Hinata stood in the grand hall of the Academy's training grounds, her molten golden hair shimmering like a radiant flame under the arcane chandeliers. Her divine figure drew the usual attention, the platinum-diamond uniform struggling as always to contain her impossible proportions. Renn and Luna flanked her protectively, while Kaze maintained his vigilant watch nearby. Across the room, Professor Luthan paced with measured steps, his tall imposing figure commanding attention.
"I trust you've all reviewed the dungeon assignments?" Professor Luthan's voice cut through the low hum of conversation. His sharp, golden gaze settled on them, widening slightly as he took in Hinata's form before quickly moving to address the rest of the gathered students. "This is more than a test. It's a measure of your readiness to handle unforeseen threats. Do not disappoint."
Luna frowned, holding a glowing scroll etched with the dungeon's details. "A monitored dungeon... I see. But restricting our spellcasting capabilities seems unnecessary, doesn't it?"
"Typical academy protocol," Renn drawled, though his usually lazy pose was notably more alert as he positioned himself closer to Hinata. "They're always concerned about property damage." His calculating gaze softened as he glanced at Hinata. "Still, these assignments are randomized. Don't get overconfident. The dungeons may be monitored, but they're still dangerous."
Hinata pressed her fingers together nervously but managed to speak clearly. "I understand. I'll do my best."
Though she appeared composed, Hinata felt the familiar hum in her mind again—a sensation that had grown stronger recently. It wasn't unpleasant. Instead, it felt like the world was whispering to her, pulling her attention to things unseen and patterns yet to form. Her impossible figure seemed to radiate a subtle golden light as the sensation grew stronger.
"Alright," Luthan said, clapping his hands. "Teams are assigned. Portals will take you directly to your respective dungeons. And remember, we're observing everything. Treat this as a real scenario—you can absolutely die. Now go."
Just before they stepped through their assigned portal, Hinata caught sight of Violet watching from across the hall, her violet hair writhing with barely contained energy. The other girl's hungry gaze made Hinata instinctively move closer to Renn, her divine proportions brushing against him accidentally.
"Don't worry," Renn murmured, his usual lazy drawl carrying an edge of protectiveness. "We won't let anything happen to you."
The dungeon they entered was vast and imposing, with jagged obsidian walls that pulsed faintly with a crimson light. Faint echoes of dripping water reverberated in the distance, blending with the soft hiss of shifting air. Kaze unsheathed his blade, while Luna prepared her defensive spells.
"Seems quiet," Kaze muttered, his protective instincts on high alert.
Luna adjusted her casting stance, scanning their surroundings with a scrying spell. "Too quiet. There's movement ahead—several entities. Be ready."
As they pressed deeper into the labyrinth, Hinata's awareness expanded. The hum in her mind intensified, sharpening her senses to the point that time seemed to slow. She could feel the dungeon's energy, its patterns, its threats. Her platinum-diamond uniform strained as her divine figure seemed to pulse with building power.
And then it happened.
A deafening roar echoed through the cavern as a wave of lesser vampires surged from the shadows, their crimson eyes gleaming with hunger. Behind them, hulking demons followed, their claws scraping the stone as they moved with predatory grace. Several of them paused momentarily, distracted by Hinata's divine presence.
"Ambush!" Kaze moved instantly to a defensive position, his blade ready.
The team reacted as one. Kaze took point, his strikes swift and precise, while Luna unleashed a barrage of defensive spells, creating a glowing barrier. Renn's usually lazy demeanor vanished as he calculated their tactical options. But Hinata stood still for a moment, her impossible figure radiating golden light as the hum in her mind crystallized into something new.
A vision.
She saw every move the enemies would make—their attacks, their feints, their weaknesses. It was as though time unraveled before her, showing her a tapestry of possibilities. Her platinum-diamond uniform seemed to shimmer as power built within her.
Her prismatic eyes flared with golden light.
"Omni-Precognition," she whispered, the words forming instinctively on her lips, her voice carrying none of its usual shyness.
She moved.
The first vampire lunged at her, claws outstretched, but she sidestepped effortlessly, her movements graceful despite her divine proportions. Another came from behind, but she was already turning, her actions guided by perfect foresight.
"Hinata!" Renn's voice carried equal parts amazement and concern as he watched her move with impossible precision.
Her molten golden hair flared like sunlight as she fought, her focus absolute. With every attack, she seemed untouchable, her movements dictated by foresight. But she wasn't invincible—each dodge and strike drained her mana reserves. Her breathing grew heavier, but she pressed on, her rank zero status giving her deeper reserves than anyone had expected.
The demons grew more aggressive, circling her like predators sensing prey. Their taunts echoed in guttural tones, made worse by their obvious leering at her divine form. "Such beauty," one hissed, its elongated tongue flicking out. "We'll make you scream." Another snickered, its claws flexing. "She'll tire soon. They always do." But Hinata's focus didn't waver. Alongside her precognition, a new clarity emerged—Omni-Clairvoyance. She could sense the layout of the entire battlefield, the positions of her friends, and the lurking enemies waiting to strike. Her platinum-diamond uniform glowed with the same golden light that emanated from her being. A vampire lunged for her from the side, but she pivoted smoothly, her impossible figure moving with newfound confidence. Even her usual shy demeanor had transformed into something more assured, more powerful. Luna, struggling to maintain her barrier against the onslaught, called out, "Hinata, how are you doing this? It's like you're seeing their moves before they make them!" Hinata didn't answer, her mind too occupied with calculating her next moves. She knew she couldn't rely on her mana endlessly. Even with her rank zero reserves, the relentless pace of the battle would eventually wear her down. She had to end this fight before that happened. Renn's usually lazy expression had sharpened into intense focus as he analyzed her movements. "Her power... it's beyond anything we've seen. This is what rank zero truly means." The demon lord's appearance changed everything. Its massive form cast shadows across the chamber as it advanced, each step making the ground tremble. Hinata's divine figure pulsed with even brighter golden light as her precognition showed her what was coming - and it wasn't good. "Everyone, move back!" she called out, her usually soft voice carrying unexpected authority. "Its next attack will shatter Luna's barrier!" Renn's eyes narrowed as he analyzed the situation. "Hinata, your power's still growing. Can you handle this?" Before she could respond, the demon lord struck. Its clawed hand swept through the air, trailing dark energy that crackled against Luna's barrier. Just as Hinata had foreseen, the protective shield shattered like crystal, sending Luna stumbling backward. "Such magnificent power," the demon lord growled, its burning gaze fixed hungrily on Hinata's glowing form. "Your divine essence will make me invincible!" Hinata felt another power awakening within her as the demon charged. Her platinum-diamond uniform seemed to merge with the golden light emanating from her impossible figure as a third ability manifested - Omni-Understanding. In that moment, she didn't just see the demon's moves or sense its position; she understood everything about it. Its weaknesses, its powers, its very nature became clear to her. "Renn," she called out, managing to maintain her focus despite the strain of using three divine abilities at once. "Its core - there's a pattern! Luna, can you channel lightning through Kaze's blade?" Her friends moved without questioning, trusting her newfound insight. Luna's magic crackled along Kaze's weapon as Renn maneuvered to create an opening. The demon lord, realizing something had changed, roared in fury. "You dare strategize against ME?" it bellowed, darkness pooling around its massive form. "I will break you, beautiful one. I will—" Its threat cut off as Hinata moved with impossible grace, her divine figure flowing like ballerina as she dodged its strike. Her precognition showed her exactly where to step, her clairvoyance revealed the perfect angle, and her understanding guided her timing.
"Pattern Delta!" Hinata called out, her divine form lighting up like silver lightning. The platinum-diamond uniform could barely contain her impossible figure as pure power coursed through her. "Renn, thirty degrees left! Luna, lightning cascade! Kaze, wait for my mark!"
They moved as one, trusting her completely. Renn created a tactical distraction while Luna's lightning filled the air, herding the demon lord exactly where Hinata's precognition showed it needed to be. Her divine understanding had revealed its crucial weakness - a fractured crystal in its core, visible only from a specific angle.
The demon lord bellowed in frustration as its attacks missed again and again. Hinata's movements were impossible to predict, her divine figure flowing like liquid light through its deadly strikes. Each dodge was perfectly calculated, every step precisely placed.
"ENOUGH!" the demon roared, gathering darkness in both massive hands. "I will corrupt that divine essence! I will—"
"Kaze, NOW!"
The warrior's blade struck true, enhanced by Luna's lightning and guided by Hinata's perfect understanding of where to hit. The demon lord's armor cracked, revealing the flawed crystal within.
But it wasn't over. The demon, realizing its vulnerability, lashed out in desperate fury. A massive claw swept toward Hinata's exposed side - a strike her depleted mana wouldn't let her dodge.
"Hinata!" Renn moved without thinking, his usually calculated demeanor giving way to pure instinct as he threw himself forward.
But Hinata had seen this too. Her precognition had shown her every possibility, and she'd chosen this exact moment. As the claw approached, she gathered her remaining power, her divine figure radiating pure golden light.
"This ends now," she whispered, her voice carrying none of its usual shyness as she released everything she had in a single, perfect strike.
Golden light exploded through the chamber as Hinata's power reached its peak. Her divine figure became a beacon of pure radiance, the platinum-diamond uniform barely holding together as waves of energy pulsed from her. The demon lord's claw shattered against her power, its roar of triumph turning to one of disbelief.
"Impossible!" it growled, watching its darkness dissolve against her light. "What ARE you?"
"Rank zero," Hinata replied softly, but with unmistakable strength. Her molten golden hair floated in waves of pure energy as she channeled the last of her power. "And I'm not alone."
The combined attack struck perfectly - Kaze's blade conducting Luna's lightning, guided by Renn's strategy and empowered by Hinata's divine understanding. The demon lord's corrupted core shattered, its massive form dissolving into shadows that quickly faded away.
As the last traces of darkness disappeared, Hinata's enhanced abilities finally took their toll. The golden light faded as her knees buckled, her impossible figure swaying as exhaustion hit her all at once.
Renn caught her before she could fall, his usually lazy expression filled with concern and something more. "I've got you," he murmured, carefully supporting her divine form. "That was... incredible."
"Is everyone... okay?" Hinata managed to ask, her natural shyness returning as she realized how close she was to Renn. Her face flushed pink as she tried to steady herself, though her depleted mana made it difficult to stand.
"We're fine," Luna assured her, while Kaze nodded approvingly. "But Hinata... what happened? Those abilities..."
Before she could answer, a slow clap echoed through the chamber. Professor Luthan emerged from a monitoring portal, his expression a mix of amazement and satisfaction.
Golden light exploded through the chamber as Hinata's power reached its peak. Her divine figure became a beacon of pure radiance, the platinum-diamond uniform barely holding together as waves of energy pulsed from her. The demon lord's claw shattered against her power, its roar of triumph turning to one of disbelief.
"Impossible!" it growled, watching its darkness dissolve against her light. "What ARE you?"
"Rank zero," Hinata replied softly, but with unmistakable strength. Her molten golden hair floated in waves of pure energy as she channeled the last of her power. "And I'm not alone."
The combined attack struck perfectly - Kaze's blade conducting Luna's lightning, guided by Renn's strategy and empowered by Hinata's divine understanding. The demon lord's corrupted core shattered, its massive form dissolving into shadows that quickly faded away.
As the last traces of darkness disappeared, Hinata's enhanced abilities finally took their toll. The golden light faded as her knees buckled, her impossible figure swaying as exhaustion hit her all at once.
Renn caught her before she could fall, his usually lazy expression filled with concern and something more. "I've got you," he murmured, carefully supporting her divine form. "That was... incredible."
"Is everyone... okay?" Hinata managed to ask, her natural shyness returning as she realized how close she was to Renn. Her face flushed pink as she tried to steady herself, though her depleted mana made it difficult to stand.
"We're fine," Luna assured her, while Kaze nodded approvingly. "But Hinata... what happened? Those abilities..."
Before she could answer, a slow clap echoed through the chamber. Professor Luthan emerged from a monitoring portal, his expression a mix of amazement and satisfaction.
"Well," Professor Luthan announced, his golden eyes surveying the destruction around them. "I believe we've just witnessed something unprecedented. Three divine abilities manifesting simultaneously in a rank zero student." His gaze lingered on Hinata's exhausted form, still supported by Renn. "Precognition, Clairvoyance, and Understanding - a combination not seen in over a thousand years."
Hinata tried to stand straighter, though her divine figure trembled with fatigue. The platinum-diamond uniform, somewhat worse for wear after the battle, still struggled to contain her impossible proportions. "I... I just wanted to protect everyone," she managed to say softly.
"And protect them you did," Luthan nodded. "Though I must say, your power manifestation is quite unique. The golden light, the divine essence... it seems your impossible form isn't just physical after all."
Luna stepped forward protectively as other faculty members began emerging from monitoring portals. "Professor, Hinata needs rest. Her mana reserves are completely drained."
"Of course, of course," Luthan agreed. "But first - Miss Montgomery, do you understand what happened? Your abilities..."
"I saw everything," Hinata explained, her voice quiet but steady despite her exhaustion. "Not just their movements or positions, but the very nature of our opponents. It was like... like..."
"Like the universe itself was speaking to you," Renn finished, his lazy drawl thoughtful as he continued supporting her. His usual calculated demeanor had softened into something more protective as he felt her divine form tremble against him.
Exactly what we'd expect from a true rank zero," Luthan mused. "Though the manifestation of divine essence is... unexpected. We'll need to adjust your training accordingly."
Suddenly, a commotion at one of the monitoring portals drew their attention. Violet had somehow gained access to the observation area, her violet hair writhing with barely contained excitement as she stared at Hinata's glowing form.
"Magnificent," Violet breathed, taking a step forward before Kaze's warning growl stopped her. "Such power... such divine beauty..."
"Miss Chase," Professor Luthan's voice carried a sharp edge. "This is a restricted area. The protection detail's authority extends even here."
Violet's hungry gaze remained fixed on Hinata, whose divine figure still emanated faint traces of golden light despite her exhaustion. "But surely after such an impressive display, we should be discussing her... potential. Those abilities, that power, that impossible form..."
"What we should be discussing," Renn interrupted, his lazy drawl carrying an unusual edge of steel, "is how you gained access to a sealed monitoring station." His arm tightened protectively around Hinata's waist as he felt her shiver at Violet's intense staring.
"Details," Violet waved dismissively, taking another step forward. "I simply wanted to witness her glory firsthand. And what a sight it was... the way your divine form moved, Hinata dear. The way your power manifested. Simply... delicious."
"That's quite enough," Luna stepped between them, her pink hair floating with irritation. "Hinata needs rest, not your... attention."
Hinata's fingers pressed together nervously, though she managed to speak despite her exhaustion. "Please, Violet. I've made my feelings clear about this."
"Have you?" Violet's smile turned predatory. "Because after seeing you like this - all that power, that divine radiance... how could anyone stay away?"
"They can and they will," Professor Luthan interjected firmly. "Miss Chase, consider this an official warning. The academy takes its protection details very seriously, especially for rank zero students who've just manifested divine abilities."
Violet's expression darkened, but she couldn't argue with both faculty and official protocol. "We'll speak again soon, my divine one," she promised before finally retreating through the portal.
"Well," Renn drawled, though his calculating gaze remained fixed on where Violet had disappeared, "that was troublesome."
"Indeed," Luthan agreed. "Miss Montgomery, we'll need to discuss your abilities in detail once you've recovered. For now, your protection detail has permission to escort you directly to the medical wing. That level of divine manifestation requires proper care."
As they helped her toward the medical portal, Hinata felt herself leaning more heavily against Renn. Her impossible figure, still faintly glowing with residual power, seemed to fit perfectly against his supportive frame.
"You were amazing," he murmured, quiet enough that only she could hear. "Absolutely amazing."
Hinata's face flushed pink, but she managed a small smile. She might be exhausted, her divine powers might have drained her completely, but in this moment, surrounded by friends who truly cared for her, she felt stronger than ever.
Even if that strength came with an increasingly obsessed Violet to deal with.