Our heroes stood ready for battle, tense as bowstrings. Darkness surrounded them entirely: they couldn't see a thing. But it wasn't just the lack of vision that unsettled them. More troubling still… they couldn't hear anything either.
"Are you sure they're here?" Yumé asked, defensive.
"Yes," Ilia replied in a low voice. "They're right in front of us… They're excellent hunters, moving almost without sound."
"You're right," murmured Ikku. "I can barely sense them."
"You can hear them?" Kenny asked in disbelief. "I can't hear a thing."
"I'm used to wild beasts," Ikku admitted. "But these ones… they're on another level."
Suddenly, Ilia shouted:
"There they are!"
"Get to cover!" Ikku yelled. "We'll handle this!"
Ilia bolted into the shadows, while the group braced for impact. The next instant, Yumé was struck by a brutal blow from nowhere. His body was hurled several meters before crashing against a wall, a cry of pain tearing from his lips.
"Was that Yumé's voice?!" Carla gasped.
A massive gorilla lunged at her. She couldn't see a thing, but her Brand shielded her: her chains lashed out and blocked the strike.
"Sorry," Carla said with a faint smile, "but even without my eyes… I'm untouchable."
Her chain coiled around the gorilla's leg, swung him high, and smashed him into a wall. But the beast staggered back to its feet, straight into Yumé's path. In the dark, he caught the sound of its rough breathing. Reflexively, Yumé lit his fist: a flash of radiant light blinded the creature. Seizing the opening, he struck with all his strength. The gorilla flew across the cavern, slamming into stone.
But the light had drawn a swarm of bats. They dove upon Yumé, forcing him to extinguish his glow. Too late, fangs sank into his skin before they scattered again.
Ikku, meanwhile, fought with remarkable composure. He spread his energy within a meter around him, anticipating every move with sharpened reflexes. The first strikes were dodged with ease, and his counter came swiftly: a devastating spinning kick that sent another gorilla crashing beside the one Yumé had already downed.
Kenny chose a different path. With a roar, his body shifted: muscles rippled, black fur covering his form. The panther emerged, releasing its wild aura.
"In this form, I can see a little—and all my senses are sharp…"
A savage duel erupted. Beast against beast, a whirlwind of claws and fangs. Kenny bit deep into the gorilla's leg, but the monster lifted him, ready to crush him to the ground. Kenny reverted to his human shape, slipped behind its back, and locked a rear chokehold. The pressure was immense. Within seconds, the gorilla slumped, unconscious. Kenny hurled it aside to join the others lying motionless.
When the creatures stirred again, panic overcame them. They fled into the darkness, abandoning the fight. Exhausted, the heroes collapsed onto the ground.
"Those gorillas… that was something," Ikku breathed.
"Yeah," Carla agreed. "We'll have to stay cautious."
"Easy for you to say," Kenny scoffed. "You've got chains shielding you."
"My powers aren't really suited for this place," Yumé admitted.
"That doesn't matter," Ilia reassured him. "Once you truly master Karma, you won't need your powers here."
Ilia then explained how to extend their spiritual energy to a limited radius of one meter. It became their training plan: learning to maintain that perception step by step. Days passed. Soon, they could reach five meters, then ten. Battles against the Dogramas were nothing like before, their victories were swift, and their stamina impressive.
Three weeks later, they could hold this state for six hours straight. Their journey became a constant training ground. Their steps turned to sprints, their bodies reaching new thresholds.
"It's been nearly a month since we entered this cave," Carla sighed.
"Going back to the light will burn our eyes," Kenny added.
"Ilia, how much longer?" Ikku asked.
"A week," Ilia replied. "If all goes well."
Ikku grinned.
"Then let's push harder. We'll finish our training while running. I'll carry Ilia."
The challenge was accepted. They ran, sensing obstacles, mastering their energy… Their progress was astounding. What Ilia thought would take seven days, they completed in four.
Then suddenly, Ilia stopped. His voice trembled with emotion.
"This is it…"
Before them stood an enormous door.
"We've arrived?" Ikku asked.
"Yes!" Ilia cried, heart racing. "At last!"
He placed his hand against the door. Moments later, it opened, releasing a gentle glow, like lamplight in the night. Light, after a month of darkness.
Beyond the gate, several youths rushed at Ilia, knocking him flat with joy.
"ILIAAA!" they shouted, tears streaming. "YOU'RE ALIVE!"
Overcome with emotion, Ilia embraced them, tears spilling down his cheeks.
"I missed you all… so much."