It was an ordinary morning at Power School High—or at least, as ordinary as things could get in a school full of powered individuals. Kikidori sat at his desk, staring out the window as his classmates chattered and laughed around him. His body still ached from Ryden's beatdown, but the fire of defiance he'd shown the day before lingered, giving him a faint sense of pride.
Suddenly, the PA system crackled to life, and Principal Emery's voice boomed through the speakers.
"Attention, students. Please report to the auditorium immediately for a special assembly. I repeat, all students report to the auditorium now."
Groans filled the classroom as everyone shuffled to their feet. Kikidori followed the crowd, his mind already wandering. Special assemblies usually meant boring announcements or lectures about behavior—not that the teachers ever addressed the bullying that ran rampant in the school.
But as the students filed into the auditorium, Kikidori noticed something unusual. Standing on the stage were several men and women dressed in dark, military-style uniforms. Their stern faces and rigid posture sent a ripple of unease through the room.
"What's going on?" Kikidori whispered to a classmate, but they just shrugged.
Once everyone was seated, Principal Emery stepped up to the microphone. His usual smug expression was replaced by a serious, almost nervous look.
"Students," he began, his voice lacking its usual condescension. "Today, we are honored to have representatives from the Earth's military here. They are working tirelessly to protect us from the threat of the Dalki, and they have come to… recruit the best and brightest from our school to join their ranks."
A murmur of confusion spread through the crowd.
"Recruit?" someone whispered.
"They can't do that, can they?" another student asked.
But as one of the military officers stepped forward, the room fell silent. The man's voice was deep and commanding as he spoke.
"Earth is at war," he said. "The Dalki continue to push against our defenses, and we need every able-bodied individual to help fight back. Power School High has been selected as a recruitment site due to the… unique abilities of its students."
Kikidori's heart sank. He knew what was coming next, and he didn't like it.
The officers began calling out names, selecting students to join the military's training program. The tension in the room grew with each name, some students looking excited at the prospect of fighting, while others sat frozen in fear.
"Kikidori Sora."
The sound of his name being called felt like a punch to the gut. Kikidori's eyes widened as every head in the auditorium turned to look at him.
"No," he muttered under his breath. "No way…"
The officer scanned the crowd, his piercing gaze locking onto Kikidori. "Kikidori Sora. Stand up."
Kikidori hesitated, his legs refusing to move. But the officer's stern expression left no room for argument. Slowly, he rose to his feet, his heart pounding in his chest.
As Kikidori walked toward the stage, he heard the whispers and snickers from his classmates.
"Why'd they pick him?"
"He's powerless! What's he gonna do against the Dalki?"
"Probably just cannon fodder."
Kikidori gritted his teeth, ignoring their words as he climbed the steps and stood with the other recruits.
By the time the assembly ended, the military had selected a handful of students, all of whom were immediately escorted to a waiting transport vehicle outside the school. Kikidori barely had time to grab his bag before he was herded into the vehicle, surrounded by other recruits.
As the vehicle began to move, Kikidori glanced around at his new companions. To his surprise, he recognized one of them—Quinn Talen, the other "powerless" kid from school.
Quinn sat quietly, his expression unreadable as he stared out the window. Beside him were several other students Kikidori had only seen in passing: Peter Chuck, Erin Heley, Layla Munrow, and Vorden Blade. Each of them had a distinct air about them, a mix of tension and curiosity.
Kikidori hesitated, then leaned closer to Quinn. "Hey," he said softly.
Quinn turned to look at him, his eyes narrowing slightly. "What?"
"You're Quinn, right?" Kikidori asked. "From school?"
Quinn nodded. "Yeah. You're Kikidori, aren't you? The other… powerless one."
Kikidori winced at the word but nodded. "Yeah. Looks like we're both in the same boat."
Quinn shrugged. "Guess so."
Kikidori leaned back in his seat, unsure of what else to say. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was something different about Quinn—something he couldn't quite put his finger on.
When they arrived at the military training base, the recruits were quickly ushered into a large, sterile building. The atmosphere was cold and impersonal, and the officers wasted no time in outlining the grueling schedule they would face.
"Welcome to the military," one of the officers said, his voice devoid of emotion. "From this moment on, your lives belong to us. You will eat, sleep, and train under our command. You are here to become soldiers, to fight for humanity against the Dalki. Failure is not an option."
Kikidori's stomach churned as the officer's words sank in. He didn't want to be here. He didn't want to fight in a war he barely understood. But there was no escape now.
As the recruits were led to their barracks, Kikidori found himself walking beside Quinn.
"Do you think we'll survive this?" Kikidori asked quietly.
Quinn glanced at him, his expression unreadable. "I don't know," he said. "But I'm not planning on dying anytime soon."
Kikidori nodded, his determination hardening. He didn't know what lay ahead, but one thing was certain: he would do whatever it took to survive.
The End of Chapter 11.