Chapter 16 — Shinosuke Nohara (05)
Training with Lin Xuan settled into a strange rhythm.
Wake up, get hit, breathe wrong, get hit, learn something profound, get hit.
You'd think I would get used to the pain.
I didn't.
One cold morning, after he slammed me into a tree for the seventh time, Lin Xuan suddenly asked:
"Do you want to follow my other disciple?"
I froze mid-groan.
"…Your what?"
"My other disciple."
"Oh hell no."
Lin Xuan looked down at me like I was an especially disappointing beetle.
"No?"
"I don't follow strangers."
He didn't argue.
He simply smirked.
That tiny, villain-level smirk he does when he knows something I don't.
"You will. When you see him."
I squinted. "What is that supposed to mean—"
"Fix your stance," he said calmly.
And training continued like he hadn't just casually thrown a prophecy into my face.
I didn't understand it then.
But that line?
"You will. When you see him."
It was true.
Four months passed.
I survived.
Barely.
And worse than the training… were the visitors.
Every week — sometimes twice — three people appeared at the little countryside shack:
Yan'er.
Anika.
And Dion.
Yan'er always entered like a moonlight breeze — soft, quiet, calm — the kind of person who could silence a battlefield just by standing there.
She always checked my injuries, checked Lin Xuan's fatigue, checked the house's air circulation because "you two will suffocate each other one day."
Anika was the exact opposite.
She exploded through the door every time.
"BROTHER LIIIIIN~!! I MISSED YOUUUUU!"
"No," Lin Xuan would reply.
"Yes," she insisted.
"No."
"Yes."
And Dion…
Dion was a walking misunderstanding.
He had long hair, ethereal looks, soft voice, smooth posture — look, anyone would think he was a girl.
So of course I assumed what any 14-year-old idiot would assume.
One afternoon, I was bandaged from neck to ankle after being used as a mop during training. Anika was teasing Lin Xuan, Yan'er was lecturing him, and Dion walked over to check my injuries.
He asked, "Does your shoulder still hurt?"
And I answered:
"Why does a pretty girl care about my shoulder?"
Silence.
Lin Xuan stopped stirring tea.
Yan'er froze.
Anika inhaled dramatically.
Dion blinked once.
"…I am a man."
I stared.
"Liar."
Dion's eye twitched.
"I am not lying."
"…Prove it."
His voice dropped several degrees. "Shinosuke—"
And I — absolute idiot that I was — leaned forward and touched between his legs.
Time stopped.
Then I said the worst possible thing:
"What the—YOU'RE REALLY A MAN… AND THIS THING IS HUGE?!"
Dion slapped me so hard I bounced across the yard like a cursed volleyball.
Back then I didn't know that.
But now?
I regret it.
Especially after knowing what Dion went through later.
…I shouldn't have made fun of Dion. I really shouldn't have.
…Oh! Well… let's get back to Story.
After I recovered from Dion's divine punishment, the remaining two months of training became harder.
Much harder.
Because I finally caught up.
My movements sharpened.
My stance stabilized.
I learned to read Lin Xuan's footwork.
I learned to predict his attacks — well, some of them.
One dawn, after I managed to block his elbow strike for the first time ever, he didn't say anything.
But his left eyebrow lifted half a millimeter.
That was a whole paragraph of praise in Lin-Xuan language.
When I could consistently keep up with thirty minutes of combat without collapsing, Lin Xuan finally said:
"You're ready for Ignis Prime."
My heart jumped.
But then he added,
"After you get your Maturity Card."
My heart fell.
Maturity Card was required for any underage Evolver.
Problem?
It wasn't physical.
It was mental.
Which meant it was harder.
The Maturity Center was a floating structure shaped like a quartz dome, with scanners on every corner and old officials glaring at everyone with permanent suspicion.
Lin Xuan walked in with me.
Which caused, well… chaos.
Someone screamed.
Someone dropped their data-pad.
A baby started floating (???).
A guard saluted so fast he almost broke his arm.
The receptionist swallowed her soul and whispered,
"P-Professor Lin… how can we assist you…?"
"Maturity test," he said, pointing at me.
The woman nodded so fast her neck became a blur.
I entered a white chamber with shimmering walls.
A middle-aged examiner approached, holding a holographic clipboard.
"This test assesses emotional stability, threat awareness, tactical judgment, adult responsibility, and crisis cognition. If you panic, the system picks it up. If you react immaturely, the system flags you. If you—"
Lin Xuan spoke.
"He will pass."
The examiner blinked.
"…Sir… you can't just… say that…"
Lin Xuan stared at him.
The examiner coughed.
"Ahem! Running test now."
The chamber dimmed.
A calm, feminine voice echoed:
"Begin Emotional Sequence."
Scenarios unfolded.
A crying child trapped under rubble.
A dangerous criminal demanding a hostage.
A sudden family emergency.
A false accusation.
A moral dilemma involving two strangers.
Each one tested psychological reaction speed, empathy, risk analysis, emotional control.
I wasn't perfect.
I panicked a little.
I swore a lot.
I shouted at a holographic criminal to "fight me instead" which was apparently both immature and heroic.
I solved one scenario by lying.
I solved another by kicking a door too hard.
But…
I didn't break.
I didn't freeze.
I didn't lose myself.
When the final simulation faded, the examiner stared at the results.
Then at me.
Then at the results again.
Then at Lin Xuan.
"…He passed."
Lin Xuan nodded like this outcome was obvious from the beginning.
I pumped my fist.
"Yes! Maturity Card—obtained!"
"Do not shout," Lin Xuan said.
"Yes—sorry."
Next day: ERA registration.
Again, lines split. People saluted. A robot bowed.
Zhao Kenjiro was waiting with a grin like he had been expecting free entertainment.
I hit the pod.
I passed by 40 points.
Shinosuke Nohara — Official Nexus Evolver
Age: 14
Designation: Registered
Lin Xuan nodded once.
"You can enter Ignis Prime now."
Ignis Prime was chaos.
Exactly my style.
A charging a ice bear nearly killed me.
A pack of ice-birds chased me for ten minutes.
I accidentally insulted a high rank evolver.
A monkey stole my ration bar.
I fought a lava snake using a rock and bad decisions.
I learned terrain tricks.
I learned to survive.
And worse:
I learned to enjoy it.
I fought beasts, explored zones, got chased, chased something worse, fell off a cliff (twice), and somehow escaped death every single day.
Lin Xuan watched silently from my wrist watch.
Through all the chaos…
I became strong.
But not too strong.
Lin Xuan made sure of that.
Every time I got cocky, a rock would "accidentally" fall from a cliff.
Or a beast twice my size would appear behind me.
Or Lin Xuan would call through the watch:
"Your guard is down."
And instantly I'd take a punch from a beast I didn't see coming.
Training in Ignis Prime wasn't about becoming a monster.
It was about learning how to face one.
Seven months passed.
My body toughened, my instincts sharpened, and my brain rewired itself to recognize danger by the smell, by the wind shift, by the way the ground breathed under my feet.
But even then, nobody prepared me for my…
High school.
Yes.
After surviving beasts and seven near-deaths, I still had to go to school.
Why?
Because the principal of my previous school said—and I quote—
"Shinosuke Nohara cannot remain here after beating seventeen students in one day."
In my defense:
They were Takahara-affiliated brats.
They provoked me.
And I didn't beat all seventeen.
One of them fainted before I even touched him.
But whatever.
By the time I stepped back onto Earth after seven months in Ignis Prime, I wasn't the same kid anymore.
I wasn't a hero.
I wasn't a villain.
I wasn't "strongest" or "weakest."
I was just me:
Physically strong.
Mentally unshakeable.
Morally unbreakable.
Comedic. Chaotic. Sharp-tongued.
And terrifying when angry.
A bully who bullies bullies.
But to avoid unnecessary attention?
I pretended to be a delinquent.
Baggy jacket.
Hands in pockets.
Expression permanently set to "Piss me off and die."
Perfect disguise.
And yet — nothing prepared me for the chaos waiting at K High University.
Day 1 back at school… and the universe said:
"Let's drop the main characters in front of him."
Two transfer students walked through the gates.
Alicia — quiet, elegant, pretty enough to make half the boys forget how to breathe.
Vaibhav — lean, silent, calm… but with something strange behind his eyes.
A pressure.
A sleeping storm.
I didn't recognize them yet.
But everyone else did.
Boys stared at Alicia like monkeys who discovered shiny fruit.
Girls stared at Alicia like she'd stolen their boyfriends.
Especially Elara Nethyra — the "most beautiful girl" at K High.
(Keyword: was.
Past tense.
Because Alicia existed now.)
Elara watched Alicia with pure jealousy.
And behind her slithered her usual pack of dogs — the seniors:
Riken Takahashi
Kael Draven
Soren Kade
Joren Holt
Cassian Reed
Torin Vale
All from her clan.
All garbage.
They walked up to the transfer duo like they owned the air.
Riken smirked.
"Well well~ new faces."
Kael nudged Vaibhav's shoulder. "Hey pretty boy, where you from?"
Torin's eyes raked over Alicia. "She's cute. I want her."
Alicia froze.
Vaibhav clenched his fists but stayed calm.
Riken grabbed Alicia's wrist.
"Come with us—"
And then fate intervened.
I intervened.
I stepped out from behind the courtyard pillars like a boss walking into a final battle intro.
Hands in pockets.
Expression bored.
Aura screaming:
"Someone's about to bleed."
Riken's hand was still on Alicia.
Disgusting.
I cracked my neck.
"Oi."
All six seniors turned.
I raised an eyebrow.
"Get your filthy hands off her."
Riken scoffed. "Oh? Look who it is. The expelled brat."
I grinned.
"Expelled for beating people like you.
Wanna repeat history?"
Riken laughed.
Then I moved.
One punch to Riken's face — he spun like a broken fan.
A kick to Kael's ribs — he flew into a bench.
Elbow to Soren's jaw — lights out.
Joren tried to tackle me — I threw him over my shoulder.
Cassian swung — I broke his stance and his pride.
Torin screamed — I shut him up with a knee to the stomach.
Six seniors.
Twenty seconds.
Alicia blinked.
Vaibhav blinked.
Elara?
She stepped back, pale, the jealousy melting into fear.
I turned to the calm boy who'd let himself get bullied for too long.
"Oi."
Vaibhav pointed at himself. "…Me?"
"Yes, you," I said, walking up to him. "Don't you have any self-respect? Any pride?"
He blinked.
"If you can't stand for yourself," I continued, "at least stand for the girl beside you."
Alicia looked down shyly.
Then — because I am me —
I threw a punch at Vaibhav's face.
He dodged.
I grinned.
Interesting.
I punched again — faster.
He dodged again.
My grin grew wider.
"Not bad."
I swung a third time — only for him to counter, fist tapping my cheek.
I stumbled back.
The crowd gasped.
I smirked.
Before I could recover, I struck again — and this time, my hit landed.
He flinched, holding his jaw.
Then—
His pupils shifted.
His sclera darkened.
His body tensed.
For a split second — just a heartbeat —
His eyes turned black.
A pressure exploded outward.
Vaibhav's consciousness flickered—
And then he collapsed.
But his body didn't.
He attacked.
Fast. Wild. Violent.
A monster hidden in a boy's skin.
I fought back, blocking, dodging, countering — getting bruised, pushed back, scratched — until I managed to pin him long enough for him to faint completely.
I dropped him gently onto the ground, panting.
"Damn…" I muttered, wiping sweat. "This bastard is strong."
I remembered Lin Xuan's prophecy.
"You will. When you see him."
So I laughed softly.
"That black-eyed monster was right…"
Later, in class…
I walked up to the duo.
Alicia looked hesitant.
Vaibhav looked embarrassed.
I rubbed the back of my neck.
"…My bad."
Vaibhav shook his head. "No… I was the one who—"
Alicia smiled kindly. "It's okay."
We sat together.
Awkward silence.
Then Vaibhav asked,
"Do… You play games?"
"Yes."
"What's your ID?"
"Why don't we all say our ID at the same time."
"DaddyVyuk."
"…LaughingFlame69."
"IcyPrincess."
Vaibhav froze.
Alicia froze.
I froze.
We all screamed in unison:
"WAIT—YOU'RE THAT IDIOT FROM GENESIS REIGN?!"
"YOU'RE DADDYVYUK!?"
"YOU'RE ICY PRINCESS!?"
The entire class stared at us.
We didn't care.
We started laughing — loudly, stupidly, uncontrollably.
Just like that—
We became friends.
At noon, Alicia and Vaibhav returned to home, they told Yan'er everything.
Yan'er was happy that they made a new friend.
Two days passed…
When Vaibhav & Alicia returned home from school—
Eight people stood in their living room:
Lin Xuan
Prabhat
Anika
Dion
Arjun
Theo
Daichi
Vivan
All staring at them.
Alicia nearly dropped her bag.
Vaibhav squeaked. "Why… are you all… here…?"
Alicia explained them everything.
So did Vaibhav.
Lin Xuan listened.
Expression unreadable.
Then he said:
"So he beat you."
Alicia: "He— he didn't—!"
Vaibhav: "We were sparring—!"
Lin Xuan ignored both of them.
"Good," he said calmly. "Let's go meet him."
"WAIT—NO—!!!" both shouted.
Too late.
Lin Xuan was already walking out the door.
At the Nohara home—
Akari opened the door.
"Oh! Lin Xuan! Everyone! Please ignore the explosions, I was cooking—"
BOOM.
A small fire erupted behind her.
Hiroshi calmly swept the floor.
And I came down the stairs holding Hinata like a sack of potatoes.
Then I saw him.
Lin Xuan.
At my door.
Again.
I froze.
Then yelled:
"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS BLACK-EYED MONSTER DOING HERE?!"
Hinata giggled. "Monster!"
Lin Xuan sighed.
"…At least respect me a little.
I'm your master."
I covered Hinata's ears.
"F*ck off."
Dion stepped forward. "YOU LITTLE BAS—"
Lin Xuan raised a hand.
"It's okay, Dion."
Vaibhav stared between us, shocked.
"Hold on— you two KNOW each other!?"
I pointed at Lin Xuan.
"He literally walked into my house, so of course he would know me!"
Lin Xuan sipped tea Hiroshi gave him.
Then looked at me with that calm stormy expression.
"So," he said, "what do you think of him?"
I looked at Vaibhav.
Then shrugged.
"He's good.
So yeah.
I'll follow him."
Vaibhav blinked.
Alicia smiled softly.
Lin Xuan's eyebrow lifted by a millimeter.
That was his version of a smile.
And me?
I pretended it was no big deal.
But inside?
I already knew:
This was the beginning.
I just remembered something important: this whole novel is supposed to be Vaibhav's story, not my ego trip. So—because I have the humility of a wrecking ball—I'll shut up and hand the spotlight back where it belongs. From the next chapter onward I'll stop doing the dramatic lone-wolf monologue and switch the narration to the style you heard before: tighter, more Vaibhav-centered, less me yelling about forehead flicks and dinosaur-sized bruises. Don't worry — I'll still pop in to annoy you when absolutely necessary.
— Next Arc: The Revenant Arc. —