"...ombr....mbra..."
My neck felt heavy; it hurt. 'It's probably like the rest of my body. Bruised.' I sighed, then I heard my name ring throughout the air, "Sombra!" It roared, and my eyes trailed upwards, meeting with the cerulean eyes of Colonel Fry.
"Sorry," I said, "I got lost in thought. You were saying?"
Colonel Fry cleared his throat from the opposite side of the desk. He interlocked his hands and scooted the chair closer, "how'd you sleep?" He asked, drinking out of a mug; coffee, I believe.
"As much as I could, sir."
"Hmm, yes. I only ask, because someone said the mirror was broken from your hospital room."
"..."
"Ah, no matter, that's not why you're here. The higher ups, they think what you did today was remarkable. And truthfully, it was." He shuffled through some papers. "The scrimmage was originally just to see how some of the recruits would act. How they would respond, especially those who are not considered strong. Would they hide? Fight?"
He slid a paper to me as I noticed a golden ring on his left hand. He relaxed in his chair, saying, "you see Private Sombra, the higher ups were so impressed that they've offered you something."
"Offered me something? Offered me what?" I asked, but all he did was smile and gesture to the paper. I opened it up, 'this,' I thought, 'they want me out in the field already?'
"I'm not sure I should 'accept' this Colonel." I put the paper down.
He chuckled. "I guess I worded that incorrectly. They're not asking you, Private Sombra, they're commanding you to do so."
"But shouldn't I spend more time here? You know, training?"
"Training?" The chair creaked as he leaned forward, "tell me, young man, what type of person do you think you are?"
"I don't understand what you mean. That's too vague."
His eyebrows lowered, his lines tightened, and his tone stooped down to tuneless. "I... have met many people in the decades I've lived. In the marine corps, there are those who do, those who don't, and those who can. Those who do, they thrive off the chaos of battle. They can't develop from a factory, like a machine, but instead, they learn from real experience..."
"... hmm, yes," he mumbled, "and the ones who don't. Well, Its self-explanatory. They lack ambition. Drive. But most importantly, they lack impulse. We live in a world where survival is living. Not whatever those piss ant peace lovers talk of. Surviving is living. Some just lack the ability to live in this world," he stood up, "those types of people die."
He walked over to the side of the door of his office, picking his hat up, "now, what about those who can? Like those who don't, they are unable to survive as who they currently are. Drive is nonexistent in the sense of it being real. They're fake. Neither living nor surviving as the peace lovers like to split the two." He gripped the doorknob, tightly, "but what seperates them from those who don't, they are able to change. They can thrive off battle and learn from it. They CAN be manufactured."
"Do you understand, Private Sombra?" He opened the door.
The news caused nothing from within me. Nothing. I am the same, unchanged, and my expression reflected that. "Yeah, I understand."
'The higher ups. First they draft me into the military. They forced me here. And now they want me to fight already?'
"Good. Now, then, let's go. You have a plane to catch."
I stood up, and walked out through the door, one last thought spreading throughout my mind. 'It doesn't matter, Uriel. Get your head in the game,' I assured myself, 'this'll bring me alot of exp...'
'... and that's just what I need.'
**********
The Windsor Military Academy.
Luna had officially been attending the academy for a week now. It's in the same city the Sombra family lives, but you have to live there in the dormitories if you're a freshman, much like how colleges operate.
Some things confused her at first, such as how the campus was split into two, one side being much larger than the other. The larger part was the side SkyFall users resided in, as they make up majority of the younger generation of human population. On the other hand, the smaller side was for those that aren't SkyFall users. Just plain old humans, like Luna's mother.
The reason the two are split was because of the massive intellectual ability system users have over non-users. Just reaching level two hundred fills your mind with knowledge that humans had to spend years or more learning. This meant that non-users simply could not keep up with the classes, so therefore the campus was split. Although, this was still a military academy, which meant the regular humans were still smart in their respective abilities.
Luna, having originally resided in Heaven, lacked a lot of the social abilities she thought she possessed. However, much like Uriel, she found her own little group of people she grew to be comfortable with in every class, except one.
That's one out of her six classes.
Her first class of the day: Fortitude 1A.
Despite the fact she had the Index System, she also had the SkyFall System. She chose the warrior class, which gave her the unique stat of Fortitude. It represented the warrior's resilience and ability to endure physical punishment. It influences the warrior's ability to withstand damage and recover from injuries.\
Her second class was Strategy 1A, followed up by Warrior Sentinel 1A, and then Stamina Training. Her fifth period was Gym, which really meant sparring. Every single day, somebody sparred, and the task of those who didn't were to watch and take notes.
Lastly, marksmanship. As the name suggests, this class focuses on refining one's shooting ability.
And in the high rise of the sun on Monday, her last class of the day was fifth period, Gym.
"Hey, so Gojima spars today, huh?" Said Luna's classmate, Mei-Ling.
Luna sat right next to her, multiple rows into the stands. "He's up against some sophomore. Ryota Yamioka."
"They paired him up with Ryota?" Mei-Ling gasped, "but he's the strongest of his class year."
Luna sighed. "Right, but Gojima is the strongest of our class year."
In the city of Windsor, Gojima Kurokami, the charismatic prodigy of his era, cuts a figure that demands attention. With every confident step, his lean frame exudes an aura of effortless charm, drawing the gaze of passersby and leaving an indelible impression in his wake. His features, reminiscent of a classic Japanese nobleman, are sculpted with precision, framed by a cascade of ebony locks that tumble rebelliously around his face, hinting at the untamed brilliance lurking beneath.
But it's his eyes that truly captivate, twin sapphires that seem to hold the secrets of the universe within their depths. With a mischievous glint that dances in their azure depths, they betray the sharp wit and cunning intelligence that lie behind his easy smile. And when he winks, a playful gesture that has become his trademark, it's as if the world pauses to catch its breath, awed by the sheer audacity of his confidence.
Clad in the latest athletic wear of the era, Gojima moves with the agility and grace of a seasoned athlete, effortlessly blending style with functionality. Yet, beneath the fashionable facade, there lies a power far greater than any physical prowess—an innate ability known only as the Mind Eye, a rare gift that sets him apart as a true prodigy among sorcerers.
Then, there's his counterpart, Ryota Yamioka. He prowls with a calculating demeanor that sets him apart from his peers. His presence, marked by an aura of sinister allure, commands attention without a word spoken. With beige skin that seems to reflect the ancient sands of time and eyes as dark as the depths of the abyss, he holds the gaze of onlookers with an unsettling intensity that speaks of his cunning nature.
Ryota's features, angular and sharp, exude a cold indifference to the world around him. His lips, often twisted into a disdainful sneer, betray the contempt he holds for those who dare to oppose him. With a posture that borders on arrogance, he carries himself with the regal bearing of one who knows his own power, clad in attire that seamlessly blends traditional elegance with a modern edge.
Yet, beneath the facade of his divine presence lies a darkness that threatens to engulf all in its path. Ryota is not just a figure of myth and legend; he is a force of nature, a manipulator of minds and souls whose very existence challenges the foundations of reality.
Luna dug her fist into her cheek as Gojima, who she refers to by his last name, Kurokami, because he asked, and Ryota climbed into a ring. Four mages stood on all sides, chanting something inaudible to Luna, then four barrier walls surrounded the ring. "I-is Gojima going to be, okay?" Mei-Ling wondered.
"Only time will tell."
Gojima and Ryota were both quiet, waiting for the signal to start. A system message popped up in front of everybody, counting down from three.
[3!]
[2!]
[1!]
[Begin!]
Despite the signal being sounded off, neither of them had yet moved. "
"Ah, man, they really paired me up with you?" Gojima cracked his neck with a smirk.
Ryota grinned, "I've heard tales of your strength."
Gojima looked bemused, "they talk about me? Well, it's no surprise. I am the pinnacle of power, after all."
Ryota lowered himself slightly, his eyes gleaming. "Let's see if you can keep me entertained, Gojima Kurokani."
With a sudden burst of movement, Ryota's legs darted forward, narrowly missing their target as he landed gracefully on his feet. He chuckled softly, then launched an uppercut toward Gojima's abdomen, but pulled back just in time. Confusion clouded his expression as he inspected his own hand. "My fist... was halted? But by what?"
Raising his gaze, Ryota was met with Gojima's smug countenance. "Oh?" Gojima's voice dripped with sarcasm.
"Hmph!" Ryota cheekily gritted, appearing just behind Gojima. He feinted an attack upwards, then slid on the ground to sweep the legs, but once again his legs were stopped by something, "invisible?" He questioned. He glanced up at Gojima, "so you have some control over space, huh?"
"You could say that."
"Then I have nothing to worry about." Ryota closed his hands, forcing his fingers against one another, like glue, then put his arm up, as if it were a sword. "Voidslash!" He roared, sending his arm downwards.
"!" Gojima sidestepped, yet nothing seemed to happen. He was confused, looking at Ryota who was regaining himself. Gojima then looked behind him, noticing a slash in the protective barrier.
"Oh my god!" One kid yelled.
"He can beat Gojima!" Another one said.
"Gojima," a voice interrupted as the mages hurried to repair the barrier, "you need to end this. No time for dilly-dallying."
"Got it, teach," Gojima responded casually.
One of the mages threw a thumbs up once the barrier was fixed. "That's an interesting move. Too bad you can't beat me with it."
Ryota chuckled, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "Beat you? I haven't even started. But we both know that would take forever."
Gojima brushed some dust off his shoulders with a smirk. "Alright, let's wrap this up. One move, that's all it'll take."
"Heh, fine by me," Ryota agreed, his tone dripping with confidence.
Ryota put both hands together, like he did with his earlier move. He stomped one foot forward, crouched down, and cocked his arms slightly behind himself.
With his right index and middle finger, Gojima placed one above each eye. Sliding down slowly, his vision turned brighter. All around him, he began to suck the life of nonliving things. Inanimate objects. The arena they stood upon began to corrode. And as it did, a mystic gun materialized into his hands.
"Wait, how does Gojima have that?" Mei-Ling muttered, "that's my move." She was shocked, unable to take her eyes away as a bright blue began to emanate from the gun's barrel.
'Looks like they'll finish it in one blow.' Luna thought, slouching forward, slightly.
Gojima and Ryota both grinned, unleashing their attacks. Everybody, except Mei-Ling, covered their eyes as light pushed through the barrier and flashed everybody. The mages barrier's cracked, nearly shattering from the force as smoke pushed through those very same cracks.
As the dust settled, two bodies were unveiled.
Gojima stood tall with his body covered in blood, clutching his stomach as he had been slashed. Ryota also stood there, legs elbowed against each other as he coughed up his insides.
"T-they're both still up!" Mei-Ling shouted.
But before the battle could continue, a man entered the arena. "That's enough. The both of you." Said the man. He walked up to the mages who let down their borders, and the two boys immediately fell down from exhaustion.
The man, Norman Colt, was the principal of the school. "Give them some medical attention." He commanded. The mages held over the two fallen, making them float in the air unconscious. They walked out of the room, everybody else following suit.
"Come on, let's go." Luna said. They got out of their suits, headed back to the gym lockers. As they got to the door, Luna took once glance back, meeting Principal Colt's face. It was as hard as stone, but that didn't cause any stir in Luna.
She merely looked back front and ignored the piercing gaze.
**********
"Great, you're here too?" I grumbled.
"Whaaaat? Sure thing, buddy!" Lorenzo stood amidst the whirring blades of the newly achieved chopper. The noise was deafening, and we had to shout to communicate even with the headgear on. He took a bite of a granola bar, gestured towards me, and quipped, "ain't it grand I'm joining you, kid brother?"
"Grand, huh?" I muttered. Peering out the window, I took in the breathtaking scenery of lush greenery and vast fields.
"Ain't it a sight for sore eyes?" Lorenzo slapped my back, still chewing away. "Just wait till we hit Montag." He chuckled, then settled into the seat beside me, stretching out his arms.
"What's it like down there?" I inquired, catching sight of a sprawling lake below. "Montag, I mean!"
Lorenzo maintained his rough grin. "A shithole!" He declared.