Ashiro's hand flies through the air, and flames activate immediately, flowing through his body almost instantaneously. "(Who would've guessed I could increase my power by this much? I LOVE IT!)"
Ashiro then started throwing even more punches and kicks. The more he attacked, the more he could feel his body loosen up.
[1st Flame Formation: Fiery Fury!]
Ashiro continues attacking as the blue flames fly through his hands in short bursts. The condensed method he saw Kenzo use seemed to be working flawlessly.
But a voice then called out to Ashiro. "Hey, Ashiro, right?" He knew who this voice was and that someone was an opponent he wanted to fight since his first interaction.
"Fine then, Midori. I'll take up your offer." Ashiro's reply to his opponent was confident and ready.
Midori smiled and green flames ignited from his hands. "Finally, I've been itching to fight another fire user!" The ground rumbles beneath them as Midori jumps through the air, his leg ignited in the jade shade of fire.
[1st Jade Formation: Jaded Aggression!]
An intense axe kick flies at Ashiro's head as he dodges the attack and counters with a swift punch straight to the side Midori left open. "(He's too aggressive and open. Typical brawler.)"
[1st Flame Formation: Fiery Fury!]
Blue flames shroud Ashiro's body, and he shifts his feet and weight, slamming his face into Midori's liver. A loud crunch echoes through the gym as Midori coughs up blood and goes flying into a wall, and debris flies in all directions.
Ken watches the brawl, smirking at Ashiro's power and speed. "(He's part of a martial artist family, of course, his advantage would be close-range combat.)"
Ashiro begins walking away, but then a surge of green flames lash out from the wall he had just knocked Midori into.
Ken smirked with a smile of enjoyment. "(However, this is Midori one of the strongest members of our school, if you think you'll win just from martial arts then you're dead wrong.)"
Ashiro watches as the flames instantly cover a large number of pathways between him and his opponent. "(So fast!)"
A ring of green flames covers the gymnasium's floor, trapping Ashiro. "(Damn, he's strong. If Kodak were to fight him with pure revenant and not even use his martial arts he'd lose 10 out of 10 times. However, I refuse to lose to this arrogant asshole!)"
[4th Flame Formation: Blazing Emberstorm!]
A sea of blue flames expands from Ashiro position, neutralizing the jaded shade of flames.
Ken then stands up, instructing students to leave the gymnasium. "EVERYONE OUT, A DUEL BETWEEN S-RANKS IS COMMENCING! MOVE YOUR ASSES IF YOU AREN'T AN A-RANK OR HIGHER!"
Multiple leave the gym, leaving only a few people in the room besides Ashiro & Midori.
[2nd Flame Formation: Flare Burst!]
Ashiro leaps into the air, grappling onto Midori as the blue flames burn away at his skin, making it bubble and melt off his bones. "AAAAAHHHHHH!!!" Midori screamed in pain as he punched Ashiro in the face, trying to get him to release his powerful grip.
"GET OFF!" He screamed even louder, showing how much pain he was in.
Ashiro just smirked, and began using his flame flight to fly into the air and spin at a fast pace. "IF YOU SAY SO!"
Ashiro spun faster and faster, flames engulfed them both, until he threw Midori straight into the ground of the gymnasium. A loud shockwave from the impact echoed through the campus, breaking multiple windows and doors just from the impact alone.
Smoke fills the room as Fumiko sees the aftermath of the attack. "Jeez, you don't show mercy do you, Ashiro?"
Ashiro descended slowly towards the ground, seeing a deep crater in the floor that held a deeply wounded Midori. "Looks like I win." He said while smirking a cocky smile towards Midori. But to his surprise, his opponent stood up and his passive healing factor kicked in. "Damn.. You hit like a bitch!"
Midori rushed from the crater, trying to hit Ashiro. But he then suddenly stopped midair as Ken held him in a chokehold. "Are you sure you wanna keep fighting even after the beatdown you were dealt?" His question rang in Midori's head over and over again, like a bad dream.
"Tch," Midori scoffed under his breath "this ain't over." He pointed at Ashiro, angry at both his opponent and himself.
Ashiro then finally landed on the ground and looked around the damaged gym. "Oops?" He sheepishly apologized for the damage he caused to the gym.
Ken shook his head, dismissing the apologetic response from Ashiro. "Nah, don't sweat it. There's a reason Akira is always here. He loves seeing students breaking down the material so he can make new ones.
"YOUR GODDAMN RIGHT I DO!" Akira screamed in excitement while he looked the huge crater. "(This material was on the same level as a low S-Rank user. To do this much damage, much less completely pierce through the multiple layers of the same materials. Damn brat has power, I'll give him that much.)"
Ken then turns his back walking over towards Midori, still talking to Ashiro. "If you want to survive in this academy, try not to pick fights with someone like Midori, he and I are still part of a small group within this school called 'Royals' so it's best to keep to yourself and make allies. Although Midori and his group will out you out especially."
Ashiro then looked around himself, seeing multiple S-Ranks glaring at him. "Why are not fighting me then, Ken?"
"Cause, you're a good guy. Plus I spot someone weaker than me." Ken said with a smug look.
Ashiro frowned in annoyance. "(Asshole.)"
3 Hours later..
Ashiro falls straight onto the bed in his dorm room, tired. "Damn, who would've thought that the condensed control of revenant and circulating all my element energies at once would be so exhausting. Kenzo does know what he's doing."
A door then swings open as Ashiro smells takeout and Kohaku's perfume. "Ashiro, you here?" She called to him, but he could barely move due to the intense training from today.
He tried speaking but instead his world went black and his eyes closed.
Kohaku then enters the room she and Ashiro share, and upon entering she sees him passed out cold. "ASHIRO!"
She shook, tossed, and turned him around. Seeing if that would awaken him from the slumber, but to no one's surprise Ashiro doesn't respond. Instead, he snores softly.
"Wake up."
A voice called out to Ashiro, and he found himself in the same colorful mindscape once again, his head resting on the soft and gentle grass. Where he saw Godai bending over him, looking into his eyes.
"Godai? What the hell happened?"
"Short answer, you passed out. Long answer you trained your body to such an extent that you lost consciousness and now you're here. So I can help you control such a multitude of powers, and also make sure you keep growing."
Ashiro smirked in amusement."What are we wanting for!?" He excitedly asked. "Teach me!"
Ashiro started running into the grassy fields, but Godai stopped him. "I can't help if you go off running."
"Oh, yeah." Aahuro scratched the back of his head in embarrassment. "Kind of forgot about the training process."
Ashiro immediately sinks to the ground, getting into a meditation position. "So is it gonna be where you unlock my cores and leave me in a state of agony, leaving me to figure it out by myself?" Ashiro said in a joking tone, but deep down he never wanted to do it again.
"No," Godai replied with a bold tone "you're gonna unlock the rest of the earth formations and even learn the first lightning formation. If you don't die that is."
Ashiro's face turned pale. "If I don't what!?"
"Focus, if you let up on your concentration you're body will break and your revenant pathways will forever be closed off." Godai's tone was stern, but deep down Ashiro knew he was this way cause of how his only child was killed. "(I haven't seen the little guy in forever... I wonder if he's still here?)"
Ashiro then feels a cold feeling around the area, looking to his right. It was the same boy from before.
"Aiko!?" Godai turned his head over where Ashiro was looking, seeing Aiko as well. "Shhh." He shushed his child gently with his voice and the child instantly disappeared.
Ashiro wondered what Aiko's purpose was here. "(A couple of months ago when I was back in this mindscape I saw, Aiko almost fall into the cracks that formed in here. but Godai stopped me.)"
"You're not ready for that power!" The words echo through his mind, eating away at him cause of the uncertainty of his abilities. "(I need to ask him!)"
Ashiro then focuses his attention on Godai. "Hey, what is the purpose of Aiko?" He asked Godai, glancing over to see his face turn surprised.
"I was wondering when you'd ask this question, just not this quickly."
"So can you?"
"No, but I can give you information on what the system allows me to disclose." Godai's face calmed itself, trying to keep focus a he continued coursing the energy of the earth formations through Ashiro's body.
Ashiro smirked as he channeled the energy. Ok, then what is Aiko?"
"He's my son and you're the reincarnation of him. Hell, your hair gets darker and your eyes gain more of a red hue as the days pass. It makes me nostalgic, but he is the destructive combination of the spiritual energy from element energy, combined into a single energy source called: Spirit Energy."
Ashiro's eyes widened in surprise at the information he was told. "Damn, guess the powers he held was way out of my league."
Godai smirked in amusement. "Your goddamn right he's out of your league. That power source exceeds most high-level S-Rankers."
Ashiro then thinks back to the brief moment he felt Aiko's hand when he tried to grab him away from the collapsing ground below them both. "(That brief moment I felt his aura I felt the destructive tendencies, and yet he stayed peaceful. I just wonder if my power could reach that level one day.)"
Ashiro then suddenly felt a surge of the earth element vibrate through his pathways and channels of revenant. "(WHAT THE HELL!?)"
[Earth Formations 2-4 have been unlocked!]
[1st Lighting Formation has been awakened!]
Godai then stands up and helps Ashiro stand up as well. "Now if you practice for about a month solely on your earth formations, I believe that you'll master them."
Ashiro smirked as he now felt the earth core more effectively than before.
[Flame Core LVL 5]
[Earth Core LVL 5]
Ashiro smirked and then struck the ground, multiple pillars of stone formed effortlessly. "Nice, looks like I got stronger thanks to you, Godai."
He smirked at Ashiro's compliments and then struck him in the sternum with a palm. "Now get back to the real world and make use of this newfound strength!"
Ashiro then wakes up, seeing himself in the bed he and Kohaku share. "Damn, I didn't mean to worry you, Kohaku."
The Next Day…
Ashiro opens his eyes, feeling the warmth of the sun beaming through the curtains of his room. A warm glow of orange and yellow filled the room. Ashiro then looked to his left, seeing Kohaku sleeping ever so beautifully. "(God how did I end up with such a gorgeous woman?)"
He jumps from the bed, going through his morning routine of stretching, showering, facial & dental care, and even what he ate for breakfast.
Multiple pairs of footsteps tap across the wooden floors of the kitchen, notifying Ashiro of the others being awake.
"Well, looks like you guys slept alright," Ashiro said with a happy smile. "Speaking of which, I felt your lunar energy getting stronger, Fumiko." He said while smirking at her.
"Is it that obvious?" She softly chuckled at the compliment. "I thought I hid my energy levels pretty well. But I'm not the only one who was training."
"You caught me." Ashiro said while tossing his hands in the air in a joking manner.
"Oh, yeah how did you pass out?" Akari asked worries for him. "You scared the shit of Kohaku and I. But Fumiko chalked it up to you being so damn exhausted that you shifted into your mindscape to chat with your Avatar."
Ashiro then looked over at Fumiko with an impressed look. "How the hell do you know so much about revenant?"
Fumiko smirked with confidence. "My avatar is organized, and yet still so damn lazy!" A sharp pain then echoes in her head as Kaguya yells at her, offended. "I AM NOT LAZY!"
Fumiko holds her head in pain. Ashiro chuckled at her. "Welp, sucks to be you." He jokingly said, trying to make Fumiko laugh. "Haha, very funny. Now can you cook some breakfast? I don't wanna be late for our classes."
Ashiro chuckled at Fumiko's impatience. "Relax, I was prepared for an occasion like this." Ashiro walks towards the stove, bringing out a tray full of grilled fish, tamagoyaki, rice, miso soup, and natto.
Kohaku claps her hands in excitement for the delicious-looking food. Akari stares at the food, drool dripping from her mouth as she wipes her sleeve across her lips.
Ashiro watches the group girls run through the tray of food, like starved soldiers. "(They act like their being starved to death.)"
A doorbell rings as the group begins eating, Ashiro rushes to the door wondering who it could be. "Who's at our door at 5 AM?" Ashiro wondered.
He looks through the peephole of the door, seeing Ken and Sena. Ashiro then opens the door greeting them both. "Hey there, why are two here at this time?" Ashiro questioned them, suspicious of their timing.
Ken smirked and pats Ashiro on the shoulder. "Relax, we're friends, right?" His attitude was cheerful and enthusiast."So why don't we join for breakfast?"
Ashiro looks back at group, seeing them shrug in response. He faces back towards Ken and Sena, with a defeated tone. "Fine, just don't raid my pantry."
Shibuya 8:30 AM...
Shibuya used to be a busy city, filled with chatter, parties, multiple groups dedicated to going out and socializing. But 2 months ago that had all changed.
"Hey, we're did Jacob Go?" A girl said, while looking around for someone. Her friend next to shook her head, not knowing where or what their friend was caught up at.
"Hey, Jessica!" A voice called out to on if the girls, making them turn around to see a boy with fluffy blonde hair dressed in jeans and a navy blue jacket. "Didn't know you'd bring Akane along as well-"
A blade slices straight through the boy's arm, severing his entire right arm. Wretched screams of agony echoes from the boy's mouth, filling the streets with fear as draconic monsters descend from the sky.
A girl watches as her friends around turn to shreds. Blood fills the streets with the sounds of screaming and bknes being crushed echoed through the girl's ears. Fear instills into her mind as her hair turns red.
A symbol of pausing something appears, showing that this gruesome scene of chaos was being played in Ashiro's classroom.
Akari's eyes widened at the screen, sick. Fumiko looks away, sad for the lives lost to the monsters. After all, she knew what it was like to lose those she loved so dearly. Kohaku watches, squeezing Ashiro's hand tightly.
The teacher holding the TV remote slowly walks around the students in the room, talking about the incident."As you all know this was a historical event that happened about 2 months ago, named 'Shibuya's Beginning.' Over 100,00 people lost their lives from this tragedy alone. But it doesn't stop their, hundreds of thousands more people have had their lives snatched from the global wars happening from this. The population of the entire world was near cut in half."
Ashiro stared at his desk, furious. His other hand gripping the desk started bending the metal, until a loud snap echoed through the room. His face seetheing with anger and sorrow for those poor people."This is bullshit." He thought, not wanting this senseless bloodshed to linger any further.
The teacher then looked over at Ashiro, not angry, but sympathetic for him. "But through sheer determination and luck, we've been blessed with multiple S-Rankers around the world, roughly about a hundred. You all know about as well as I do. We take up missions to solve these disasters from continuing on. Their ranked from E-Rank all the way to S-Rank, and starting from 2 weeks from now you're gonna be judged, trained, and even improved. For the sole purpose of becoming a beacon of hope for the weak."
Ashiro's angry look was then washed over completely, changing how he felt about it. He then lifted his head and saw that the multiple students around him felt the same.
"(Maybe what my father said back then was what I needed.)" Ashiro thought to himself.
A quick memory from the past flashed through his mind, the words stuck to him, permanently. "Ashiro, should I one day become someone you can't rely on or someone twisted, I want you to become a person that the weak strive to be like. Be a hero, Ashiro."