Chapter 2: The Awakening
A strange energy pulsed through Ren's body.
"Aghhh!!" he roared, clutching his chest as his muscles swelled unnaturally. His entire frame grew larger, his veins bulging with raw power.
"Ren?!" Ryo staggered back, eyes wide. "What's happening to you?!"
"I—I can't control it!" Ren gasped, his body expanding again before suddenly shrinking. His limbs fluctuated between massive and normal, as if his entire physique was in chaos.
Before anyone could react, another surge of power erupted.
"Wh—what the hell?!" Akira's right arm was flowing with water, streams of liquid swirling around his fingertips. His breath hitched as he instinctively flicked his wrist—sending a burst of water splashing onto the ground.
Hajime's hands ignited in flames.
"Shit—!" He stumbled back, the fire licking at his skin yet not burning him. His arms trembled as the flames flickered wildly. "Is this… me?"
Ryo's eyes darted between them. Strength, water, fire…
Then—he felt it.
A warm sensation welled up inside him, spreading through his veins. Before he could react, his entire body glowed with golden light. Pure energy surged through his muscles, his skin radiating with power.
Ryo clenched his fist.
"This… this is insane…"
The realization hit them at the same time.
The rings granted them supernatural abilities.
At first, they hesitated, overwhelmed by the sudden changes. But then—
Ren smirked. "If we've got powers, we might as well test them out!"
Hajime grinned. "Damn right."
Akira cracked his knuckles. "Let's see what we can do!"
Without another word, they lunged at each other.
Water clashed against fire, steam rising into the air. Ren swung his massive fists, sending shockwaves through the ground. Ryo dodged swiftly, golden energy flickering around him. Their movements were sloppy, uncontrolled—but the thrill of their newfound strength pushed them forward.
For the first time, they weren't just normal high schoolers.
They were something more.
Later That Night
The excitement wore off by the time they got home. Exhausted, they sat in Ryo's room, the reality of the situation settling in.
Ren leaned back against the wall. "So… if we got these rings, does that mean others did too?"
Ryo's expression darkened. "It's possible."
Akira stretched his arms, his fingers still damp from earlier. "If these rings were sealed away, then maybe they weren't meant to be found."
Hajime crossed his arms. "So what do we do now?"
Silence filled the room.
For the first time since discovering the rings, they realized—
This wasn't just some game.
And whatever they had unlocked…
It was only the beginning.