The combat halls of Titanium Academy screamed with the sounds of war, energy blasts, the clash of fists, and the crackling of elemental powers filled the air. It was the first formal training session following the Awakening Ceremony, and the instructors wasted no time in testing the students' talents in actual combat settings.
Rey stood at the edge of the training grounds, still trying to understand what had transpired during his first sparring battle. Unshackled Ascension, his ability had triggered, but he still didn't understand how it operated. Unlike fire manipulation or energy blasts, there was nothing externally observable about his power. No aura, no devastation, simply a sense of lightness, a slight change in movement, and improved reflexes.
But it wasn't enough. His match had finished in a stalemate, and in Titanium Academy, a draw was as good as a defeat.
"You're barely above an E-Rank," a voice growled from close.
Rey turned to find a gathering of students scrutinizing him. The one who spoke was Luthor, an arrogant first-year who had woken with a B-Rank ability, Gale Striker. His arrogant smirk made it apparent he viewed Rey as nothing more than an impediment to walk over.
"You might've dodged a few hits, but in a real battle, you'd be crushed," Luthor added. "D-Ranks don't stay long here. The academy doesn't have space for the weak."
Rey tightened his hands but said nothing. He knew how the academy functioned. Strength governed everything here, rank dictated status, and status decided survival.
A strong voice pierced through the conversation. "Enough chatter! Next sparring battle, Rey vs. Luthor."
Rey felt his gut constrict. He wasn't ready for this, but there was no backing out.
The combat instructor walked forward, his strong voice reverberating across the hall. "Rules are simple: incapacitate your opponent, force them to surrender, or push them out of the ring." He lifted a hand, then lowered it abruptly. "Begin!"
Luthor wasted no time. With a blast of wind force, he raced forward, fist cocked back. Rey hardly had time to react when a tremendous punch struck into his midsection, sending him falling backward. The power of the hit jarred his bones.
"Too slow." Luthor grinned, already planning another assault.
Rey staggered to his feet, shrugging off the discomfort. Unshackled Ascension… activate!
A burst of energy coursed through him. This time, he noticed Luthor's motions more clearly, his muscles strained before he moved, his posture adjusted just slightly before hitting.
Rey sidestepped barely in time as a wind-imbued kick skimmed past his ribcage. He retaliated with a rapid jab, but Luthor avoided it with ease.
"Tch. So that's your ability? Some type of improved movement?" Luthor sneered. "Pathetic."
Rey didn't answer. He wanted to discover out how much of his talent he could manage. Each time he triggered it, his body reacted intuitively, like it was responding to his opponent's strikes. But it wasn't constant, sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't.
Luthor's second assault came quicker, a spinning kick bolstered by Gale Striker. A blast of wind energy erupted around him, increasing his velocity. Rey hardly had time to react as the kick struck cleanly into his shoulder, sending him falling across the stadium floor.
Pain blazed in his arm as he gulped for air. The audience muttered, some smiling, some shaking their heads.
The instructor stepped in. "Enough, Luthor wins."
Rey clenched his teeth as he struggled to his feet, ignoring the scorching anguish in his body.
"Just quit now, D-Rank," Luthor remarked with a smile, striding passed him. "Or do you like getting beat down?"
Rey remained mute. He had lost, but this was merely the beginning.
That night, Rey sat alone in his room, repeating the struggle in his head. He had to grow stronger, there was no other alternative, Unshackled Ascension offered him something, but he still didn't realize its entire potential.
A knock on the door stopped his thoughts.
When he opened it, he found himself gazing at a female with silver hair and piercing green eyes. She wore the academy uniform, but the badge on her sleeve distinguished her as a high-ranking student.
"Aya Verion," she introduced herself. "Third-year, A-Rank ability holder."
Rey stiffened. Why would an A-Rank be seeking for him?
She observed him for a time before speaking again. "I witnessed your match today. Your ability… it's distinct."
Rey frowned. "It's just a D-Rank."
Aya grinned. "No, it's something else completely. You don't really appreciate what you have yet, do you?"
He didn't answer.
Aya crossed her arms. "Titanium Academy doesn't care about potential, it cares about outcomes. If you want to survive here, you need to grow, quickly. That involves training beyond your boundaries."
Rey narrowed his gaze. "And why do you care?"
"I don't," she acknowledged. "But I recognize ability when I see it. You don't fight like someone who should be a D-Rank. That indicates one of two things, you're either a freak anomaly, or the Awakening Crystal got it wrong."
Rey paused. Could it possibly be possible?
Aya leaned in gently. "There's a way to find out."
He met her eyes. "How?"
She grinned. "You survive. You grow stronger. You battle until you prove them all incorrect."
Rey's grasp tightened around his sides. He had already made that decision the minute he walked inside Titanium Academy.
And he wouldn't stop until he smashed every restriction in his path.