"Will you help save an innocent girl?"

"An innocent girl?" Felix repeated, confusion evident in his voice.

"Do you remember what I said about the heart being the most beautiful?" she asked.

"Yes?"

"That is not the full reality," her voice taking on a somber tone.

"You see... beauty cannot always exist in harmony with love. The same is true for a beautiful heart; no matter how kind or loving it may be, it is always at risk of causing itself harm."

"How?"

"A heart that is righteous, kind, loving, and innocent can be easily ensnared by the chains of hate and darkness, for it remains unaware of the shadows that dwell within a cruel world."

"The same goes for the little girl I am asking you to save," she continued.

"Her heart is trapped in chains that make her suffer every day, every second. She acts like everything is fine, but in truth, it's not."

"But can't you help her? You are wiser than I," he asked.

"No, it's not possible by my hands. The only one who can reach and break those chains is a person in similar shoes and a person that is walking beside her," she paused, her voice dropping to a whisper.

"That person is you."

"Me?"

"Yes."

"You are the only one who can make her smile again. When she smiles, a huge weight would be lifted from my soul."

"I see... Then please tell me who she is and where I can find her!" he pleaded.

Suddenly, a loud voice shattered the vision.

"SENSEI!"

"SENSEEIIIII!"

"Yes, yes, I am here," Felix said, blinking rapidly as he tried to shake off the lingering tendrils of his vision.

“Are you really dozing off in the middle of training?” Kai’s disappointment was palpable as he crossed his arms defiantly.

“Sorry! Where was I?” Felix replied sheepishly.

“You were talking about my negative Zor energy,” Kai reminded him with a sigh.

“Oh, right!” Felix said, rubbing his temples as he tried to gather his thoughts.

“I was saying that those Kaals had a lot of negative Zor energy, and their powers were different.”

“Could you explain that better?” Kai asked, tilting his head in curiosity.

"Okay, let me explain it more clearly," Felix responded.

“Negative Zor energy is essentially like regular Zor energy; everyone has a certain amount of it.”

“Aha,” Kai nodded thoughtfully.

“But from what I've seen,” Felix continued, “the two types of energy users exhibit different abilities. When we encountered the Kaals, they literally froze me with some unknown invisible pressure.”

"I don’t remember being frozen like a statue," Kai said, holding his index finger to his chin.

"Because the pressure was so immense that you lost consciousness."

“Really? I don’t remember anything.” Kai frowned in confusion.

"So, as I was saying, the abilities are different. Normal Zor energy users can't freeze someone just by gazing at them."

"How do you know that someone becomes a living statue from a negative Zor user's gaze?" Kai questioned.

"I’m not completely sure, but it seems to be related to either looking at them or focusing on them."

“It has to be by focusing,” Kai asserted confidently.

“If you just looked at someone,” he continued enthusiastically, “you’d only be able to immobilize one or two people because we only have two eyes. But if we focus mentally…” Felix’s eyes lit up with realization.

“A negative Zor user could immobilize more people at once!” Kai concluded triumphantly.

"Wow, Kai, I never knew you were that smart," Felix complimented him, patting his head.

“Hey! Who do you think I am? May I remind you that I'm not a kid!” Kai puffed out his chest with pride.

“So if you're correct,” Felix mused aloud, “I think you might be able to do it too.”

"Really?" Kai bellowed.

“I think so! But before trying that,” Felix added quickly, “we need to check two things.”

“First,” he said seriously, “we need to determine how much negative Zor energy you possess. Second, we should investigate whether negative Zor users have the ability to heal others.”

"Let's start with the first task. I wonder if your negative Zor energy affects the amount of Zor energy you had before. Because the amount of Zor energy is fixed from the moment you are born and does not change."

"Did you check your Zor energy level before you became a negative Zor user?"

"Err... I’m not sure what you mean," Kai responded with a confused expression.

"Okay, no problem. Let's assess your negative Zor energy level. I hope the usual process for checking Zor energy applies to negative Zor energy as well," Felix said, his expression curious.

"First, sit cross-legged on the floor, connect your hands together, close your eyes, and focus on yourself to connect with your soul."

"Okay," Kai replied.

Five minutes later...

"Mmmmmm," Kai tried to concentrate.

Twenty minutes later...

"Hmmmmmm," he continued his efforts.

Thirty minutes later...

"Ahhhh!"

"I can't do this!" shouted Kai, falling back and letting out a sigh.

"Sensei, isn't this supposed to be easy?"

"Sensei?"

"Really?" He lifted his head towards Felix and saw him dozing off, a small snot bubble forming and floating from his nose.

His face drained of color as he stared in disbelief, muttering, "Are you serious right now?"

“Ouch!” Felix jolted awake as Kai flicked his forehead. Rubbing the spot, he blinked rapidly, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep.

“And you call yourself a Sensei?” Kai glared at him, frustration etched across his face.

“S-sorry,” Felix stammered, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Now, help me out. I can't do this," Kai said, his face showing exhaustion.

"Umm..." Felix hesitated, trying to think of how to assist Kai.

"I know!" Kai's voice rang out with sudden enthusiasm.

"If you do it, I can watch and maybe learn something."

"I-I do it?" Felix replied, confusion knitting his brow.

Felix hesitated, his shoulders tensing. He took a deep breath, knowing that if he revealed his Zor energy, its unique color would be exposed.

"Everyone has golden Zor energy when they display it," he thought, "but mine... mine is different."

Unbidden, memories flooded his consciousness. He saw again the faces of those who had witnessed his unusual energy color – the widened eyes, the slack jaws, the unmistakable fear that had twisted their features.

He could almost hear the hushed whispers that had followed him for years, the words "freak" and "monster" hanging in the air like poisonous vapor.

"That's why I've always avoided using my Zor energy in front of others," he reflected, his inner voice tinged with bitterness.

"Ever since I awakened my Zor energy at the age of 3 – which was incredibly rare in itself – the most distinctive aspect was how every ability I used manifested in darker, more intense tones," Felix continued his internal monologue.

"When I attack, my energy bleeds a deep, ominous red; when I heal, it pulses with a murky, amber yellow; when I..."

"Hello!" Kai's voice cut through Felix's reverie, sharp and impatient. Felix blinked, suddenly aware that he had been lost in thought for several long moments. Kai was staring at him expectantly, one eyebrow raised in question.

"Why did you get lost in thought? Are you going to show me or not?" Kai urged, his foot tapping a restless rhythm on the floor.

Felix took another deep breath, feeling the cool air fill his lungs. He looked directly at Kai, his gaze steady despite the turmoil roiling within him.

"Do you know what color Zor energy is represented by?" he asked, his voice low and careful.

Kai shrugged, his expression nonchalant. "No," he replied, seemingly unconcerned by his lack of knowledge.

A flicker of relief passed over Felix's face.

"I think it's fine if he doesn't know," he murmured to himself.

Then, louder, he said, "Okay then, I'll show you."

With deliberate movements, Felix lowered himself to the floor, sitting cross-legged on the rough wooden boards. He brought his hands together, palms touching, and closed his eyes.

The room fell silent as he focused inward, reaching for the core of his being where his soul's essence resided.

"It's been a long time since I've done this," Felix thought, a mixture of anticipation and trepidation coursing through him.

As he concentrated, a whitish-gold aura began to envelop him like flames licking at the air around him. The smoky tendrils intensified and reached toward the ceiling, creating an ethereal glow that filled the room.

"Wow, it's so dense; it's making it hard for me to breathe," Kai thought as he watched Felix with wide eyes.

Felix remained immersed in his manifestation until a sudden memory pierced through his focus—the first time he had ever summoned his Zor energy.

“Your son is truly unique; no wonder he’s your son after all,” echoed a voice in Felix’s mind—a voice that sent chills down his spine.

“I know he will bring true joy to this Family…” The words lingered ominously in the air.

"This... Family..."

“Huuuuuufff… Huufff…” Felix gasped for breath as he collapsed onto his hands, sweat trickling down his forehead. His face contorted in pain, as if struck by an invisible blow.

"Are you okay, sensei?" Kai's voice was distant, muffled, as if coming from underwater.

Kai quickly moved closer to Felix and placed a hand on his shoulder.

Felix trembled, his eyes wide with fear. When he caught sight of Kai's hand, his panic intensified.

"N-No! Get away from me!" The words tore from Felix's throat, raw and desperate. He lashed out, slapping Kai's arm away with such force that it left angry red marks on both their skin.

Felix scrambled backward, his movements frantic and uncoordinated. He curled into himself, knees drawn tight to his chest, as if trying to make himself as small as possible. His fingers dug into his arms, leaving crescent-shaped indentations in his flesh.

Kai watched, "Sensei, what's wrong? You're scaring me."

"No... No... No... No..." The mantra fell from his lips, each repetition more broken than the last. Felix rocked back and forth, his entire body a living manifestation of his inner torment.

Kai stood frozen, his heart breaking at the sight of his strong, composed sensei reduced to this shattered state.

“What’s wrong?” Kai asked, concern etched deeply into his features as he took a cautious steps towards Felix.

“Hey, it’s okay if you tell me; I can help you,” said Kai softly, trying to bridge the gap between them with gentle words.

“No… No… No… No…”

"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry," he repeated, his words muffled against his knees.

Kai knelt beside him, careful not to touch. "You have nothing to be sorry for, sensei. Whatever happened, it wasn't your fault."

Felix looked up, his face streaked with tears.

"But it was, Kai. It was all my fault. And I can never make it right."

"We can try," Kai whispered, his voice cracking. "Together, we can try to make it right."

Felix's next words were barely audible, filled with a lifetime of regret and pain. "Some things can never be made right, Kai. Some wounds never heal."

Kai tried to put his hand on Felix's shoulder.

"Don't touch me! You don't understand... you can't understand."

"Then help me understand," Kai pleaded, tears welling in his own eyes.

"I can't bear to see you like this."

"I can't, I can't," Felix whispered.

"I need to do something," Kai thought.

Kai extended his left hand outward with his arm straight to mimic the Kaals' ability.

"I can do this," Kai tried to focus negative Zor energy slowly. Helping Felix was the only thing on his mind.

Suddenly, Kai felt like he released an invisible force at Felix.

[THUD]

"Sensei!" Kai screamed as Felix fell unconscious on the floor.

"Where am I?" Felix whispered as he opened his eyes to find himself in a dark place.

"I see you've been getting comfortable with these people. Are you forgetting who you are?" A malicious voice echoed through the shadows.

"N-No, not that voice again," Felix stammered, trembling at the sound of it.

"Why are you scared?" A man appeared behind him, sitting in a high-backed, ornately carved chair that exuded an air of authority and sophistication.

Felix turned his head to the voice, and as he did, the space around him changed. Now he found himself in a luxurious room adorned with rich burgundy drapes that cascaded from tall windows, filtering the dim light of dusk.

Intricate wallpaper depicting swirling patterns and scenes of opulence told stories of a bygone era.

While the flickering light of a grand chandelier illuminated the plush velvet furnishings scattered throughout. The scent of polished wood and aged leather filled the air, enhancing the atmosphere of both elegance and foreboding.

In this lavish yet oppressive setting, the man's presence loomed larger than life, his high-backed chair a throne of intimidation amid the opulent decor.

“Its... you... Viktor!” Felix said with a trembling voice, looking at the man with silver hair styled in a side part.

“Addressing your uncle by his name is not considered proper etiquette,” Viktor replied with a smirk.

His eyes were red, narrow, and slightly slanted—similar to Felix's—confirming that he was indeed his uncle. He wore a black shirt with white buttons and blue pants, complemented by Oxford shoes. His muscular build highlighted his visibly toned physique.

"Y-Yes, Uncle V-Viktor," Felix said hesitantly.

"That's more like it," he smirked at him.

"What is this?" Felix thought, terrified.

"D-Did I come back in time?"

“Felix!” Viktor’s voice cut through his thoughts like a knife.

"Why are you lost in thought? I said, show me what you learned!"

“Y-Yes, Uncle,” Felix replied, swallowing hard.

"Here, take this," Viktor said as he tossed a dagger to the floor beside him with a casual flick of his wrist. The chandelier above cast a shimmering glow, illuminating the intricate patterns etched into the steel.

“I want you to attack me as if you’re going to kill me,” Viktor commanded.

"Kill him?" Felix thought as he bent to pick up the dagger.

Felix clenched the dagger tightly and fixed his gaze on Viktor. In an instant, Felix dematerialized, reappearing to Viktor's left with the dagger poised to strike at his neck.

“ACK!” Felix gasped as Viktor’s hand gripped him mid-air, effortlessly halting his advance.

“Too slow,” Viktor remarked coolly, shifting his gaze toward Felix with an unsettling calmness.

With ruthless force, Viktor hurled Felix back to where he had been standing.

[THUD]

“Shameful,” Viktor whispered, disappointment lacing his words.

“Have you learned your Singularity Nexus?” he asked, his tone now serious.

“No, not yet,” Felix replied as he picked himself up from the floor. He felt a familiar ache but didn’t complain, as if he were used to it.

“No worries,” Viktor said dismissively.

“Atleast let me see how your negating power is coming along.” He extended his arm and gathered Zor energy at the tip of his finger—a red light crackling with potential.

“No!” Felix shouted instinctively. “I won’t use that power ever.”

"What did you say, boy?"

"You should use it with honor, as it is the only gift she gave you."

Without hesitation, Viktor extended his arm toward Felix. “If you want to live, you must negate this attack.”

[WHOOSH]

A thin beam of highly concentrated Zor energy shot toward Felix, slicing through the air with deadly precision.