Morning returned, but Kairo didn’t feel the warmth.

After seeing the future version of himself — broken, corrupted, emotionless — every step felt heavier. The air around him felt colder. Even the wind sounded different, like it carried warnings.

Shin noticed immediately.

“Bro, you look like you wrestled a demon in your dreams.”

Kairo didn’t answer.

Because technically… he had.

Before Shin could joke further, Master Ryuga appeared behind them, silent as always.

“Kairo.”

His tone was stern. “You saw something.”

Kairo lifted his eyes.

“Sensei… how do you fight an enemy that is you?”

Ryuga’s expression tightened — a rare, serious shift.

“You don’t,” Ryuga said. “You surpass him.”

But Kairo shook his head.

“This version of me… he’s powerful. Too powerful. He said he lost everything. He said he stopped caring.”

Ryuga stepped forward and placed a firm hand on Kairo’s shoulder.

“That is exactly why we train.”

He turned away, cape shifting from the wind.

“Today, you will learn Chrono Form One.”

Shin’s eyes widened.

“That’s real? I thought it was a myth!”

Ryuga answered without turning back.

“Most power becomes myth when only a few survive long enough to use it.”

Aira stepped forward quietly.

“Chrono Form One… stabilizes your time energy. It keeps your emotions from overflowing.”

Kairo looked at her.

“You mean… it keeps me from turning into him?”

Aira nodded.

“Exactly.”

To Be Continued...