Elias stood in the clearing, the wind rustling his clothes as Claire crossed her arms, watching him with a smirk.
"Alright, kid. Time to see if you're cut out for this."
He rolled his shoulders. "So, how do I activate OS?"
Claire tapped her temple. "OS is inside you, but Lunar's atmosphere triggers it. You need to focus, feel the energy in the air, and let it flow through your body."
Elias closed his eyes. Feel the energy? That sounded easy enough—except it wasn't. He concentrated, but nothing happened.
Claire sighed. "You're overthinking it. OS isn't some complicated science. It's instinct. Your body already knows how to use it—you just need to let go."
Elias exhaled, trying again. This time, instead of forcing something to happen, he let himself breathe. The world around him felt different—like a pulse he hadn't noticed before.
And then, his blood burned.
A strange heat surged through his body, his heartbeat pounding like a war drum. His muscles tensed, his senses sharpened, and his vision blurred—until suddenly, everything snapped into clarity.
Then he felt it.
His body shifted.
A New Form—Half Beast, Half Human
Elias stumbled back as his reflection flickered in a nearby puddle. His hair had grown wilder, his pupils slit like a predator's. Strange markings ran down his arms, glowing faintly with OS energy.
But the biggest change? The ears.
Two beast-like ears perched atop his head, twitching at the sound of the wind. He reached up, touching them cautiously.
Claire's eyes widened. "What the hell…?"
Elias turned to her. "This… isn't normal, is it?"
Claire was silent for a long moment before she ran a hand through her hair. "You're supposed to fall into one of the three OS categories—Enhancer, Manifester, or Controller. But this…"
She circled him, studying his transformation. "You didn't just awaken OS—you fused with it. This form… it's almost primal."
Elias flexed his fingers, feeling the energy coursing through him. It didn't feel bad—it felt natural. Like this was how he was supposed to be.
Claire let out a breathless chuckle. "You really are your father's son. First, he discovers OS, and now you—" She shook her head. "I don't even know what to call this."
Elias smirked, his new ears twitching at the sound of distant birds. "Well, guess I'll be making history at the Academy."
Claire crossed her arms, grinning. "That's if you pass the exam first."
Elias cracked his knuckles. "Bring it on."
His adventure was just beginning.