Hiruzen stumbled through the dense forest, his legs aching and his mind clouded with frustration. The two days he'd spent chasing rumors about Skyzen had led him nowhere but dead ends. The weight of his desperation pressed down on him like a storm cloud.

  He kicked a rock out of his path, then picked up another, freezing it into an ice ball with a flick of his wrist before hurling it into the distance.

  Hiruzen: "DAMN IT! I'm so sick of this BS!"

  The ice ball shattered against a tree, scattering shards into the air. Hiruzen collapsed onto a fallen log, burying his head in his hands. Maybe this was all a waste of time, he thought. He wasn’t even sure where to look anymore. The thought gnawed at him, his fists clenching tightly.

  The sudden crunch of leaves behind him pulled him from his thoughts, but before he could react, a powerful fist collided with his jaw, sending him hurtling backward into a large boulder. He groaned as he struggled to his feet, blinking through the pain to see three figures standing before him.

  The one in front was a massive man clad in red and black, his muscular frame radiating an intimidating aura. Flanking him were two others: a lean young man with fiery red hair and a girl with an icy glare, her arms crossed as she studied Hiruzen with disdain.

  Asura: "So you’re the power user poking around where you shouldn’t be."

  Hiruzen spat a bit of blood onto the ground and forced a smirk. If they wanted to intimidate him, they'd have to try harder.

  Hiruzen: "And what’s it to you? Or should we talk about that tacky uniform you’re wearing? It’s more embarrassing than my school’s."

  The girl’s eyes narrowed dangerously.

  Mai: "Watch your mouth. These uniforms are the pride of Chikara Academy."

  Hiruzen: "Chikara Academy? Never heard of it. Must be pretty exclusive."

  The fiery-haired young man stepped forward, conjuring a ball of flame in his hand with a flourish.

  Kai: "That’s because it is. For people like us—people with powers." He grinned. "The name’s Kai Kibutsuji. Nice to meet you, Ice Head. Mai, go ahead and introduce yourself. And you too, Sir."

  This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.

  The girl, clearly annoyed, sighed dramatically.

  Mai: "Fine. I’m Mai Kusakabe. And honestly? It’s not nice to meet you. You didn’t exactly make a good first impression."

  The large man, who’d remained silent until now, finally spoke. His deep voice carried a surprising calmness.

  Asura: "The name’s Asura. No last name—guess you could say I’m an orphan with no records. My first name? That came from my mentor. But names are just tags to me." He smirked slightly. "And that punch earlier? Consider it a test. Wanted to see if you could take a hit."

  Hiruzen rubbed his jaw, his smirk returning. "Yeah, well, one hell of a test. So… you’re all like me? With powers?"

  Kai: "You bet. And we all attend Chikara Academy. It’s located about 5,000 feet above Osaka. Not many of us, just around 150 students, but every single one of us is special. My power’s called Conflagration. I can create flames—and when I focus hard enough, I can control existing fire, even if it’s not mine."

  Hiruzen: "Cool, I guess. Never been a fan of the heat, though. Side effect of being an Ice Head, I suppose. What about you, Mai?"

  She arched an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed by his nickname for her.

  Mai: "If you must know, my power is called Shadowwalker. I can enter a shadow realm under my complete control and drag others into it. Normally, I can’t conjure shadows outside that realm, but during a full moon? Let’s just say you don’t want to cross me then."

  Hiruzen: "Sounds terrifying. Guess I’d better stay on your good side during full moons." He turned his attention to Asura. "And you, Mr. Leader Man?"

  Asura chuckled.

  Asura: "BodyBulk. I can amplify my muscles to insane levels—six stages, to be exact. At Stage 3, I can shatter mountains with a single punch. At Stage 6? I leave craters in the moon. My durability scales too—I’ve taken blasts equivalent to three nukes and walked away."

  Hiruzen: "Impressive. Hand-to-hand combat with you sounds like suicide. But all that muscle must slow you down to a snail’s pace."

  Asura: "It does. That’s why I amp up my leg muscles for speed when I need it." His eyes gleamed as he studied Hiruzen. "What about you, boy? What’s your power?"

  Hiruzen hesitated, then raised his hand, summoning a jagged shard of ice.

  Hiruzen: "For now? Just ice. But I know there’s more to it—I can feel it."

  Mai gave a sly smile. "Well, now that we’ve exchanged pleasantries, can we get down to business, Sir?"

  Asura nodded, stepping forward.

  Asura: "Hiruzen Yuki, we’re here to invite you to join Chikara Academy—the most prestigious school for powers, created by none other than Skyzen himself."

  At the mention of Skyzen, Hiruzen’s heart skipped a beat. He straightened, his mind racing. Skyzen. The name that had haunted him for years, the one tied to everything that had gone wrong in his life. Could this academy bring him closer to the answers he so desperately sought?

  Hiruzen: "Skyzen, huh? Alright. Count me in."

  Asura’s grin widened. "Good.

  But first… there’s a little test."

  End Chapter