The double sighed. It said: “Not an easy spectator, eh? Aren’t you too much on guard?”

No answers from Jin. So it continued: “Alright, suit yourself. I only appeared to ask you a question this time. Please do answer it otherwise we won’t be able to move on, ok?”

“Why do you pursue the Fear?”

Jin looked straight at his double as he considered this question. Whether it was a trap or not, the question itself was a good one. Why indeed? After what he experienced the first time, why go for more?

There were many things that could be said but, in the end, it came down to a simple reason. It felt like nothing else. It felt beyond everything else. True fear was by far the worst thing he ever experienced in all his lives, real and fake. As such, as the worst he ever knew, it seemed like the strongest thing he ever knew.

Even though he did not speak, the double chuckled as it stated: “A decent answer”

And it disappeared within the darkness.

Then, nothing.

Nothing at all.

For minutes…hours…and Jin began to train himself. He was aware that he could not learn new things in this space. Like the fire elements, it turned ineffective in reality for the knowledge he discovered here was fake, imagined by himself, and not the truth. However, there were still things that could be derived from here.

He could train his basics.

The different stances, the different movements… Such things were real. They would not be affected by the unreality of this space.

So, he focused on them.

Without corporal needs and clueless about time, he continued. And continued. And continued some more.

At some point, things changed.

He woke up within his mansion, next to Ame. He smiled as he caressed her sleeping face. How beautiful she was…He found her so beautiful…

He tried to invoke the fire element within his palm and a small red orange flame began to flicker into being. He chuckled. This was not reality.

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He killed himself decisively.

And it continued in such a way for many lives. He woke up, manifested fire and killed himself.

It only repeated for a few dozen times though. Then, he was back within the darkness. The double reappeared with a frown while Jin was slightly smiling.

Then, the double smiled too, surprising Jin.

It stated: “You are starting to understand and overcome me. Let me reward you with a taste of the true me once again”

Then, the smile disappeared from both of them. Jin began to scream as he fell on the ground and spasmed.

Fear.

He was feeling true Fear.

He cried and screamed.

Alone in the darkness.

Who knew for how long? Until it stopped. That’s all he knew.

Was he still him? Was he still sane?

An innumerable number of red lights began to appear within the darkness and a voice was heard: “You managed to survive! Excellent! Excellent! Truly! Finally, a worthy disciple! Keep walking forward, young one! Go beyond your own nightmare! Become the nightmare of others!”

And everything faded as the lights began to revolve in a circular way.

…

He woke up within the dark chamber.

He retched.

Then, with some fluids still dripping from his mouth, he tried to use the Fire element. To no avail.

He began to whisper to himself: “I’m back, I’m back, I’m back”

He was trying to regain his calm to no avail. He stayed within the chamber for eighteen more days before he managed to slightly regain his bearing. Slightly.

He was still trembling but his thoughts were no longer as clouded.

He sat and meditated.

He focused inward and entered his soul sea. His core was bigger and oozed out a dark smoke filled with energy. He crossed over the threshold of the 20th stage.

He could innately understand the different states of matter. Though he would need time to digest that new knowledge, he knew he would be able to grasp it.

He watched as the millions of spears made of will circled around his core under his command. He grabbed one and began to move through his different stances. It calmed him. It always did.

The basics were everything.

They were immovable and trustworthy.

Five days later, he reopened his eyes. He was no longer trembling. He got up and moved to the doors. He circulated his energy and punched them.

Nangua who was right behind sidestepped and dodged the doors as they bounced further away, bringing along the torn-up vines that had been in front of them.

He gazed expectantly at Jin and grinned as he saw him exit. He was very satisfied with this new liege he decided to follow.

He bowed as he stated: “Congratulations, Young Master Jin”

Jin nodded as he clenched his fist. While it was but one realm, the changes felt immense. He would need time to comprehend them and stabilize his new self.

But before anything else, he desired to be with Ame.

He walked forward without looking back. Nangua did not follow. Instead, he went back to his own place to continue his experiments. He knew where Jin was going and it was not his business to follow.

Jin reached the mansion and asked the servants for Ame’s location. She was in the second garden area.

As he reached there and saw her, he smiled brightly.

He walked towards her and she noticed him easily. She got up and ran to him. They hugged and went back to the mansion.

…

As she lay naked over him, she sweetly caressed his torso. They looked at each other with deep affection inside their eyes.