"Of course not! This time, I'm here to announce that, for the first time, our academy has been selected for a tournament where the ten best academies in the world will face off!"
A heavy silence followed that declaration. It took a few seconds for the information to settle in our minds, and then it exploded like a bomb.
"Wait—a tournament? Like... an international tournament?" Komi cried out, her voice a mix of excitement and stress.
"Exactly," Kayne replied with a broad smile. "It's an exceptional event that will take place in one month. Each academy will send a team of five students. And you're already at the top of the list."
"One month? That's a really short time to prepare!" Katia noted, arms crossed.
"It's not about time. It's about willpower. The ones who truly want it, who hunger to improve... those are the ones who will make the difference. And this tournament could change all your lives," Kayne continued, his gaze now burning with a new intensity.
I could feel my heartbeat speeding up. A global tournament? One month to prepare? And most importantly… five students. But we were six. That meant one of us wouldn't make the team.
Kayne's eyes swept across each of us, as if he were already weighing the strengths and weaknesses of the group.
"Selections will happen naturally. Through training, performance… and most of all, determination. This tournament won't just be a showcase for your talent—it's also a test. Scouts from major combat leagues, top universities, and even government organizations will be there."
"Pff, I don't need all that to know I'll be on the team," Seth said, crossing his arms.
"Save your arrogance for the battlefield," Katia replied coldly.
"I'm being serious. I've watched all of you. And honestly? Besides Marvens, none of you seem up to the task."
"You're just a pretentious jerk," Juan hissed. "You beat me, fine. But it was a fluke."
Seth shrugged, his usual smug grin plastered across his face.
I watched them argue, knowing full well that this budding rivalry would soon turn into full-blown tension during training. But one thing was certain: this tournament would push us to our limits.
Kayne raised a hand to silence everyone.
"Starting tomorrow, you're entering a phase of intense training. Double schedules, controlled nutrition, daily combat simulations. For the next month, you'll eat, sleep, and breathe combat. And if you survive… you might just get your shot to shine."
"And regular classes?" Komi asked.
"Suspended. You're now part of a special training division. Welcome to Alpha Division."
The name rang through the room like a war drum.
The Next Morning — 5:45 a.m.
A piercing whistle yanked me out of sleep. I jumped out of bed, still half-asleep. Kayne was going from room to room like a general on campaign.
"Everyone outside in five minutes. Twenty-kilometer jog. In silence."
I quickly threw on my training gear, still sore from yesterday. When I stepped outside, the crisp morning air hit me like a slap. The others were already there. Komi was yawning, Katia stretching, Seth smiling as always, and Juan grumbling under his breath.
The run started without fanfare. I jogged beside Katia, focusing on my breathing. Seth passed us quickly—this time, without any taunts. Maybe he understood that ego games had no place here anymore.
"Do you think we're ready for something like this tournament?" Katia asked without slowing down.
"Honestly? No. But... that's exactly why we're going to give it everything."
She nodded. Silence returned, broken only by our footsteps and breathing.
A Few Days Later
"Marvens, hit me with everything you've got," Kayne ordered.
"What? But you—"
"Now!"
I didn't have time to hesitate. I activated my eyes and visualized an antimatter projectile surrounded by an inverted gravitational field. The sphere formed between my hands—dense, unstable.
I hurled it at Kayne. Right before it struck, he vanished, crossing a ten-meter distance in a fraction of a second.
"Too slow," he said behind me.
Before I could turn, a sharp strike to my ribs dropped me.
"Your power is strong, but you rely on it too much. You don't stand a chance unless you combine imagination with real combat movement. You need to become more than just a magician—you need to be a complete fighter."
I stood, breathing hard. Kayne was ruthless—but right.
"Again."
And so began a series of grueling duels. My muscles burned. My mind was foggy. But I kept going. Every fall made me stronger. Every failure helped me understand my power better.
I learned to pair my creations with fast footwork. I imagined kinetic-absorbing boots to cushion blows, reverse-pressure gauntlets to strike harder. My style became more fluid, more unpredictable.
One night, while everyone slept, I was still training alone. The artificial light cast sharp shadows across the room, and sweat dripped from my forehead.
I looked up at the mirror. My reflection had changed. More confident. More determined.
"You're improving," Vens said in my mind.
"I feel like I can go even further."
"You can. But every power comes with a price. Don't ever forget that."
I lowered my gaze. I knew.
One Week Before the Tournament
Our group had transformed. Even Juan, who still complained, showed a much higher level. Katia had developed a freezing technique that could instantly halt enemy movement. Komi could now unleash a storm of electrical needles with deadly precision. And Seth… was still a mystery.
His style grew faster every day, but none of us had figured out his power.
That day, Kayne summoned us to a dimly lit room where a circular arena stood.
"Today's full simulation. Real conditions. Marvens, Katia—you're up against Seth and Komi. No limits—except no killing."
"Great, another match where we get flattened," Komi groaned.
"Hey, speak for yourself," Katia replied, stepping into the arena.
I got into position. Across from us, Seth grinned.
"Ready to lose in front of your girl?" he taunted.
"Ready to crush you," I shot back.
Kayne gave the signal.
Seth immediately charged Katia, dodging a hail of frost created by Komi. I focused, activating my eyes. I summoned wind blades around me and dove into the fray.
The fight was fierce. Explosions, evasions, strategies... Then suddenly, I saw it. For a split second, Seth's body… shifted. As if his muscles were reorganizing.
"Katia!" I shouted. "He's copying—no, he's assimilating our physical abilities!"
She got it instantly. We focused our attacks on him, trying to throw him off before he could sync.
An opening. I used short-range antimatter, targeting only his legs. The impact threw him off balance. Katia followed up with an ice blast that partially froze him.
Kayne halted the match.
"Marvens, you might've just solved the mystery."
Seth stood, panting.
"Well done... you finally figured it out. My ability is physical adaptation. The more I fight, the more my body understands and integrates what it needs."
I smiled, proud but exhausted.
"But it takes time, doesn't it? You can't adapt instantly."
"Not yet... but I will."
End of the Day
Lying on the grass, I looked up at the sky, thinking about the tournament. We had come a long way. But this was only the beginning.
One month to go from students to elite fighters.
The world of exorcism would soon know our names.
And I, Marvens, no longer planned on staying in the shadows.