Rajiv jolted awake, his breath ragged. His body was drenched in sweat.
A dream?
He turned his head. The familiar wooden ceiling of his room stared back at him. The dim glow of morning light seeped through the cracks in the window.
Rajiv sighed, rubbing his temples. That fight... the demon... Kazuki... it had felt so real. But now, here he was, safe in bed.
He glanced at the clock.
"I woke up early?"
As he got out of bed and stepped outside, he spotted a figure standing in the training yard. His brother, Sogo. But next to him stood another man.
A man with a long coat.
Rajiv narrowed his eyes. Wait…
Sogo turned and smacked the back of Rajiv's head. "Took you long enough to wake up."
Rajiv winced. "What the hell was that for?"
Sogo gestured toward the man. "You seriously don't recognize him?"
Rajiv frowned. The man's presence was overwhelming, like standing near a raging fire.
Kazuki's piercing gaze locked onto Rajiv.
Rajiv hesitated. "You're… Kazuki?"
Kazuki scoffed. "Took you long enough."
Sogo smirked. "That guy is no ordinary warrior. He's the world's greatest. The leader of his own elite team."
Rajiv's eyes widened. Kazuki… the greatest warrior in the world?
Kazuki rolled his eyes. "Don't go throwing around titles."
Rajiv straightened up. "I—It's an honor."
Kazuki waved him off. "Yeah, yeah. Just don't embarrass yourself, kid."
Sogo smirked. "And from now on, call me 'Brother.' Not by my name."
Rajiv frowned. "Since when?"
Sogo smacked his head again. "Since now."
Rajiv grumbled but didn't argue.
Then Sogo clapped his hands. "Alright, enough chit-chat. Today's the selection day. You're already running late."
Rajiv's eyes widened. "Shit!"
He rushed inside, grabbed his gear, and sprinted toward the academy.
The Selection Trials
At the entrance, his friend, Yokudo, was waiting.
"Rajiv, you're late! Come on!" Yokudo waved him over.
They hurried inside just as the selection process began. The academy tested students in three ways:
1. Energy Control – Candidates had to demonstrate their ability to manipulate their energy.
2. Combat Skills – A battle test to prove their strength.
3. Written Exam – A test of knowledge on strategy and spells.
Rajiv frowned. He had failed the written test before.
The trials began. One by one, students displayed their energy control. Yokudo performed impressively, weaving spells effortlessly. Rajiv, on the other hand…
He failed. Again.
The final results were announced.
Rajiv's name wasn't there.
Defeated, he wandered into an empty field, staring at the sky.
"Why? Why am I always behind?"
Anil's Challenge
Then—
A voice.
"Well, well. Look who's sulking again."
Rajiv turned—Anil, one of the academy's top fighters, sneered at him.
"Still a failure, huh?" Anil smirked. "Must feel nice, huh? Watching your dreams slip away."
Rajiv clenched his fists.
Anil stepped closer. "You really thought you'd make it? You're nothing, Rajiv. Just another failure."
Rajiv's hands trembled.
Anil smirked. "Come on, what's wrong? You looked stronger in your dreams."
BOOM!
A sudden surge of energy exploded from Rajiv. The air grew heavy. The ground cracked beneath him.
Anil's confidence faltered. "W-What the hell?"
But Rajiv didn't wait.
He moved—faster than ever before.
One punch.
Anil was sent flying across the field.
His friends, Kiran and Toyota, rushed forward—but Rajiv's energy flared again. The pressure alone made them stumble back.
Silence.
Then—
A slow clap.
Rajiv turned.
Kazuki stood there, arms crossed.
"That energy just now… was different." His eyes narrowed. "Come with me."
Rajiv hesitated. "Why?"
Kazuki smirked. "Because I'm going to teach you how to control it."
Rajiv's heart pounded. This was it.
His journey was truly beginning.