Phantasia, the world that houses various lands across.
—Valoria, the land of humans.
—Dragonic, the land of Dragons.
—Mystical, the land of Elves.
—Kemono, the land of Anthrobeast.
—Neptunus, the oceans of Meroceanic
These species were at war for hundreds of years, till five human warriors appeared.
Ending the seven-hundred year war in just a few days of their appearance at the same time vanishing with no one to find them.
Still a mystery remained, who were those individuals that appeared and disappeared?
Many asked that question, some theorized they were sent by the Goddesses or secret inhumane experiments. But most of all they questioned the human race the most.
Nevertheless, all five countries formed a peace treaty to never incite another war.
Valoria, where the human race resided in was recognized as a country. With the first human representative that took the initiative and become king, some were not happy with him. Fifty-years after a coup d'état occurred, replacing the first king.
"This was just one of the many known occurrences throughout the history of Valoria."
Thump!
Professor Karo closed book he held and announced.
"Make sure to prepare for your 1st-year Final Examination. Class dismissed."
Some students stood up to leave, some to talk amongst each other but among all the noise is one student dazing off into his own mindscape.
"hi..a."
"Sh..."
"SHIKA!"
A loud feminine voice boomed in his ear.
"What are you dazing around for, class is already over."
"Oh, sorry." Shika replied in a low monotone voice.
He looked at the girl, who is his one and only friend that he made. Her name was Maiden Sousei.
Her dark hair flowed with the warm air, her dark-purplish eyes staring at the boy Infront of her and how graceful she carried her posture; Gentle water.
He met her eyes face-to-face as he said—"So what's the agenda for today?"
"Preparing of course."
Shika sighed "Right of course."
.....
Tap! Tap! Tap!
"Come in."
"Professor Karo, I assume everything is proceeding well with the other Professors preparation for the exams?"
As Professor Karo entered the room, rows upon of dark-wood shelves are lined up on one side. Couches on the other, a mirror just above with a silver framing and in the farthermost part of the room in the center was someone sitting signing papers.
Headmaster of Gokan Academy.
His voice was velvety with a slight hint of husky. How he carried presence and voice made him easy to approach.
"Yes, everything is going well."
Silence befall the room for a few seconds.
Tap...Tap...Tap...
The tapping sound of fingers on the desk broke the silence of the room. He held his chin smiling and pondering something.
"Do you think that boy still have a chance?"
Professor Karo already answered with a stoic face "No, unless a miracle were to happen."
"A miracle huh? Heh, I'd love to see it happen."
.....
1 week later...
The training ground was filled with students watching atop an elevated platform. A cacophony of loud roars of excitement and cheering. The Professor seems to be watching two students fighting, observing, and grading them.
The room was tense to some, anxious, and exciting.
"How do you think we did on the written exam?" She asked as she was biting her nails.
"Stop being too scared, we reviewed the material last time didn't we?"
Both were conversing as they were watching each of their peers pass and fail. Their focus trailed just down below. Loud bellowing explosions and the exchange of blows echoed throughout. Each student showed off their capabilities in order to pass.
What was the exam about?
"Hey Shika, are you sure you're gonna pass?"
"I don't even know at this point, one can only hope."
"My family either wanted to humiliate me or couldn't care less."
"They sent me to the one school which I didn't have a Gokan."
Shika felt hopeless but didn't let it show on his face. Maiden felt bitter inside as she didn't know what she could do to help him.
The two have been friends for a long time since childhood. Both met on special events exclusively held for high class social gathering.
The youngest of the Senryaku and the sole daughter of the Sousei Family. The pressure was immense for both but on a different magnitude; A girl dotted by her own father, while a boy ignored like a ghost.
But nevertheless the boy worked hard, filling in the sole thing he lacked—a Gokan.
In a world full of unnatural power, it was like a worm treading the forest. At any given time he could be eaten if caught by predators.
Professor Karo's voice boomed through the training grounds calling out "Maiden Sousei. Valor Aurelian. Come one down."
She stood up and went on her way to the ground floor of the training ground.
The two individuals stood barehanded. Valor raised his fist. Maiden knelt down to touch the floor. Both focused on the Professors sign.
RINNNNNGGG!
Valor took initiative and strike first.
Whoosh!
Clang!
Maiden blocked with the wide side of her sword. Valor took notice of the missing chunk of the floor where she touched.
Glorp!
The metal swords structure turned into mushy liquid and wrapped into a solidified heavy gloves; Rendering his hands useless.
She slid down and tripped his legs while mid-fall kicking him in the abdomen.
He rolled groaning. The metallic gloves heated with a bright orange hue.
Boom!
In the midst of their fight Professor Karo observed both closely.
"(She quick witted and capable of adapting. Making him use his own ability against himself.)"
"(Re-creation and Combustion. Both are in the category of Touch. It all comes down to how quick witted they are.)"
The smoke cleared revealing an unconscious Valor.
"(I take back what I said.)"
"Maiden Sousei you pass! Valor Aurelian you fail."
.....
The crowd roared enthusiastically. Shika followed along and clapped. Excluding her appereance, she was quite well known for her skills.
She returned to her seat humming a cheerful melody.
"How did I do?" She shook Shika vigoriously.
He smiled "Amazing."
.....
Minutes went by as they waited. Professor Karo passing and failing students.
Now it is a certain someones turn.
"Shika Senryaku. Garni Glutt. Head to the ground floor."
"Senryaku? As in one of the Five great Family?"
"No way! But why haven't we heard of him?"
He sighed and stood up. Each student he passed by looked at him. On the outside he was calm but inside each step he took, magnified his anxiety.
As he stood there with his back straightened, trying to impose himself confidently.
Finally his opponent arrived. He held a piece of meat; Freshly cut. It is firm, moist from blood, and raw.
"(Garni Glutt. Gokan category: Taste. He plans to eat it just like that? Isn't that raw?)"
"Begin!"
RINNNNNGG!
Shika ran towards Garni. But Garni was faster. He held the freshly cut meat high up, then dropping it in one gulp.
Fist-to-palm. Shika couldn't make it before he swallowed. They looked each other eye-to-eye before Garni's body contorted.
He still held Shika's fist in his palm as he grew to a 7ft anthrobeast Werewolf. He was crushing his hand as Shika winced from the pressure.
CRACK!
His hand fractured. Pain spread throughout like wildfire, Shika screamed internally as he gritted. Garni's other hand grabbed Shika like a toy doll and threw him at a speed that launched him to the wall of the training grounds. As he lays there on all fours coughing blood.
He thought to himself—"(Am I gonna die?)"
One would look at this one-sided fight and feel pity for the boy. But not anyone among the crowed batted an eye; Not even the Professor, that was just how cruel the academy was. Because out there in the world was far crueler than this one-sided beating. Maiden intertwined her hand as she twiddled her fingers waiting for an intervention or some miracle to happen.
"(Please...)"
A husky hoarse voice rang out laughing. It was Garni.
"You know.... you and I come from great families and yet...."
Garni snickered.
"Your family sent you here knowing you don't have a Gokan. Guess they already threw out the trash."
Garni knelt down to Shika's level. Grabbed his chin to make him look eye-to-eye. Shika's eyes were bloodshot and dripping blood, in his sight everything was blurry-red and hearing nothing else but his own heart beating loudly in his ears.
His vision slowly darkened till...
A deep dark voice called out...
"Awaken m–"
A burst of energy exploded in his brain. His reddened vision turned blue. It was as if he was being reborn and being introduced to a whole new world. Garni let go of Shika, caught off-guard because of his eyes changing colors.
"Aghh!"
Garni's eyes widened, spitting out saliva.
What happened?
Everyone in the room was dumbstruck from the sudden development. Garni kneeling on the floor while someone standing infront of him
His form was glitching...
BZZT!
Streaks of light leaked out in a zigzag pattern from his pupil...
Shika Senryaku has awakened!
"YOU! Were you holding back!? Are you underestimating me?!"
"I THOUGHT YOU DIDN'T HAVE A GOKAN!"
Shika kept quiet. His dark blue eyes were lifeless. The only light emitting from it were the leaking streaks of light from his pupil.
To Garni, it was as if he was looking down on him.
"You too huh?"
"AAAAGGGHHHH."
Garni pounced but all he attacked were a glitching afterimage. He looked around throughout the training ground. He was bewildered by the sight he saw.
Multitudes of Shika's outer silhouette scattered. Garni couldn't discern which one was Shika. He closed his eyes and focused.
"(From behind!)"
Whoosh...
BZZT!
Once again what he attacked was only a gliching afterimage. However, Garni felt something behind creeped up on him.
It was Shika...
He had his fist winding up, preparing for one final attack. Garni's body moved on instinct.
Both of their fist aimed at each other.
Fist-to-face. Fist-to-abdomen. Both landed. They stood there for a few seconds without moving. The crowd anticipating.
Thud!
Both fell to the ground unconcious. The room fell silent till...
"Shika Senryaku. Garni Glutt. They both pass."
The crowd roared but within that crowd one girl smiled with tears dripping.
Thus, the 1st-year examination ended...
Chapter 1 End...