🜋🜋🜋🜋🜋🜋🜋🜋🜋✦ AetherBorne: The Archivus Legacy ✦🜋🜋🜋🜋🜋🜋🜋🜋🜋
Aether Clash 2025
I could already feel it—the buzz in the air, the sharp energy running through every hallway of MaGiA Division IX.
Aether Clash Week.
An exam for the Seniors, a proving ground for the chosen—
and a spectacle for everyone else.
The air around campus always felt different during this week.
Tighter. Charged. Like the tension before a storm.
It wasn't just a test—it was a stage.
Where reputations were made... and broken.
It was the only time of year when classes were suspended, and instead of textbooks and lectures, students were busy preparing for mock battles, flexing their Aether, and proving who belonged at the top.
Everyone was excited. I mean, who wouldn't be? The entire academy was watching.
Everyone... except me.
Because if you asked me? It was my favorite time of year for a completely different reason:
More time to nap and read in the library.
As I lazily strolled through the halls, Haru appeared beside me—his usual sleepy look replaced with a little more energy than usual.
"Yo," he said around a bite of his rice ball, "you survived the morning too, huh?"
"Morning," I yawned back.
"You're not going to the gym to watch the matches?" he asked, a little surprised.
"Nope," I said, shrugging. "You know me—I'm not interested in that sort of thing."
He snorted. "Says the guy on one of the strongest teams."
I smirked. "Because of you, obviously."
"Ha. Right," he replied with a flat stare. "So where are you going then?"
"Library," I said. "Maybe nap a little."
"Typical you."Haru replied
"Let me know when it's our turn, alright? What was our team name again?" as i ask haru
"Dragon," Haru said, brushing rice off his shirt.
"Right, Team Dragon. Got it." I waved him off. "Don't worry. If it's my turn, I'll show up."
"You better," Haru warned. "Or Claire will kill you."
I winced. "Yeah... that's the part I'm kinda regretting. The moment I heard she was our team leader—" I shuddered, "I knew I was in trouble."
🜋🜋🜋🜋🜋🜋🜋🜋🜋✦ AetherBorne: The Archivus Legacy ✦🜋🜋🜋🜋🜋🜋🜋🜋🜋
Twelve teams.
Each named after one of the Chinese Zodiac animals.
Team 1: Rat
Team 2: Dog
Team 3: Goat
Team 4: Monkey
Team 5: Snake
Team 6: Pig
Team 7: Tiger
Team 8: Ox
Team 9: Dragon – our team
Team 10: Horse
Team 11: Rabbit
Team 12: Rooster
The one thing we were all told to avoid—no, warned to avoid—was Team 1.
And honestly, it wasn't just hype.
They were a nightmare team. Their roster alone sent a chill down most students' spines. Even the instructors kept a closer eye on them.
Team 1: Rat.
Minato Kurogane – Nipon, Senior Class A – Aether Chain Manipulation
Minato is the current top-ranked student in the entire division. He has short, messy blue hair, stands 6 feet tall, and has a sharp, hawk-like gaze that could probably pierce steel. He always has this serious aura, like he's already calculated ten steps ahead of everyone else. While I use the Codex Nexus to summon weapons and storage, Minato bends Aether Chains into anything—swords, spears, restraints, even shields. His control is absolute. They say any team he joins is a guaranteed win.
What makes it all crazier? Minato has no famous background. His parents are normal. No famous history. No generation of wealth. A migrant.
But when he was unsealed… it made headlines.
He's what the Bureau classifies as a Singularity-Type Unseal—a rare, naturally occurring Aether user whose bloodline doesn't follow ancestral logic. Probably falling under a bloodline/Legacy type
Lee Jaewon – Goryeon, Senior Class A – Shadow Play
If Minato is steel, then Lee Jaewon is the phantom blade behind you. He's tall—6'2", with jet-black hair that falls in lazy strands over one eye, and this cold, unreadable stare that always makes people second-guess if he's really there.
His ability is shadow-based teleportation—he can move through any shadow he sees or senses. Worse, he uses a summoning technique called Shadow Chess, where he conjures 16 shadow warriors, each modeled after a chess piece with unique fighting styles.
Grandpa once said, "Where there is shadow, there is Jaewon."
Jaewon's grandfather was one of the First Nine Unsealed, just like Sol's and mine. The others called him the Black Knight—a grim war hero currently stationed in Korea.
And according to the Queen's prophecy, Korea is the next target of the Sixth Calamity.
So yeah... Jaewon isn't just strong. He's serious business.
Elena Vosk – Imperiya, Freshman – Freeze Touch
A prodigy. Cold, elegant, and distant—literally and figuratively. She's the direct descendant of Asimov Vosk, one of the earliest unsealed heroes.
Grandpa once told me that Asimov sacrificed himself to shield fleeing Imperiya civilians during the First Calamity of Frost, freezing an entire region in a final stand.
Elena inherited that legacy. Her touch freezes whatever she makes contact with. Combine that with her controlled temperament and pinpoint precision, and she's terrifying in close-quarters combat.
She's also the younger sister of Alexander Vosk, ranked #2 in Class A.
Isaac Delgado – Andes, Senior Class A – Time Step
A new transfer, but everyone's already calling him the Dancer of Death. He fights like he's gliding, moving through frozen time pockets mid-battle. Every step he takes is calculated to perfection, and his time-stepping technique lets him anticipate and counter attacks almost before they happen.
I haven't seen him fight yet… but the way Sol talks about him? Even he's cautious.
Blake Carson – Avalon, Senior Class B – Iron Willed
Sol's old friend. Built like a linebacker with a bad attitude. His ability, Iron Willed, reinforces his body the more stubborn he becomes. Physical pain just fuels him. The angrier he gets, the harder his skin becomes.
I know from experience—his punches are like being hit by a car wrapped in steel.
And together… they're devastating. Top-ranking seniors, a prodigy freshman, and an unstoppable mix of synergy and raw talent.
They're what we call a "perfectly balanced team"—offense, defense, mobility, utility, and crowd control. It's like the Bureau hand-picked them for this.
And then there's us.
Team 9: Dragon.
Claire Everhart – The fiery leader. Ambitious. Cold as her silver eyes and about as gentle as a grenade.
Solomon Salamander – Fire incarnate. Aggressive. Hot-blooded and hard to handle.
Ayaka Fujimori – A soft-spoken freshman support user who can barely speak above a whisper.
Haru Fenris – A nervous wreck, bless him. If he gets too stressed, he might turn into a dire wolf and flatten the gym.
Me – Ryuji Archivus. The lazy teleporter. I'm the guy people call "Taxi," "Storage," or "Bag Boy."
I looked around and chuckled to myself.
Yeah… we're doomed.
🜋🜋🜋🜋🜋🜋🜋🜋🜋✦ AetherBorne: The Archivus Legacy ✦🜋🜋🜋🜋🜋🜋🜋🜋🜋
MaGiA Division IX Library — 11:32 AM
The warm silence of the library wrapped around me like a blanket. Rows of old tomes and digital archives hummed softly under the morning sun. I was halfway through skimming an archived relic codex when—
Ping.
A faint ripple echoed through the air in front of me—an Aether message.
A translucent status window shimmered to life above my book. The sender: Haru.
I blinked, then read the glowing text:
📬 Matchups Announced – Elimination Round
Match 1 – Team Rat 🐀 vs Team Rooster 🐓
Match 2 – Team Dog 🐶 vs Team Rabbit 🐇
Match 3 – Team Goat 🐐 vs Team Horse 🐎
Match 4 – Team Monkey 🐒 vs Team Dragon 🐉 (That's us.)
Match 5 – Team Snake 🐍 vs Team Ox 🐂
Match 6 – Team Pig 🐖 vs Team Tiger 🐯
Winner of each match would proceed to the second round:
📬 Second Round
Match 7 – Winner of Match 1 vs Winner of Match 2
Match 8 – Winner of Match 3 vs Winner of Match 4
Match 9 – Winner of Match 5 vs Winner of Match 6
Then it shifted into round-robin semifinals. Whoever had the most wins in that pool would be crowned Aether Clash Champion.
I leaned back in my chair.
"So our first round is against… Team Monkey."
As if on cue, another message flashed across my status window. This one is directly from Haru.
🕐 Be at the Gym by 1:00 PM. Our match is next after the first one.
Don't be late or Claire might actually kill you.
I sighed. "…Noted."
I swiped the window closed and pulled up the roster for Team Monkey, reviewing it like a bored student glancing at test questions.
🜋🜋🜋🜋🜋🜋🜋🜋🜋✦ AetherBorne: The Archivus Legacy ✦🜋🜋🜋🜋🜋🜋🜋🜋🜋
🧾 Team Monkey – CombatantsRiku Mori – Nipon, Clone Dash
A speedster-type with the ability to split into afterimages or doppelgangers. Annoying, but fragile.
Mila Ainsworth – Avalon, Magnetic Flux
Magnetic manipulation of metal. Would be too effective since the weapons are made of TechLogia's material... dangerous if used creatively.
Tobias Grimm – Eidengard, Reflective Palm
A tricky fighter. Can absorb impact through his hands and redirect it back. Known for countering brute-strength users.
Wei Fang – Huaxing, Relic Summoner: Guan Dao
Normally scary… but his relic is off-limits today. TechLogia Training Weapons only. That evens the field.
Aya Martins – Solarium, Ink Blade
Can solidify ink into weapons or traps. It's slow to prep, but her attacks flow like calligraphy—graceful and deadly.
"Three wins and we're through," I muttered.
That's the format: best of five. First team to win three one-on-one matches moves forward.
I imagined the lineup in my head:
Claire would take the opening. No question. She'd want to set the tone.
Sol—our overconfident flame king—would probably be second.
Haru would go third. His transformation was dangerous if triggered right.
Ayaka and I would be the fallback. I assumed she'd be fourth, but…
"If Claire, Sol, and Haru win the first three... Ayaka won't even have to fight."
Neither will I.
I almost felt relieved.
Almost.
🜋🜋🜋🜋🜋🜋🜋🜋🜋✦ AetherBorne: The Archivus Legacy ✦🜋🜋🜋🜋🜋🜋🜋🜋🜋
The gym was thunderous.
The crowd wasn't just excited—they were on fire. All of Division IX had turned out for this. Students were cheering, instructors lining the balconies, even the janitor was hanging off the second floor to get a glimpse.
The Aether Clash wasn't just a tradition—it was a statement. A proving ground.
"Match Four—Team Monkey versus Team Dragon!"
The announcer's voice reverberated through the battlefield.
Our team—Team Dragon—stood at the southern gate of the arena. It stretched 60 meters long, 40 wide, and was laced with shimmering Aether sensors that lit up whenever energy flared.
I adjusted my black combat uniform. A sleek, tactical ninja silhouette engineered by TechLogiA. Lightweight, woven with micro-shield fibers. Not that I planned on using it much—I was still hoping I'd get to nap through the first two matches.
Claire turned toward us and declared coolly, "First round, I'll go. Sol, you're second. Haru third. Ryuji fourth. Ms. Fujimori last."
She didn't ask.
Didn't wait for objections.
Didn't even make eye contact.
Just like I predicted in my head. Typical Claire.
"Well, this setup's only good for the Eliminations and Round 2," Sol muttered, clearly irritated. "After that, it's lottery-based. You might not get your way, 'Princess.'"
She brushed past him without a word, bumping his shoulder as she walked forward.
Sol's fists clenched. His glare followed her all the way to the field. "Tch. Better back that attitude up," he growled.
I sighed. This team dynamic is already a mess.
And as she stepped into position, it happened.
As Claire entered the arena, the light caught her armor—Aether-gold plates materialized over her uniform, forming winged pauldrons and a gleaming breastplate. Her long, curly yellow hair danced behind her, radiant under the lights. She stood tall at 5'8", exuding poise and confidence. In her hands, she wielded the TechLogiA-issued training sword and shield—harmless in appearance but deadly in the hands of someone who knew how to manipulate Aether.
"Representing Team Dragon—Claire Everhart!" the announcer bellowed.
From the other side, the ground shook.
A heavy, resounding BLAG echoed through the gym as Wei Fang from Team Monkey leapt into the field, landing hard just meters in front of Claire.
"Representing Team Monkey—Wei Fang!"
He stood at 6'5", a towering wall of muscle and intimidation. His black hair was tied into a high ponytail, swaying like a whip. His piercing eyes locked onto Claire with predatory focus. Even though he couldn't use his relic Guan Dao for this match, the TechLogiA polearm he gripped seemed just as deadly in his hands.
The crowd leaned in, holding its collective breath.
And in that moment, I saw it in the crowd's eyes:
Everyone had assumed Wei would be handicapped.
But I knew better.
So did Claire.
"Fight!" the announcer declared.
Wei wasted no time.
He spun in a tight, 360-degree arc, boots scraping the polished floor with a sharp hiss. His polearm carved through the air like a whip—aimed clean at Claire's neck. A knockout strike if it landed.
But Claire was ready.
She shifted left, sword snapping into place with a metallic shriek—
CLANG!
Sparks scattered. The force of the blow rattled her arm, but her stance didn't falter.
Wei flowed with the deflection. Using its momentum, he crouched low and twisted again—another brutal 360, this time sweeping toward her legs like a scythe.
Claire slammed her shield down. The polearm struck it dead-on, a shudder reverberating through her gauntlet.
But Wei wasn't done.
He vaulted into the air, body tightening, weapon overhead. A vertical strike screamed downward—
Claire burst backward, armored boots grinding across the stone. Her golden wings flared slightly for balance, feathers catching the light.
Wei exploded forward the moment she landed, his charge absurdly fast for his size. Another full spin—his third—came twisting in, blade leveled at her neck like a guillotine.
CLANG!
Claire was ready. Again. She shifted left, blade intercepting the polearm. The screech of metal meeting metal echoed across the chamber.
Wei didn't let up. Crouch. Twist. A low spin. Another sweep at her legs.
Claire dropped her shield, catching the pole's edge with the flat of her sword—steel scraping steel as she held her ground.
Then, without pause—he spun into a vertical cleave from above.
Claire launched backward, her body reacting before thought could form. The polearm's arc missed her by inches, slamming into the ground where she'd just stood.
"Are we just gonna play defense the whole match?"
Sol's voice rang from the sidelines, sharp and impatient.
Claire didn't respond.
Her armor didn't even flinch.
But I saw it—her stance shifted. She was no longer reacting. She was analyzing.
And then—she pounced.
A blur of motion. Claire charged straight in.
Wei gritted his teeth and responded with a barrage of thrusts, rapid, controlled, textbook form. His strikes were calculated to hit—but more importantly, to drain. With each blow that glanced her armor, he was siphoning away Aether reserves, bit by bit.
She was losing.
Most of the audience couldn't see it. They were too dazzled by the light show.
But I saw it.
Her armor—the angles it blocked—the rhythm of her steps.
Something was off.
Then it clicked.
Claire wasn't dodging everything. She was staging.
A feint with the shield.
A pause with the footwork.
And then—
Wei lunged again, his polearm poised for a forward strike.
Claire raised her shield—
—but her real body slipped out from behind it.
"Wait…" I muttered under my breath.
Her armor was moving on its own.
The crowd didn't notice at first. All eyes were on the golden construct that had dashed forward.
But Claire had already vanished to the left.
Wei focused on the armor, bracing for a direct clash.
His stance tightened. Muscles coiled. Eyes locked onto the glowing silhouette.
Wrong choice.
Then—
SLASH.
Claire's training blade tapped gently against the side of his neck. A single, elegant stroke. Clean. Precise.
The blade hummed faintly, drawing in his Aether like a siphon.
Wei's body locked up. Muscles seized.
Too fast. He couldn't move.
When did she—?
‹ AETHER CRITICAL ›
The words pulsed in red light across the Big Aether screen.
"Winner: Claire Everhart!"
The announcement echoed through the training hall, but no one moved. Not yet.
Claire lowered her blade, eyes cool behind her bangs, wings slowly folding.
Across the room, Sol rose from his seat.