Chapter 9: Divine Awakening
The crowd roared with cheers and excitement. The grand tournament of Imperium Hero Academy was in full swing, and the stage was set for the next match.
"HERE THEY ARE, THE TWO STARS OF THE SCHOOL—LUCY AND AURORA—FACING OFF!"
Lucy held her breath. Her heartbeat pounded in her chest like a massive drum. Aurora, with her radiant golden hair and dazzling aura, looked every bit the hero. She stood like the embodiment of nobility, wearing a bold, star-patterned costume. Next to her, Lucy felt small, inadequate. But she had no intention of backing down.
"Begin!" The referee's voice echoed.
Aurora vanished in a flash of blinding speed. In mere seconds, golden beams of light streaked across the sky.
"You can't escape." Her voice rang out from every direction.
Suddenly, dozens of light swords rained down like a meteor shower, all aimed at Lucy. She quickly clasped her hands together and summoned small spirit creatures. But the spirits were instantly dispersed by the overwhelming light energy.
Aurora disappeared again. Lucy's eyes widened.
"Where is she?!"
Before she could even think, a strike of light hit her from behind.
"I'm right here."
Aurora's voice echoed around her as reflections of light surrounded Lucy, each identical—but which one was real?
"Is this all you've got? You have a rare ability like Divine Summoning, yet you're only calling small elemental spirits? I thought you were better than this."
Aurora scoffed, then unleashed another massive wave of energy.
Lucy leaped to the side, but a burst of light exploded against her shoulder, throwing her off balance. She gritted her teeth as she fell.
"Am I not enough? Wasn't I born to be a hero? Then why do I feel so weak? Why are my hands shaking?"
Her vision blurred. She clenched her fists, but she couldn't stop the trembling. Amid the deafening cheers of the crowd, she felt lost.
"If I give up now, then why have I fought all these years? Why am I even here?"
But deep inside, something stirred.
"If you want victory, you must summon something greater."
Aurora's attacks were relentless. Lucy barely had a chance to recover. With the little energy she could gather, she summoned only weak spirits.
Dodging another strike, she found a brief opening, but as soon as Aurora's light spears embedded into the ground, the arena filled with blinding flashes and dust. The ricocheting light burned her skin. A faint burn mark formed on her left arm, but if she stopped now, she would lose.
Seizing the moment, she summoned a golem.
"Do you really think such an amateur golem can stop me?" Aurora sneered before destroying it with a single strike.
Despite her overwhelming advantage, a feeling of unease crept into Aurora's mind. "This girl... she's different somehow. But no, I always win. Even the stars shine in my favor. Someone like her can't defeat me."
Meanwhile, Lucy took a deep breath.
"The golem was just to buy time."
Clasping her hands together, she focused every ounce of her energy.
"Hear my call! God of Storms and Swords—S U S A N O O!"
Lucy's heartbeat thundered in her ears. Her blood boiled in her veins. As she pressed her fingers together, a tingling sensation spread through them. For a brief moment, shadows of ancient heroes flickered before her eyes.
"Can I... be like them?"
With one final cry, she unleashed her energy into the sky.
The heavens seemed to shatter. Dark clouds swallowed the arena as lightning crackled through the sky.
"What... what is that?" a spectator gasped, barely able to breathe.
At that moment, a colossal figure descended from the heavens like a war god himself.
So massive that Lucy had to brace her legs to keep from collapsing.
Shrouded in brilliant blue energy, eyes flashing with lightning, and wielding an enormous sword—the legendary Susanoo!
Lucy's hands trembled, her vision darkened. The power she had summoned was far beyond her body's limits.
"Too much...!"
Her knees wobbled, but she refused to fall. Then, a thunderclap shook the entire arena.
"Who dares summon me, child?" Susanoo's mighty voice echoed through the city.
Aurora, unfazed, scoffed even at Susanoo's presence.
"So this is the legendary Susanoo? You've been watching too many ninja anime. An incomplete summon like that won't stop me!"
"You're arrogant, young girl. Even an amateur summon of mine is unstoppable."
Lucy's body trembled, but she steadied herself. Determination burned in her eyes.
"Then come and see for yourself!"
Aurora's eyes widened in shock.
"W-What is this?"
She quickly conjured a light barrier. But Susanoo swung his massive sword, sending waves of energy crashing through the air. The entire arena trembled under the sheer force.
Lucy could feel Susanoo's energy and guided it, trying to control him with her will.
"This is my final move!" Lucy shouted. "I WILL WIN! I AM NOT WEAK!"
Cracks appeared on Aurora's barrier. The fractures spread, scattering particles of light.
Her eyes widened.
"I... I'm losing?"
Her heartbeat quickened.
All her life, she had believed she was invincible.
But now, as her barrier shattered before her eyes, Lucy's power erupted, sending Aurora flying backward.
"This power... how? No... this can't be happening! I am a noble princess—I CAN'T LOSE!"
"RAIJIN SLASH!"
Susanoo's sword unleashed a colossal lightning-infused strike, crashing into Aurora's barrier.
Light shattered, and Aurora was sent tumbling backward.
She barely managed to steady herself before collapsing onto her knees.
The referee raised his hand.
"Winner: Lucy!"
A deafening cheer erupted from the crowd.
Lucy was breathless but basked in the sweet taste of victory.
Susanoo glanced at her one last time.
"You cannot fully control my power yet... but you were not bad, little girl."
With that, he vanished.
Aurora took a deep breath. Her blurred vision fixed on Lucy.
"Did I... lose? No... I just wasn't prepared. Yes, that's all."
But deep inside, another voice whispered the truth.
"But if Lucy keeps getting stronger... can I ever defeat her again?"
Aurora narrowed her eyes and stepped toward Lucy. In a low voice, she whispered:
"You won today, but there's still hesitation in your eyes. A hero cannot afford doubt."
She smiled and stood up.
"You're strong, Lucy. I look forward to our next fight. That day, I will surpass you."
Lucy extended her hand.
"You don't stand a chance."
Aurora clenched her fists.
"That power... it should have been mine!"
But deep inside, a small spark flickered.
No, this wasn't just a loss.
This was a call to surpass herself.