The air in the combat arena was thick with tension. The examination hall had transformed into a training ground, with reinforced walls designed to withstand spirit-infused attacks. Jin stood calmly at the center, his hands tucked into his pockets, his expression unreadable.
Across from him stood his opponent a Level 26 Spirit Master named Gorou Haneda. The man was in his early thirties, with a towering frame and a confident smirk playing on his lips. He cracked his knuckles, his aura flaring up with fiery orange energy.
The lady from the registration office stepped forward, her voice clear and firm.
"The combat test begins now!"
Gorou wasted no time. The moment the signal was given, he stomped his foot, sending a shockwave of spirit energy through the ground. The arena trembled, and a burst of flame erupted from beneath Jin's feet.
Jin didn't move.
Instead, he took a deep breath.
☯ Spirit Cloak ☯
A cyan aura exploded around him, flickering like a wild cyan flame. The incoming attack dispersed instantly, as if the very presence of Jin's energy rejected it.
Gorou's eyes widened. "What the-"
Jin disappeared.
No, he move so fast that his figure blurred. Before Gorou could react, a heavy force struck his stomach. The impact sent him skidding backward, barely maintaining his footing.
"Tch, so quick!" Gorou coughed but grinned. "Let's see how you handle this!"
He raised his hands, summoning a barrage of spirit-infused white lances. They formed above him in an instant before raining down toward Jin like a deadly storm.
Jin exhaled.
With a single movement, he twisted his body, dodging fast through the white projectiles with pinpoint precision. His speed was beyond human, each step calculated to evade the incoming strikes with minimal effort.
And then he struck again.
Before Gorou could react, Jin reappeared right in front of him.
BOOM!
A devastating punch connected with Gorou's chest. Spirit energy exploded from the impact, sending him flying across the arena. He crashed into the reinforced wall, creating a spiderweb of cracks.
The spectators, including Minato and the lady examiner, were speechless.
Gorou groaned, coughing as he tried to rise. But before he could even stand
Jin was already behind him.
"I've lost," Gorou said calmly, raising his hand.
A sword cyan energy pointing forward, stopping mere inches from behind Gorou's face. The sheer pressure of it made the older man freeze, sweat dripping down his forehead.
The lady examiner swallowed hard. "That's enough! Jin Kyoto wins!"
Jin let his energy fade, stepping back as Gorou collapsed onto one knee, gasping for breath. A moment of silence passed before Gorou let out a dry chuckle.
"Damn… Kid, you're a monster."
Jin only shrugged. "I just don't like wasting time."
The lady quickly composed herself. "Jin Kyoto, after completing the required assessments, you are hereby designated as a Licensed Spirit Master under the Exorcist Association. Congratulations."
Minato, who had been watching with a knowing grin, burst into laughter. "I knew you were strong, but this is ridiculous! Looks like we've got a real prodigy on our hands."
Jin took the certification card handed to him, his expression unreadable. "Thanks."
After receiving his official designation, Jin took the opportunity to ask about other organizations besides the Spirit Tower. The lady confirmed that while there were multiple groups handling supernatural threats, the Spirit Tower was the oldest and most prestigious. It had the best resources, the strongest exorcists, and the deepest history.
However, Jin remained cautious.
"I'll think about it," he told Minato. "I'll contact you once I make a decision."
Minato laughed, slapping Jin's back. "Fair enough! Here, take my number. Don't make me wait too long, though."
They exchanged contacts, and after some final words, Jin left the examination hall and returned home.
That night, after dinner, he went straight to his room and powered on his computer. Earlier, the registration lady had given him access to a restricted website, one that only licensed exorcists could enter.
His fingers moved across the keyboard, inputting his credentials.
Access Granted.
A massive archive of information about supernatural threats, world history, and classified reports opened before him. He scrolled through files, absorbing every detail he could find.
But before diving too deep into research, Jin paused, his mind drifting back to something he had confirmed long ago.
Years ago, he had used this same computer to search for something simple, his name.
He wasn't the most famous actor in the world, but he had been well-known enough that at least something should have come up on Boogle.
But there was nothing.
No mention of Jin Kyoto, no record of his career, no sign that he had ever existed in the world he had once called home.
"This world… it's not the one I came from."
The realization wasn't new, but every time he thought about it, a strange, unsettling feeling crawled through his chest.
But there was no use dwelling on it now.
For now, he had information to uncover.
And so, with a deep breath, Jin focused on the screen, ready to learn everything he could about this world and its hidden secrets.