They decided to leave the office and leave for training. "Let's meet at the bar in a month," they said, and each of them started running in opposite directions.
By accelerating time, Ken began stealing time-containing items around him without people noticing and absorbing energy. The energy he absorbed from each item increased his time energy and helped him regain his strength. While Ken continued this process rapidly, he set a new goal for himself: to find the Shadow and defeat him.
Nijin, on the other hand, was looking for ways to increase his void energy. He began to think about how he could absorb the void energy to become stronger alongside the Kage. He could adapt the method Ken used to increase time energy to his own situation. In order to draw the void energy, he had to transfer the void energy to the void sword and cut the void and draw energy from it.
Within a few days, Nijin made a small scratch into nothingness and began to draw energy from it. He stabbed his sword into the ground and tried to feel the energy waves around him. With each wave, it attracted the energy of nothingness and became stronger. Although this process was slow and painful, Nijin continued with determination.
As Kage continued to kill, he increased the dark energy gathering around him. He gained more power with each person he killed, and fed his own energy by consuming their souls. With each murder, he took on a darker aura and his power gradually increased.
Ken and Nijin were also becoming stronger in their own way. To increase his time energy, Ken would steal time-containing items at every opportunity and absorb the energy. He was faster and stronger now. Nijin, on the other hand, continued to absorb the energy of nothingness. Opening the void gates and drawing energy from them was difficult and painful, but Nijin continued with determination.
A month later, when the day to meet at the bar approached, each of them had taken great steps in their own way and had become stronger. When they met again at the bar, Nijin and Ken had become much stronger compared to last month; There was no trace of their old self. However, when Kage kicked in the bar door, he scared everyone away with his spiritual pressure. Nijin and Ken had become stronger, but Kage was much stronger; The gap between them was getting bigger and bigger. Kage continued to grow stronger as he killed, becoming the easiest person to gain power among them.
Kage increased his spiritual pressure, "Are you all here? Do you think you're getting stronger?" yell.
Ken protected himself by using time energy to avoid being crushed under the Kage's pressure. "Yes, Kage. We have become stronger. But where will your path lead us? More bloodshed?"
Nijin surrounded himself with void energy. "We have become stronger too, Kage. But not by such murderous means as you. This dark way of yours could destroy us."
Kage twirled his scythe in his hand and said, "All means are fair to power. Shedding blood, consuming souls... These are just the beginning. If you are too weak to walk this path, retreat."
Ken whispered to Nijin, "The Kage is many times stronger than us. We cannot resist him in our current sealed state. We must find a way to become stronger like the Kage."
The Kage noticed their whispering and laughed harshly. "You're making plans, aren't you? But remember, power is everything. No one can stand against me."
Nijin and Ken stood opposite the Kage. The Kage's strength was still many times greater than theirs, but they were now more determined and better prepared. They knew they had to become stronger to walk alongside the Kage and survive this dark path.
"The fun is just beginning," Kage said with an evil smile, raising his scythe. "Come on, let's test our powers."