The academy was louder than usual.
Students filled the corridors, moving between buildings and discussing the same thing.
The Club Competition.
It was the first major event of the semester where students from different clubs would compete against one another.
For the first-years, it was more than just a competition.
It was an opportunity to prove themselves.
Roy walked through the courtyard with his hands in his pockets.
He looked around.
"Everyone is sure is excited."
Leo walked beside him.
"Of course they are."
"You sound excited too."
"I am."
"Why?"
Leo smiled.
"Because I'm going to win and i have a feeling it's going to alot more fun ."
Roy looked at him.
"You're very confident."
"I'm a Blaze."
Roy laughed.
"That doesn't automatically make you win."
Leo stopped walking.
"Did you just insult my family?"
"No."
"You definitely did."
Roy continued walking.
Leo quickly followed.
"Wait for me!"
---
The academy had transformed the central courtyard into a massive competition arena.
Several temporary platforms had been constructed.
Each club had its own area.
Large banners hung from the buildings.
COMBAT CLUB
WEAPON CLUB
BEAST CLUB
SMITHING CLUB
ELEMENTAL DEVELOPMENT CLUB
TACTICAL STRATEGY CLUB
Students gathered around each section.
At the center stood the academy's instructors.
Kenneth Void stood above them on a raised platform.
He looked across the crowd.
"Students."
The entire courtyard became quiet.
"Today marks the beginning of the first Club Competition of the academic year."
Cheers erupted.
Kenneth waited until the noise settled.
"This competition is not simply about strength."
He raised his hand.
"It's about control, creativity, teamwork and adaptability."
A large display appeared behind him.
COMPETITION FORMAT
Round One — Elemental Control
Round Two — Combat Challenge
Round Three — Team Challenge
Final Round — Club Exhibition
The students immediately began discussing the rounds.
Roy looked at the display carefully.
"Elemental Control first."
That was exactly what he needed.
Kenneth continued.
"Students will earn points throughout the competition."
A ranking board appeared.
"The club with the highest score will receive special access to the academy's advanced training facilities."
The crowd erupted again.
Leo grinned.
"Now we're talking."
Roy looked at him.
"What are you planning?"
"Winning."
"Obviously."
---
Round One — Elemental Control
Students were called one at a time.
The first challenge was simple.
They had to produce their element and maintain it inside a designated area without allowing the energy to escape.
The longer they maintained control, the higher their score.
Roy watched several students perform.
A Fire user created a flame.
A Water user formed a sphere.
An Earth user produced a stone pillar.
A Wind user maintained a small vortex.
The scores appeared above the arena.
CONTROL SCORE: 74
CONTROL SCORE: 81
CONTROL SCORE: 67
Roy watched carefully.
The challenge looked simple.
But it wasn't.
The instructors were measuring more than output.
They were measuring efficiency.
"Next."
A familiar voice called from the platform.
"Roy."
Leo looked at him.
"Good luck."
Roy walked forward.
The crowd immediately became louder.
"That's the guy!"
"The Lightning user!"
"The one who fought Lee Ching!"
"I heard he used forbidden magic!"
Roy ignored the whispers.
He stepped onto the platform.
An instructor approached.
"Place your hand over the core sensor."
Roy did.
The machine activated.
BEEP.
ELEMENT: LIGHTNING
NEXIS OUTPUT: 140
Roy frowned.
His displayed information still showed the same output he had been given during his entrance evaluation.
The instructor looked at the reading.
"Begin."
Roy raised his hand.
A small blue spark appeared.
The crowd became quieter.
The Lightning was unusually small.
Someone laughed.
"That's it?"
Another student whispered.
"His output is terrible."
Roy ignored them.
He wasn't trying to produce a massive attack.
He remembered what he had learned.
Don't force it.
He focused on the Lightning.
The spark remained stable.
Ten seconds.
Twenty.
Thirty.
The energy didn't escape.
Roy slowly increased the intensity.
The spark became brighter.
Forty seconds.
Fifty.
A minute.
The instructors began paying closer attention.
One of them looked at the readings.
"His energy leakage is almost zero."
Another instructor nodded.
"Excellent control."
The crowd began murmuring.
Roy continued.
He could feel the Lightning moving naturally through his fingers.
For the first time, it didn't feel like something he needed to force.
It felt almost alive.
Then—
CRACK!
The Lightning suddenly surged.
Roy's eyes widened.
The energy nearly escaped the designated area.
He immediately reduced the output.
The Lightning stabilized.
The instructor raised his hand.
"Stop."
Roy lowered his arm.
The score appeared.
CONTROL SCORE: 94
The crowd went silent.
Then erupted.
"94?!"
"That's one of the highest!"
"His output isn't even that high!"
Roy stepped off the platform.
Leo ran toward him.
"That was amazing!"
Roy smiled.
"I almost lost control though but I'll take the win ."
"Nice just don'tcry when i beat your score."
Roy grinned. "Try your luck if you can"
---
The Weapon Club
The next event was a weapon demonstration.
Participants were given several weapons and had to demonstrate their ability to synchronize their Nexis with them.
Roy watched from the side.
A student picked up a spear.
His Wind Nexis surrounded it.
Another used Earth to reinforce a sword.
Then a Lightning user stepped forward.
Roy became interested.
The student grabbed a metal staff.
Lightning immediately covered it.
The crowd cheered.
Roy watched carefully.
"His flow is different from mine."
The student moved through a series of attacks.
Fast.
Precise.
Efficient.
Roy studied every movement.
Then the instructor called:
"Roy."
Roy looked up.
"Me?"
"You're registered with the Weapon Club."
Roy sighed.
He walked onto the platform.
The instructor handed him a wooden sword.
"Show us your synchronization."
Roy gripped the sword.
The crowd immediately began whispering.
"Isn't his weapon compatibility high?"
"I heard it was ninety-one percent."
"That's insane."
Roy ignored them.
He activated Lightning.
Blue energy slowly spread across the sword.
Unlike before, it didn't explode.
It remained stable.
Roy's eyes widened slightly.
"Better."
The instructor nodded.
"Begin."
Three training targets appeared.
Roy moved.
WHOOSH!
He struck the first.
BAM!
Lightning exploded through the target.
Roy spun.
Second target.
BAM!
Third.
CRACK!
The targets fell almost simultaneously.
The crowd cheered.
But Roy wasn't satisfied.
His sword felt heavy.
His Lightning was still leaking.
He looked at the blade.
"I can do better."
He remembered the technique from the library.
He concentrated his Nexis.
Instead of coating the entire sword, he gathered it around the edge.
The Lightning became thinner.
Sharper.
More concentrated.
Roy swung.
BOOM!
The final target split apart.
Silence.
The instructor stared at the destroyed target.
Then looked at Roy.
"Interesting."
Roy lowered the sword.
"Was that good?"
The instructor smiled.
"Very."
A score appeared.
WEAPON SYNCHRONIZATION: 91
Roy stared.
"Ninety-one?"
The instructor nodded.
"Your compatibility is exceptional."
The crowd erupted.
Leo shouted from below.
"LET'S GO!"
Roy laughed.
---
An Unexpected Challenge
After the first two events, the academy announced a short break.
Roy walked toward the cafeteria with Leo.
"You did well."
"So did you."
Leo smiled.
"I haven't competed yet."
"Exactly."
Leo laughed.
Before they reached the cafeteria, someone stepped into their path.
Roy recognized him.
Darius.
The Sound user from the previous spar.
"Roy."
Roy stopped.
"What?"
Darius smiled.
"Looks like you've improved."
"Thanks."
"I've been watching."
Roy raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
"Because I want another fight."
Leo sighed.
"Again?"
Darius ignored him.
"I've been practicing."
Roy looked at him.
"Good."
"Then fight me."
Roy shook his head.
"Not here."
"Why?"
"Because this is a competition."
Darius smiled.
"Exactly."
He pointed toward the arena.
"The Combat Club is holding its challenge round next."
Roy's eyes narrowed.
Darius continued.
"Join me."
Roy thought about it.
The Combat Club challenge was an individual combat round.
If he participated, he could earn points for the club.
Leo looked at him.
"You should."
Roy smiled.
"Fine."
Darius grinned.
"Good."
---
Round Two — Combat Challenge
The arena filled quickly.
Students from the Combat Club gathered around.
The rules were simple.
No lethal attacks.
No forbidden techniques.
Victory could be achieved through surrender, incapacitation or ring-out.
The instructor stepped forward.
"First match!"
Several students competed.
Some lasted only seconds.
Others put up impressive fights.
Roy waited.
Then—
"Next match!"
The instructor looked at the list.
"Roy versus Darius."
The crowd exploded.
Leo smiled.
"Here we go."
Roy stepped into the arena.
Darius entered from the opposite side.
He stretched his arms.
"Ready?"
Roy nodded.
"Always."
The instructor raised his hand.
"Begin!"
Darius immediately released his Sound Nexis.
BOOM!
A shockwave spread across the arena.
Roy activated Lightning.
He moved sideways.
Another wave.
Roy jumped.
Darius predicted his movement.
A concentrated sound blast struck Roy in midair.
BAM!
Roy was knocked backward.
He landed on his feet.
The crowd cheered.
Darius smiled.
"I learned from our last fight."
Roy nodded.
"So did I."
Lightning surged around Roy's legs.
He disappeared.
Darius raised a sound barrier.
Roy struck it.
BOOM!
The barrier cracked.
Darius's eyes widened.
Roy attacked again.
CRACK!
The barrier shattered.
Darius jumped backward.
Roy followed.
Darius released several waves in succession.
Roy dodged.
Left.
Right.
Above.
Below.
His movements became faster.
But he wasn't simply relying on speed anymore.
He was reading the vibrations.
He could feel where Darius's attacks were coming from.
Roy suddenly stopped.
Darius fired another wave.
Roy moved directly toward it.
The crowd gasped.
At the last second, Roy shifted his body.
The wave passed beside him.
Roy appeared in front of Darius.
His fist stopped just before Darius's chest.
The arena went silent.
Darius stared.
Roy smiled.
"Looks like we're even."
Darius laughed.
"Yeah."
The instructor stepped forward.
"Winner: Roy!"
The crowd erupted.
Leo jumped up.
"YES!"
Roy stepped away.
Darius walked toward him.
"Next time, I'm winning."
Roy smiled.
"I'll be waiting."
---
As Roy left the arena, Kenneth watched him from the academy platform.
His eyes remained fixed on Roy.
Not because of the fight.
Not because of the score.
But because of something else.
During the final exchange...
For a fraction of a second...
Kenneth had seen Roy's Lightning change.
It wasn't just Lightning.
There had been something underneath it.
Something unfamiliar.
Kenneth's expression became serious.
"It's starting."
Beside him, another instructor asked:
"Sir?"
Kenneth didn't respond.
He continued watching Roy.
"How long before he realizes?"
---
That evening, Roy returned to his dormitory.
He was exhausted.
But satisfied.
He had improved.
He could feel it.
His Lightning was becoming more stable.
His weapon synchronization was improving.
And his combat instincts were getting sharper.
Roy sat at his desk.
He opened his notebook.
CURRENT GOALS
Lightning Control — Improving
Weapon Synchronization — Improving
Physical Speed — Needs Work
Temper — Improving
Past — Unknown
He paused.
Then added another line.
Nexis Resonance — Investigate
Roy closed the notebook.
Outside his window, the academy lights slowly disappeared one by one.
He lay down.
But before he could sleep...
His drawer opened by itself.
Roy immediately sat up.
The pendant inside began glowing.
Blue.
Brighter than before.
Roy stared at it.
Then a voice echoed through his mind.
This time, it wasn't a memory.
It was a whisper.
"Northern Hall..."
Roy slowly stood.
The pendant continued glowing.
Then the voice spoke again.
"Come before they find you."
The light disappeared.
Roy stood frozen.
His expression hardened.
Someone—or something—had just contacted him again.
And this time...
He knew exactly where he was going.