but couldn't see or sense anything. It was like King had become completely empty.

"Correct. The first level of the Void: Reflection is a state of converting your Energy to pure Energy. This purity allows it to disappear from one's sight and senses, even with your Shadow Awareness, it is undetectable."

Arata was stunned by this. He was able to make his Energy form such a pure state that it disappears? How is that possible?

"Now, having such a pure Energy, it becomes nothing. But by becoming nothing, it creates the perfect mirror. The perfect reflection. By entering this state, you can perfectly replicate and reflect the powers and Energies of anything that you encounter."

Arata went wide eyed. As a Counter Expert, he understood the magnitude of what this meant. If his Energy could perfectly reflect and replicate the Energy and powers of others, this would push his other abilities like his Vitality Bestowal and the Gluttonous Cloud to new heights. With his Vitality Bestowal, he would be able to control and circulate the opposing Energy much easier, increasing his proficiency and possibly his Mastery of the Sempiternal Art.

King nodded with approval.

"It seems you understand the true power of the first level of the Void. Up until now, you have only used Non-Elemental Energy to fight others. But Non-Elemental has its weaknesses as it can be tainted easily by other Elements. Influenced and corrupted. When that happens, the restrictions on what Elements you can fully and properly Counter becomes limited. Also, Non-Elemental is naturally weak as it requires another Element or extra power to be significant. But the Void is different. It has it's own defined Energy, so it isn't able to be corrupted or tainted by other Elements, yet it retains the Non-Elementals ability to support and adopt the characteristics of other Elements."

The more Arata learnt, the more he was beginning to realize how incredible the Void was. He desperately wanted to learn this as soon as possible. King grinned.

"Your eagerness is good, but patience is also needed here. To begin purifying your Non-Elemental Energy in the Void, you must first reach the Second Level of Refinement: Concretion. Your Elemental Reservoir is at a suitable size, but the Level of Refinement is too low. That is your first step for now. Once you accomplish this, then you will just need to go about learning how to circulate your Energy into nothing. I won't explain anymore as it will mean more learning it on your own."

King walked over to Arata and placed a hand on his chest. Arata felt a force enter him.

"When you reach Concretion, this will help you reach the purity needed to enter the Void. Good luck."

Arata had so much more to ask but he was forcefully pushed back. He landed with a thud. He was on the floor, clearly having fell of the bed. He climbed back on the bed while rubbing his shoulder. As he sat down he thought about everything he had learnt and was taught. He had thought he was already using the power of the Void as his power was much stronger than before. He now realized his ignorance. He hadn't even entered the realm of the Void.

He smirked.

"The Second Level of Refinement: Concretion. That's my next goal."

He got back into a cross legged position on his bed as he cultivated into the night. Back inside the space within Arata, King floated quietly. He looked out into the endless stars with a pained look in his eyes. He sighed softly, his sigh filled with pain, regret and grief.

"Will this be another repeat of the past or will this time be different. You bet so much on this last shot, are you truly sure he can succeed? That we can succeed?"

King stood there with his eyes closed, he seemed to be listening to a voice that wasn't there. He sighed again.

"There is no other way."

King clenched his fist. His grief now replaced with anger.

"This time, one way or another, we will end it."

King glowed brightly before vanishing in an instant.