The headmaster's office is dimly lit, with the flickering light of a single desk lamp casting long shadows across the room. The door creaks open as a boy enters cautiously, his wide eyes scanning the space.
"Headmaster, you called me?" he asks, his voice steady yet curious.
The headmaster looks up from his desk, his piercing gaze softening ever so slightly.
"Yes, come in, Marty,"
he replies, gesturing toward a chair opposite him. "I've called you because there's something I give to you."
Marty tilts his head, confusion etched across his face. "Give me something?
The headmaster pushes back his chair and stands, his tall figure looming as he speaks with an air of authority. "Yes," he says, his voice carrying a weight that fills the room. "That day, you earned my trust. When you jumped into the chasm without hesitation, you proved yourself in ways few ever could. And as promised, I saved you, just as we had agreed."
Marty's confusion deepens, but he listens intently, his heart pounding in anticipation.
The headmaster steps closer, his gaze unwavering. "Now, Marty, I will grant you what I promised—powers that few have ever known. Powers that will change your life forever."
The boy nodded enthusiastically toward the headmaster, a mischievous smirk playing on his lips.
"Yes, Master."
The headmaster placed a firm hand on his shoulder and guided him toward the library's far corner. There, he pulled out an ordinary-looking book, one so plain that it seemed insignificant. Resting his hand on the book, the headmaster slid a section of the bookshelf aside, revealing a hidden passage.
"This is the result of five years of effort, Marty," the headmaster said as the boy watched in silence. "I have created many things here, things with unparalleled power."
As Marty followed the headmaster into the concealed room, his eyes widened at the sight before him. The chamber was vast, filled with an array of laboratory equipment. To one side, there were piles of strange stones, and along the walls were intricate machines, weapons, chemicals, and tools whose purposes Marty couldn't immediately comprehend. Yet, amidst it all, one thing puzzled him the most.
Pointing to the heap of stones, he asked, "What do you do with these stones?"
The headmaster smiled knowingly, sitting down to explain. "Marty, in our world, stones can hold and erase power. When this world was formed, stones were the primary source of energy. Back then, there were ordinary humans just like us. But they harnessed the power within the stones, absorbing it into themselves. Over generations, those powers grew stronger."
He picked up one of the stones and continued, "Our stones have another unique property—unlike normal objects, they have minimal gravity. We can use them to fly. The shoes I wore to save you from that abyss were equipped with these stones in their soles."
He held up the shoes, showing Marty the embedded stones.
"But you're already powerful, aren't you?" Marty asked hesitantly.
"Yes, I am," the headmaster admitted with a sinister grin. "And ever since I came to this school, I've kept a close eye on everyone. That fool Kangha doesn't even realize that I know all about his so-called plans." He let out a chilling laugh, the sound echoing through the chamber.
Marty felt the blood drain from his face. Fear gripped him as the true extent of the headmaster's power became evident. What could he do next? Marty couldn't even guess. Trembling slightly, he quietly set the shoes down on the ground, unsure of what to say or do.
The headmaster steps closer to Marty, his piercing gaze locked onto the boy. With a sinister smile, he asks, "Marty, do you desire power? I can give you power. I can make you the right hand of my army, but every power comes at a cost.
" Are you willing to pay the price?"
Marty's face turns pale, his breath hitching as he struggles to comprehend the meaning behind the headmaster's devilish grin. He takes a deep breath, summoning his courage, and finally replies,
"Yes! I'll do it."
The headmaster's face lights up with satisfaction. He pats Marty's shoulder firmly and says, "You will have to kill Kangha." His tone remains disturbingly calm, as though he is discussing something trivial.
''Blinded by greed, Marty nods, knowing he cannot refuse."
"How can I kill him? He's better than me in everything."
The headmaster steps back, his expression unwavering. "Tomorrow is the fight, and Kangha's shoulder is injured. There's no way it will heal overnight. It's his right shoulder. Tomorrow, during the fight, focus on attacking it repeatedly."
"Will he even show up for the fight?" Marty asks hesitantly.
"He will,"
"Kangha won't back down. He knows that if he does, he'll be disqualified from the competition. He won't let that happen."
The headmaster moves to a drawer, pulling out an object and holding it up for Marty to see. It looks like a glove, its surface crafted to resemble human skin. "Here, wear this," the headmaster says, handing it to Marty.
Marty puts it on, feeling its weightless yet firm grip. The headmaster picks up a stone from a pile and holds it out to Marty. "Now, try breaking this stone with your bare hand," he says.
Marty takes the stone and tries crushing it with his left hand, but all it does is bruise his palm. The stone remains intact.
"Now use the glove," the headmaster instructs, his voice steady.
Marty shifts the stone to his gloved right hand and presses lightly. To his astonishment, the stone shatters instantly, dissolving into pure energy. His mouth falls open as he stares at the fragments disappearing before his eyes.
"This glove holds immense power," the headmaster explains, his voice low but filled with pride. "And because it's made to mimic human skin, no one will even notice you're wearing it."
Marty stares at the glove in disbelief, his mind struggling to process the power coursing through it. His wide eyes remain fixed on his hand, which now feels like a weapon he never imagined he could wield.