Saruto returned to the room, his body nearly exhausted from the confrontation with the Third Founder. As he gasped for breath, the system screen appeared, displaying cryptic words:
[Gravity Room]
Current Gravity Level: 25x
[Auto Heal]
Body Status: 45% Injuries
Saruto read the message in a low voice and pressed the Auto Heal option. Green energy surged from the room, and his wounds began to gradually disappear. Moments later, he awoke refreshed and resolved to continue his training and then return to the Third Founder's world to defeat him.
He pressed the button and increased the gravity to 30x. In an instant, his body collapsed to the ground, as if mountains had been placed upon him. He gritted his teeth and tried to stand, but could barely move his arm. "If I can't stand under this pressure... I'll never be able to defeat the Third Founder," he cried out in pain.
Days passed. Saruto headed to the Time Chamber, gradually increasing the gravity and practicing fusing the energy into his muscles. With each injury sustained while attempting to fusing the energy, he would activate the system's screen and heal his wounds. After two weeks, he could move freely under a 35x gravity.
Three weeks later, Saruto had successfully fusing the Dark Energy into his muscles. He gathered energy in his feet and sped through the Time Chamber at incredible speed, almost invisible. He stood before the system's screen, breathing deeply, and pressed the Gravity Off button. "Only one month left until I enter the Academy," he said. "I must defeat the Third Founder before then."
At that very moment, the Third Founder's voice echoed in his mind: "Saruto, you couldn't defeat me. Come back when you can form the Dark Energy."
Sartu raised his fist with a cold smile, determined to crush the Third Founder.
Saruto continued his training in the Time Chamber until five days before his entry into the Academy. He sat in complete concentration and was transported once more to the Founder III's world. The Founder III appeared before him, radiating a dark energy, and said with a serious smile, "I've returned... and I see a different resolve in your eyes."
Saruto replied coldly, "I've returned to crush you."
In an instant, they charged at each other, and the battle began with a barrage of punches. The Founder III gathered a surge of dark energy in his hand and pounced with lightning speed, attacking Saruto with a series of consecutive blows.
Saruto countered and parried the attacks, but the Founder III was faster. He got up and landed a punch to the stomach that knocked him to the ground.
He fell to the ground clutching his stomach, but he got up and tried again, gathering dark energy in his feet and swiftly attacking him. He unleashed a barrage of punches so fast that the Founder couldn't track them. Suddenly, the Founder's power surged, and his eyes transformed into those of a dragon.
Saruto was taken aback by the Founder's energy but continued his assault. The Founder moved his eyes rapidly, anticipating Saruto's punches and dodging them.
Unable to land a single blow, Saruto asked, "What skill do you use to dodge my attacks like that?"
The Founder replied, "It's an instinctive skill. It activates when I'm under pressure. His eyes transform into those of a dragon, and with them, I can track any attack, as long as it doesn't exceed my observational speed. Any member of the Dark Family can activate it."
Saruto responded, "Then all I have to do is increase my attack speed so you can't track it."
They began fighting again. Saruto divided his dark energy across his body, 60% in his feet and 40% in his hands, and charged toward the Founder. They exchanged fierce blows until the Founder's world began to tremble from the impact, as if it were about to collapse. Saruto said, "This isn't enough. I must increase my speed."
He channeled all his energy into his legs, and the Founder could no longer see him, until he began to be struck all over his body. The Founder leaped and fired a purple flame from his mouth that engulfed the entire earth, striking Saruto. The Founder noticed him and rushed toward him, grabbing his arm and throwing him into the sea. Saruto couldn't breathe and managed to surface, only to be surprised to find the Founder had formed wings of dark energy and was looking at him.
The Founder said, "I've been too lenient with you, Saruto."
He moved swiftly in front of him, lifted him by the neck, and hurled him into the air, then chased after him, tossing him from place to place. Saruto couldn't withstand the Founder's attacks and remembered his words. "Any member of the Dark Family, when under pressure, will activate this skill."
Saruto unleashed his power, causing the Founder to back away. He noticed Saruto's eyes transform into those of a dragon, and then dark energy began to emanate from his body, forming wings. The Founder smiled and let out a long laugh, so loud that Saruto thought he'd gone mad. The Founder said, "You've succeeded, Saruto. Congratulations on passing my test."
Saruto was confused. "What do you mean I've succeeded?" he asked. "Wasn't the test about defeating you?"
The Founder replied, "No, every Founder has their own way of setting tests. Mine was to put you under pressure so you could activate the Dragon Eye skill and create dark energy."
The two of them landed on the ground after the test was over. The Founder said, "Congratulations on your success, Saruto. Now I will teach you my final skill: creating and releasing fire."
Saruto remembered what the Founder had done when he couldn't keep up with him—he had jumped up and fired a purple flame at him—and excitedly said, "Yes, I want to learn it! Teach me!"
After several days, Saruto had mastered all of the Founder's third skills and returned to the Time Chamber to prepare for his trip to the Heartz Academy.