Corvus continues speaking. "They are now as peak as they can be; you just have to refine it more, and then a trigger will set you into expanding, which will be your advancement."

"But you know this already, so Azaroth, why are you here?"

Since his Chaos core was back, it was not like before; the former technique he learned was rendered useless because the way his Chaos core power manifested was different. Instead of a thin thread, he now has something like red smoke.

"Teacher me a new technique." Azaroth can move something with the smoke, and he can even control his weapon with his. Currently, he’s been practicing fighting hand-to-hand while he also uses his sword to fight.

Corvus shifted on the branch. "A new technique, eh, something you can use in battle, I assume."

"Yes. I feel like I’m not utilizing the power of the chaos core enough." He said.

"Very well. I will teach you Tsurugi, it’s a technique where you can use your chaos power to create two things. A disk of rolling power or a ball. Which will you want?"

"Why not both?" Azaroth would prefer you have as much technique as he could.

Corvus bristled. "Greedy as always aren’t you? It’s better than the way, I think. Learn the two so you can use them for different situations, but know at your level you can only use one."

Azaroth nodded. "Teach me." He then demanded.

Corvus spread his wings, and the darkness around him ripped; the darkness pooled together and created a small, flat table with a rough surface. The surface was like a puzzle, a small maze with a ball at the center.

"Your goal is to reach that center; you must pass your chaos essence through all the twisting rooms until you reach the center; you must not do otherwise."

Azaroth looked at the table in front of him and then at Corvus. "I hope you are not wasting my time. What is the use of this."

"Humph! It’s so you can gain complete mastery over your essence, and then it’ll be easier to do the technique I want to teach you! Hey! You don’t have to be so doubtful even though your face doesn’t show it, but I know you’re thinking it!"

Azaroth was having mixed feelings about it because he wanted to learn something physical. But if this will also help then he’ll do it, everything that will lead to power. "I don’t care, just know it must work because I will get to the center."

"Don’t be too sure," Corvus said smugly.

And Corvus was right. Azaroth started from the beginning and brought out all his essence, he began to pass it through the maze-like flowing water, but it was easier said than done. Each time, he had to bend his will just to make it past one door, and there were a total of sixty doors.

By the time he reached the second door, he was breathing hard and sweating; all his concentration poured into it. And then he flattered as his energy drained, making his essence vanish. He sucked in a hard breath.

Corvus chuckled. "Do you see now? The technique is even harder than this. This will also help you in all future technique learning; then you’ll feel a massive drain in your essence. Well! Continue!"

And he did. From that day, that was what Azaroth did; he trained in his inner space any chance he got. What helped him most was that the tiredness he felt during training in the inner space wouldn’t follow him to the real world.

His schedule changed; in the morning, he’d train his body with the others and then eat and monster hunting. But any other time, even when during resting break between crypt hunting he’s be on his seat training with Corvus. And then all night till morning.

Two weeks after he began the maze training, he’s already cleared thirty-four doors. But it was getting harder and harder each time to hold its essence together and make it flow.

Sometimes, he’ll be stuck in a particular door, but Azaroth is nothing if not patient; the fire that burns in him, that drives him, is cold.

Corvus shuddered each time he looked at Azaroth. He didn’t say it out loud, but back in the place he came from, there are very few people who train as hard as him. Just why is he so set on this path?

The others also trained as well with their limited time between hunting. Since they have no new skills to their technique all they can do is perfect what they have and make it flow with their fighting style.

And then, the one month for their test gradually approached; they didn’t know what it might signify, but an instinct born from getting orphaned brutally told them it was going to be important and something they had to give their all.

As the day approaches, they hunt less and less crypt and focus their energy on training. Azaroth then divided his time into two on the day he’ll train his fire and body technique. Then night is for the chaos technique.

Because he didn’t know if he’d be able to use his chaos core with so many people watching.

"It is done." Azaroth finally said just three days to the test and even though he didn’t want to, he felt a bit of pride. In a way, the maze table is like conquering a city; each door his essence passed through is like a block conquered. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Azaroth allowed himself to feel a small amount of pride; he accepted that such emotions can’t be taken away, especially when he did something difficult. "Now teach me the technique and it’s better be worth it."

Corvus shifted. Maybe this is what they call genius? A prodigy. He couldn’t wait to brag to those who think he can never teach back at home! He cleared his throat. "Hum, well. You can find out by yourself if it’s worth it."