(The Time Stilled World, Moltherak’s Floating Island, Leo’s POV)
*Exhale*
Leo let out a slow, deliberate breath as he stood once again at the edge of the floating island, the stilled ocean stretching endlessly before him, its unmoving surface reflecting a sky that never changed, while behind him stood Moltherak with his wings folded, the Dragon’s ancient presence heavy enough that he could feel it without turning around.
"Remember this, boy," Moltherak said, as his voice carried calmly but without warmth, "I was able to save you last time only because I traced the exact path you took before you slipped into the void."
He paused for just long enough to let the words settle.
"I cannot guarantee that I will be able to repeat that feat again," Moltherak continued, as his tone hardened. "If you falter once more and find yourself drifting into the void again, the chances are high that you will die a brutal death this time."
Leo felt his hand tremble at the warning, a faint but undeniable shake that ran through his fingers as the memory of smooth gray nothingness stirred in his mind, bringing with it the echo of silence and the weightless pull that had nearly swallowed him whole.
He understood now.
Not just intellectually, but viscerally.
He understood why Space Tunnelling was not a common method of travel in the modern universe, or why it was reserved only for those reckless enough to gamble their existence on precision alone, because the technique demanded perfection from beings who were still capable of negligence and fear.
"Do not let the fear of failure consume you," Moltherak said, as he fixed his gaze on Leo’s trembling hand.
"Fight it. Fight it now, before it grows into something worse."
His voice sharpened.
"I can see your hand shaking and if you do not conquer that fear here, at this very moment, it will only get tougher and tougher from here onwards..."
He warned, as Leo closed his eyes briefly and drew in another breath, this one deeper than the last, as he forced his thoughts into alignment.
’I can do this,’ Leo thought as he forced himself to acknowledge the fear rather than deny it, as he tightened his grip and commanded his muscles to obey him instead of his instincts.
’Calm down!’
He urged, as thankfully, little by little, the tremor started to fade and his fingers started to steady.
"Alright, here I go—"
He muttered, as he tilted the aura dagger with deliberate care, committing the precise angle he needed to slash into muscle memory once more, as he practiced slashing at precisely 31.45° a 100 times before opening the actual tunnel.
*SLASH*
*FSSHHH*
The fabric of space tore open as the tunnel formed, reality warping immediately around the incision as colours twisted unnaturally and depth folded in on itself, creating an opening that felt both familiar and terrifying.
*Thump* *Thump*
His heart began to pound harder as he stared at the tunnel, the memory of the void clawing at the back of his mind while doubt whispered that one wrong step would drag him back into that smooth, endless descent, as for a fraction of a second, his legs resisted—
’What if you fail again?’
A voice whispered in his head, however, instead of listening to it, Leo clenched his fists in anger.
"Move," he muttered to himself, as he struck his thigh sharply and forced his body to obey.
"If you want to be the strongest. If you want to save Veyr. Then you don’t get to hesitate here."
He said, motivating himself, as despite the fear still coiling tightly in his chest, he stepped forward once more, entering the space tunnel again not because the fear was gone, but because he refused to let it decide his fate a second time.
*Step* *Step*
The slope formed beneath his feet exactly as calculated, neither too steep nor too shallow, as the tunnel curved smoothly forward instead of collapsing inward, as he moved without hesitation, his aura dagger already raised, his posture aligned, his focus narrowed to a single point of intent.
*Slash*
The first temporal membrane parted cleanly as it offered the familiar tremor of resistance through which he advanced immediately, as he refused to allow his thoughts to wander or memory to intrude, as he committed fully to the rhythm Moltherak had drilled into him.
*Slash*
Another membrane gave way at precisely the same angle, thirty one point four five degrees, as the slope maintained its stability while the tunnel extended forward like a blade cut through silk.
*Slash*
*Slash*
.
.
.
*Slash*
He did not rush as urgency tempted him forward, nor did he slow as doubt threatened to creep in, choosing instead to move within the cadence he had forged, as he refused to count aloud or let numbers dominate his thoughts, as he instead relied on instinct, repetition, and the power of his subconscious mind which tracked exactly how far along he was on the path.
*Step* *Step*
Membrane after membrane parted beneath his strikes as each one met the dagger at the same perfect angle, responding with the same measured resistance, while Leo advanced deeper without deviation, without tremor, without allowing the memory of the void to surface again.
As he faced no emptiness this time.
No sudden descent.
No loss of structure.
Only walls, only rhythm, only purpose.
His aura shield remained steady around his mind as cosmic pressure brushed against it repeatedly, testing but never overwhelming, while his focus remained absolute, so complete that even the sensation of distance began to lose meaning, replaced instead by the certainty that he was moving exactly where he intended to go.
Eventually, the membranes began to thin as resistance shifted beneath his perception, while the slope eased just enough for him to recognize the change instantly.
The exit vector responded.
The tunnel brightened ahead, as without hesitation or pause, Leo slashed through the final membrane as the fourth dimension split apart one last time, releasing him back into three dimensional space.
*FSHHH*
*LAND*
Light returned as gravity reclaimed him, sound rushing back while Planet Ixtal’s air filled his lungs, the weight of reality settling fully around him as his boots struck solid ground in a controlled landing.
He did not stumble.
He did not falter.
He stood still for a single breath, eyes sweeping the horizon as a soft smile played out on his lips.
"I did it..... I actually did it...."
He mused, as he felt a huge psychological barrier lifting off his back.