Roy stood still.
The three figures in front of him didn't move.
For a few seconds, nobody said anything.
The only sound was the faint humming coming from Raijin.
Roy looked down at the sword in his hand.
The strange message that had appeared earlier was still in his mind.
FIRST HUNT COMPLETE.RESONANCE INCREASED.
NEW ABILITY AVAILABLE.
He didn't understand what any of it meant.
But there was one thing he was certain about.
Raijin had changed.
The sword felt different in his hand now.
Stronger.
More familiar.
Almost like it had been waiting for him.
"Roy."
The Guardian's voice pulled him back to reality.
Roy looked up.
"What?"
"Don't get careless."
Roy glanced at the three hunters.
"They don't look that strong."
The Guardian frowned.
"You said the same thing about the last group."
Roy scratched the back of his head.
"And I was right."
Before the Guardian could respond, one of the hunters disappeared.
Roy's eyes widened.
Behind me.
He turned around and raised Raijin.
CLANG!
A weapon collided with the blade.
The force pushed Roy several steps backward.
The hunter didn't give him time to recover.
Another attack came.
Roy ducked underneath it and swung Raijin toward the hunter's side.
The hunter jumped away.
Roy followed.
Lightning flashed around his feet.
Flash Step.
He appeared in front of the hunter and swung.
The hunter blocked.
For a moment, the two stood face-to-face.
Then the hunter smiled beneath his mask.
"You've improved."
Roy's eyes narrowed.
"You've been watching me?"
The hunter pushed him away.
"We've been watching you for a long time."
Roy landed and immediately charged again.
"Then you should know I'm getting annoyed."
Lightning spread across Raijin.
The hunter's expression changed.
He quickly moved backward.
Roy swung.
A wave of Lightning tore through the ground.
The hunter barely avoided it.
"Interesting," another hunter said.
The third one finally moved.
Dark Nexis gathered around his arm.
Roy felt it immediately.
His expression became serious.
That isn't normal Nexis.
The figure raised his hand.
The space around Roy seemed to become heavier.
Roy tried to move.
His body slowed.
"What is this?"
The Guardian's expression changed.
"Roy, move!"
Roy forced himself forward.
The dark energy struck the ground where he had been standing.
BOOM!
Dust filled the area.
Roy rolled across the ground before quickly getting back on his feet.
He looked at the hole in the ground.
Then he looked at the hunter.
"You could've warned me before doing that."
The hunter tilted his head.
"Would you have moved?"
"No."
"Then there was no reason."
Roy stared at him.
"Fair enough."
The Guardian sighed.
"Why are you arguing with them?"
"I don't know."
Roy tightened his grip on Raijin.
"But I kind of like him."
The hunter paused.
Then he attacked again.
This time Roy didn't wait.
He rushed forward.
Lightning exploded from Raijin as their attacks collided.
BOOM!
The impact pushed both of them backward.
Roy's feet dragged across the ground.
His arm was trembling.
The hunter looked at his own hand.
A small crack had appeared across his weapon.
He looked back at Roy.
"So the sword really chose you."
Roy glanced at Raijin.
"What does that mean?"
Nobody answered.
The three hunters suddenly stepped back.
Roy noticed it immediately.
They weren't attacking anymore.
"What's going on?"
The first hunter looked toward the Guardian.
"We've confirmed what we came for."
The Guardian's expression darkened.
"You've confirmed enough."
The hunter ignored him and looked at Roy.
"The Heir has awakened."
Roy frowned.
"Heir?"
The word had been following him for too long.
Every time he asked about it, someone refused to answer.
His mother.
His father.
Raijin.
The hunters.
Even the Guardian.
Roy took a step forward.
"Who am I?"
The hunter remained silent.
Roy raised his voice.
"I asked you a question."
The hunter looked at Raijin.
"You'll find out soon enough."
Then the three hunters disappeared into the darkness.
Roy stood there, staring at the empty space.
He lowered Raijin slowly.
"That was annoying."
The Guardian walked toward him.
"Roy."
"What?"
"Put the sword away."
Roy looked at Raijin.
For some reason, he didn't want to.
The blade was still humming softly.
Then a faint light appeared along its surface.
Roy froze.
Words appeared in front of his eyes.
NEW ABILITY AVAILABLE.
Roy stared.
"What the…"
The Guardian noticed his reaction.
"What did you see?"
Roy didn't answer immediately.
Another line appeared.
ABILITY: THUNDER PULSE
Roy's eyes widened.
He looked at the Guardian.
"I think Raijin just gave me an ability."
The Guardian's face became serious.
"Don't use it here."
Roy smiled slightly.
"That's exactly what someone says when they don't want me to use something."
"Roy."
"I'm joking."
The Guardian stared at him.
Roy sighed.
"Fine."
He looked back at the sword.
But deep down, one thought remained.
If this sword really belonged to my father...
Then what else am I supposed to remember?
Far away, hidden beyond the academy walls, one of the hunters stopped.
He looked back toward the academy.
"The Heir has awakened."
Another figure appeared beside him.
"And Raijin has accepted him."
The first hunter nodded.
"That changes everything."
The second figure was silent for a moment.
"Should we report it?"
The hunter looked toward the dark sky.
"No."
"Why?"
"Because once they learn the Heir is alive…"
He paused.
"And once they learn who his father is…"
The figure's expression became serious.
"They'll come for him."
Back at the academy, Roy had no idea what was happening.
He simply stood there with Raijin in his hand.
The Guardian looked at him.
"Come. We need to leave."
Roy nodded.
But before he followed, he looked toward the darkness where the hunters had disappeared.
For the first time since arriving at the academy, Roy felt like he was getting closer to the truth.
And somehow—
he wasn't sure he wanted to know what was waiting for him.