Chapter Forty: Gravity Falls

The sun shone down on the dense forest canopy of Elysium, casting long shadows across the moss-covered ground. The air was thicker here, heavier, and gravity pressed down on every step, making each movement feel like a struggle against an unseen force.

Yozora stood before Sirius, his old friend and rival, with a look of quiet determination in his eyes. He had regained fragments of his memories but the strength he once wielded still felt distant, like a dream he couldn't quite recall.

"Yozora, old buddy," Sirius grinned, a mischievous glint in his eye. "today we’ll be doing gravity training. I know you remember the basics of your abilities, but you're still weak as hell. Can’t have you getting insta-killed in the raid, can we?"

Yozora rolled his eyes. "So, what's the plan, genius?"

"Today, you're heading to the waterfall," Sirius said, his grin widening. "I want you to stay under the waterfall and connect with your vault—without disappearing into it."

Yozora raised an eyebrow. "And how am I supposed to do that without actually entering the vault?"

Sirius held up a finger, as if lecturing a student. "Contrary to what S.T.A.R.S. thinks, you should be able to forge without physically entering the vault. It’s all about connecting with the space, not just using it as a tool."

Yozora took a deep breath, nodding slightly. "If you say so... I'll figure it out."

"One more thing." Sirius’ grin turned almost devilish. "In Elysium, gravity’s denser. The waterfall won't feel like the gentle streams you're used to on Earth. It'll be like having bricks crash down on your head, back, and shoulders. Oh, and I’m going to increase the water pressure with a time distortion. So even though it’ll feel like hours, you’ll only be under for minutes. That way, you’ll increase your durability and force your Toro to adapt."

"Sirius... that sounds so much fun," Yozora muttered sarcastically, cracking his neck in preparation.

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Sirius wasn’t done yet. "Oh! Almost forgot. The waterfall’s twenty miles away. So, to spice things up," he tossed a pair of heavy-looking ankle weights toward Yozora, "slap these on and start running."

Yozora looked at the weights and sighed, feeling the added gravity weighing him down. "Alright. No big deal. Feels lighter today anyway." Without another word, Yozora shot off like a bullet, his body already adapting to the heavier gravity around him.

Sirius blinked in surprise, staring at the dust cloud Yozora had left in his wake. "What the... That guy's a freak of nature," he muttered, shaking his head. "I was supposed to enjoy watching him struggle! Well, I guess it's a relief. I can’t have a weak-ass rival in this year’s tournament. It’s gonna be epic!"

Kova, Sirius' trusted companion, appeared beside him, tilting his head in confusion. "Shall we follow him, my lord?"

Sirius waved a hand dismissively. "Stop with the 'lord' stuff, Kova. It’s weird." He rubbed his chin thoughtfully."But yeah, let’s head to the waterfall. He should be there by now."

As they arrived at the waterfall via a portal Kova conjured, the sound of crashing water filled the air. Yozora had already begun his training beneath the torrential waterfall, the immense pressure bearing down on him like a ton of bricks. Despite the weight of the water, Yozora’s expression remained calm, his body steadily adapting.

Kova observed closely. "My lord, I would wager he’s already mastered connecting with his vault. He likely knew it was an option before we arrived."

Sirius smirked. "You’re probably right, but if that’s true, why hasn’t he stopped yet?"

Kova chuckled. "For someone so smart, you can be clueless at times. Yozora hasn’t stopped because he remembers what it felt like to be strong. He’s pushing himself further. He’s no longer feeling the gravity, but perfecting every motion. His enemies should have killed him when they had the chance. Now, the bringer of absolute chaos will fall upon them once more."

Just as Kova finished speaking, the ground beneath them began to shake. The boulders around the waterfall trembled, and cracks formed in the rocks as the landscape responded to the surge of power emanating from Yozora.

Yozora stood tall, his body now fully accustomed to the weight of the waterfall. The water seemed to bounce off him as though in fear, and a faint light surrounded him, pulsating with the energy of his Toro. He closed his eyes, remembering the familiar sensation of strength flowing through him.

"I remember this feeling," Yozora whispered, the air around him freezing as the temperature dropped. His bloodlust surged, transforming the once peaceful environment into something cold and dangerous.

Sirius and Kova watched in awe as the waterfall froze solid, the air crackling with raw energy. Yozora opened his eyes, the intensity of his power shifting the atmosphere around them. In a single word, he commanded,"Close and save." The energy dissipated, and the landscape returned to normal.

Yozora turned to Sirius and Kova, an apology in his eyes. "Sorry, that wasn’t directed at you guys. Now, tell me about this raid... Also, does the tournament I won still exist?"

Sirius grinned proudly. "Oh, it’s still on. But this time, I’m taking the title. Get ready, hermano.

Yozora smirked back, his confidence restored. "We’ll see about that. How about we test me out right now, yea?"

The rivalry between them reignited, and for the first time in a long while, Yozora felt like himself again. Ready for whatever challenge lay ahead.