"Twenty... twenty-one... twenty-two... thirty—ha!"
Kerry collapsed onto the wooden floor, a skinny heap gasping desperately for air. Sweat poured down his face, drenching him as if he'd just stepped fully clothed out of a hot shower. He'd managed only thirty push-ups. He knew his classmates could easily hit two hundred, three hundred, even five hundred without slowing down.
"Still can't get past thirty... not even fifty," he muttered, punching the floor in annoyance.
"Four years since the test, and still nothing's awakened."
A bitter wave of frustration burned in his chest. He stayed there for a moment, staring blankly at the floorboards, before finally forcing his aching body upright to get ready. He was already running late for class.
Just as he reached for his tunic, a soft knock came from the door—gentle, calm, like the reserved gesture of an older man.
Kerry yanked the door open. Standing before him was a man with stark golden-yellow eyes and jet-black hair, holding a staff that looked clearly exceptional, certainly no ordinary piece of wood.
"Mr. Fireborn," the man said, his tone utterly respectful. "Master Kael has requested your presence."
Kerry nodded, closing the door behind him.
Four years had passed since he'd first entered Obsidian Star Academy, and in that time, he'd been forced to grow up fast.
At Obsidian, first-year students wore blue cloaks, second-years wore green, and third-years wore black. Each color marked their level of rank and experience. The academy had a reputation for churning out exceptional warriors and brilliant Awakeners. Every student, from the moment they enrolled, was simply called an Obsidian.
The dorms were shared, with six students crammed into each room, and training was never confined to textbooks. Each year, students were sent into designated Hunting Grounds to face beasts and dangerous creatures classified by Tier. The hunts were incredibly risky, but they were deemed essential.
Following the order without hesitation, Kerry made his way to a large shade tree where Kael was seated, quietly watching the students training nearby.
"Kerry, take a seat," Kael said, not shifting his gaze from the trainees.
Kerry sat down next to him. "Master Kael, I was told you wished to see me."
Kael gave a concise nod. "Yes. I called you here to give you some specific advice regarding the next hunt you'll be joining."
Kerry blinked, startled. "Wait, another hunt? But this will be my fourth, and I couldn't even manage a Tier One beast the last time."
Kael offered a faint, knowing smile at the boy's honesty. Deep down, he still strongly believed Kerry's potential was extraordinary.
"This time, you'll be facing a Tier Three beast," Kael said smoothly. "You need to be extremely careful. Hunting isn't just about striking a blow; it's what sharpens your vitality, agility, and fundamental skill. Keep pushing yourself, Kerry."
Kerry lowered his eyes, instantly recalling his mother's firm, constant refrain: Hard work.
He nodded. "Understood, Master Kael. I'll make sure to prepare."
He rose to leave but hesitated, pausing mid-step. "Master Kael... when exactly does this hunt begin?"
Kael's expression remained calm, his hands neatly folded behind his back. The wisdom in his eyes seemed ancient as he answered,
"Tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?" Kerry repeated, genuinely shocked. He hadn't imagined it would happen so soon. His sword was still miserably dull; it had only ever been used to hack at wood, never to pierce the hide of a beast.
Classes had finally let out, and students were now pouring back toward their dormitories. The academy was co-ed, but the boys' dorms were set significantly farther away from the girls' residences.
Kerry was walking toward his room when a familiar voice called out. It was Claude, his closest friend. Claude was just as gangly as Kerry, but unlike him, he had awakened a Fire Element. However, he was terrified of using it, which effectively made him almost as powerless as a Null. His messy, black spiky hair stuck out wildly above a pair of thick glasses, giving him an endearingly innocent appearance.
Claude sprinted over, clutching a large book titled Fire Concept Techniques against his chest.
"Hey, Kerry! I didn't see you in class today, you know, the Null class."
"Yeah, I skipped," Kerry replied dryly, rubbing the back of his neck. "It's a complete waste of time. All they ever make us do is fitness training. And there are only four of us in that whole class anyway."
Claude grinned, his excitement bubbling over. "Oh, perfect. Then I've got huge news for you."
Kerry raised an eyebrow. "What news?"
"My name got added to the next hunting team," Claude announced proudly, puffing out his chest. "And so did yours!"
Kerry sighed, rubbing his neck again. He already knew what was coming.
"Yeah, I know that already."
Claude blinked rapidly behind his glasses.
"You... you do?"
"Mm. Master Kael told me earlier," Kerry said, his tone heavy with resignation.
"Honestly, I'm not exactly thrilled about it, because..."
He cut himself off. If he mentioned that they'd be hunting Tier Three beasts, Claude would probably descend into a panic attack and refuse to eat for a week. Kerry decided to leave that part unsaid.
"You know what, Claude? Just head back to your dorm first. I'll catch up with you later; I still have something I need to take care of."
Claude nodded, still hugging his book tightly, and turned to walk away.
He didn't notice Serik, who had been lurking silently on top of one of the academy's large, ornate stone statues, waiting for him to pass directly beneath. Serik was a Lightning Elementalist, possessing one of the rarest elements, and he used that power to viciously bully the weaker students, especially those like Claude.
The moment Claude walked by, Serik dropped down with unsettling speed, grabbed him instantly by the collar, and slammed his back hard against the statue.
"Where's that phone I told you to bring from the principal's office?" Serik growled, his face inches from Claude's.
Claude trembled violently. Earlier that day, he had tried to retrieve the phone, but the Principal had been right there. He couldn't risk the expulsion. The device originally belonged to Serik, but a teacher had confiscated it when Serik was caught using it during class and it was Claude's accidental gasp that had exposed him.
"P-please, just give me another chance," Claude stammered, begging. His glasses slipped off his nose and clattered onto the ground. "I'll definitely get it tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?" Serik's eyes flashed with pure irritation. "I'm going on the hunt tomorrow! You seriously think I'm going to wait that long?"
Before he could follow up his threat with a punch, two elders happened to walk past the hallway. Serik quickly released Claude and slipped away into the shadows before they could notice the commotion.
Claude slumped to the ground, panting, desperately trying to regain his composure.
Meanwhile, back in the quiet of his room, Kerry sat on his bed, staring intently at an old, slightly faded photograph of himself with his mother. His voice was soft, barely a whisper.
"Mom... I haven't forgotten my promise. No matter what happens, I'll become strong, even without a System. I'll make you proud, just like Dad wanted me to."
He clenched the photo tightly in his hand. Then, a sudden burst of noise came from outside—the loud sound of laughter and heavy footsteps. His roommates were finally returning.
"Guys, did you catch Taren when he was trying to control the water today?" one of the boys asked, his voice echoing down the hall.
"Yeah, yeah! The one who kept shouting!" another replied between bursts of loud laughter. "He was like, 'Aaargh—damn it! The water won't listen!' Then, instead of moving left, it just shot straight up!"
Their laughter swelled as they approached the door. A moment later, the door swung open, and the four of them stumbled in, still howling with amusement. Kerry lay still on his bed, motionless, eyes closed.
"Wow, look at him," one of them said with mock irritation. "This guy's so lazy. All he ever does is sleep."
Kerry wasn't actually asleep. He just didn't have the energy to deal with them right now.
Every time they returned from class, they would launch into endless, detailed chatter about the day's events, and it always drained him. There were five boys in the dorm, including Kerry.
He slightly opened one eye, watching them talk without even bothering to remove their uniforms. But his luck ran out when Taren's sharp eyes caught the subtle movement.
"Hey, guys! Kerry's not sleeping, he's totally faking it!" Taren shouted.
The others immediately turned, grinning devilishly. They rushed over, grabbing Kerry's arms and legs, playfully trying to drag him right off the bed.
Kerry sighed, his voice tired but accepting.
"Okay, okay, fine. You caught me. Now can you please put me back down?"
They gently dropped him back onto the mattress, waiting for him to say something more interesting. He only muttered one word, half-buried in his pillow.
"Talkatives."
The room instantly filled with their easy, familiar laughter again.
Far away from the structured walls of the academy, in a quiet, secluded park beneath a pale, distant moon, a man hung suspended silently in the air. His build was immense, his muscles rigid as stone beneath his long, flowing black coat. His hair, pure white and striking, gently swayed in the night wind. In his massive hand, he held a worn, old photograph—a picture of himself, his wife, and a tiny boy.
He stared at it intently, his thumb softly tracing the infant's face. His expression softened with deep melancholy, a tenderness rarely seen.
"I miss you... both of you," he murmured into the stillness. "By now... he should be sixteen."