Keiko awoke feeling… different. His memory of the fight was a blur, flashes of energy and movement. As he tried to recall what had happened, a soft beep echoed from his wristband. Groaning, he turned to glance at it—20 messages piled up from all sorts of people. He couldn't help but smile. It was strange to think how many people cared enough to reach out.
His eyes shifted to the leaderboard displayed next to his name: Rank 2.
"Second place... seriously?" Keiko muttered, disappointment curling in his chest. He had been so close to snatching first place, to proving himself. But something had gone wrong. What had happened? Why couldn't he remember?
Suddenly, the door burst open. Fin, Jinsei, and Oshime stormed in, perfectly synchronized, not giving him a moment to process anything.
"You need to come with us now!" they said in unison, dragging him out of bed.
Keiko's legs flailed as he was carried out, still half-asleep and dazed. By the time they reached the lunchroom, the noise of students chattering filled the air. The principal stood at the front, addressing the crowd, and Keiko blinked groggily, trying to focus on what was being said.
"These are the rules," the principal's voice boomed. "If you're in the top ten, you cannot turn down a challenge, even if you're injured. Second, those ranked below the top ten will live in cabins, while the top ten will receive mansions. And lastly, if you defeat your leader, your rank will be unranked. Stay unranked by the end of the year, and you'll earn a chance to fight a god. But remember, the leaders are swordmasters, godslayers, and sages."
Keiko's mind was still foggy, and the words floated in and out of his awareness. But something was off, and he could feel the eyes of the other students on him. Suddenly, he realized: They were all staring at him.
Confused, Keiko glanced down at his body and froze. He had grown taller, his body leaner and more muscular. His reflection in the window revealed sharper features, his orange energy now tinged with an unsettling blue hue. His new form radiated a commanding presence.
A murmur rippled through the crowd as they gawked at him. When did he get so tall? they seemed to wonder.
Suddenly, as if to test his newfound strength, the students lunged at him. Keiko barely flinched as his energy flared. The room grew colder, and his aura shifted from its familiar orange to a deep, glowing blue. He extended his hand, and in a flash, the kinetic energy in the air around him froze. Students slowed, then stopped entirely, trapped in a state of suspended motion, their movements halted mid-lunge.
"Nice try," Keiko said under his breath, a smirk curling on his lips.
Oshime, standing beside him, raised her hand, freezing the few students that had been out of Keiko's reach. Fin waved his hand lazily, conjuring a gust of wind that sent the rest of the challengers skidding across the floor.
"I can't believe they thought they could beat us after watching our matches," Fin commented, yawning, seemingly bored with the situation.
"These people must be dumb," Jinsei added, rubbing the back of his neck, shaking his head.
Oshime looked at Keiko, her eyes scanning him from head to toe. "Wait… did you get taller?"
Fin and Jinsei turned their heads, suddenly noticing the obvious changes in Keiko's appearance. He was different. Stronger. His once playful aura now carried a sense of quiet dominance.
Keiko examined his reflection once more. His fiery orange aura had subdued, now balanced with a calm, radiant blue. His height had shot up, and his body felt more controlled, almost regal in its poise. Whatever had happened in the fight, it had changed him—permanently.
"I guess I did," he muttered, still trying to wrap his head around the transformation. But one thought rang clearly in his mind: This isn't over. I'm coming for that first rank.
Later, Keiko and his friends sat in front of Ouiji as he began explaining the rules of Skill Orbs.
"Humans can only carry four to five Skill Orbs, demons ten, and gods can hold twenty," Ouiji explained, pacing back and forth. "This is because of how we absorb mana. Humans use their skin, demons their brains, dragons their hearts, and gods their lungs."
Oshime raised her hand. "And what about dragons? How many can they carry?"
Ouiji paused, then spoke in a nervous tone. "Dragons? Near infinite. They absorb mana differently—through their hearts."
Keiko listened, but his mind wandered. There was so much he didn't know about these orbs, and he wasn't sure if he was ready to choose one.
As everyone else picked their skills, Keiko stood still, lost in thought, unsure of what to do. Ouiji noticed and walked over, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"You don't have to choose now, Keiko," Ouiji said softly. "Take your time."
One by one, the others left, leaving Keiko alone with the pile of orbs in front of him.
"Still can't decide, huh?"
Keiko whipped around, startled by the voice. A boy with black hair and red eyes stood behind him, watching. There was something strange about this boy. Keiko couldn't sense any mana from him.
"Who are you?" Keiko asked, confused.
The boy smirked, crossing his arms. "I'm the real number one. You think Ryuga was strong? I'm stronger."
Keiko tensed. His instincts told him this boy wasn't bluffing. The ability to conceal mana this well meant he was incredibly skilled.
The boy waved a hand dismissively. "Relax. I'm not here to fight. I'm just curious."
He pointed to the orbs on the ground. "Only one of these matches with you."
Keiko frowned. "What do you mean?"
The boy sighed. "You know that feeling you get when you use your ability? Try to sense it in these orbs. There's one that will resonate with your core."
Keiko hesitated, then closed his eyes. His aura flared once more, shifting between orange and blue as he let his energy flow freely. He reached out, feeling the subtle pull of the orbs. One of them felt right, but… something else drew his attention.
His eyes snapped open, and he walked over to the boy, pointing at the orb in his hand.
The boy smiled mischievously. "You want this one? Fine, but I want one favor—anything I want, at any time."
Keiko paused, but then nodded. "Deal."
"What's your name?" Keiko asked, intrigued.
"I'm Leo Silver," the boy replied, a smirk tugging at his lips. "The secret son of the Dukedom of the Empire."
Keiko's brow furrowed. He didn't recognize the name, but before he could ask more, Leo interrupted him.
"And you… you're the failed son of the Kuriguri demon family. Rank 2 at the academy." Leo's voice was teasing, but his eyes held no malice. Then, without another word, he vanished, leaving Keiko standing alone, questions swirling in his mind.