That one faithful day…
Raining, raining, raining, raining, THUNDER
Time: 6:00am
I was awoken by the thunderstorm outside. It felt harder than any other spring shower.
"Spring, the season of new beginnings, I guess"
I lied awake in bed tossing and turning, not able to sleep. It was the day every student had been waiting their whole life for…
Assessment day.
Time: 9:00am
I was sitting alone again. It's not like anyone dislikes me, but no one cares about me enough to come up. Well, that was until "she" arrived. I don't mind her. She's nice, but there is something I can't figure out about her. Why is she so drawn to me? I feel like their is almost an invisible string that attaches to us everywhere I go. One way or another, she always shows up.
But that's besides the point right now, I need to focus.
The Assessment is starting.
Intercom: "Chzzz, Chzzz, can student 001 and 299 report to the field"
"Wow do you see that, the president is even spectating!", "I heard this year even students from Europe and the Middle East even came to compete!"
Oh yeah, let me fill you in.
The Assessment is what every 18 year old takes to gauge their abilities. Rather that be combat, intellect, etc. It has a pretty intimidating name, because nothing is off limits, technically. But the directors will usually step in if any life threatening problems arise.
But why have an assessment at all you're asking, right? People say the Assessment exists for national security. Others say it's about discovering talent. That's the clean version.
The real reason is simpler.
Profitable.
After the mutations began—after creatures started appearing—entire industries were born overnight. Security firms. Research labs. Private armies.
Creatures meant contracts. Contracts meant money.
And students like us?
We were evaluated. Risk assessments. Future assets.
It turned into a world of survival of the fittest you could say.
And me, I'm far from the top.
Some even like to say, I'm at "rock bottom".
But that won't stop me, even though I know I'm playing into the big corporations' games. I still want to prove myself.
My parents shipped me away to Tokyo when I first started high school. They said to "better my education" but they knew I couldn't compete with everyone around me. They were ashamed. I was always so weak in comparison. But today is my turn, to prove them all wrong.
Time: 13:00
Intercom: "Chzzz, Chzzz, can student 66 and 233 report to the field"
"I guess I'm finally up"
And not just against anyone, but the star prospect from the Jeong family. One of the richest families In all of East Asia. Rumor has it, he's been training before he could even walk.
"Good luck" she said
"Yeah, uh, thanks" I responded
3… 2… 1… START!
"BOOOOOMMM!"
A massive shockwave rocked the field. Smoke and dust blew everywhere, and I barely had time to steady my placement. The Jeong family's star prospect wasn't holding back—he wanted to make an impression. Evocation magic crackled around him like a storm waiting to strike.
"All I need is one good punch…" I muttered to myself, eyes narrowing.
"KABOOWWMM!"
A blazing arc of energy shot toward me, faster than anything I had ever seen. I dove forward, but somehow—he was already behind me.
'Slice.'
Pain exploded along my back. I gritted my teeth, staggering, my vision blurring.
"Just give up! Everyone knows you're the worst!"
I felt the sting of their words, but more than that… I felt her.
A pulse of heat ran through me—a thread, invisible and small, yet undeniable, tugging at the core of my being. The string between us had snapped…
As I looked around in the audienced, fading in and out, I saw her, crying.
My chest heaved as a surge of something unnatural and raw coursed through me.
My body wasn't ready for this. It screamed in pain. Every muscle burned, every nerve vibrated, but I could feel it—the power waiting inside me. Stronger than anything I'd ever imagined. Stronger than the Jeong heir standing in front of me.
"KEEP FIGHTING!" Her voice, clear yet distant, echoed in my mind.
I stumbled, the power surging uncontrollably. The ground cracked beneath my feet. Wind tore around me like a hurricane. My fingers burned as energy arced between them, forming jagged, unstable blades of light. I hadn't even meant to summon this, but it was alive.
Hungry.
"What the hell?!" "What the hell is happening to me?!!"
The Jeong heir's eyes widened, just for a moment. Then he charged, faster than before. I didn't even dodge. I couldn't. The power flared from me in a shockwave, knocking him back—but I felt it slicing through my body as much as the world around me.
Smoke and dust swirled. I felt my heart pounding, my lungs screaming, my body shaking from exertion I wasn't ready for. Yet… the string—broken or not—kept me tethered. Somewhere in the chaos, her presence was steadying me, holding me from tearing apart completely.
I couldn't control it. I had no idea how to control it. But for the first time… I felt unstoppable.
And that thought… terrified me.
Intercom:
"Looooooks like Akira is more fired up than before!"
"This shall make for an interesting match!!"
"Who is that?" muttered a random voice.
"That's Akira Yamagata," said another.
"Ahhh… the Yamagata's banished younger son, huh?"
"BOOOOSSSHH—!"
The ground exploded where I had been standing a second ago. Heat washed over my skin, my ears ringing as shards of scorched earth flew past my face.
I can't control this feeling.
It's too much.
I need to end it now.
"HEYY—don't give up on me yet!!" Jeong shouted, his voice sharp, confident.
I looked up.
He was faster now. Cleaner. Every step precise, every spell forming almost instinctively. Flames wrapped around his arms like living things, responding to his will. That's evocation magic—pure output, overwhelming force.
I clenched my fists, breathing hard.
I need an opening.
What is evocation magic weak to?
My mind raced.
"DAMNNN—I SHOULD'VE PAID ATTENTION IN CLASS!!"
Then—
Wait.
That's it.
I stopped moving.
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
"What is he doing?!"
"Did he give up?"
The best offense… is defense.
I planted my feet and lowered my stance, forcing my shaking legs to stay still. The power inside me screamed, begging to burst out, but I held it back—barely.
"I'm going to lure him right to me."
Jeong laughed when he saw me standing there.
"Finally lost your nerve?"
He charged.
The air warped around him as he poured everything into a single, decisive attack. Flames condensed, sharper than before—compressed, focused, lethal.
Good.
Closer.
Closer.
My heart pounded so hard I thought it would rip apart my chest. I could feel it—the invisible string tugging violently, like it was stretched to its limit. My body wasn't ready, but the power didn't care.
NOW.
At the last possible second, I moved.
Not forward.
Not back.
I twisted sideways, letting the attack graze past me. The heat tore at my skin, pain screaming through my nerves—but Jeong was off-balance.
For the first time.
I reached out.
The power exploded.
Not outward—but inward first, crushing my muscles, tearing through my veins like liquid. I screamed as it surged through my arm, raw and uncontrolled.
Then—
Impact.
The ground shattered beneath us.
A shockwave ripped across the field, silencing the crowd in an instant. Jeong was sent flying, slamming into the dirt hard enough to leave a crater.
Smoke rose.
My legs buckled. I dropped to one knee, blood dripping from every part of my body, I was shaking violently.
I couldn't control it.
I barely survived it.
But I was still standing.
Somewhere, through the ringing in my ears, I felt her presence again—faint, but there. The string wasn't gone.
It was frayed.
And whatever power I just touched…
It was only the beginning.
Intercom: "A-akira Yamagata wins?!"
"This will make an interesting year." said a mysterious voice.
"Indeed it will." said another
The end.