Morning light found Hiroshi exactly where he'd fallen asleep, slumped against the window frame, his neck cramped at an awful angle, books scattered around him on the floor.
"Dude, did you sleep there?"
Kenji was already up, stretching by his doorway. He looked refreshed and well-rested.
Hiroshi pushed himself up slowly. Pain shot through his neck and back."Just Lost track of time, while reading."
Aria was already up and greeted them. Marcus came out of his room and knelt by the window, his hands clasped as he prayed quietly.
The door to the common area burst open. Three servants entered carrying formal clothes draped over their arms. "Heroes! Time to prepare for the presentation ceremony!"
Presentation ceremony. Right. Because yesterday's public humiliation in the throne room wasn't enough apparently.
The servants distributed outfits.
Kenji got red and gold, military-style coat with golden trim.
Aria got flowing blue and silver robes that looked expensive, embroidered with frost patterns. To represent her magic.
Marcus got white and gold vestments with a sun symbol on the chest.
Hiroshi got just normal pant and shirt.
Talk about discrimination.
One of the servants looked genuinely apologetic. "We, ah, weren't entirely sure of your role in the party composition, so we went with... versatile attire."
Translation: they didn't know what to do with him.
"The presentation ceremony begins in one hour," another servant said, already heading for the door. "The King, Queen, Archbishop, and the entire noble court will be in attendance. You'll be formally introduced to the kingdom."
Marcus smiled."A wonderful chance to inspire hope in the kingdom!"
"What exactly do we do at this ceremony?"Hiroshi asked.
"Oh! Each hero demonstrates their unique abilities before the court," the servant explained cheerfully. "So everyone can see what you're capable of!"
Oh. Great. Perfect.
"We show them what we can do!" Kenji grinned, punching his palm. "Easy! This is gonna be awesome!"
What I can do: absolutely nothing visible or impressive. This will go great.
Hiroshi forced a smile."Should be interesting."
Kenji slapped his back in friendly encouragement. The impact nearly knocked Hiroshi off his feet, STR 5 versus STR 22. "You'll do great, man! Just be yourself!"
"Thanks."
Easy for you to say with your skill.
...
They followed the servants through marble corridors that seemed to go on forever. The sound of voices grew louder ahead. Hundreds of people talking, the noise echoing off stone walls.
Kenji was practically bouncing with excitement. "This is it! Our big introduction! Let's do this!"
Hiroshi's hands started shaking. Do they not feel how weird all of this is? What's wrong with them? It's like they don't even notice how abnormal it is, going along with everything as if it's natural.
The Grand Hall doors opened.
The space was massive, even bigger than the throne room. Vaulted ceilings that disappeared into shadow. Stained glass windows casting colored light across everything. And people everywhere. Nobles in silk and jewelry. Clergy in white robes with gold embroidery. Maybe two hundred people total, all arranged in a semicircle around a central open area.
The four heroes walked to the center. A demonstration area had been set up, practice dummies made of wood and straw and racks of practice weapons.
The Archbishop's voice boomed across the Hall, magically amplified. "Behold! We shall witness the divine gifts granted to our summoned heroes!"
A herald in formal dress stepped forward, unrolling a scroll. "Hero Kenji Takahashi, demonstrate your might for the glory of Luminia!"
Kenji grabbed a practice sword from the rack. It looked completely natural in his hand. He spun it once, testing the weight.
"Alright. Let's see what this does."
His movement blurred.
The sword became a streak of light. Kenji moved so fast Hiroshi could barely track it. The blade cut through three training dummies in a single flowing motion. He made clean cuts with what seems like a Perfect technique. Most of dummy was cut clean but the last dummy literally exploded, wood and straw flying everywhere.
Total time elapsed: maybe two seconds.
The crowd erupted in applause and excited shouts. "Incredible!" "Such speed!" "He's already a master!" "The future Blade Saint!"
Kenji looked at the destroyed dummies, slightly surprised himself. "Whoa. Okay."
The herald called next, voice still amplified. "Hero Aria, show us the might of your magic!"
Aria stepped forward calmly. She raised one hand, palm up. Ice crystallized in the air around her fingers, forming intricate patterns. She looked completely focused.
A spear of solid ice formed from absolutely nothing, just pulling moisture from the air and freezing it instantly. Six feet long. It looked Sharp, Beautiful and deadly.
She flicked her wrist.
The ice spear launched at a stone target fifty feet away.
The target shattered into pieces. Ice spread across the wall behind it, creeping outward in crystalline patterns. The temperature in the entire Hall dropped noticeably. People's breath became visible.
Gasps and excited murmurs rippled through the crowd. "Magnificent!" "True elemental mastery!" "The ice doesn't even melt!" "Look at the control!"
Aria nodded to herself. "It was harder then I thought it would be."
The herald continued, barely containing his own excitement now. "Hero Marcus Lightbringer, prove the strength of your divine protection!"
Marcus walked to the center and knelt. Bowed his head. Prayed briefly, his lips moving silently.
Golden light surrounded him, growing brighter. It was Warm and Comforting. Like standing in sunlight.
He stood, raising both hands. "Through faith, all shields hold firm against darkness."
A translucent golden barrier appeared in front of him. It was big, maybe 5 feet tall and wide. Shimmering like heat waves off summer pavement, but solid. You could see through it but you could feel the power radiating from it.
A knight in full armor stepped forward, operating a small catapult that had been set up. He loaded a stone the size of a fist. He Aimed and Fired.
The stone flew through the air.
It hit the barrier. And stopped completely. Just hung there for a second, all its momentum gone.
Then fell harmlessly to the ground with a dull thud.
Marcus didn't even flinch. The barrier didn't crack or waver.
The crowd went absolutely wild. "The divine shield!"The gods have blessed us!"
"All glory to the gods," Marcus said quietly, lowering his hands. Then the barrier faded.
Three incredible, impossible displays of power that looked like they came straight out of an anime or video game. The crowd was ecstatic. Hopeful even. Talking excitedly about how the kingdom was saved, how the Demon King didn't stand a chance.
Then the herald's Said.
"And finally... Hero Candidate Hiroshi Tanaka."
The crowd quieted down. Interested to see what the fourth hero could do.
Hiroshi walked to the center of the demonstration area. His legs felt numb.
Kenji gave him an encouraging thumbs up.
Two hundred people stared at him. Waiting in anticipation.
The Archbishop's magically amplified voice filled the Hall. "Hero Candidate, your unique skill is [Adaptive Evolution]. Please demonstrate for the court."
How do I demonstrate something that literally requires me to fight things first before it does anything?
Hiroshi cleared his throat. It felt dry. "My skill... it activates during combat. It adapts based on what I experience, so right now..."
A noble in the front row interrupted loudly. "Then fight a training dummy! Show us something!"
Is he dumb? Did he even hear anything I just said?
Murmurs of agreement rippled through the crowd.
Hiroshi picked up a practice sword from the rack. He had no idea what he was doing.
Let's just hope something happens.
He swung at the nearest dummy.
It was a normal swing. Just a basic, clumsy hit from someone who'd never held a sword before.
The sword bounced off.
Complete silence in the Hall.
Hiroshi tried to activate the skill consciously. Concentrated hard on [Adaptive Evolution]. Willed it to do something or Anything.
He tried again, swinging at the dummy.
Still nothing.
"Perhaps you could demonstrate the adaptation effect?" the Archbishop prompted, trying to help.
"It requires actual combat experience to trigger," Hiroshi explained. His voice sounded so small in the huge space. "I need to be in real danger, or observe techniques being used, or..."
"So it does nothing right now?" a noble called out from the crowd.
"It's... it builds over time through repeated."
"The other heroes showed immediate, incredible power! Where is yours?"
Hiroshi stood there with his burning cheeks. Two hundred people staring. Then, from somewhere in the back, a young noble's voice carried clearly across the quiet Hall.
"Is he broken? Did the summoning ritual mess up?"
He swung at the dummy again. Harder this time. Desperate to make something happen.
Again nothing happened.
Hiroshi's face burned hot with shame.
"Trash Hero" whispered through the assembled nobles.
The Archbishop raised his hands, trying to restore order. "The gods work in mysterious ways that we cannot always immediately understand. Perhaps Hero Candidate Tanaka's talents lie... elsewhere. In areas we have not yet discovered."
Translation: he's completely useless in the way that actually matters for fighting.
Hiroshi bowed politely. "I apologize for the disappointing display."
Why am I even doing these.
A noble in expensive silk scoffed loudly. "Apologizing won't save us from the Demon King's armies!"
More murmurs of agreement. "Trash Hero." "Weakest hero in recorded history." "Why was he even summoned?" "Must have been a mistake."
The Archbishop clapped his hands together, The sound echoed. "Thank you, heroes, for this enlightening display of your divine gifts."
Hiroshi walked back to where the other three heroes stood. Each step felt like it took forever.
Kenji looked genuinely uncomfortable. "That was rough, man. Really rough. I'm sorry they reacted like that."
Aria said nothing. What was there to say?
Marcus spoke quietly, trying to be comforting. "The Lord tests us all in different ways. Perhaps this is your trial."
Fuck you too.
The crowd was still murmuring. "Trash Hero"
King stood from his throne. The room immediately quieted out of respect.
"These heroes shall defend our kingdom from the coming darkness." His voice was authoritative."The four heroes shall train together as a unified party under the guidance of our finest instructors."
A noble whispered to another. Clearly audible in the new quiet. "More like three will have to carry the fourth like dead weight."
The King continued as if he hadn't heard. "Hero Kenji shall serve as party leader, given his natural command presence and combat aptitude."
Kenji bowed respectfully. "I'll do my best, Your Majesty. I won't let you down."
"Hero Aria as magical specialist and arcane support. Hero Marcus as divine protector and healer."
Both bowed formally.
The King hesitated. Just for a fraction of a second, "And Hero Candidate Hiroshi as... tactical support and strategic advisor."
The Archbishop stepped forward quickly, trying to move things along. "The Church shall provide all necessary resources and training facilities. Your formal combat education begins tomorrow morning with Royal Knight Commander Gideon."
A man stood from the section where the knights were seated.
Gideon looked at each hero in turn. His gaze lingered on Hiroshi for several long seconds. The concern in his eyes was visible.
"Six weeks of intensive training," the King announced. "Then your first official dungeon expedition as a party. The F-Rank Goblin Warren on the eastern border."
The Archbishop continued, moving to more practical matters. "Each hero shall receive a monthly stipend of one hundred gold coins for equipment, supplies, and personal expenses."
The ceremony concluded with formal words from the King about duty and sacrifice. The crowd began to disperse, Still laughing about the Trash Hero who couldn't even swing a sword properly.
Kenji, Aria, and Marcus headed for the exit together, already talking about training schedules and what skills they wanted to develop.
Hiroshi started to follow them, trailing behind as usual.
Gideon's voice stopped him.
"A word with you in Private."
The other three kept walking toward the exit.
Hiroshi turned slowly. "Yes, Commander?"
Gideon's expression was grim. The kind of grim that came from watching too many people die over too many years.
"We need to talk about your survival," he said quietly. "Because right now, your chances of making it through first Dungeon are effectively zero."