Ashiro steps forward, feeling everything. The flame coursing through his condensed aura. The burning perseverance coursing through his veins. But the one thing that he couldn't sense was the possibility of Midori winning.
"We could've just walked away from this, settled our differences."
Midori scoffed at Ashiro's words, disgusted by the thought of mercy or kindness. The mere thought made him repulsed from even considering it.
He raised his left arm, slamming through it with a burst of green flames. "Your weakness makes me disgusted. The weak are always preyed upon by the strong. The weak always lose, no matter how creative or kind they are!"
Ashiro squeezed his fist in response to Midori's claim about the role of those lacking strength."Is that what it's like for you?"
Midori flinched, startled by Ashiro's assumption. "So you know what my life was like back in Seoul, huh?"
Ashiro nodded, showing what he knew about Midori. "Of course I did, I know what it's like to feel weak and be weak. However, I refused to stay weak and no matter how bad it got. I never let it affect me. My one question to you now is, what makes you strong?"
Midori thought for a moment, pondering it. "I don't know... I-"
Ashiro then interrupted him. "It's your family. You strive to protect your sister. But you don't want others to know, so what do you do? You push them away, make them fear you. It makes them not even consider harming your family."
Midori gritted his teeth in anger, slamming his fist straight at Ashiro's face. "SHUT UP!" A loud sound of both the attack and yelling from Midori echoes from the hallway.
Fumiko shields Kohaku from the impact with lunar energy.
As the dust cleared, Midori's fist was caught. Ashiro stood there with a hand that had captured Midori's. "Stop lying to yourself."
Ashiro's grip tightened, throwing Midori straight into a wall. "KEUGH!?" He groaned in pain as Ashiro slammed him into the wall. "What do you want me to do then, oh wise one!?"
Ashiro stared at him as his opponent was trapped against the wall. "Forgive yourself, you might have been weak. However, you never stayed weak. You gained strength, be it in a sick & twisted way."
Ashiro then released him, walking over towards Fumiko and Kohaku. His hair falls down, back into the messy hairstyle he had previously. And the blue flaming hair turns back into its usual black color.
"Are both okay?" Ashiro asked, needing to know if Fumiko and Kohaku were harmed.
Fumiko smiled and began standing up. "Nah, I'm fine. I even stopped Azami from doing anymore damage that we already did to this damn hallway."
Ashiro looks around, seeing the damaged floors, walls, ceilings, and even the other side of the hallway being slightly damaged. "Oops?" Ashiro said casually while shrugging his shoulders.
"Ahem!"
Ashiro, Fumiko, and Kohaku immediately turn around, seeing Kaeden glaring at them. "Do you have an explanation for this, Ashiro?"
---
Ashiro walks into an office, and nostalgia flows into his mind as a smile forms across his face. "(Reminds me of when I got detention in elementary school.)"
The door behind Ashiro then opens and a grey-haired man with a squared face enters. His left cheek had a scar in the shape of an X and his face was disappointed and stern. That look made Ashiro feel uneasy.
"Speak, boy." The man said with a deep, commanding tone. A drop of cold sweat dripped from Ashiro's chin. He felt nervous and uneasy from this man's strong presence.
"I said speak." His voice was more threatening than before.
[Skill: Ruler's Aura Activated!]
A blue screen appears from the man's point of view, a messagefrom the system. Showing him what Ashiro was doing.
Ashiro felt an immense pressure crushing him. It felt like the weight of the world was literally on his shoulders.
'Damn, this old guy is strong as hell. Just who the hell is he?'
[Warning! Your opponent is way too bloodlusted to resist!]
'You gonnabe fucking kidding me!'
[Anymore exposure to this bloodlust will severely injure your revenant cores!]
Ashiro gritted his teeth, digging his feet deeper into the ground.
'Like I'd give in to submission!'
[Elemental Nexus Activated!]
[Burning Veins of Fierce Flames Selected!]
Ashiro's veins glow blue and his flames get stronger, along with his compressed output of aura. "I refuse!"
He could barely stand and basic body functions like breathing, and keeping his eyes open felt torturous. Ashiro didn't care though, this pain and agony were nothing compared to the emotional pain his father put him through.
The man then stood from his desk and walked up to Ashiro. Every step he took felt like a hammer smacking against Ashiro's flaming aura, and a feeling crept into his mind. It was something he had never felt before, Fear. It scrambled with Ashiro's head but he continued to stand up to the terrifying man.
[Ruler's Aura deactivated!]
The room decompressed and Ashiro could breathe and stand again. But he didn't dare undo his elemental nexus.
The man then smirked, clapping his hands slowly. The sound of his hands clapping against one another echoed powerfully.
Ashiro was confused, not knowing how to react. Hell, could he even do anything with this monster of a revenant user in the same room as him?
'This guy is just weirding me out!'
The old man then stops clapping his hands and clears his throat. "Ahem."
He then fixed his tie on his suit and sat back down in his seat.
"Looks like Kenzo was right about you, Ashiro Tensai. You are strong and resilient as they say. It's a strength that most at this academy lack. Except for our number one student. Ken Nakamura the king of Nexus."
Ashiro smirked a little bit, but didn't let his guard down, keeping the elemental nexus skill active."So?"
"You have skills worth more than you can hope for."
Ashiro frowned, not buying the compliments. "Who the hell are you?"
The man chuckled at Ashiro's serious look. "My name is Kouji Takiyama, one of the strongest revenant rankers in all of Japan."
Ashiro's eyebrows raised a bit from the surprised reveal from Kouji. He was fairly impressed by the man before him.
'Interesting, I wonder what his innate technique is?'
Kouji then smirks as Ashiro's slight surprise from his claim of being one of the strongest revenant rankers in Japan.
"Do you know why we train the revenant users here?" Kouji asked Ashiro.
"Nah, I never really gave it any thought. I just want to gain strength so I can protect those I hold dear to me."
Kouji smiled at Ashiro's response. "We help with not only a place to stay, but our training involves finding your style of revenant usage and unlocking your true unbridled soul!"
Kouji's eyes then glowed orange, his revenant rising in output as he stood from his desk. "I created this place so we could have protectors all across Japan that could save and strengthen the weak, while also crippling the wrongfully strong!"
Ashiro jumps back and his body feels the same pressure from a few seconds ago. 'THIS GUY'S FUCKING INSANE!'
---
Ashiro exits Kouji's office, and as he walks down the hall to the combat classes Ashiro could only think of Kouni's words.
"We need heroes in this world, hell I'd settle for vigilantes."
"Isn't Ken a better candidate for becoming a hero?"
"No, he has a good heart and all. However, he's too stubborn. Also, he refused my offer and said we'd only drive the world into more unpredictability and chaos. But I know you can be a sovereign of hope for Nexus Academy!"
Ashiro came back to the present, scoffing at the thought he could be a beacon of hope for the people at the school.'Yeah right, like I could be a beacon of hope. That role fits Kodak more. His power and merciful actions to help others are what make him so qualified.'
A large metal door swings open and then slams shut with a loud bang that echoes through the gym. Ashiro enters while wearing a black tank top, some dark red shorts, and grey sneakers.
Kaeden looks across from him, glaring at him. "You're late, Mr. Tensai."
Ashiro glared back, his revenant flaring up like his blue flames. "Don't call me that!"
A vein bursts through Kaeden's forehead, and anger enters his mind as he hears the back talk from Ashiro. 'Damn brat.'
"Today is centered around fighting revenant spirits, so you can get prepared for the future when you graduate."
Kaeden then gestures with his hand. "BRING OUT THE SIMULATION!"
Multiple types of monsters appear instantly, holographic figures that have multiple teeth. Their bodies were vile and gross, and they had multiple jaws.
Kaeden then looks away from the group of students and points at someone. "Come on up, Ashiro."
'Shit'
---
Ashiro looked at the holographic beasts, their looks made him uneasy, but Ashiro didn't care.
'Anything to get stronger I guess.'
A small tablet then appears from the ground, metal plates shifting open as a metal arm stands up.
[Which rank would you like to face?]
Ashiro tapped the top button. 'S-Rank for sure.'
He then saw the hologram change into a beast with 3 jaws, and metallic armor surrounding the mutated dog-like creature.
'Creepy, damn thing gives me bad memories. Like when my Mother got bitten by a rabid dog.'
"For choosing a revenant spirit of B-Rank or higher, the challenger must create or choose a weapon!"
Ashiro smirked, and clapped his hands together, creating a flaming spear of blue flames.
[Inferno Spear Artifact Selected!]
Ashiro smiled with confidence as the flaming spear entered his hands once more. 'Forget I could use this.'
[Inferno Spear has multiplied the user's proficiency with the flame core by 50%]
Ashiro smirks, spinning the spear around as flames light up from the blade. A blue light reflects off the hologram as it comes to life.
"Didn't know I'd have to fight a two-mouthed mutt."
Fumiko, Kohaku, and Akari watch within the crowd, seeing Ashiro conjuring up the spear. "Looks like he's finally showing his fangs," Fumiko said confidently.
Kohaku smirked at Ashiro's confidence and cheered him on. "YOU GOT THIS BABE, KICK IT'S ASS!"
Akari closely watched Ashiro, ready to see how he fought.
Deep within the crowd, Masaki studies Ashiro's fighting stance from afar, holding a notebook that has descriptions of multiple people. One of Kodak and another being Fumiko. The third description was of Ashiro Tensai.
'Looks like I better report back soon to him.'
The notebook then closes shut as Masaki observes the revenant spirit. She muttered under her breath. "Looks like he's ready."
Ashiro then saw the holographic texture of the creature dissipate, catching him slightly off guard. 'I can feel the intense breathing mixed with the bloodlust coming from this mutt.'
"BEGIN!" Kaeden shouts as he blows into his whistle. A high-pitched noise echoes through the gym as the creature rushes at Ashiro.
A roar echoes from the twin jaws of the beast. "GRAAAAHHHHH!!!"
Ashiro smirked, not impressed with the creature's head-on assault. 'Predictable.'
[Flaming Flight Activated!]
Flames erupt from Ashiro's feet, propelling him into the air instantly. The revenant beast roars as it leaps into the air towards Ashiro, but he maneuvers around the monster.
His inferno spear glows blue and flames burst from the weapon as it slashes a large wave of fire at the creature.
[1st Flame Formation Fiery Fury!]
Ashiro leans forward, flying with flame blasting beneath his feet. His spear was tightly gripped.
The revenant spirit tries slashing at Ashiro with its razor-sharp claws. But the flames used for flight change direction very rapidly, helping Ashiro dodge around the vicious attacks.
"Too slow."
A burst of blue flames explodes from the spear as Ashiro slashes through the belly of the creature.
The body of the revenant spirit then flickered and eventually dissipated.
[Congratulations you have beaten an S-Rank Revenant Spirit!]
Ashiro smirks before slowly descending and making the inferno spear disappear into thin air.
'Looks like I got the basics of the style of fighting with my flame core. Flying into the air and being aggressive with my inferno spear. An Aggressive state for offense that keeps me with an advantage.'
A roar then explodes through the gym as multiple students rush over towards Ashiro. "THAT WAS AWESOME!"
"HOW DID YOU LEARN TO FIGHT LIKE THAT!?"
"DID YOU CONDENSE YOUR REVENANT CORES YET!?"
"YOU ARE AN S-RANK!"