Cel took a slow breath and closed his eyes.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3U9HMfcOl
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22WnvPuQCN
The bond was there - carved into him like scripture across his soul. Silent Moon. Not just a weapon waiting in some distant armory, but something closer. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA668UpXkOi
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCRtd0htzE0
He raised his hand and reached for it.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kImaYyH0k
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7vNBbW8Qw
Not with fingers, but with intent. A pulse of will extended from his chest like a breath released into cold air.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0MYozreWO
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjV5kjGXgM4
The air shifted.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0eGGe1sYw
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBn8IP2MLu
Cel's eyes snapped open.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg40acOe9In
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6KDsHktOT
Ash curled inward at his feet, recoiling from something unseen. A breeze rose - sudden and soundless - carrying no temperature, no scent. Just presence. The gray dust spiraled toward a point before him, caught in an invisible current.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbIXRfHbnH
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrUMqPxP50
A glimmer appeared in the empty air.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡleKspp0Rf4
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPad0GdnNnl
Then it grew.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIJELpLqAF
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm45ku1NxHk
Thread by thread, moonlight unraveled from nothing. Weaving. Building. The light moved with deliberate grace, as if the artifact had always existed beneath the surface of reality and was only now choosing to be seen.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRQZjzkvlx
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vtY5qKMn9
The radiance exploded.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDIeCgFJ73
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCP3BuycExl
He threw up an arm, shielding his face as the light reached its peak - blinding, merciless, absolute. For a heartbeat, the Ashlands vanished into pure white.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7M4IohjOAJ
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4sBAX3GEil
Then the brilliance collapsed inward.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9bPFRcQP3z
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUsRvsBknR
When he could see again, a blade hung in the air before him.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9oECm7PEI
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSwC4H4l3W
Long. Slender. Perfectly straight.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyMy9yuo8H
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu46rnrPOJ4
A chokutō.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QyQJITd6d
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJdVJaGDBB
Recognition sparked immediately. A straight katana - he'd studied its form years ago during weapons training. Simple geometry. Single-edged. Single-edged. Practical. The kind of weapon that rewarded precision over fancy movements.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPQmttEXK1
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlubLcGBpj
But this was no training blade.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKWKV6yc1R
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2sIT4heGqV
It hovered in the air, and Cel found himself unable to look away.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxrAoK3ve6
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBMIdSjHzU
Deep violet bled into dark steel along its length, creating a flow that shifted with the angle of his gaze. The edge carried a spectral indigo sheen - subtle, but unmistakable.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCuaJ76Hq66
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUUuXZNNBr
His eyes traced down the blade's length and stopped.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQhzMjlzOb
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8oMsNhIvdg
Etched into the blade near its hold were nine symbols. Moon phases. Crescents, half-moons, and at the heart - a full circle. Each one carved with divine precision, spaced in flawless intervals from new moon to full and back again.
No embellishment. No wasted detail. Just the phases themselves, stark against the metal.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEPdTmq00k
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXk7Q3sDeg
The guard was a narrow oval - simple, obsidian-dark, serving its purpose without demanding attention. Below it, the hilt stretched clean and sure, wrapped in midnight silk that caught the hollow light. Dusk blue and coal black, braided together like woven shadows.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9B2rjIf9l
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9vEG0V0XZ
A single crimson ribbon trailed from the pommel.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKzmHJG6mV
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhgk0xcTmV
Cel's fingers twitched at his side.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNKkqWafM2
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTPfbVMvpQ
He could feel the weapon's weight without touching it. Not physical mass, but meaning. Presence. This artifact had been forged for a single purpose, meant for one hand alone.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKETBSJcMC
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZyf4at2SD
The Moon's.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUmlJmeTCK
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfioBmZR29P
Or now... his.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoq8FUFhBQE
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTkenE8rlO
Slowly, he reached forward.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡslUR9shjeK
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcETckwGcSn
His fingers closed around the hilt.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPw3DnWARvO
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdW4h8tWWgs
Cold shot through his palm.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WFesDuzOK
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvZY7PGnP2
Cel gasped - not from pain, but from sudden, sharp awareness. The sensation raced up his arm, into his shoulder, straight to his chest where it settled like ice against his ribs.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilub8XZrzB
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVto56AX4P
The weapon wasn't just metal. It was alive - responding to his touch like something waking from a long sleep.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbJe4FpCMB
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡesKLvUOkvi
Then the moon phases began to glow.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc7uVn03by7
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTgLEIpwkp
Four of them ignited with soft white light - pristine and cold, like moonlight untouched by cloud or smoke. The outermost crescents blazed first, then two quarter moons, illuminating in sequence along the blade's length.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7NC4sh7Qx
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61ST3x0pa2
But five remained dark.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡueiKzSQJvY
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcyCJ0ocHeH
The full moon at the center. The half-moons on either side. And two crescents flanking them.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1oGjaQ5v9u
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7mykH8LfT
Those symbols alone stayed dormant, as if the weapon had looked inside him and found those spaces... empty.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmyCkzU8AV
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSF9yDQzNY4
Cel stared at them, pulse quickening.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4iLUX0L8Qw
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7iUL8092af
‘Empathic Steel.’123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFGVAAUTMC
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWlIu7r9cm
The description hadn't explained what that meant. Now he understood.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DUD4o4n2H
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWaZCc86WG
The blade was reading him. Not his thoughts or memories - something deeper. And it was reflecting that truth back through those glowing symbols, showing him exactly what he was in this moment.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc91aIhfoPz
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UXtZKXhZd
But what did it mean that five phases remained unlit?123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSO0fAAuxCH
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvcffTMfpws
He didn't know. At least not yet.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVIwGzoZCU
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5UegOKeAi
His grip tightened around the hilt. The weapon felt... right. Balanced perfectly for his reach, the weight distributed in a way that made holding it feel natural despite his lack of real combat experience.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡypJ6GCsCGx
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQW8x4cGGe
Cel lifted the blade slightly, watching how the edge caught the red dawn light.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFgJPBWRLy
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHAzbuKYZw
A bitter smile pulled at his lips.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyAXRTH1c8
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0aLbE5dpX
His father had spent years trying to make him into a warrior… and failed completely. The clan's weapon masters had given up on him before he'd turned twelve.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEdaHRLU2L
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcaPe23xA5C
Now the Moon Goddess had placed a divine blade in his hands.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6OX3VKqmW
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GBH0IkrWG
The irony was almost beautiful.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwjCHf7lp8
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpGfS28PUE
"This is mine," he whispered.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02bO05JIT0
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ZTbVW73Eq
Not handed down from his clan. Not stolen, borrowed or granted as charity. Earned through suffering. Through death itself.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxVk3SGIdZ3
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3nTf62avi
Cel exhaled slowly and stepped back from the twisted pillar, letting the Ashlands stretch around him. Silence pressed in from all sides, heavy and waiting.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu61xTPv4A5
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9zkWkRLJC
Time to see what this weapon could actually do.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWd8ginEZ7Z
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbEURPbBju
Cel adjusted his grip, fingers settling into the silk wrapping. The hilt was just long enough for two hands, but he held it with one - the way a chokutō was meant to be wielded. Single-handed.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5wI8XnFlE
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBZVoCQMin
His stance felt wrong immediately.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJ5z9awMyp
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYplThIPoJ
Feet too close together. Weight distributed poorly. But fragments of old lessons surfaced anyway - the theory he'd been drilled on years ago, buried beneath failure and his father's disappointment.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZ7k2karDe
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3AqEg4jvX
He planted his feet wider into the ash and raised the blade. Not high. Not aggressive. Just... ready.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6wm7I7jxm
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPy0Njqt2hj
Then he moved.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwAtyE6jFHx
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9vpRTsLrlh
A basic diagonal slash. Down and across.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5A3UzAvHTP
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkJ4CtYpaK
His arm surged forward.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzItzg3z8B
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczQxIgUDbN
Too fast. Too hard.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGhcIImYyL
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMS0Gd0Mvo
The blade ripped through empty air with violent speed, and Cel's entire body lurched with it. His front foot skidded through loose ash.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJlCaJZs8W
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3FCXaFWgr
He stumbled, barely catching himself before falling completely.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuGrDx4Jf1
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8qqVBewYh
Dust scattered around his legs as he straightened, breathing harder than he should have been.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7ihzB340b
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyKRuqXwS1
‘What in the gods' name…?’123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mawl6nedj
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdrP6hbv5E
He'd barely put any force into that swing. Just a simple practice cut, the kind he'd done hundreds of times as a child.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4tSpXwOjf
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUa3BwraBL
But his muscles had responded with far more strength than he'd meant to use.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjpR9uMTVd
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ19peAlQ5p
Cel gritted his teeth and reset his stance.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSM5IbgEw6D
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8y5VMwj74k
This time he moved more carefully. A straight thrust forward. Slow. Controlled.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkkd2ucMWLz
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9I32WnP1I
His arm extended—123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhBcFYfA3i
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjub2PC0RT
And the blade shot forward.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPUw6nIbES
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMQBgCie8b
The tip punched through air like it had real weight behind it, his shoulder rotating harder than he'd planned. His back foot scraped against stone as his body tried to compensate, and he had to hop once - actually hop - to keep from pitching forward.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhh7gdU3RVA
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfGg7C6EL7
Heat crawled up his neck.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhTv7x9te2
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9lU6RbbWN3
This was absurd.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGBCIshVdL
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡweKsSvzSmL
He had strength now. Real strength, gifted by divine resurrection. But his body didn't know what to do with it. His mind gave commands expecting the response of his old, broken flesh - and his muscles answered with overwhelming force he couldn't control.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKm2enT4vIc
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMeoXLvkyIs
The weapon made no protest. Silent Moon followed every motion with perfect balance, its weight barely felt in his grip.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuz6DsHdMp2
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3njLMFpFr
It wasn't the blade that was clumsy.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJBsR2UZu2
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡktguRGAsXn
It was him.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZTQN5csE0
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwhq40t7gP
Cel stood motionless for a moment, shoulders rising and falling with each breath. Frustration coiled tight in his chest, hot and familiar.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBRLBd4SsQ
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5VghIlSl2
‘Focus.’123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95KlLuPKRj
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtuhrEsBqJr
He closed his eyes briefly, forcing the heat down. Getting angry wouldn't help. He needed to adjust. Learn this body's limits the same way he'd learned to survive that cell - through observation and adaptation.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1L9VRbZGXy
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajCsgLOYZL
When he opened his eyes again, his vision had narrowed.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAEfkxfe8Z
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8c9HKOrnp
Not to the empty Ashlands or the distant horizon.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFySVhqpgKH
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhYeE51MPz
Just to what he could feel.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC070mNBwMH
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ImLQPV7JB
The brittle ground beneath his feet. The silk wrapping against his palm. The quiet hum of power coiled beneath his skin, waiting.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDUJ1pA13s
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3Nyh3uxZP
He readied the blade again. Slower this time.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlgEtUfUrE
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSfrg0F1jSz
His weight shifted onto his back foot. Core tightened. Front foot lifted slightly, hovering.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hE6p9O9td
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGoj63AVfcn
Then forward.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZz4xnadlPl
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SClL1UQXE
A thrust. Clean. Measured.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaU4vixGCwv
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡivxaXwpobc
His arm extended at the speed he intended - not perfect, but closer. The blade's tip drove straight ahead, cutting through air without that wild surge of uncontrolled strength.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4YsBaYmAe
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIb3WkE8IAn
His balance held.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNctSJpXXm
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMiPgk81M1
When he pulled back, his feet stayed planted exactly where he'd put them.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehrCSHLZGA
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LrOMMIQXV
Better.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27eil3GBdi
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZrgtrnwIJ
Not good. Not even competent by any real standard.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfK2ovcYSR
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDMyIKS3Y4
But better.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bRgGnqc36
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZs5upaVca
Cel let the tension drain and glanced down at the blade in his hand.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYD9BZjRG3
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbR1Cqs86yT
Then froze.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNVJvNPtgZ
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9AFtdT5kL
Two more moon phases had ignited.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIkA98ypBE
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIe0rahXYeO
Now all six crescents on the outer edges shone along Silent Moon's length, leaving only the full moon and the half-moons at the center unlit, dark and waiting.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGh2jdWwucx
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIkwdtc0XG
Cel's breath caught.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0ShLnB49f
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoS6ieNDAep
The blade hadn't responded to strength. Hadn't cared about perfect form or technique he didn't possess.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLlRiNj4nU
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dwkcnziyT
It had responded to focus.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLM8myJ7wPy
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPoXDAMnoU
To the moment his mind and body had aligned.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2kdTZWREj
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7fcdo0rMR
Something warm flickered in his chest. Not pride - he had no right to that yet. But recognition.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtvzLEKKQp
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqw28Bag80
The weapon saw him - just like the Moon Goddess did.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJke6wR3zlG
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEmP58LBCT
Not what he pretended to be. Not what others wanted him to be.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0JcEQNO9T
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17qZ9YU2dG
Just what he was in each moment - distracted or centered, scattered or focused.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtD0JcPnR5n
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxymd8yxv3L
And it reflected that truth without judgment.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx90Ezmjdhp
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVieyD0CqAY
Cel's fingers tightened around the hilt, that warmth spreading.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYhVc3b7V2
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDXHi7l1Jsw
He adjusted his stance again, more confident this time. Weight back. Core engaged. Blade raised.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftoGjoc5LG
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZbuLaoqYl
A downward cut. Precise. Controlled.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLuKpG6yDV
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSqNcscfhA
His front foot stepped forward—123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4ySWdpSLf
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFNhAEYImF
—and sank.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezoQ0xjAs2
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrafKdQCe4
The ash gave way beneath his heel. His weight pitched forward, balance destroyed before the cut even began.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSc2PPkoV1g
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftPeMDVs1p
Cel tried to compensate mid-swing.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaptNQZmphZ
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4m7LsZ6eQR
His arm jerked back. The blade pitched upward, tip veering wide. His back leg locked, and he nearly went down on one knee before catching himself.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzw5bfalmD0
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtckf8MZNvQ
Clumsy. Terrible.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qPrfHVGsa
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdyKXIzlwi
He straightened slowly, jaw clenched, and looked down at Silent Moon.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppNFwXUdjg
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VxydJv6xi
The two crescents beside the half-moons had gone dark again.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBKtROlV5q
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SS32iNVIU
But not just them.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5wekPBkme
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8LYkvIy2w
Two more phases had dimmed as well - the quarters, one on each side. Their light snuffed out like candles in sudden wind.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRnIc7TGLx
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKpoSsp0tj
Only two remained lit now. The outer crescents, glowing faintly at the edges of the blade.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHRLQleu2KD
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeo2wACvC3K
Cel stared at the darkened symbols.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nFB3XmBN4
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2DC2QYGHs
He understood now.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6J1h9meWTi
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RUsxDRBEj
This wasn't a tool he could master through repetition or brute force. Silent Moon demanded more than technique. It demanded something he'd spent years trying to bury beneath rage and survival instinct.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4O9BKVpw4
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDkMGc23Xi
Presence.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXSpcd0ndk
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡke9xHgKiON
Awareness of himself - not just his body's movements, but his mind's state. Every flicker of doubt. Every surge of confidence. Every moment of clarity or chaos.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfVMK8oZI4
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfmm0XMyHj
The blade would reflect all of it.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjc5e1N8Cw0
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGW5bVis1C
Yet he didn't understand what those reflections actually did. What power they unlocked or withheld. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPctHFBTPRK
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7YCuk9pFfe
He would have to learn that.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdFKbb2wWf
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hnsnPSYKj
But now. Not today.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCQDi1i0ou
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfN4TKxIEXd
Expecting to master a divine weapon in the span of minutes was absurd.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡapAKk3UXrW
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78VdDsRKxm
His fingers loosened slightly on the hilt, tension draining from his shoulders.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIiGu5uwjYc
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLnwF1MXOv
Understanding would come.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4bkjgWp0z
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2RDkSTfueL
Eventually.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpiONVUuJUg
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYRA8SYL7s
First, he needed to understand his other gifts.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4HE1FMdk2
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qfttqalpk
Cel dismissed Silent Moon with a thought.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrnmCIcEMh
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbUuM7O2jL
The blade dissolved into moonlight, threads of pale radiance unraveling until nothing remained but empty air. The connection didn't sever - he could still feel the weapon's presence within him, waiting just beneath the surface of reality.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimM8Rl5rcU
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBybe2MwN4
Ready when he needed it.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVWI58qDqf
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijs0gLhYHz
His attention turned inward, reaching for the authority of White Death.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAtjdeMjA0
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtyn6tsdpPg
Frostmark.
and then Add to home screen.