Moss lay exhausted on his bed, the memories of the brutal challenge still etched in his mind like an open wound. Nineteen hours in the hospital, and yet the pain still lingered, a constant reminder of his failure.
As he sat up, his eyes sunken, his voice barely above a whisper, "That was absolute hell." The flashback hit him like a tidal wave, transporting him back to the moment when he was overwhelmed by the robotic warriors.
One of them caught his swing, its metal fist connecting with his chest, collapsing his lung. Moss's vision began to blur, his life slipping away, when the alarm sounded, freezing the robots in their tracks. The 5-hour time limit had been reached, saving Moss from certain death.
Moss's eyes snapped back to the present, his frustration boiling over. "There were still 45 more left! I couldn't complete it, dammit! I was saved by the fucking bell!!" His fist clenched, his anger and disappointment palpable.
With a newfound determination, Moss reached for KIN, his trusty katana. As he held it, he recalled the sensation of his energy flowing into the blade during the fight. A spark of hope ignited within him.
"Maybe I can learn to see my Arua using you," Moss whispered, his eyes locked onto KIN. He sat down, cradling the katana in his lap, and began to meditate.
The hours ticked by, Moss's focus unwavering as he attempted to sense his Arua without KIN's aid. Failure after failure, but he refused to give up. The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden glow over the room, when Moss finally succeeded.
A triumphant smile spread across his face as he beheld his Arua, a shimmering aura that pulsed with his life force. Moss's eyes gleamed with determination as he continued to meditate, honing his skills, pushing himself to master the Arua boost without KIN's assistance.
As the stars twinkled to life outside, Moss remained seated, his mind and body united in their pursuit of perfection. The question lingered, however: would he be able to master this newfound ability in just one day?
End of chapter 14