More excited than ever before—more even than his first time—Hikaru didn't know where to begin exploring his new skill.
"So many possibilities…" he thought, a wide grin spreading across his face. With this skill, any magic seemed within his reach.
"I need a solid foundation!" Hikaru declared as if he were a seasoned magic expert and began devising a plan.
"To have a solid foundation, I first need to decide which elements to use." Organizing his thoughts, Hikaru took his first steps into the vast world of magic.
"Fire, water, earth, wind, light, darkness, healing, strengthening…" He muttered to himself, trying to list all the magic elements he could think of.
"Ah, whatever. I'll just start with these!" Hikaru concluded, accepting that he wasn't a walking magic encyclopedia.
"First of all, every kid's dream: fire!" With the excitement of a child who had just received their first toy, Hikaru decided to begin with fire magic.
"Of course, a fireball! It can't be anything else!" he exclaimed, practically jumping with excitement.
But then, as if a lightbulb went off in his head, Hikaru realized something. "Oh, crap! If I use fire magic here, I'll burn down my house!"
He glanced around his small house, shuddering at the thought of flames consuming everything. "I'd better not test magic indoors…"
Wasting no time, Hikaru grabbed his phone and opened a maps app. "I need to find an open, isolated area. Is there anything like that in Kuoh?"
After a few minutes of searching, he found a spot that fit his criteria. "Perfect!"
"Two birds with one stone. I can improve my physical form by running there and test magic at the same time!"
With a grin from ear to ear, Hikaru dashed out of his house like lightning.
—————-
Arriving at the location—a secluded clearing surrounded by trees—Hikaru could barely contain his excitement.
"Fireball!" he shouted, extending his hand as if he were a seasoned mage.
"…" Absolute silence. The wind whispered through the trees, mocking Hikaru's command.
"Hey, system, what's going on? Why didn't it work?" he asked, crossing his arms.
[Host, remember: your skill helps you learn magic faster, but that doesn't mean it just appears out of nowhere.]
"But I was trying to learn! Isn't that how it works?" Hikaru retorted, indignant.
[Indeed, but you need to understand the basic principles of how to use magic.]
Hikaru let out a sigh. "So what do I do now? Any tips?"
[Of course! Your skill works based on your imagination. Instead of simply saying the magic's name, try visualizing what you want to create.]
As if the gates to a new world had opened before him, Hikaru's eyes widened. "So the key is to imagine…"
[Precisely. The clearer and more precise your vision, the more powerful the magic created will be.]
"Got it. Let's do this!" He prepared himself, extending his hand once more.
Closing his eyes, Hikaru concentrated. A small flame, he thought. Gradually, he visualized the heat, the shape, and the glow of the flame. When he opened his eyes, he saw a small flickering flame dancing in his hand.
"I did it!" he shouted, elated. The heat was real, the flame was there—he had created magic.
Without wasting time, Hikaru expanded his mental vision. 'Now this flame grows and turns into a large fireball, capable of destroying my target!'
As soon as he finalized the mental image, a notification appeared:
[New magic: Fireball
New skill: Fire Magic (Rank C)]
Excited, Hikaru launched the fireball into an open area. The impact created a crater in the ground, kicking up dust and dried leaves. "Wow! That was stronger than I imagined!"
"Hey, system, what's the skill description?"
[Fire Magic (Rank C): Allows the user to control flames and develop techniques related to the fire element. Can be improved through training and use, reaching higher ranks.]
"That's more broken than it sounds…" Hikaru murmured, imagining the growth potential of this ability. 'What if I reach Rank S? Or SS? Maybe even EX? Will I dominate the universe?'
With renewed enthusiasm, Hikaru spent the rest of the afternoon experimenting with other elements.
He visualized a stream of water flowing from his hands.
[New magic: Water Magic (Rank C)]
Imagined the earth trembling beneath his feet.
[New magic: Earth Magic (Rank C)]
Felt the wind cutting around him.
[New magic: Wind Magic (Rank C)]
He tested light magic, dark magic, healing, and strengthening, unlocking abilities for each element in the process.
"Phew… That was exhausting." He collapsed onto the ground, feeling his mana completely drained. "I definitely need to manage my energy better…"
As he admired the darkening sky, Hikaru began thinking about the future. 'Gravity magic would be a good next choice… Maybe I could create exclusive abilities.'
"I need to survive in this world."
He looked at his hands, dirty from the ground and scratched from the day's exercises. "If I want a lazy and peaceful life, I'll need to work for it."
—————-
Elsewhere in the city, in a luxurious room that seemed entirely out of place in the building it was located in, two young women were deep in conversation.
One of them, with long crimson hair that gleamed under the room's soft light, glanced at her companion and remarked:
"Classes start tomorrow…"
"It's the beginning of a new cycle, Rias. Hopefully, we'll find someone talented this year," replied the other girl, her black hair framing a mysterious smile.
Meanwhile, Hikaru was making his way back home, unaware that he was about to step into a new world—and a new life.
New friends, new challenges, maybe even love and enemies. But for now, Hikaru was focused on what mattered most: a good night's sleep.
What does the future hold for Hikaru? Only time will tell.