Erika sighed, muttering, "I can't believe I missed curfew."
After hearing the explanation from the siblings, Akira said, "Why care so much? The school is ours. You can do whatever you want."
"I am the student council vice president," Erika said. "I need to be an example for the other students. I can't just break rules because we own the school."
"Well, I don't know much about that," Akira said. "Anyway, since you already missed curfew, why not just witness my new power-up?"
Erika sighed. "Whatever. No use crying over spilled milk, I guess."
"Alright," Akira said, "since Erika's here, we can begin. Sister?"
"Sure," Selena said. "Place your hand on the tree."
Akira obeyed, and the holographic tree pulsed with life. Suddenly, a fruit-like object appeared on a branch, a fruit of light that resembled an apple. It detached itself and slowly floated in front of him.
"There it is, the Seed of Destiny," Selena said, looking at the fruit.
"Are you sure it's not the Fruit of Destiny?" Akira asked in confusion.
"The seed is inside the fruit. Now stop asking questions and eat it." Selena said, a bit annoyed.
Akira did as instructed, took the fruit, which was a bit cold to the touch, took a bite, "Why does it look like an apple and taste like mango…..OHHHHH" as he was tasting the fruit, suddenly his body pulsed with a new kind of power.
"UNLIMITED POWWWWERRRRR!" he screamed, taking a pose as if he was trying to contain the power.
Erika sighed at his overacting. "Selena, I think he's too dangerous to be left alive."
"I think so too, but too bad, that's not the Jedi way," Selena said with a grin. "And we kinda need him to save all of reality."
Then, after a while, the pulse subsided, and everything returned to normal. Akira looked down at his hands to see if something had changed, and he asked. "So… what power did I get?"
"Check your status window," Selena said.
"My status window? When did I have that?" he asked, a bit confused.
"I added it to the Star Soul System. Just say 'Status Open.'" She said with a smile.
Akira nodded with a smile and said. "Status Open!"
A holographic window appeared before him with his status.
[Name: Sirius Lucen Starlight / Hoshino Akira
Title: Destined One (one part), Crown Prince of Asterisia
Race: Asterian (Body), **** (Soul)
Abilities: Mystic Eyes of Truth, Lunar Vows,
*updated*
*Blazer*
Device: Unnamed
Form: Unknown
Power: Concept of Evolution
Skills: Magician EX (Universal Affinity), Bartitsu B, Mana Circulation EX]
"Wow… wait, Blazer? Did I get a device from that seed of destiny?" Akira asked, a bit shocked at what he got.
"Yes, brother," Selena said. "It's your own unique power, too."
"What's a Blazer?" Erika asked, confused, since she hadn't heard about it before.
Selena explained, "It's a power from another world. Blazers are unique beings who can manifest their soul as a device and use magical powers, manipulating the abilities they hold. Now, Akira got that power from the Seed of Destiny."
"I… don't get any of it," Erika admitted.
"Well, you'll understand better if you see it for yourself," Selena said. "Brother, why don't you summon your device?"
Akira, still looking at the status window, glanced at her. "Okay… but how?"
"Call out its name or try to use your power," Selena said.
"But it says it's unnamed. And the form is unknown. So… what do I do?" he asked.
"Duh, that's because it's yours. Name it, and the form will appear when you summon it," Selena said.
Akira thought for a moment. "Then… what should I name it?"
"You choose," Selena said.
He thought for a while, and a perfect name suddenly came to his mind. "Alright, I've decided. Sister, don't forget to record it."
"Don't worry, I got you," Selena said.
He took a deep breath, striking a pose as if holding something invisible, and called out, "Answer me, Eclipse!"
Suddenly, a black, portal-like gate erupted from the ground behind him. A massive hand, shaped like a huge wolf's hand, emerged from the portal, followed by a huge, armored jet black wolf with glowing purple eyes. The beast let out a terrifying howl.
Erika instinctively took a step back, a hint of fear in her eyes.
Then the wolf looked at Akira and lunged at him, swallowing him whole. In an instant, it shattered into black smoke-like energy. The swirling smoke enveloped Akira, and one by one, plates of sleek black armor slammed into place on his body.
When the smoke finally cleared, Akira stood clad in jet-black armor. Its silhouette was sleek, reminiscent of a Gundam Astray, with glowing purple eyes mirroring Akira's own.
Akira looked at his hands. "Oh… It's an armor! A cool jet-black armor!"
"It's so cool!" Selena cheered. "And the transformation sequence is amazing too!"
"Did you record it properly?" Akira asked eagerly.
"Of course," Selena replied, opening a holographic screen to show him the entire sequence.
Akira grinned. "It's so cooool! This is the best!"
Erika, still in shock, stammered, "W-Wait… what's happening? What is that?"
Selena explained patiently, "Erika-chan, this is his device. Every Blazer has one. It manifests as a weapon or something else, depending on the person. It's basically the embodiment of their soul."
Akira added casually, " And mine looks like this because… well, I love Gundams. I was actually expecting an actual Gundam, but… Gundam-shaped armor is cool too."
Selena nodded. "Yeah, just like he said."
Erika tilted her head. "So… what does it do?"
"No idea, let me check, status open," Akira said as he opened his status again, only to see some new information added here.
[Name: Sirius Lucen Starlight / Hoshino Akira
Title: Destined One (one part), Crown Prince of Asterisia
Race: Asterian (body), **** (soul)
Abilities: Mystic Eyes of Truth, Lunar Vows,
*updated*
*Blazer*
Device: Eclipse
Form: Full-bodied Armor
Power: Concept of Evolution
Skills: Magician EX (Universal Affinity), Bartitsu B, Mana Circulation EX]
"Concept of Evolution… what does that mean?" Akira muttered.
Selena shrugged. "I'm not entirely sure. Maybe it has something to do with your backstory in your previous life, you know, like how you're the next step in human evolution, or something."
"I… don't know. Probably…" Akira paused, then frowned. "Wait, sister, why did you reveal it in front of Erika?"
Selena answered calmly, "Oh, she knows. She was apparently conscious and heard everything while she passed out."
"Oh… I see. But that still doesn't explain what it does," Akira said, turning back to the status window.
Erika, slightly flustered, asked, "Wait… you're not shocked I know that?"
Akira glanced at her and smiled faintly. "It's just you, right? Not someone else. I don't mind if you know… actually, it's kind of good. Now I can be more open with you."
"Wait… you don't mind?" Erika whispered.
"I was going to tell you one day anyway," he said. "If I were going to be with you in the future, it'd be good if you knew. Now you do, so we can skip the awkward speech part."
Selena interjected lightly, "We can talk about that later. For now… the device."
"Right," Akira said, turning his attention back to the status window, completely absorbed, unaware of the faint blush creeping across Erika's face.
"Seriously… I don't get him". Erika sighed inwardly, watching Akira excitedly examine his new power. "Good thing Selena distracted him".
She shook her head lightly to clear her thoughts and looked back at Akira, who was now staring intently at the glowing status window floating in front of him.
"It doesn't say what it does," Akira muttered. "It only says Concept of Evolution, and there's no info about its Noble Art either."
"That's because Noble Arts are something you create yourself," Selena explained. "They won't come pre-packaged. As for the Concept of Evolution… maybe it works like that rewrite ability from the anime Rewrite, you know?"
Akira's eyes lit up. "Could be… I guess I just need to find out by experimenting. And if it's like Rewrite, I could just grow stronger without limit! Maybe become more intelligent, gain immunity to poisons and stuff too…"
He was clearly excited, like a child with a new toy, already imagining all the possibilities.
Meanwhile, Erika had gone quiet. Her gaze softened as her thoughts grew heavier.
Akira is getting stronger at a rate faster than she had ever imagined. Since they reunited, he had grown more powerful than before, and they were reunited just yesterday, and he's been growing stronger at an incredible speed, and now, with power like this… would he leave her behind?
"He said he'd be with me forever… but can I really stay by his side if I'm this weak? What if something, like the werewolf attack, from back then, happens again?" Her chest tightened at the thought, but then her eyes hardened with resolve. She clenched her fists, the decision forming clearly in her heart.
"Selena," Erika said suddenly, her voice steady. "Remember the talk we had before?"
Selena turned toward her. "Yeah. What is it?"
Erika took a deep breath, her resolve unwavering now. "I've decided… I'll join the Star Chasers too."