Evening -- Academy Training Grounds -- October 10th 2024

  The academy's training hall was dimly lit, the overhead lights dimmed to conserve energy after hours. The cavernous space—normally filled with the sounds of dozens of students practicing—now echoed with just a few sets of footsteps. The air was thick with anticipation, charged with the unspoken knowledge that this wasn't just practice—this was preparation for something more.

  Four figures stepped inside, their silhouettes casting long shadows across the reinforced concrete floor.

  Rei.

  Raiden.

  Sama.

  Gojima.

  Each carried themselves differently: Rei with quiet intensity, Raiden with controlled power, Sama with measured confidence, and Gojima with brute strength evident in every movement. They had arranged this after-hours session through Academy channels, seeking a space where they could push their limits without the constraints of formal training.

  In the corner, Hiro sat on a bench, lazily observing with a bored expression. His gills fluttered slightly as he yawned, stretching his webbed fingers. His physical abilities were abysmal, making him a better spectator than a fighter—though his regenerative capabilities made him invaluable for other reasons.

  Raiden cracked his knuckles, his body flickering with lightning as he stepped forward into the center of the hall. Small arcs of electricity danced across his skin, illuminating his features in brief flashes of blue-white light. "This is perfect. I need to refine my close-quarters technique—overwhelm my opponent before they can react."

  Rei rolled his shoulders, his muscles tensing visibly beneath his training clothes. "I need to push further." His fingers twitched slightly as he tried to tap into the voices in his head, the strange presence he'd felt during Kage's test, but nothing responded.

  Whatever is inside me, Rei thought grimly, it only comes out under certain conditions. Fear? Pain? I need to figure out how to access it willingly, or I'm going to be a goner when real danger comes.

  Despite his outward composure, Rei felt a flutter of concern. Each time the voices or strange power had manifested, it had been in moments of extreme duress. Never when he'd tried to summon them deliberately.

  Sama stood calmly, his hands clasped behind his back, observing the others with analytical eyes. "You two should be careful," he mused, a slight smile playing at his lips. "Gojima and I don't plan to go easy."

  Gojima swung his massive battle axe once, the weapon cutting through the air with a menacing whoosh before coming to rest against his shoulder. Standing nearly seven feet tall, his imposing frame made the weapon seem almost reasonable in proportion. "You'd best be ready to take a beating."

  With that, the battle began.

  Sama vs. Gojima

  The moment the sparring session started, Sama wasted no time. He raised his hands, fingers splayed in a complex pattern, and from the void of the Other World, his first summon emerged—

  A swarm of locusts with eerie human faces.

  The room buzzed violently as the creatures materialized, hundreds of insect bodies with disturbingly humanoid features crawling through tears in reality. Their wings created a deafening chorus as they latched onto Gojima, their grotesque, whispering mouths siphoning mana from his body like parasites.

  Gojima narrowed his eyes. "Tch."

  In a single motion, he lifted his massive battle axe and spun in a deadly whirlwind, the sheer force of his swing creating a small vortex around him.

  The locusts scattered in an instant, severed wings and bodies raining onto the floor. The carnage was impressive, but Sama had already summoned something else.

  A blur of movement—

  A Cockatrice shot toward Gojima like a bullet, talons extended, its half-rooster, half-serpent form streaking across the training hall with deadly intent.

  Gojima barely reacted in time. He swung his axe downward, aiming to bisect the creature in a single stroke.

  SLASH—

  The Cockatrice was nearly split in half, blood spraying across the floor as the blade connected with supernatural flesh.

  But then—

  Another wound appeared—this time, aimed at Sama.

  A delayed cut.

  Gojima's Concept: Delay had activated, his previous strike echoing forward, aiming to finish Sama moments after his initial attack.

  Interesting, Sama thought, his analytical mind instantly processing what he had just witnessed. He can swing his axe on something physical and delay the cut to appear elsewhere. But the delayed cut is significantly reduced in power and barely a threat.

  The slash left only a shallow cut on Sama's cheek, barely breaking the skin.

  If I can distract him with my locusts, I can win this. His Delay concept requires precision—chaos will disrupt his focus.

  Sama narrowly dodged both attacks, his eyes sharp, calculating every movement. The delayed cut sliced through the air where he had been standing, carving a deep groove into the reinforced wall behind him.

  Then—

  A second Cockatrice emerged.

  This one moved faster, launching itself toward Gojima with terrifying speed and force.

  Before Gojima could react—

  BOOM!

  Stolen story; please report.

  The Cockatrice slammed into him, sending him flying across the training room. His massive body crashed into the wall, creating a web of cracks in the reinforced concrete.

  Sama finally spoke, calm and composed.

  "You're keeping up well, Gojima," he admitted. "But you do understand—"

  A third summon appeared behind him.

  A Unicorn, its silver mane glowing faintly, horn gleaming with restorative energy, standing motionless beside Sama.

  Gojima's eyes locked onto it. A healer.

  "You're not fighting me alone," Sama continued. "You're fighting all of them—and I'm not even letting the Cockatrice use its full power."

  Gojima exhaled slowly, eyes sharpening.

  Sama wasn't bluffing.

  If the Cockatrice landed a proper attack, Gojima wouldn't just lose—he'd slowly turn to stone.

  The stakes were real.

  But Gojima didn't look frustrated.

  Instead—he grinned.

  "Alright," Gojima muttered, gripping his axe tighter, the weapon beginning to glow with stored energy. "Let's see how long you can keep up, summoner."

  Rei vs. Raiden

  Rei and Raiden stood opposite each other, their muscles tensed. The air between them seemed to vibrate with potential energy.

  Raiden's lightning flickered wildly, his body outlined in electric blue. Though blind, his eyes locked onto Rei with perfect focus, tracking his electromagnetic signature rather than relying on sight.

  Rei exhaled. "No holding back."

  Raiden smirked. "Wouldn't dream of it."

  In an instant, Raiden vanished.

  A streak of lightning blurred through the air, crossing the distance between them faster than the human eye could track.

  BOOM!

  Rei barely dodged, Raiden's fist grazing his ribs, the sheer force sending him skidding back across the floor. The point of impact crackled with residual electricity, leaving a scorch mark on Rei's training clothes.

  He's too fast, Rei thought, breathing heavily. I need that power. I need whatever is inside me to come out.

  He recalled the red eyes, the surges of strength that had come when he'd felt true fear facing Kage—or the strange voice calling him "brother" during the test. But how to access that power deliberately?

  Rei narrowed his eyes. He wasn't as fast as Raiden, but he didn't need to be.

  Instead, he planted his foot, anchoring himself, and the moment Raiden came in for another attack—

  Rei countered.

  His fist slammed forward, aimed at Raiden's chest with perfect timing.

  But at the last second—

  Raiden's lightning surged, his body twisting unnaturally, dodging mid-motion before landing an uppercut into Rei's jaw.

  Rei's body lifted off the ground for a moment before he landed on his feet, cracking his neck.

  Raiden grinned. "Not bad."

  Rei didn't respond. He was trying—desperately—to tap into the voices in his head, to awaken more of his power.

  But nothing happened.

  Damn it. Maybe it only responds to real danger, not sparring matches.

  As their battle continued in one corner and Sama and Gojima's fight intensified in another, the training hall echoed with the sounds of combat, each pair lost in their own struggle for dominance, unaware of what was unfolding elsewhere in the Academy.

  Kage's Mansion -- Haikito's Visit

  KNOCK. KNOCK.

  Kage smirked as he heard the knock at his door. He sipped his drink, not even bothering to look up. The crystal tumbler gleamed in the dim light as he swirled the amber liquid inside.

  "About damn time we talked. What do I owe the pleasure, blue eyes?"

  The usual arrogance. Haikito ignored it. His footsteps were slow but deliberate as he entered, his pristine suit a stark contrast to Kage's more flamboyant attire. His eyes were dull but sharp at the same time—like weapons sheathed but ready to be drawn.

  "I ran into one of your assassin buddies last night, Sylvester. He was perched above Rei's apartment—ready to make a move."

  Kage finally turned, the smirk slipping just a little. The playfulness in his expression hardened into something colder, more calculating.

  "That so?" He set down his glass, his voice more serious. "I take it you stopped him before he actually tried?"

  Haikito nodded.

  "Then did you kill him?"

  For a brief second, Haikito's piercing blue eyes burned brighter, the only indication of emotion on his otherwise impassive face.

  "No." He stepped closer. "I left him alive with a message: if they want the boy dead, they'd better send real assassins. Not a lackey."

  Kage tilted his head, amusement flickering in his expression. He understood the game being played—the calculated insult, the deliberate escalation.

  "Not a bad move." He chuckled. "Sylvester's not completely useless, but calling him a lackey? Oof. You just made his bosses nervous. If they weren't already serious before, they will be now."

  Haikito's expression didn't change. His presence darkened, filling the room with subtle pressure.

  "If they succeed with their contract, that won't be the only contract YOU will have to worry about."

  Kage leaned back against the wall, unfazed by the implied threat.

  "Oh please, Haikito. You think I don't know how this game works? You bark at the wrong people in the underworld, they're bound to send a bigger dog." His voice took on a harder edge, all traces of playfulness vanishing. "But there's no bigger dog than me within the Guild. When my six months are finished, I will kill you."

  The tension between them crackled like static electricity, two apex predators sizing each other up. This was their first meeting since Kage's initial failure to assassinate Haikito—a failure that had led to their current arrangement.

  Haikito raised an eyebrow, a hint of mockery in his otherwise emotionless face. "If you want to kill me so badly, why don't you do it now? This seems like the perfect opportunity."

  Kage's fingers tightened around his glass, his pride visibly wounded by the taunt. For a brief moment, his shadow flickered despite the consistent lighting—a manifestation of his barely controlled anger.

  "Assassins follow the rules, no matter the cost," he said through gritted teeth. "Don't fuck with me. You know damn well why I haven't taken matters into my own hands."

  The unspoken contract between them—Kage's commitment to train Rei for six months in exchange for his freedom—hung in the air between them, binding and inescapable.

  Haikito's jaw clenched slightly, a hairline crack in his perfect composure.

  "They won't wait long to retaliate. My sources suggest they're already preparing a more coordinated effort." His voice lowered. "You have days at most before they try again—with greater numbers and better planning."

  "And if that happens, it won't just be the boy they're after. Your entire Academy could become collateral damage."

  The air in the room grew heavier—the presence of two men who were used to being at the top of the food chain, two apex predators sizing each other up.

  "You have a contract to uphold," Haikito continued, his tone carrying an unspoken threat. "Make sure that boy is trained and ready to fight for his life. Don't waste time with games and theatrics."

  "I need him combat-ready. The Guild doesn't send warning shots—the next attempt will be calculated, precise, and merciless."

  For a long moment, Kage said nothing.

  Then—he grinned.

  "You're really that pressed about the brat, huh?" He stood up, stretching. "Fine. A couple days is plenty of time to teach the brat what it means to take a life." He moved toward the window, looking out at the city lights. "I'll make sure he's 'ready to fight for his life.' But if you're so damn concerned... maybe you should do more than just play bodyguard from the shadows."

  Then, with a low chuckle, he added—

  "Because when my contract is up, I'll be coming for you next, boss."

  They stared at each other, neither backing down, the tension between them almost visible in the air.

  "The boy's potential is worth the risk," Haikito said, his voice suddenly softer but no less intense. "You've seen glimpses of it—what lies beneath the surface. That's why whoever put a hit on him wants Rei eliminated before he fully awakens."

  "And what exactly is he awakening into?" Kage challenged, eyes narrowing behind his shades.

  Haikito didn't answer, which told Kage more than words could have.

  Sebastian finally stepped between them, his butler's composure unruffled despite the dangerous energy filling the room.

  "Master Kage, please."

  Kage scoffed, turning away, throwing his robe over his shoulders with theatrical flair.

  "I'm starting to think you've got it out for the brat, Haikito. You involved me in this mess—you better hope I don't regret it."

  Then, as Haikito turned to leave, Kage's voice grew quiet but sharp.

  "One last thing... You always know everything. So who put the hit on the brat?"

  Haikito stopped in the doorway.

  His piercing blue eyes turned even colder.

  "I don't know."

  A pause.

  "But trust me, Kage... There are those watching you now. And they are waiting."

  Sebastian closed the door behind him.

  "Master," Sebastian asked, watching Kage closely. "What are you planning next?"

  Kage grinned, adjusting his shades.

  "A few days is plenty of time to teach the brat what it means to take a life."