An eerie silence was suddenly broken by a familiar hissing sound. Emerging from the depths of the void, a shadowy figure appeared, bearing a humanlike form with piercing red eyes that exuded a menacing aura.

The dark figure spoke, a sinister grin creeping across its shadowed face. "Welcome to our realm, young one."

The words slithered out of its mouth like serpents, dripping with dark intentions and a mocking glee. Its twisted smile, like a grotesque mask, hinted at the horrors that awaited in its realm.

My scream erupted into the darkness, echoing off the void and reverberating back at me. The shadows seemed to tremble in response, my fists clenching with rage. "Why am I stuck here?" I growled, my voice filled with frustration and anger. "I have to find them!" My eyes blazed with a fierce determination, desperate for some kind of action in this deep void.

"You're in this mess because you made a huge mistake, kid. It's going to take some time for you to recover," he said with a smirk on his face.

The voice continued with its mocking tone. "So you are here to learn and become what is necessary, boy. Your power is strong but uncontrolled. I will shape you into a powerful, stoic man."

He let out a sharp, cold laugh. "Hihihi. From now on, you'll be training here with me. I'll teach you everything you need to know. Time moves differently here compared to the outside world; an hour here feels like a mere second out there. So don't stress about the clock."

The void was a vacuum, void of any physical sensation or temperature. Yet, I could feel a pressure building in my chest, a heaviness settling in my bones as the reality of my situation sank in.

I managed to keep my voice steady, despite the turmoil raging within me, as I asked, "What's the first lesson?"

His eyes glinted with a sinister joy. "The first lesson is to embrace the darkness that resides within you. Become one with it. Channel it, manipulate it, and make it your source of power. But be warned, this will require immense dedication and mental fortitude."

The air seemed thick with menace and the very fabric of the void trembled with dark energy. My heart pounded in my chest, a primal instinct warning me of the dangers that lurked in this place. I steeled myself, knowing that the only way to survive was to embrace the unknown and conquer my fears. The stakes were high, but I could not afford to be weak in this unforgiving world.

The voice spoke sternly, "Concentrate. Call upon the shadows and bend them to your command."

My eyes snapped shut, blocking out the dim light of the void. In the darkness behind my eyelids, I could sense a shadowy presence growing in response to my call. It twisted and swirled, slowly at first but picking up speed and intensity as I focused my mind.

The days blurred together as I endured rigorous training. The voice barked commands like a merciless drill sergeant, pushing me to my limits. "Do it again! Harder! Faster!" Every fiber of my being screamed in protest, but I refused to give up. For every mistake, there were harsh reprimands; for every achievement, there was begrudging praise.

After a particularly difficult session, the voice snarled, "You're weak and pitiful. But you're making progress. Keep pushing."

Exhausted and out of breath, I collapsed to the ground. The shadows around me seemed to dissipate, disappearing like wisps of smoke. My entire body was sore and bruised from countless failures, but I had made some progress. With each try, the darkness became more familiar and fluid, its movements becoming easier to control.

***

Day 2:

As I practiced my powers the following day, inky tendrils crept up my arms and constricted around me like a suffocating snake. I struggled to maintain control, gritting my teeth against the cold grip of darkness. "Focus!" My mentor's stern voice cut through the haze, urging me to reign in my abilities. "You are stronger than this. Control the shadows, don't let them control you."

I fought against the suffocating blackness, my muscles screaming in agony as I reached out desperately for the elusive shadows. But they slithered through my fingers like ethereal smoke, taunting me with their slippery escape. "Pathetic," the voice hissed, dripping with malice. "Do you truly want to save anyone, or are you content with being a pitiful weakling?"

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

My heart was torn between determination and fear, pounding fiercely in my chest. Despite the overwhelming darkness that surrounded me, I clung to a glimmer of hope with all my might. It was a constant battle within myself.

Falling to my knees with a loud thud, I gasped for air that felt like it had been stolen from me. My muscles screamed in agony from the intense effort I had just exerted. The void seemed to be suffocating me, relentlessly pressing in on all sides and leaving me struggling for every breath. My vision blurred as the shadows danced and swirled before me, disorienting and dizzying. The weight of the darkness was almost too much to bear, crushing me from the inside out.

"Again," the voice demanded, its tone merciless.

My body was a prisoner, frozen in a cage of pain and fear. Every muscle screamed in agony, refusing to obey my desperate commands. The darkness pressed in on me, suffocating and constricting, draining the last shreds of strength from my trembling limbs.

A moment of silence passed, filled only by the sound of my uneven breaths. Eventually, the voice spoke once more, this time in a gentler tone that seemed almost thoughtful. "Take a break, young one. You deserve it."

I collapsed onto the cold void, finding strange comfort in its chill. The shadows retreated, leaving me in a peaceful quiet. As exhaustion overtook me, my consciousness faded into a calming sense of rest.

***

Day 4:

Sleep was a distant memory, my mind and body pushed to their limits. The voice was relentless, like a drill sergeant, its commands sharp and biting. "Stand up! You think your enemies will wait for you to catch your breath?"

I staggered to my feet, the shadows swirling around me. "Use your anger, your fear. They are fuel for your power."

The darkness responded, coiling around my arms and legs. For a moment, I felt a surge of strength, but it slipped away, leaving me gasping.

***

Day 6:

With intense focus and precision, I drew intricate patterns in the air with my hands, each movement controlling the shadows that danced around me. The voice, a deep and commanding presence, occasionally spoke words of praise, but mostly urged me to keep going. Sweat dripped down my forehead as I pushed myself to perfect my control over the shadows. "You're getting closer," the voice said, its approval fueling my determination to master this dark gift.

"Again!" it would bark, forcing me to rise, even when my legs trembled and my vision blurred. The shadows lashed out at my command, slicing through the darkness with a newfound strength. "Use your anger. Channel your pain. Let it become your power."

As days blurred into almost a week, the void surrounding me became a swirling sea of shifting shadows. Each movement of my hands created intricate patterns in the air, controlling the darkness like a conductor orchestrating an opaque symphony.

The voice let out a hiss of approval as I successfully held the shadows in place. I enveloped my arms with them like a protective shield. "You're getting better, but you're not quite there yet."The relentless drills and grueling exercises pushed me to my limits, but I could feel the strength building in my muscles with each passing day. My once shaky and weary movements were now fluid and precise, as if some supernatural force had taken over my body.

The torment was worth it for the immense power coursing through my veins.The voice, now a faint murmur in the depths of my thoughts, assured me that time was passing slowly on the outside. When I eventually emerged from this void, I would be fully prepared.

As the final day arrived, the void seemed to have a new energy. The shadows were more alive, their darkness seeping into my very being. It was like we had formed a connection, a deep bond that I hadn't felt before. The voice that had haunted me for so long was now silent, leaving me alone with my thoughts and the swirling shadows.

The shadows thickened around me, cold and comforting. They merged with my body, becoming an extension of my will. I closed my eyes and surrendered to the darkness, feeling it pull me deeper into its embrace.

When I opened my eyes again, I could see the faint outlines of the void, a twisted reflection of reality. As my vision shifted, colors took on new depth and life. Each flutter of a butterfly's wings sent ripples of light across the sky. I could see the ebb and flow of energy within every living thing, and the shadows seemed to whisper secrets in a language only I could understand. With a flick of my wrist, they twirled and merged into intricate patterns, waiting for me to unleash their power. The world had transformed before my very eyes, and I was now its master.

As I emerged from the darkness, the shadows clung to my body, creating a swirling aura of dark energy. In that moment, I felt a surge of strength and speed, as if I was in perfect harmony with the shadows. The voice had been correct; I was once weak, but now I was ready to unleash destruction.

The world around me had changed. I was no longer bound by light and space. Every pulse of energy, every flicker of light, was now visible to me. The shadows danced and swirled, waiting for my command.

I willed myself forward, and the darkness obeyed. My form dissolved into shadow, moving silently and swiftly through the void. I felt everything around me, every heartbeat, every breath. The world was a canvas, and I was the brush.

As I emerged from the pitch-black void, my skin prickled at the sensation of shadows wrapping around me like a cloak. My muscles tensed as the darkness pulsated with an otherworldly power, and I felt a surge of strength and agility coursing through my veins. The disembodied voice had been right - I was not ready or strong before. But now, with this newfound connection to the shadows, I was more powerful than ever.

I inhaled deeply, savoring the cool night air. The world around me was pulsating with life, more vibrant than I had ever perceived before. For a moment, I stood still and let my senses absorb everything around me. The shadows enveloped me like a protective veil, murmuring secrets and leading my movements. With a mere thought, I blended into the darkness, gliding effortlessly, undetected and unheard...