The crushing gravity that had pinned Keiko down suddenly lifted, the oppressive weight vanishing as if it had never been there. Oshime, seeing her chance, rushed over to Keiko and knelt beside him. She offered a hand to help him up, her face etched with concern.
"Hey, can you stand?" Oshime asked, her voice soft but steady.
Keiko shook his head as he pushed himself off the ground, brushing off the dirt. "I'm fine," he muttered, his gaze locked onto Ouiji. "My brother would never actually hurt me."
Oshime glanced at Ouiji, suspicion still lingering in her eyes. "Why not?" she asked, trying to understand the dynamic between the two.
Before Keiko could answer, Ouiji disappeared from his spot and reappeared beside him in an instant, pulling Keiko into another tight embrace. This time, the hug was different—softer, filled with a deep sense of regret.
"I'm sorry, Keiko," Ouiji whispered, his voice cracking slightly as tears welled up in his eyes. "I'm sorry I couldn't protect you back then."
Keiko froze, caught off guard by his brother's sudden show of emotion. His anger from earlier melted away, replaced by a wave of understanding. With a small, almost grateful smile, Keiko returned the hug. Then, he stepped back, extending his hand. Ouiji, still wiping away his tears, clasped his brother's hand, and the two shared a firm handshake.
"That's why I have to get stronger," Keiko said with a newfound determination. "So I can protect the people I care about."
Just then, Keiko's eyes widened as he remembered the ongoing test. He pulled his hand away from Ouiji, turning to Oshime. "We have to go, Oshime! The test—it's not over yet!"
Ouiji laughed heartily, shaking his head. "Relax, little brother. You're not too late for the next test." His carefree grin returned, and he leaned casually against a tree. "In fact, you'll be seeing a lot more of me."
Just as Keiko was processing the revelation that Ouiji would be their instructor, the doors to the room opened, and in walked a boy with a collection of glowing skill orbs floating around him. Everyone in the room gasped, except for Ouiji, who seemed entirely unfazed by the sight.
"Hey, Fin! How's it going?" Ouiji called out, strolling over to the boy and casually placing a hand on his shoulder.
Without missing a beat, Fin grinned but quickly dropped his skill orbs onto a bed of swirling wind. He immediately began throwing playful punches at Ouiji, who dodged them effortlessly, still maintaining his carefree demeanor. The two looked like they were engaged in some sort of playful, well-rehearsed routine.
Keiko, intrigued by the newcomer, ran over and extended his hand. "So, you're our third? And it looks like you've gathered quite a few skill orbs!"
Fin chuckled, shaking Keiko's hand. "Thirty to be exact," he said proudly. "Though my first one was stolen by Ryuga Kurosagi."
The mention of Ryuga's name sent a shiver through everyone except Keiko, who remained blissfully unaware.
"Uh... who's that?" Keiko asked, scratching his head in confusion.
Fin sighed, his shoulders slumping. "You seriously don't know? He's the strongest participant in the entire test."
The tension in the room grew thick as the others realized just how serious Fin was. Keiko, still puzzled, tried to make sense of the situation.
Ouiji, always ready to fill in the gaps, chimed in with a smirk. "Ryuga Kurosagi is one of the Fragment Warriors. He wields the power of the ultimate hybrid, Drax."
At the mention of Drax, Keiko's eyes lit up with curiosity, but still, the name didn't seem to ring any bells.
"Who's Drax?" Keiko asked, even more confused than before.
Ouiji grinned, clearly enjoying the opportunity to explain. "Drax was a hybrid between a Titan god and a dragon. His power was so immense that he could have ended the universe at any time. The demon titans and gods had to join forces just to seal him away. But before he was sealed, Drax's power splintered into six fragments. One of those fragments is the power of the Monkey King—Sun Wukong, the Sage Equal to Heaven."
Keiko's eyes widened at the mention of the legendary Monkey King. "So this Ryuga guy has one of those fragments?"
Fin nodded grimly. "Yep, and he's not one to mess with. Even with all my skill orbs, I'm not sure I'd stand a chance against him."
Keiko, ever the curious one, turned to Ouiji. "Could he beat you, brother?"
Ouiji's smile widened into a confident grin. "I'd win. No question about it."
Keiko couldn't help but feel a surge of pride hearing his brother's confidence. With that, the group gathered their things, preparing for the next test.
As they moved toward the next area, Keiko couldn't help but feel the weight of the upcoming challenges. Ryuga, the Fragment Warrior, was out there, and the tests were only getting harder. But with his brother by his side and Fin as an ally, he was ready for whatever came next.
As they go into the coliseum keiko now walked over to fin hey fin jinsei thanks for helping us back there but fin shrugged his shoulder and then put his hand over his head i knew we were partners Ryuga sat comfortably at the top, his score leading by a wide margin. Keiko, though slightly behind, was second, followed closely by Fin. Oshime and Riot were neck and neck with ten cores each.
A hush fell over the crowd as they studied the scores. While many students chose to leave the arena, either satisfied with their rank or wary of losing it in battle, a handful stayed, eager to push their limits and test their abilities in the one-on-ones.
Ryuga stood near the center of the arena, his aura commanding as he eyed the competition. His expression was unreadable, but there was an intensity in his gaze that made the others uneasy. Keiko, with Oshime and Fin beside him, glanced up at the leaderboard. He couldn't help but feel the pressure, especially with Ryuga towering over everyone else in points.
Oshime, standing next to him, clenched her fists. "I'm not backing down, Keiko. I want to see how far I can go."
Keiko smiled at her determination. "Me too. It's not about the rank for me—it's about getting stronger."
Riot, off to the side, was already warming up, his eyes set on the leaderboard. He had been quiet until now, but there was a fire in his eyes, an eagerness to fight and prove himself.
Fin, always one to stay calm under pressure, looked at the group. "I'll be joining as well. Might as well see what we're up against before classes start."
The principal's voice echoed again, calling for the first set of matchups. The arena screens began flashing the names of the competitors who would face off against each other. The crowd buzzed with excitement, eager to see who would challenge Ryuga or if anyone would dare to face him.
Keiko looked up at the screen, waiting to see his name appear.
Whoever was chosen next, the real test of strength was about to begin.
Ryuga flared up a golden monkey stood over him as he pointed at keiko this dammed monkey wants you to fight me ignoring the principal keiko was already behind ryuga standing back to back ryuga jumped back sensing the danger as though the kinetic energy from that gravitational attack was stored a big blast of energy sent the way of ryuga wich the ladder dodges with ease keiko chuckled and said thats just a greeting ryuga laughed as he took off his cloak and the battle begins
As Ryuga's golden aura flared up, the massive form of a spectral golden monkey materialized behind him, its eyes glowing with primal energy. The creature loomed large, its presence overwhelming the arena as it let out a fierce roar, pointing directly at Keiko.
"This damned monkey wants you to fight me," Ryuga said, his voice steady, though a grin spread across his face, ignoring the principal's calls for order.
But before Ryuga could fully comprehend the situation, Keiko had already moved. In an instant, he was behind Ryuga, the two standing back-to-back. The sudden shift in positioning sent a jolt of alarm through Ryuga, and instinctively, he jumped back, sensing the danger.
The moment he moved, a massive blast of energy, residual from Keiko's gravitational attack, exploded where Ryuga had just been standing. The shockwave rippled through the arena, the sheer force of it shaking the ground. Yet, with practiced ease, Ryuga dodged it, the energy merely grazing him as he moved with the grace of a seasoned fighter.
Keiko chuckled, his eyes glinting with mischief. "That's just a greeting."
Ryuga paused for a moment, then laughed—a booming sound that echoed through the arena. Without a word, he shrugged off his cloak, tossing it aside as his aura flared even brighter. The golden monkey behind him mimicked his movements, cracking its knuckles as if preparing for a brawl.
"Alright, Keiko," Ryuga said, his voice filled with excitement. "Let's see what you've got."
The crowd watched in awe as the two warriors squared off. The air between them was thick with tension, their mana clashing and sparking in the space where their wills collided.
Keiko, his eyes narrowing with determination, readied himself. His body glowed faintly with orange light, the telltale sign of his dynamokinesis. The ground beneath him crackled as his energy surged, and for a brief moment, everything around him slowed. He could feel the vibrations of the earth, the energy coursing through his veins, the potential locked inside him just waiting to be unleashed.
In the next moment, Ryuga charged forward, his speed enhanced by the power of the golden monkey. Keiko barely had time to react as Ryuga's fist came hurtling toward him, the force of it shaking the ground. But Keiko, with his enhanced reflexes, sidestepped the attack, countering with a quick burst of energy aimed at Ryuga's side.
Ryuga, however, was ready. His hand shot out, deflecting the energy blast with a simple wave, the power dissipating harmlessly into the air.
"You're quick, Keiko," Ryuga said, his grin widening. "But it'll take more than that to beat me."
Keiko smirked, his eyes flashing with confidence. "Then I guess I'll have to step it up."
The two fighters clashed again, their movements a blur of speed and power. Each strike sent shockwaves through the arena, the ground cracking beneath them as their energies collided. The golden monkey behind Ryuga roared, adding its strength to his attacks, while Keiko's body glowed brighter, his speed increasing with every second.
The crowd was on the edge of their seats, watching as the battle between two of the strongest participants raged on. Each move was precise, calculated, but with the raw intensity of a fight where neither side was willing to back down.
Keiko stood frozen for a split second, watching as Ryuga casually yanked a chunk of his own hair, only for it to instantly grow back. With a casual flick, Ryuga threw the hair into the air, and before Keiko's eyes, it transformed into familiar figures—Ouiji, Fin, Jinsei, Oshime, Riot—and a few others Keiko didn't recognize.
Keiko's heart skipped a beat. The likenesses were uncanny, their expressions sharp and focused, each of them radiating a powerful aura. He knew right away that these weren't illusions or mere copies. They were infused with Ryuga's essence, imbued with some of his immense power. Every step they took sent a chill down his spine.
Keiko couldn't help but chuckle to himself, shaking his head. "I'm screwed."
Ryuga laughed, the golden monkey behind him roaring in sync. "You're not backing out now, are you?" he taunted, his voice booming through the arena. "Come on, Keiko. Let's see if you can handle a fight against your own friends."
Keiko's eyes darted around, trying to assess the situation. He could feel his pulse quicken, but he forced himself to calm down. The copies—no, the constructs—began to move in, each one wielding the abilities of the person they resembled.
Ouiji's copy was the first to attack, flinging magnetic knives that hovered dangerously close to Keiko's face before veering off, avoiding direct impact. A wave of wind from Fin's doppelgänger followed, pushing Keiko back. Oshime's double slammed her ice hammer into the ground, sending a ripple of frost toward him, freezing everything in its path.
Keiko dodged and weaved through the barrage of attacks, barely keeping up with the onslaught. His breath came in short, rapid bursts as he tried to counter, but every time he struck back, another construct was there to block or evade.
"Having fun yet?" Ryuga called from across the arena, clearly enjoying the chaos. The golden monkey behind him danced with excitement, its massive hands clapping in rhythm to the fight.
Keiko gritted his teeth. He needed a plan, and fast. His energy was draining quickly from dodging, and he hadn't even landed a solid hit yet.
Focusing his thoughts, Keiko reached deep into his mana reserves. "I have to break through this... but how?" His eyes flicked to the real Oshime, standing off to the side, watching anxiously. "If I can just..."
An idea clicked into place.
With a determined grin, Keiko skidded to a halt, planting his feet firmly on the ground. As the constructs closed in on him, he allowed his body to glow brighter, the orange light of his dynamokinesis intensifying. Instead of dodging, he focused on one thing—speed.
The constructs attacked in unison, but before their strikes could connect, Keiko vanished in a flash of orange light, his body moving faster than any of them could react. He reappeared behind Ryuga, his fist aimed at his opponent's back, but just as he was about to land the blow, Ryuga's golden aura flared up, blocking the attack.
"You think speed alone is enough?" Ryuga said, his voice filled with amusement.
Keiko's fist met the golden shield, the impact sending a shockwave through the arena. The force of the blow cracked the ground beneath them, but Ryuga remained unfazed, turning around with a smirk.
Keiko's heart raced. He needed to break through that barrier, but Ryuga's constructs were already recovering, regrouping for another assault. This wasn't just a battle of strength anymore—it was a battle against time, and Keiko knew he couldn't hold out much longer.
But then, something clicked in his mind. He focused harder, pulling from a deeper well of power, the raw energy of his dynamokinesis mingling with a new sensation—one he hadn't fully tapped into yet. His body glowed brighter, and this time, his movements were even faster, his strikes more precise.
As the constructs closed in, Keiko grinned. "Alright, Ryuga... let's see how long you can keep up."