They were ten.
The first flames of power.
The Guardians of Magic.
Each bore a trait unlike any other — light, shadow, balance, dream, beast, mirror, silence, bloom, phantom… and flame.
Together, they shaped the blueprint of every gift that came after.
But unity did not last.
One rose against the rest.
The Flame Sovereign, once a beacon, burned with pride and fury. His fire sought not to protect, but to consume.
The war shattered the earth.
The nine stood against the one.
And though they sealed him, the price was everything — their names buried, their power scattered through bloodlines.
The world remembers them as myth.
But chains do not last forever.
And what was sealed in fire… always waits to burn again.
"Name's Nesshou Genta.
Funny, right? I used to say it loud, like it meant something.
Like I mattered.
Like I was free.
But after that night… I don't even know who's speaking when I open my mouth.
Me… or him.
They look at me different now.
Not like a classmate. Not like a friend.
Like I'm carrying something I was never meant to touch.
A curse.
A monster.
A fire that isn't mine, burning me from the inside.
And maybe they're right.
Maybe I was never supposed to exist.
Because every time I close my eyes, I hear him.
That laugh.
That roar.
That promise…
'Next time… no chains.'
And when I wake up… I don't feel like a boy anymore.
I feel like a weapon waiting to be used.
Or worse… unleashed."
The fire inside him stirred, echoing the myth.
And soon, it would be tested.
Not in shadows.
Not in chains.
But before the eyes of all — in the Arena of 24
PREVIOUSLY ON CLASS 24
The arena split apart as fire and silver clashed. Nesshou and Tensei fought like monsters, their power shaking stone until Daichi forced them down, his voice cold with warning.
But the silence that followed was not peace.
From the shadows, Ibuki's grin cut sharper than any blade. His words mocked Nesshou, dragging chains of the dungeon back into the light. Kurai stepped in, shielding him with a voice that trembled but did not break.
In the dark, Daichi came to him — not as a warden, but as someone who finally admitted his faith. Yet even with those words, Nesshou remained chained by silence.
And in the morning, Kenzo's smile returned with chaos. His words lit the room with both thrill and fear:
"A Power Test. A trial. An arena that will decide who truly belongs in Class 24."
But not all were ready. Tensei resisted, his arrogance flaring — until Nesshou's quiet hand stopped him, pulling him back where words could not. Kurai saw it then: only he could move Tensei, only he carried that weight.
Now, the time for whispers and broken stone is over.
The Arena of 24 awaits.
The classroom buzzed with restless whispers when the door creaked open. Nesshou stepped in first, silent, eyes steady. Kurai followed close behind, her expression unreadable. Then came Tensei — silver hair catching the light, a faint smirk tugging at his lips as though nothing had happened.
The whispers grew louder.
"Is that really him?"
"He made Kenzo wait?"
"Unbelievable…"
Kenzo leaned lazily against the desk, twirling chalk between his fingers, grin stretched ear to ear.
Kenzo (mock cheer):
"Well, well, look who decided to join us! Our runaway star, the silver spark himself."
Tensei scoffed, brushing past the stares, making for his seat without a word. But Kenzo's grin sharpened.
Kenzo (sing-song, dangerous):
"Hold it right there, Tensei."
The air shifted. Tensei stopped, his smirk twitching faintly. He turned, silver eyes narrowed.
Tensei (flat):
"…What now?"
Kenzo's grin widened. He flicked his wrist — and with a burst of invisible force, Tensei's legs buckled. He crashed to the floor with a thud, the class gasping as desks rattled.
Kenzo strolled forward, crouching just enough to meet Tensei's glare.
Kenzo (mock sympathy, sharp whisper):
"Oh, don't look so offended. You kept your whole class waiting. You kept me waiting. And around here, time isn't something you get to waste."
Tensei growled low, his hands tightening on the floor.
Kenzo (standing tall, loud enough for all):
"So let this be a lesson to everyone. No matter whose son you are… in my class, you show up late, you pay. Simple."
The class murmured nervously, glancing between Tensei's clenched jaw and Kenzo's playful smirk.
Nesshou, watching from his seat, said nothing. But his flames flickered faintly at his knuckles, hidden beneath the desk. Kurai's gaze lingered on him, troubled.
Kenzo clapped his hands together, breaking the tension like snapping a thread.
Kenzo (bright again):
"Now then! Shall we begin?
The class settled as Kenzo raised his voice, the familiar grin softening just enough to show he was serious this time.
"The Power Test isn't just some game," he began, hands behind his back as he paced. "It's a competition always organized by SSUB. Its purpose is simple — to measure how quickly you've developed, how well you can handle your powers, and how strong you've become since you arrived here. Think of it as your mirror. It won't lie."
A murmur swept through the group. Some straightened, nervous at the weight in his tone. Others leaned forward eagerly, hungry for the chance to prove themselves.
Ibuki, arms folded and smirk curling at the corner of his lips, broke the silence.
"A competition, huh? Seems easier than I thought," he said, loud enough for everyone to hear. His smugness earned a few side-eyes, but he didn't care. "Finally something worth my time."
Kenzo paused mid-step, his eyes flicking toward Ibuki. The grin returned — but sharper this time.
"Easier, you say? We'll see."
The arena beneath them stirred, faint light running along the stone markings of the six segments. A low hum built in the ground, as though the structure itself was waking from slumber.
Kenzo spread his arms, letting the sound roll over them.
"This test will show you things about yourselves you don't expect. Confidence alone won't carry you, Ibuki. Remember that."
Kenzo's grin stretched wide as he tapped the chalk against the board, sparks flaring with every strike.
Kenzo (loud, playful):
"Your first trial… ah, it's a beauty. The Council themselves will design it. Twelve beasts, each nastier than the last, waiting to see which of you can stand and which of you will be chewed up."
The class erupted instantly.
"Beasts?!" "That's insane—" We'll die out there!"
Kenzo wagged his finger, laughing like it was all a joke.
Kenzo (mock cheer):
"Oh, don't look so gloomy! This isn't punishment, it's a test. Thirty nine of you now… but the arena only has room for twenty-four. That's the cut. The Council provides the beasts, you provide the entertainment."
He clapped his hands together, sharp enough to make a few students flinch.
Kenzo (bright, almost singing):
"You'll have two days. Rest, plot, panic, whatever you like. When the doors open, the hunt begins!"
The room broke into chaos. Desks rattled with nervous whispers:
Some students slumped forward, pale.
Others muttered frantically about forming teams.
A few just stared blankly, fear locking their jaws.
But six stood apart from the wave of dread:
Kurai sat upright, lips pressed but eyes steady. Determination burned in her gaze.
Nesshou leaned back in silence, flames faintly licking at his knuckles under the desk.
Ibuki chuckled low, smirk cutting sharp as he enjoyed the fear around him.
Reiji cracked his knuckles, grin wolfish, as if daring the beasts to come early.
Hanari twirled her blade under her desk, her excitement clear in the spark of her eyes.
Tensei smirked lazily, silver eyes gleaming with quiet challenge, as if this test was beneath him.
Kenzo's eyes flicked across the room, catching each of them in turn. His grin widened into something almost manic.
Kenzo (ecstatic, clapping again):
"Yes! That's the spirit I want! Fearless, hungry, ready to tear the world apart."
He spun on his heel, cape flaring, chalk scattering dust into the air.
Kenzo (wild enthusiasm, pointing at the class):
"Two days from now, my little disasters, you will either stand as survivors… or be remembered as the ones who couldn't keep up. Either way—"
He laughed, loud and sharp, the sound filling every corner of the classroom.
Kenzo (booming):
"I promise you this: the hunt will be glorious!"
The class fell into uneasy silence, the weight of his words pressing down like chains. For most, it was terror. For six… it was fire.
The bell buzzed
Kenzo:
So that's it class dismissed.
Kenzo left with a glorious smile on his face limping, jumping like a child who just got everything he has been hoping for.
But the students of class 24 stayed each with different expression on their faces. Some scared, thinking, plotting, deciding on how they could pass this test.
The arena stone floor gleamed under the rising torches, twelve massive seals etched deep into the ground — waiting. The weight of silence pressed heavy as all thirty nine students stood in formation, their uniforms sharp, their faces set.
Two days had passed. The nervous laughter, the restless chatter, the frantic whispers were gone. What remained were eyes sharpened by resolve, bodies taut with preparation.
Daichi stepped forward. His armor caught the torchlight, not bright, but steady — like a shield that had seen countless battles. He stopped before them, gaze sweeping across the class with measured calm.
Daichi (low, steady):
"Are you ready?"
No one answered. They didn't need to. From the steel in their stares, the fire in their posture, Daichi already knew.
Daichi (firm, slow):
"You spent the last two days sharpening your blades, steadying your hearts. I see it. Not one of you came here to fail. And I respect that."
His eyes lingered briefly on Nesshou, then Tensei, then Ibuki — recognizing the sparks of rivalry, pride, and silent fury among them.
Daichi (measured):
"This trial will not only test your strength. It will test your control, your resolve, and the choices you make when survival is at stake. Power without discipline is nothing but destruction. Discipline without courage is nothing but fear. You will need both."
He let the words hang, heavy, his voice carrying without need for theatrics.
Daichi (final, steady):
"Remember this: victory is not only standing at the end… it is how you stand. Show me, show yourselves, why you belong in Class 24."
He stepped back, crossing his arms, his presence like stone anchoring the air.
The silence that followed wasn't fear this time — it was anticipation.
And above them, the seals began to glow.
The arena shook, its walls groaning as twelve seals blazed open across the stone floor. Light poured through the cracks, flooding the chamber with blinding brilliance. Then, with a roar that shook the ground, the first beast rose.
It was a wolf-shaped mass of mist and darkness, its claws dripping shadows, its hollow eyes burning white. Another followed, then another, until twelve beasts stood in a circle, their bodies bending in and out of the floor. One blinked, its form vanishing into blackness — and it reappeared behind the students with a snap of its jaws. The others followed suit, each one leaping through shadows, unpredictable and deadly.
Kenzo's laughter cracked across the air like thunder.
"Twelve shadows! Twelve jaws! Outrun them, outfight them — or fall!"
The horn blared.
The beasts struck at once. They leapt in and out of existence, claws slashing from impossible angles. Students screamed, some scattering, some charging forward, powers flaring in the chaos. The ground became a battlefield of light and shadow, sparks flying as Class 24 fought for survival.
Nesshou Genta lit the arena in fire. Flames roared from his fists, burning brighter with every blow. Each time a beast leapt, he met it head-on, his strikes exploding with heat, driving back the shadows until one collapsed into ash. He stood tall, his chest heaving, his fire unwavering.
Yami Ibuki waded into the darkness as though it were his home. While others recoiled, he smirked, letting the shadows wrap him. A beast lunged, but Ibuki's shadow whip lashed it down, twisting tight until the creature screeched and burst apart. He walked away as if it had been nothing.
Tensei Arakawa didn't need to lift a hand. His silver eyes locked on a beast the moment it appeared. Its body froze mid-leap, paralyzed in the air, unable to breathe, unable to move. Tensei's smirk deepened as he turned his gaze aside, and the beast crumpled lifelessly to the ground.
Kurai Sumika's Yurei eyes opened, and the unseen gaze within them bent the rules of the world. Her voice cut sharp through the chaos. "Stand. Break. Shatter. Bow." The commandments struck four beasts at once. They faltered, their leaps colliding with barriers unseen, their bodies trembling beneath her law. Her hands shook from the strain, but her will held firm.
Anjō Hanari danced into the fray. Six glowing petals whirled around her body, their edges sharper than blades. With every twirl, every step, the petals sliced through mist and claw, scattering shadows with deadly grace. Her laughter rose bright, fearless even in the storm of teeth and darkness.
Shirakawa Reiji raised Shinen. The sword hummed with power, and when a beast tried to leap through shadow, it faltered — its magic cut away in an instant. Reiji slashed once, clean and final, and the creature's body shattered like glass. His eyes gleamed with steel as he stepped forward for the next.
The others fought desperately, powers erupting across the battlefield. Sparks of light, blasts of energy, steel and bone — all clashed against the shadow tide. Some faltered, struck down by claws they could not follow. Some pushed on, refusing to yield, driving the beasts back through sheer will.
Minutes stretched into what felt like hours until at last the final beast collapsed into ash. The ground stilled, silence falling heavy over the broken arena.
Then the embers appeared.
From each fallen beast drifted a glowing spark — twenty-four in all — rising into the air like fireflies. Every student's breath caught. They all knew: only those who claimed an ember would remain.
The scramble began. Students leapt, clawed, screamed for the sparks, desperation twisting their faces. They fought one another almost as fiercely as they had fought the beasts, blood staining the stone as the embers floated higher.
But for six, it was no struggle.
Nesshou lifted his flame, and the ember curved down into his palm, as if drawn to fire itself.
Ibuki stepped through shadow and returned with an ember spinning in his hand, his grin flashing wider.
Hanari's petals rose, swirling around a drifting ember until it settled against her chest.
Kurai's unseen eyes fixed upward, and the ember bowed, falling obediently into her grasp.
Reiji raised Shinen, and the ember above dimmed, cut from the air itself into his waiting hand.
And Tensei looked once. The ember froze in midair, paralyzed under his gaze, before dropping neatly into his palm.
The Council sat frozen above the arena. Their silence was louder than Kenzo's laughter. These six had not only survived — they had done so with ease. Their growth was unnatural, their mastery undeniable. Even the elders whispered uneasily, shocked at what they were becoming.
Meanwhile, the rest clawed desperately for the remaining embers. Students shoved and bled, their voices raw, their sparks burning against exhaustion. In the end, only eighteen more held their prizes, trembling but victorious. Fifteen others lay broken, empty-handed, their hopes ended.
Daichi's voice rang over the silence, calm and certain.
"Twenty-four remain. You have earned the ember not by chance, but by endurance. Do not mistake this for triumph. Survival is only the beginning. What lies ahead will cut deeper than shadows."
The torches blazed, painting the twenty-four in gold. Above them, Kenzo clapped and laughed wildly, but the Council leaned forward in silence, their eyes fixed on six flames burning too brightly, too fast.
The hunt was over. The survivors had been chosen.
The arena torches dimmed, leaving only the glow of twenty-four embers burning faintly against the chests of those who survived. The crowd of instructors and upper Council members rose to their feet, silence falling as a new figure stepped forward.
The High Councilor's voice carried across the arena, slow and deliberate.
"You have endured the first trial. You have faced the shadows and stood unbroken. But survival alone is not enough. Today, you are marked. These badges will bind you to your path — symbols of what you are becoming, and what you will face."
Six attendants entered, each carrying a tray. On every tray lay four identical badges, each marked with the face of a beast — Phoenix, Wolf, Shark, Horse, Bull, and Eagle — forged in silver and glowing faintly with enchantment.
One by one, the badges were handed out, the Council calling each survivor by name.
"The Phoenix — symbol of fire, rebirth, and will unyielding. To Nesshou Genta, to Kurai Sumika, to Haruna Kitagawa, and to Ryuuya Inoue."
Nesshou stepped forward, fire still burning faintly across his skin. The phoenix badge gleamed as it was pressed into his hand, its glow merging with the ember within him. Kurai followed, her calm gaze unshaken, the second phoenix resting against her chest. Haruna bowed low, clutching hers tightly, while Ryuuya's shadow flickered as he accepted his own.
"The Wolf — symbol of cunning, hunger, and the strength of the pack. To Yami Ibuki, to Rika Mizuno, to Sayaka Morinaga, and to Naoya Fujikawa."
Ibuki smirked as the wolf was placed in his palm, its silver eyes catching the torchlight. The others accepted theirs with quiet pride, but it was Ibuki's grin that seemed to speak for them all — sharp, dangerous, unyielding.
"The Shark — symbol of ferocity, relentlessness, and the waters that never rest. To Anjō Hanari, to Akihiko Matsuda, to Kaito Okabe, and to Airi Kobayashi."
Hanari twirled as she approached, her petals vanishing into light. The shark badge shone brightly against her chest as she pressed it close. The others followed, steady and focused, but none as radiant as her.
"The Horse — symbol of speed, endurance, and unbroken spirit. To Shirakawa Reiji, to Mei Tachibana, to Kaori Endou, and to Sumire Nakahara."
Reiji received his badge in silence, his sword at his side, Shinen still faintly humming. The horse emblem glowed faintly, like the steady beat of hooves. Mei, Kaori, and Sumire accepted theirs with pride, the horse glimmering against their uniforms.
"The Bull — symbol of raw power, resilience, and the will to break through. To Tensei Arakawa, to Makoto Ishikawa, to Takeru Noguchi, and to Renjiro Hatanaka."
Tensei accepted his badge with a smirk, holding it lightly as though it mattered less than the ember still glowing within him. Makoto's grin stretched wide, Takeru clenched his badge with both fists, and Renjiro's eyes burned with quiet rage as he pinned his to his chest.
"The Eagle — symbol of vision, precision, and dominion over the skies. To Shunpei Takahata, to Keina Shimizu, to Haruna Kitagawa, and to Hikari Motegi."
Shunpei's eyes gleamed with relief as the eagle badge was pinned to him. Keina bowed respectfully, her gaze bright. Hikari smiled faintly, holding hers to her chest as if it were a promise.
When the last badge was given, the High Councilor lifted his voice once more.
"From this day, you are no longer untested. You are no longer sparks in the dark. You are flames, wolves, sharks, horses, bulls, and eagles. Remember what your badge means, and fight to carry it to the end."
The twenty-four stood tall, each marked by the Council, each bearing their badge as both burden and honor.
And in the high seats, the Councilors exchanged quiet glances. Some proud. Some wary. Especially as their eyes fell upon six students who had claimed their badges without breaking a sweat — Nesshou with his fire, Ibuki with his shadow power, Hanari with her petal dance, Kurai with her Yurai gaze, Reiji with his sword shi'nen steel, and Tensei with his paralysis.
Too bright. Too fast.
The torches blazed high once more. The trial was over. The survivors had been chosen. The badges had been given. And ahead lay trials darker than shadow.
The council chairman and the elders decided to have a brief meeting in the council room.
The chamber was dark. Stone walls closed the circle tight, the only light flickering from torches that hissed against the cold. Twelve seats ringed the chamber, each one occupied by a figure draped in a heavy black hood. Only the chair at the center glowed white, its occupant sitting tall, hands folded, eyes hidden in shadow.
The silence broke with a voice from the left.
"They are stronger than we expected. Far stronger."
Another councilor leaned forward, his voice heavy with doubt.
"Too strong. In two days, their growth has doubled. That girl, Hanari — before, she could summon no more than three petals. Now she controls six, weaving them as weapons. That is no natural leap."
A low hum passed around the circle. Another spoke, suspicion laced in every word.
"And the flame bearer. Nesshou Genta. The only one of his kind in this generation. His fire burns brighter than recorded in years. He should not be this advanced. Not at his age."
"Nor the shadow one," another voice cut in sharply. "Ibuki moves through darkness as though it answers to him. He didn't fight the beasts — he commanded them. That power is dangerous."
A third councilor scoffed.
"And Tensei. A boy who paralyzes with a glance. Today he needed only to look. Entire monsters fell without a strike. If he continues like this… who will restrain him?"
The murmurs grew louder.
"Kurai's eyes are awakening. Four commandments already, and her body is not breaking. What happens when she unlocks all thirteen?"
"And Reiji — that sword of his, Shinen. It severed the beasts' shadow jump as if it were nothing. No weapon should cut magic so clean."
The chamber shook with unease. Voices overlapped — suspicion, fear, questions without answers.
Then, the Chairman raised his hand. Silence fell instantly. His white hood glowed in the torchlight, his voice calm but heavy, every syllable cutting clean.
"Something is happening. These six are not simply gifted. They are becoming… faster than any we have recorded. Whether it is blessing or curse remains unseen. But one thing is clear."
He leaned forward, his words slicing the silence.
"This test was not the measure of their limit. It was the spark before the fire."
A councilor's voice broke the stillness.
"Then what do you propose, Chairman?"
The white hood tilted upward.
"The next event will not be against beasts. Not against shadows. It will be against themselves."
The air grew colder, tension curling like smoke.
"A tournament," the Chairman declared. "The twenty-four will face each other. Friend against friend, rival against rival. Only then will we see who they truly are."
The chamber fell silent, the weight of his words pressing on every hooded figure. Suspicion. Fear. Curiosity. All unspoken, all heavy.
And above them, the flames of the torches flickered higher, as though the chamber itself hungered for what was to come.
NESSGEEORIGINAL