As the murmurs of the students faded into silence, the floor of the auditorium rumbled slightly.
A platform rose from the stage, lifting higher until it hovered above the them.
All eyes turned upwards as the platform revealed Teacher Issa Abara, seated in her wheelchair.
Despite her gentle smile, there was an unmistakable grace in her presence that commanded respect.
She took the microphone, her voice steady and clear, amplified across the vast hall.
"I will be overseeing the summoning of your Data Beasts for this first stage,"
She began, her tone both warm and firm.
"Below your feet, you'll notice a dim light. This light will indicate the precision of your summoning. If you've done it with mastery, the light will glow green, the highest grade you can achieve. On the other hand, a red light will indicate a poor summoning attempt. Between these two, there are several shades—each reflecting your level of control and bond with your Data Beast."
The room was quiet, the tension rising as the students realized the weight of the task ahead.
Teacher Issa continued,
"After the summoning, we will send you the results from the T12—the Aura Detection Machine. Based on the aura you use during your summoning, it will determine your Trainer Grade. Remember, your Trainer Grade is separate from the summoning stage grade, but it is equally important. It reflects your overall potential as a Data Trainer."
Her gaze swept over the students, her words carrying a mix of encouragement and challenge.
"I trust that each of you will give your best. This is just the beginning, and what you do today will set the course for the challenges ahead."
With a final nod, allowing the tension in the room to mount as the first stage was about to commence.
...
Kris watched quietly as the students around him began summoning their Data Beasts, many of them performing elaborate routines. One student twirled dramatically, shouting, "My baby, come out for daddy!" before his beast materialized with a flash of light.
Kris smirked slightly. I guess those absurd summoning routines really are normal here, he thought, recalling how Cillian had explained the trend.
Kris shook his head, dismissing the thought of ever performing those flamboyant routines.
Just then, he spotted Necho in front of him, arms wide open.
"Bolt Ape, shake the room with your presence!" Necho announced, making a circular motion before stopping dramatically at his chest.
He swiped the card on his Datavice, and a yellow light illuminated around him as his Data Beast materialized.
With a lively hop, the Bolt Ape emitted playful sounds—"Ooh oh! Ah ah!"—while sparks of electricity danced around its yellow fur, giving it a vibrant energy.
Kris chuckled, realizing that Necho was getting into the spirit of the summoning routine as well.
"Genesis, are you there?" he whispered.
[ "How may I assist you, Host?" ]
A system panel appeared in front of him, glowing softly with a warm light.
"Genesis, scan the Data Beasts around me. I want to study the information later."
[ "It will take a minute, Host." ]
Kris nodded, grateful for the efficiency of Genesis.
He could feel the excitement in the air as the other students continued their summoning rituals, each more extravagant than the last.
With a moment to spare, he decided to summon Pyro Cub while he waited for Genesis to register all the Data Beasts surrounding him.
He took a deep breath, mentally preparing himself. As he casually swiped his Data Beast card on the Datavice, he called out,
"Pyro, come out!"
An orange light erupted from the device, enveloping him in warmth as his fiery companion materialized beside him.
"meow"
Pyro Cub burst forth with a playful meow, its mane flickering like flames caught in a gentle breeze.
As it rubbed its head against Kris's leg, a rush of affection flooded through him.
The Pyro Cub's fiery mane glowed brighter as it purred, sparks dancing off its fur like miniature fireworks.
Kris couldn't help but smile, feeling a bond strengthen between them as the little creature nuzzled against him, eager for attention.
"Hey there, buddy," he said softly, kneeling down to scratch behind its ears.
Pyro Cub responded with an enthusiastic bounce, its eyes sparkling with mischief and joy, ready to spend time with Kris.
Unbeknownst to Kris, a few students nearby were watching him with wide eyes.
"Did he just summon it so casually?" one whispered, astonishment etched on his face.
"Yeah, it seems so easy for him to summon his Data Beast," another added, glancing at Kris.
"He should be a Warrior Grade trainer. Why is he showing off like that?" a third student remarked, a hint of envy creeping into his tone.
Thursday who already summoned his Data beast saw what kris did.
"Hey, mate," Thursday said, smirking.
"You know why everyone's staring at you, right? You summoned your Data Beast like it was nothing!"
Kris shrugged, a hint of confusion on his face.
"Why? I just summoned it like everyone else, minus the extravagance."
"Don't you know why we do these routines?" Thursday leaned in closer, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret.
"It's because of the series." Kris answered, raising an eyebrow.
"It's not just that," Thursday continued, grinning.
"It was later found that doing those fancy routines helps the Data Trainers focus their aura on the Datavice. The more showy the summon, the better the connection."
"What you did shows that you have an extraordinary control of your Aura. Usually, only advanced warriors or elite-grade Data Trainers possess that level of skill."
Kris who understood just nodded and listened to what Thursday said.
Teacher Issa Abara on the floating platform was overseeing everything, with her keen eyes she caught Kris's effortless summoning technique, a stark contrast to the elaborate routines surrounding him.
Intrigued, she activated her console, the screen flickering to life with a soft hum.
As she searched for Kris's information, she quickly located it and tapped the screen to display his profile.
[ Kris Blazewood ]
Age: 16 years old
Height: 170 cm
Data Trainer Grade: Elementary
Appearance:
Hair: Long, unkempt orange hair
Eyes: Amber
Build: Thin
Personality: Reserved and cold
Extra Information: Recently returned from an accident
Status: Amnesia
Data Beast Information:
Pyro Cub
Rank: 1
Potential: Gold
Issa's brow furrowed slightly as she noted the details.
"Interesting," she mused, her voice barely above a whisper.
"This boy has changed significantly. His physique and personality don't quite align with the information I have."
Leaning forward, she observed Kris further. There was a spark in his eyes—a natural confidence and maturity that set him apart from his peers.
"His accident must have altered him profoundly," she thought. As she continued to review the data, her eyes widened at the information about his Data Beast.
"Gold? A freshman and an elementary-grade Data Trainer has a Gold potential Data Beast?"
Teacher Issa was shocked by what she read. She glanced over at Kris's Pyro Cub, who was affectionately nuzzling against him.
In her years as a teacher, it was rare to see freshmen possess something with such potential. 'Either this young man is wealthy, or he acquired it through sheer strength.'
"His connection with his Data Beast seems to be genuine," she noted, a sense of anticipation building within her.
She looked forward to seeing what Kris could offer in the examination.
As the other students shifted their focus back to their own Data Beast, a hint of envy flickered in their eyes as they glanced back at Kris.
They understood that they would need to train harder to catch up to him.
Across the room, Belle stood with her Tide Hound, who wagged its tail excitedly at her side.
Witnessing Kris's display made her heart flutter.
'My husband is so powerful!' she thought dreamily, a smile spreading across her face as she imagined a future together with him.
However, not everyone shared her admiration. Adam, lingering at the back, glared at Kris with simmering resentment.
"Shameless. He dares to show off in front of Belle. This is the last straw, Kris!" he spat quietly, anger lacing his tone.
Just the day before, Adam had been smiling ear to ear, thrilled by the news of Kris's accident. He saw it as an opportunity to welcome him with open arms, believing that the competition for Belle's affection had shifted in his favor. When it was time for the students to reintroduce themselves to Kris, Adam eagerly stepped forward, feigning enthusiasm and friendliness, all while masking his true feelings about the situation.
However, with Kris back and seemingly thriving, Adam's earlier joy twisted into bitterness. Watching Kris effortlessly summon his Pyro Cub only fueled the fire of his resentment.
"Amnesia my ass, Selina was right! there is a Conspiracy"