Adam woke up. But did he really? He could not open his eyes, and he could not move.
("Is this… sleep paralysis?") [Adam]
A feminine, but cold voice spoke out.
"What is it that you desire?" [???]
("Who is that? Is she speaking into my mind?") [Adam]
"Who are you?" [Adam]
He realized he can move his mouth.
"What is it that you desire?" [???]
Ignoring his question, she repeated her sentence.
("Will she reply if I answer her question?") [Adam]
"I… want to become a hero." [Adam]
The voice became silent. A moment passed until it spoke once again.
"Confirmed. What would you do for your desire?" [???]
("What would I do? Does it mean what lengths?") [Adam]
"...I will make the weak self that I am, strong. To the point that the strong will become weak in my eyes." [Adam]
The silence came once again.
("Is it done asking?") [Adam]
"Confirmed. How will you achieve such a desire?" [???]
("It's not that different from the first question.") [Adam]
"I will train like no other." [Adam]
And the silence passed over again.
"Confirmed. Why do you desire such a thing?" [???]
("Why huh... ") [Adam]
"...When I was younger, my parents were killed by voidlings. The military wasn't able to hold them off this time because this void was the largest recorded in history. When my sister was about to die defending me, a hero came by and defeated them. Although the military compensates us and gives us money every month, I want to be strong enough to not lose what I care about. I want to show that the weak can be strong, and make the strong weak. So I will become a hero that has the weakest ability, but one of the strongest people" [Adam]
Adam's eyes were forcefully opened, an unknown tugged at his eyelids. A flash of light appeared in the darkness, and he was left in a white space.
("Where am I? Is this a dream?") [Adam]
The voice began to speak.
"For the weak to become the strong. For the strong to become the weak. I grant you access to the celestial archive." [???]
("Celestial archive? What is she talking about?") [Adam]
"A straight blade that is forged in divine lightning, said to pass judgement to all those who defy it." [???]
A long blade appeared before Adam. There was no guard on it or a hilt. It was laced in gold patterns that depicted a griffin taking flight.
("What is this?") [Adam]
"A guard worthy enough to protect all of the people, weak or strong. Only the unyielding may hold it." [???]
A sword guard appeared under the blade. It had the shape of wings and was pure white.
("Is it making the sword in front of me?") [Adam]
"Finally, a handle worthy enough for the one who shall wield it." [???]
A handle appeared on the sword, completing the build. It was a black handle that had a golden bottom. There were patterns on it that depicted two snakes wrapped around the handle.
("This sword looks amazing… This is the coolest dream I ever had!") [Adam]
"You have forged this blade with your soul. Believe in it as you believe in yourself. It will be your partner lasting a lifetime. I grant you the weapon that passes down judgement, Krino." [???]
("Krino? That's a pretty weird name.") [Adam]
"Now, awaken dungeon conqueror." [???]
"Wait, what?" [Adam]
His eyes shot open, looking at a familiar ceiling.
("Was that a dream?") [Adam]
He sat up and looked around. He was in his room once again.
("Last thing I remember was being in a dungeon with Felix…") [Adam]
He placed a hand to his forehead, easing a slight headache.
("I'm in my room so… it must've been Sebastian again…") [Adam]
The door to his room opened and Vivian came in.
"Hey, how are you feeling?" [Vivian]
The skin around her eyes seemed a bit red, as if she was crying before coming in.
"I'm fine, did you cry?" [Adam]
She walked up to Adam and slapped him atop the head.
"Ow! What was that fo-" [Adam]
She came in close and hugged him.
"You were asleep for an entire week! Do you know how worried I was?" [Vivian]
("A week?") [Adam]
He pat his sister's back and she let go.
Sniffle*
"I would tell you to take the day off from school, but you need that attendance. School starts in two hours, you can rest up a bit if you want. I'll be downstairs cooking breakfast if you need me. " [Vivian]
She made her way downstairs, leaving Adam sitting in his bed.
("A week…") [Adam]
"Wait a minute. Aw crap! I just slept through my weeks worth of vacation!" [Adam]
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
The usual routine had already happened and Adam arrived at school with Felix.
"You know I visited you everyday right?" [Felix]
"Really? Thanks man." [Adam]
"For some reason, Sebastian and Roy weren't worried at all." [Felix]
"...That's kind of mean." [Adam]
The bell rang and class started.
"Good morning everyone." [Mr. Frank]
"Good morning…" [Class]
"I see that you all miss your week of vacation already." [Mr. Frank]
The students in class were mostly sleepy and were still teary eyed.
"Before I start class, I have to introduce some special guests we have today." [Mr. Frank]
The classroom door slid open and two people walked in. They both seemed quite young and were walking with confidence. One of them was a boy with orange hair, and the other was a girl with braided purple hair.
("Wait, isn't that?") [Adam]
He noticed the uniform they were wearing and it seems like they noticed Adam's staring.
("They're second years!") [Adam]
The girl smiled and waved at Adam. Then they boy noticed Adam as well. Unlike the girl next to him, he glared instead.
"These two are the champions of the second year. They will introduce themselves shortly." [Mr. Frank]
The girl stepped forward and began to speak.
"I am Flora Evergreen, please call me Flora." [Flora]
The boy stepped up as well.
"I am Luis Strotto, you may refer to me as Luis. [Luis]
Mr. Frank put his hands together and called Adam, Felix, and Tiffany out.
"Adam, Felix, and Tiffany. You three will be the volunteers for this event." [Mr. Frank]
"Huh? We didn't volunteer." [Felix]
"This exercise won't work if it's not you three." [Mr. Frank]
"What if we don't want to? Isn't it this school's policy to keep its students free?" [Felix]
"That's the school's policy. Not mine." [Mr. Frank]
"..." [Felix]
Seeing that reason won't work against Mr. Frank, Felix stayed silent.
"No more complaints? Then we're heading out to the courtyard again." [Mr. Frank]
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Moments later, the class was in the courtyard.
"For this training exercise, we will have our champions versus the two second year champions." [Mr. Frank]
"Wait!" [Luis]
"What is it?" [Mr. Frank]
"I want to fight him one on one." [Luis]
He pointed over the class at Adam.
("What? Why would he want to fight me?") [Adam]
Mr. Frank sighs and shrugs.
"It's not my decision." [Mr. Frank]
He turned his attention to Adam before asking him a question.
"Adam, the choice is yours. Will you fight him one on one?" [Mr. Frank]
("Should I do it...?") [Adam]
He paused, thinking to himself before reaching a conclusion.
"I'll do it." [Adam]
The class erupted in surprise.
"What?! They're upperclassmen you know?" [Felix]
"...D-don't hurt yourself…" [Tiffany]
"I know, but I want to see how strong I am on my own. I can't just keep relying on you for attacking, and Tiffany's overpowered support." [Adam]
"...Don't push yourself man." [Felix]
("Showoff.") [Luis]
A few minutes later, the stage was set. Luis and Adam were standing face to face. Mr. Frank was on the side as the referee, preparing to start the match. Before the match began, Luis lowered his voice and whispered to Adam.
"Trying to go after my Flora? You're getting a beating." [Luis]
He returned to his position and readied himself.
("He wanted to fight me because Flora smiled at me?") [Adam]
He assumed a stance as well.
"Begin!" [Mr. Frank]
Adam started off sprinting at Luis.
"Too naïve!" [Luis]
He raised his hands up and slammed them into the ground.
"Golden needle!" [Luis]
The ground beneath Adam shifted strangely. Noticing the changes in the ground, Adam leapt backwards. Golden spikes shot out of the ground almost impaling Adam.
"Yikes!" [Adam]
("Tch. So close.") [Luis]
"Are you trying to kill me?" [Adam]
"I don't know, am I?!" [Luis]
He raised one arm and golden dust starts forming.
"Golden Javelin!" [Luis]
The dust merged into golden spears before launching themselves at Adam.
("I should start fighting back properly.") [Adam]
"Zero Point!" [Adam]
He gathered the spears in the air before throwing them back at Luis.
"Wha- Golden Wall!" [Luis]
Luis was stunned for a moment, but was able to use another skill to defend himself. A golden wall came out of the ground before him, blocking all the incoming spears. From behind the wall, Luis could hear:
"Pressure Cannon Version 2!" [Adam]
A hole burst open in the wall and a gust of air blasts Luis in the stomach.
"GAH!" [Luis]
He tumbled backwards, rolling a few times before getting up.
"You… You've done it now…" [Luis]
("Damn, he looks pissed.") [Adam]
Luis' face was red with anger.
"That's it. I'm going to show you the rights of a champion!" [Luis]
("Rights of a champion?") [Adam]
He held his hand out and chanted something.
"Requesting access to the demonic archive. Engulf my enemies in flames, burn my foes to cinder. Appear before me, Flambelle!" [Luis]
Flames burst around Luis and a sword began to materialize. It's entirety was red with a guard that had spikes. The most intimidating part to Adam, was flames encircling the blade.
"What is that?!" [Adam]
"He has a soul weapon?" [Mr. Frank]
("What's a soul weapon?") [Adam]
"That's right… I have a soul weapon. Do you see the difference between you and I now? Only people who have completed a dungeon have something like this." [Luis]
He slashed his blade at Adam and a wave of flame emerges.
"That's bad news!" [Adam]
He barely managed to duck in time as the wall of flame passed overhead. He turned around to see an eruption of flame where it landed before leaving the yard in ashes.
"The gardener is gonna kill me…" [Mr. Frank]
"I'm impressed, you managed to dodge that one." [Luis]
He continued to slice the air repeatedly at Adam.
("Oh no.") [Adam]
He dashed into a full sprint. Running as fast as he could to avoid the flames.
"Hahaha! Run! Run like the weakling you are!" [Luis]
Luis was having a blast, using his soul weapon to his heart's content.
("I can't keep running like this! I need to do something!") [Adam]
"..My name..." [???]
Adam heard a voice in his head.
("What? Am I hallucinating right now?") [Adam]
"Call my name!" [???]
A sudden rush of words appeared in Adams mind and he began to chant it.
"Requesting access to the celestial archive. Pass your judgement to the strong and the weak. Manifest yourself, Krino!" [Adam]
A bolt of lightning struck the floor in front of Adam, stopping the incoming flames.
"What?!" [Luis]
A sword revealed itself where the lightning had struck. It was the one from the dream Adam thought he had. With lightning recoiling around the blade, Adam drew it out of the ground.
"Looks like the fight is fair now." [Adam]
He pointed the blade at Luis, giving him a provocative look.
"The real match starts now." [Adam]