The anticipation hung heavy in the air as Fuyu and the others awaited the arrival of the medics. In the dimly lit chamber, Fuyu's voice broke the silence.
"The medics should be here in under a minute," ??? 3 announced, his tone brisk and efficient.
"In the meantime, how about we discuss the test?" ??? 2 suggested, his gaze fixed on Fuyu.
Fuyu nodded in agreement. "Yes, you're right. The kid's name is Ryoshi Taisaku," he began, his voice carrying a note of concern. "He's approximately 71 inches tall, he was 150 lbs when we met, but now he's 127 lbs."
??? 2 listened intently, his expression thoughtful. "Okay, I have the perfect opponent for him," he declared with a hint of determination.
Fuyu's brows furrowed in apprehension. "And that is?"
"Juyo," ??? 2 replied, his tone unwavering.
Fuyu's eyes widened in disbelief. "Juyo? No way," he exclaimed, his voice tinged with concern. "Juyo is leagues ahead of Ryoshi. Ryoshi doesn't even know sword combat, and he only knows 2 techniques. He's not even the best student of mine."
But ??? 2 remained steadfast. "Remember, Hinansho, the final score isn't based on if he wins or not. It's based on his performance," he reminded Fuyu, his voice calm and reassuring.
Fuyu sighed, reluctantly conceding to ??? 2's logic. "I know... But what if Juyo kills him?" he countered, his tone laced with worry.
"Juyo wouldn't purposely kill someone without a reason," ??? 2 reassured him, his voice steady and assured. "And even if Juyo did kill him, it's nothing new."
Fuyu's expression softened, gratitude evident in his eyes. "Er... Thank you," he murmured, acknowledging ??? 2's reassurance.
Just then, the sound of approaching footsteps signaled the arrival of the medics. Without missing a beat, ??? 3 sprang into action.
"The medics have arrived," he announced, his voice tinged with urgency.
"Good, medics, hurry up and repair the kid. We don't have all day," ??? 2 instructed, his tone firm and authoritative.
"Yessir," the medics responded in unison, their voices echoing through the chamber as they hurried over to Ryoshi's side.
As the medics worked to heal Ryoshi's injuries, time seemed to stretch on endlessly. Two hours passed in a blur of anticipation and uncertainty, until finally, Ryoshi stirred, his consciousness returning to him in fits and starts.
"Ah, where am I?" Ryoshi's voice echoed through the chamber, his confusion evident.
Without missing a beat, ??? 2 stepped forward to greet him. "Ah, you're awake," he said, his voice calm and reassuring.
Ryoshi blinked, taking in his surroundings with a mixture of awe and trepidation. Before him stood three imposing figures, their presence commanding respect and admiration.
"We are the great ones," the first figure introduced himself, his voice resonating with authority. "My name is Rai."
"And I am Kai," the second figure declared, his tone firm and unwavering.
The third figure stepped forward, her presence imposing yet not unkind. "And my name is Tai," she announced, her voice tinged with warmth.
Ryoshi nodded in acknowledgment, a sense of humility washing over him. "Rai, Kai, and Tai. Cool," he murmured, a note of reverence in his voice.
Kai's gaze softened, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Welcome to the Zero Point," he said, his voice tinged with warmth.
"Zero Point?" Ryoshi repeated, his curiosity piqued.
Rai nodded, a knowing smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Yes, this is the room that leads to the Negative Point," he explained, his voice tinged with mystery.
Ryoshi's eyes widened in awe. "Woah," he breathed, his excitement palpable.
Kai stepped forward, his demeanor serious and focused. "We guard the Negative Point against intruders," he declared, his voice carrying a note of authority.
Ryoshi's curiosity was piqued. "Is there any way... I could go to the Negative Point?" he asked, his voice tinged with anticipation.
But Tai shook her head, her expression somber. "You'll have to be chosen by the three of us in 2 years," she explained, her voice tinged with regret.
"2 years?" Ryoshi repeated, his disappointment evident.
Kai's expression softened, a hint of sympathy in his eyes. "Enough of this! Ryoshi, you have to take the test," he declared, his voice firm and unwavering.
Ryoshi straightened, determination flickering in his eyes. "What test?" he asked, his voice tinged with anticipation.
Kai's gaze softened, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "The test that will prove you useful to us," he explained, his voice tinged with warmth.
Ryoshi nodded in understanding, a sense of determination washing over him. "Ok, I'm ready," he declared, his voice tinged with confidence.
But Kai's gaze remained fixed on Ryoshi, his expression serious and focused. "Aren't you missing something?" he asked, his tone gentle yet firm.
Ryoshi's eyes widened in realization. "Oh right! A sword. Does anyone have a sword I could borrow?" he asked, his voice tinged with urgency.
Without a word, a figure clad in a brown and pink kimono stepped forward, offering Ryoshi a sword. Ryoshi accepted it gratefully, his heart pounding with anticipation.
"Wow, thanks!" he exclaimed, his excitement palpable.
But the man remained silent, his expression inscrutable.
Rai stepped forward, introducing Ryoshi to his opponent. "Ryoshi, meet Juyo. He's the current strongest rank member of the Purotekuta," he explained, his voice tinged with reverence.
Ryoshi's eyes widened in disbelief. "Hold on, you're putting me against someone like him? This isn't fair," he protested, his voice tinged with uncertainty.
But Juyo remained unfazed, his expression impassive.
"I'll go easy on you," he assured Ryoshi, his voice calm and reassuring.
Ryoshi's laughter rang hollow, a facade masking his apprehension. "You better not be lying!" he retorted, his voice tinged with bravado.
But Juyo offered no reply, his silence unnerving in its implications.
With a nod from Kai, the test began, and Ryoshi found himself plunged into a whirlwind of movement and magic. Despite his best efforts, he soon found himself overwhelmed by Juyo's strength and skill.
As darkness closed in around him, Ryoshi's last thoughts were of his failure. But unbeknownst to him, his bravery and determination had not gone unnoticed. And as the great ones deliberated his fate, unseen forces moved to shape the destiny of a young man on the cusp of greatness.
Kai's voice cut through the tension like a knife, commanding the attention of both combatants. "The both of you, get ready. The test is about to begin."
"Alright!" Ryoshi responded eagerly, his heart pounding in his chest with a mixture of excitement and apprehension.
As Juyo disappeared from sight, Ryoshi braced himself, his senses on high alert. But before he could fully comprehend the situation, a sudden kick came hurtling towards him from behind.
Ryoshi's reflexes kicked into overdrive as he narrowly dodged the attack, his mind racing to keep up with the lightning-fast movements of his opponent.
"How did you get behind me?!" Ryoshi exclaimed, his voice tinged with disbelief.
But Juyo offered no explanation, his silence speaking volumes as he continued to press the advantage.
In a desperate bid to turn the tide of the battle, Ryoshi swung his sword at Juyo with all his might. But to his dismay, Juyo effortlessly evaded each strike with graceful ease, his movements like water flowing around obstacles.
Ryoshi gritted his teeth in frustration, the realization dawning on him that he was completely outmatched. Dammit, what did I expect from the strongest guy of his rank? he thought to himself, a sense of defeat washing over him.
Meanwhile, Juyo watched his opponent with keen interest, a glimmer of curiosity flickering in his eyes. "Who is this guy?" he mused silently, his mind racing with possibilities.
But just as Ryoshi summoned his ice magic in a last-ditch effort to turn the tide, a sudden wave of pain washed over him, sending him reeling to the ground in agony.
My stomach... did he punch it? Ryoshi thought to himself, his vision swimming as darkness threatened to overtake him.
Before he could make sense of what was happening, Juyo's voice pierced through the haze of pain. "The kid passes," he declared, his tone impassive yet decisive.
"He's right, the kid does pass," Rai echoed, his voice carrying a note of approval.
Kai nodded in agreement, a hint of pride evident in his eyes. "He proved himself to Juyo out of all people," he remarked, his voice tinged with admiration.
Tai stepped forward, her expression thoughtful. "I shall call Hinansho to pick the boy up," she announced, her voice tinged with concern.
As Tai made the call, Fuyu suddenly materialized out of thin air, his arrival catching everyone by surprise.
"Sorry for taking so long, the great ones," Fuyu apologized, his tone apologetic.
"We have all day, Hinansho," Rai reassured him, his voice calm and reassuring.
Fuyu nodded in understanding. "Okay, did Ryoshi pass?" he inquired, his gaze flickering to Kai for confirmation.
"Yes, but not in the way you're thinking," Kai replied cryptically, his expression inscrutable.
Unfazed by Kai's enigmatic response, Fuyu turned his attention to Ryoshi, a sense of anticipation in his eyes. "Oh, well I'm just here to pick up Ryoshi. I have to show him his teammates," he explained, his voice tinged with excitement.
With a swift motion, Fuyu scooped Ryoshi up in his arms and vanished into thin air, leaving behind a sense of anticipation in his wake.
Meanwhile, near the giant cat mountain, Fuyu reappeared inside his house, depositing Ryoshi onto the ground with a gentle thud.
Ryoshi jolted awake, his senses reeling as he took in his surroundings. "AH! Uh? Oh, it's just you," he mumbled groggily, rubbing his eyes in confusion.
Fuyu offered him a reassuring smile. "It's not teleportation, it's—" he began, but Ryoshi cut him off with a sudden realization.
"Your speed, I know... WAIT, DID I PASS THE TEST?!" Ryoshi exclaimed, his eyes widening in disbelief.
Fuyu's smile widened, a sense of pride evident in his eyes. "Yeah, you did," he confirmed, his voice tinged with excitement.
Ryoshi's heart soared with elation at the news. "Yes! What next?" he asked eagerly, his mind already racing with possibilities.
Fuyu's expression grew serious as he considered his next words carefully. "I need to introduce you to your team," he explained, his voice tinged with authority.
Ryoshi nodded in understanding, a sense of determination settling over him. "Right, I'm in a team now!" he declared, his voice tinged with excitement.
With Fuyu leading the way, Ryoshi stepped out of the house and into the cool night air. As he glanced around, he spotted two figures waiting for him outside.
One was a shirtless, muscular boy with longish black hair, sleeping soundly on the ground. Beside him sat a girl in a brown coat, her attention focused on a book she held in her hands.
With a sense of anticipation coursing through him, Ryoshi took a deep breath and prepared to meet his new teammates, knowing that the journey ahead would be filled with challenges and adventures beyond his wildest dreams.
Fuyu gestured towards the two figures before them, his expression a mix of pride and anticipation. "Meet your team!" he exclaimed, his voice carrying a note of excitement. "The name of the individual who is now sleeping is Toruri Doragane. He's a part of a race of reptilian people called the Hachto. His skin might seem normal right now, but once he takes enough damage, it becomes all green and scaly like a lizard. On top of that, his teeth get sharper and he grows wings, but you shouldn't worry about that for now!"
Ryoshi's brow furrowed in confusion as he glanced at the shirtless Toruri. "Why isn't he wearing a shirt?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.
Fuyu offered him a patient smile. "The Hachto are naturally naked because they're mostly in their reptile forms," he explained. "And even when they're not in their reptile form, they don't have normal genitals as humans do, so it's not completely weird. But we can't have a naked reptile kid walking around everywhere, so we had to at least give him pants."
Ryoshi nodded in understanding, a sense of awe creeping into his features. "Oooh, that's cool... really cool, actually," he remarked, his eyes wide with fascination.
Fuyu's smile widened at Ryoshi's enthusiasm. "I hope you two get along well," he said, his tone warm. "Most of my two male students were always rivals, and it gets annoying real quick."
Ryoshi offered a determined nod. "I'll try my best to befriend him," he vowed, a sense of determination settling over him.
Fuyu's attention then shifted to the girl sitting at the picnic table, her focus absorbed by the book in her hands. "The young woman reading the book is Kuroshi Okyamasu," he explained, his voice tinged with amusement. "I would make her tell you herself, but she's the quiet type."
Ryoshi's gaze shifted to Kuroshi, a question forming on his lips. "What's with the gun?" he asked, gesturing towards the firearm she held.
Fuyu's expression grew serious as he considered his next words carefully. "I'll get to that right now," he replied cryptically, his tone tinged with gravity. "But first, I gotta wake up Toruri."
With a swift motion, Fuyu picked up a pebble from the ground and flicked it at Toruri, who stirred awake with a grunt of protest.
"Ow, I'm up!" Toruri exclaimed, rubbing his eyes in confusion.
Fuyu turned his attention to Kuroshi, who had closed her book at his command. "Kuroshi, you pay attention too," he instructed, his tone firm.
Kuroshi nodded obediently, her expression unreadable.
Fuyu then turned back to Ryoshi, a sense of anticipation in his eyes. "This is your new and final teammate, Ryoshi Taisaku," he announced proudly.
Toruri greeted Ryoshi with a casual "Wassup bro," to which Ryoshi offered a tentative "Nothing..." in response.
"Now that the team is complete, I can finally explain everything else to you guys," Fuyu declared, his voice tinged with excitement.
Toruri and Ryoshi echoed their agreement eagerly, their curiosity piqued by Fuyu's mysterious words.
"Every team is built out of three unique members," Fuyu began, his voice carrying a note of authority. "The inheritor, the trapper, and the sniper. The inheritor mainly knows one type of magic and one type of magic only. They're supposed to be the most skilled with their magic. The trapper sets magical traps and sabotages the opponent. The trapper can learn any type of magic they want, but it has to be in their rank level of power. And the sniper has lots of range-based magical attacks, and just like the trapper, they can use any type of magic."
Ryoshi listened intently to Fuyu's explanation, his mind racing with possibilities. If I use my ears and brain correctly, shouldn't I be the inheritor? he wondered silently. That girl has a literal gun, so she has to be the sniper. And I might not know that much about Toruri, but as far as I know, I haven't been taught any type of trap magic.
Fuyu's voice interrupted Ryoshi's thoughts, pulling him back to the present. "Ryoshi is the inheritor, Toruri is the trapper, and Kuroshi is the sniper," he declared, his tone final.
Ryoshi couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction at the confirmation of his suspicions. Called it, he thought to himself, a smug grin tugging at the corners of his lips.
But before Ryoshi could dwell on his newfound role, his attention was drawn to the topic of magical weapons, as Fuyu continued his explanation.
"Not exactly. That's not a real gun; it's a magical weapon," Fuyu clarified, his tone tinged with authority.
Ryoshi's eyes widened in surprise. "What's that?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.
Fuyu's expression grew serious as he considered his next words carefully. "Magical weapons are rare items that are passed down through bloodlines," he explained. "Whoever gets it can summon it at will. I have a magical weapon myself."
With a flick of his wrist, Fuyu summoned a sky-blue double-edged spear with dark blue snowflakes adorning its surface, eliciting a sense of awe from Ryoshi.
Toruri, eager to join in the conversation, piped up excitedly. "Cool, I have a magical weapon too!" he exclaimed.
Ryoshi's eyes widened in surprise. "What?!" he exclaimed, his curiosity piqued.
With a grin, Toruri summoned two long chains with large bear traps attached to their ends, his excitement palpable.
Ryoshi couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy at the sight of Toruri's impressive weapon. "Am I seriously the only one without a magical weapon?!" he exclaimed, his frustration evident in his tone.
But Fuyu offered him a reassuring smile. "I don't know yet," he admitted. "Not everyone has a magical weapon. But on the other hand, you could have just not awakened it yet."
Ryoshi's frustration ebbed slightly at Fuyu's words, replaced by a sense of determination. "So that means—" he began.
But Fuyu cut him off with a shake of his head. "I don't know," he reiterated firmly.
"Okay, okay," Ryoshi conceded, his curiosity still burning bright.
Fuyu then turned his attention to the topic of tests, explaining the various challenges that lay ahead for the newly formed team.
"To go up in the ranks, you'll have to complete several tests," Fuyu explained, his voice tinged with authority. "To become a student, you have to prove yourself worthy to the Great Ones. If not, you fail, and you can only fail once before being sent to the Negative Guards, where you will join them."
Toruri's eyes widened in
surprise at the mention of failure. "What do you mean to join them?" he asked, his voice tinged with apprehension.
Fuyu's expression grew somber as he considered his next words carefully. "The N.P.D.O is something different from Negative Guards," he explained. "Just so we can avoid having a hundred useless soldiers, we send them to the Negative Guards, where there are over a thousand failed students. The N.P.D.O is the military force, while the Negative Guards are backup."
Toruri nodded in understanding, a sense of relief washing over him. "Wow, then I'm lucky!!!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement.
Ryoshi echoed Toruri's sentiment, his eyes shining with anticipation. "Me too, man!" he declared, a sense of exhilaration coursing through him.
Fuyu offered them both a knowing smile. "You are a lucky bunch indeed," he agreed, his voice tinged with amusement.
But his expression grew serious once more as he continued his explanation. "To become a Mamoru, you have to fight the other three groups in 1v1's," he explained, his tone grave. "The only way you can fail this test is if you give up or tap out of a fight. To become a Gadian, you have to complete a free-for-all, where you get to fight your teammates and stuff. The only way you fail this is if you break the rules. To become an Ofensu, you have to do several missions within five months."
Ryoshi's eyes widened at the daunting tasks that lay ahead, his mind racing with possibilities.
But before he could dwell on the challenges that awaited him, Fuyu's voice interrupted his thoughts once more. "Alright, that's all for now," he declared, his tone final. "Ryoshi, I'll teach you the last two attacks, then train your sword fighting style."
Ryoshi nodded eagerly, his determination renewed. "Okay," he replied, a sense of excitement building within him.
As Toruri and Kuroshi walked away, lost in their own thoughts, Ryoshi couldn't help but feel a surge of anticipation at the adventures that lay ahead. With Fuyu's guidance, he knew that he and his newfound team would be unstoppable.
But little did they know, their journey was only just beginning, and the challenges that lay ahead would test their strength, their courage, and their bonds of friendship in ways they never could have imagined.
In a dimly lit bar near the Negative Point, the air thick with the scent of alcohol and desperation, a tall figure sat at the counter, his imposing presence overshadowing the other patrons. Clad in a black top hat adorned with spikes and sporting gauntlets that gleamed in the dim light, he sipped quietly on a glass of water, his gaze fixed on the empty space before him.
Across from him, a drunken man stumbled over, his words slurred and his movements unsteady. "Hh-how didn't I notice this... tall black Christmas tree beside me?!" he exclaimed, his voice loud and unsteady. "Like, dude, are you going to a dress-up party or something?"
The man in the top hat remained silent, his expression unreadable as he continued to stare ahead.
Undeterred, the drunk man persisted, prodding the top hat man with clumsy fingers. "Hey! I'm talking to you!" he slurred, his words growing more insistent.
Finally, the top hat man spoke, his voice low and commanding. "Fire Magic: Flame Fist," he intoned, his words barely audible over the din of the bar.
In an instant, both of the top hat man's hands ignited with flames, casting an eerie glow across the room.
The drunk man's eyes widened in awe. "Oooooo, fancy," he murmured, his drunken stupor momentarily forgotten.
But before he could react, the top hat man delivered a powerful punch straight to the drunk man's forehead, the flames licking at his skin.
To the astonishment of the onlookers, the drunk man didn't even flinch.
"I-Is that all you got? It's my turn now," the drunk man declared, his voice filled with bravado.
With a sudden burst of energy, he delivered a punch to the top hat man's stomach, unleashing a shockwave that reverberated throughout the bar.
Windows shattered, glasses clattered to the ground, and tables went flying as the force of the impact sent shockwaves rippling through the air.
The bartender cowered behind the counter, his eyes wide with fear as chaos erupted around him.
As the dust settled, the top hat man lay sprawled on the floor, his body bruised and battered from the onslaught.
"O-okay, I'm... gonna leave now," the drunk man stammered, his bravado evaporating in the face of the destruction he had caused. "Put all of the damage on my tab... I'll be back."
With a final glance around the bar, he stumbled out into the night, leaving behind a trail of destruction in his wake.
The bartender glanced down at the slip of paper the drunk man had left behind, his hands trembling as he read the name scrawled upon it.
"Sairu Heika... that's the guy's name," he murmured, a sense of foreboding settling over him like a shroud.
And as the echoes of the chaos faded into the night, the bar fell silent once more, the only sound the soft whisper of the wind as it swept through the empty streets of the Negative Point.