Saruto stood before the slowly opening stone gate, his heart pounding in his chest. The air inside the Time Chamber was different. He entered, and as soon as he took his first step, the door slammed shut behind him, leaving him in an eerie silence.
He moved cautiously, and suddenly the hall was illuminated by a series of symbols on the walls. A stone platform appeared in the center, and as soon as he stood on it, his body collapsed violently to the floor. "Hmm... this... is the gravity the book talked about?!"
His weight increased tenfold in an instant, and his movements became heavy. He struggled to his feet, panting and sweating profusely. But with each attempt to rise, he fell again, exhausted and unable to continue. Suddenly, he felt a mysterious energy flowing through his body, healing his injuries. "So this is the Miz my father spoke of."
Hours passed as he struggled to stand, sometimes rolling on the floor, sometimes screaming, but each time he rose stronger than before. His body gradually adapted to the pressure, until he could lift his feet with slow steps, then a short jog, and finally, he could move with a sigh under the intense gravity. Whenever his body became exhausted, a mysterious healing energy would restore his vitality.
After days of training, Saruto sat in the middle of the hall, closed his eyes, and began to breathe slowly. His father entered to see how far Saruto had progressed and was surprised by how quickly he had managed the gravity. He decided to teach him the art of total concentration, which would enable him to meet the three founders of the Dark Family. He explained how to enter this state of concentration: "You must clear your mind of everything around you and focus solely on meeting the founders."
After a lengthy explanation, Saruto entered a state of total concentration, shutting out his thoughts and focusing all his awareness on meeting the founders. Only then did he begin to sense a strange presence. He found himself standing on unfamiliar ground... a clear sky and the blue sea surrounding a vast island filled with forests, mountains, and rivers. A sea breeze caressed his face, but he felt a strange energy permeate the air.
Suddenly, a tall man appeared before him, his gaze unwavering and his presence imposing. The man opened his mouth in a booming voice that shook the room: "Finally... an heir from the Dark Family has arrived."
Saruto opened his eyes in surprise: "Are you... the Third Founder?"
The man smiled and replied, "Yes, I am one of the three founders of the Dark Family. It is a pleasure to meet you, young heir."
The founder raised his hand, and suddenly a wave of darkness enveloped his arm. He said, "I will teach you how to control energy, as I did. Are you ready?"
Saruto replied, his eyes blazing with determination, "Yes, let's begin!"
The Third Founder said, "Your lesson will be as follows: I will teach you how to integrate the energy of the Oppressor with your muscles to increase their strength."
A tremendous burst of energy erupted from the Founder, and the Dark Energy began to merge with his muscles. In a flash, he appeared before Saruto, then leaped up, gathering Dark Energy in his arm muscle and slamming it into the ground, creating a massive crater.
Saruto was astonished by the Founder's power and by the fact that he had discovered a new way to harness Dark Energy.
"Then, let us begin the training, heir," said the Third Founder.
After several hours, Saruto stood, drenched in sweat from the Founder's training. The Founder raised his hand and said, "How will you defeat me if you cannot endure this simple training?"
Saruto took a deep breath and gathered Dark Energy in his feet, just as the Founder had done. A purple light began to flicker around his legs, but it was unsteady. He ran forward, but his steps were unsteady. At that very moment, the Third Founder pounced with lightning speed, delivering a powerful blow that knocked Saruto to the ground.
He struggled to his feet, clutching his chest, and tried again. This time, he focused on gathering the energy of darkness in his right arm, but his hand trembled, and the energy exploded within him, nearly tearing his hand apart.
The Third Founder smiled mockingly. "Power isn't just about imitation, Saruto... Body, mind, and spirit must become one for the energy within you to stabilize."
He then stepped forward, gathering his energy in his foot, and launched a devastating leap at Saruto. Saruto raised his hand to try and block the blow, but before he could, the impact had already struck him, knocking him to the ground. The entire island shook with the force of the impact.
Saruto lay on the ground, struggling to catch his breath, while the Third Founder stood over him. "You've lost."
He continued, "Even so... you've taken your first step on the right path. Come back when you can make your body unite with your energy... Only then will you be able to face me."