The astral sky stretched infinitely above him, stars reflecting in pools of light beneath his feet. Here, there was no pain, no blood, no cries of war — only thought and will, sharpened by focus. Eryndor moved slowly, deliberately, testing every pulse of the storm that had burned him nearly to death.
He paused, closing his eyes. He had learned much these past four days. Not in combat, not in training with Kael or the army, but here — in silence. Here, he had been forced to confront the limits of his body, his storm, and himself.
Eryndor's Abilities (So Far)
Lightning Affinity Powers:
Tempest Guard – Forms a protective dome of lightning, deflecting attacks and dispersing energy.
Mastery: Fully stabilized; can maintain for extended periods without injuring himself.
Heaven's Rend – Ultimate strike that channels concentrated lightning into a devastating projectile.
Mastery: Can now shape the trajectory mid-flight, split or combine strikes.
Eternal Tempest – State of continuous lightning storm around his body, enhancing reflexes, speed, and power.
Mastery: Now able to modulate intensity, conserving energy for prolonged engagements.
Wind Affinity Powers:
Sky Step – Moves along air currents as if walking on clouds.
Mastery: Can now use it mid-combat to chain movements fluidly, combining with strikes.
Gale Burst – Compresses wind into explosive waves.
Mastery: Can direct multiple bursts simultaneously in combat patterns.
Martial Arts / Hand-to-Hand Enhancements:
Enhanced reflexes and spatial awareness from prolonged lightning exposure.
Integration of wind currents with strikes, increasing reach and force without extra exertion.
Astral Meditation techniques beginning to reinforce muscle memory and combat intuition.
New Techniques Developed During Astral Meditation:
Lightning Flow Form – Channels lightning through every strike, letting energy flow along limbs with precision.
Mastery: Can perform complex sequences without overtaxing his body.
Cyclone Step – A combination of wind and lightning, allowing rapid, unpredictable movement that can dodge and counter simultaneously.
Storm Perception – Heightened awareness of energy fluctuations, both magical and elemental, allowing him to anticipate attacks.
Mastery and Insight
As he floated in the astral sky, Eryndor realized something profound: mastery was not just control of power, but control of self in the face of power. He had survived a Cataclysm Surge, beaten a World-Class Monster, and endured the limits of his body. Yet here, in this silent space, he understood why his grandfather always spoke of Astral Meditation.
Every movement, every strike, every surge of wind and lightning could now be imagined, perfected, and internalized without risk. His mind was the forge, his storm the hammer, and the steel of his body merely a vessel for what he would become.
He allowed himself to experiment. A strike here, a step there, the sky bending subtly with the force of his thoughts. He could now blend wind and lightning, forming currents that danced around him in arcs and spirals. He could feel his storm breathing with him, not against him.
Four days of unconscious training, and he had emerged stronger not just in body, but in clarity of combat, precision, and understanding of his storm's nature.
The Moment Before Return
Eryndor lifted his hands, feeling the dual affinities tangle and merge, a miniature hurricane of energy spinning around him. The storm no longer threatened to consume him — it was a companion.
He glanced toward the faint shimmer that represented the waking world. Lyanna. The child. His friends. His mission.
The storm inside him hummed. Calm. Focused. And waiting.
With one last inhale in the astral sky, he prepared to step back into the world, carrying not just the weight of his power, but the mastery he had earned in silence.