Chapter 50: The Bloom of Power
Six Months Later...
The once-scorched training grounds stood quiet beneath the gray sky of early dawn, wind gently scattering ash across the blackened field. But within that silence came footsteps—measured, confident, and heavy with purpose.
Karen Lockwood stepped forward, her figure cloaked in a sleeveless training robe, trimmed in obsidian black. Her eyes glowed faintly violet, her aura calm but deceptively vast. The earth beneath her feet pulsed lightly with her presence.
She had done it.
6th Spirit Cycle. Not perfectly stabilized, not yet mastered—but she stood at the precipice. Her Proto Domain, Shadow Bloom, pulsed within her like a dark star, and the Abyss Scythe, now soul-bound, hovered behind her in spectral form.
As she stepped into the courtyard, three familiar auras surged ahead to meet her.
"Karen!" Marie called out first, running up with Leslie and Jim close behind.
Marie radiated confident joy, and her aura glimmered in pink-laced gold—4th Spirit Cycle complete. Leslie followed, exuding a calm kinetic field of control and precision, also solidly at the 4th Spirit Cycle. Jim's soul energy hit heavier, dense and forceful, vibrating with 5th Cycle resonance. His growth was unmistakable.
Karen gave them a tired, amused smile. "So I'm not the only one who's changed."
Jim grinned, wiping his hands on his shorts. "We've been working like dogs while you were burning alive under Rose."
Marie nodded. "Joshua was relentless. Still is."
Karen gave a small laugh. "You should've seen her."
Then, a voice joined them from behind, smoother and quieter.
"Impressive," Cassandra said as she approached, arms folded, wearing a crisp black-and-purple training outfit. Her aura rippled—not in a showy way, but heavy and commanding. It made even the air slow down around her.
Karen blinked. "Cassandra... you've advanced?"
Leslie tilted her head. "Wait. You're... you're already at the 6th Spirit Cycle?"
Jim's brow furrowed. "Bordering on Seventh...?"
Even Marie took a half-step back. "When did you even train?"
Cassandra brushed a lock of hair behind her ear, giving them all an elegant shrug. "I don't train publicly."
Karen narrowed her eyes. "Seriously?"
Cassandra smirked, just a little. "Ikemba blood. It has its... perks."
Jim rolled his eyes. "Sure. Genetics. Convenient excuse."
Marie poked Cassandra's side playfully. "Admit it. You've been secretly working harder than all of us."
Cassandra simply said, "Maybe," then walked past them with regal indifference.
Karen watched her go with a slow breath. "I'm not sure if that's motivating or annoying."
"Both," Leslie murmured. "Definitely both."
They stood there in the courtyard for a moment, five figures who had changed beyond measure—once scattered souls, now converging into something sharper. Stronger. Together.
Ahead, Soul Island awaited.
So did the shadows that still moved.