"Ok that is enough about GDC. I just got your levels!"

Akira exclaimed, "About time!"

Miss Sakura typed something on the hologram and exclaimed, "Ok. Here there are."

Our ranks appeared on a hologram.

"Luke De Angelo: Level 434

Robin James: 320

Kaede Yoshida: 364

Naoko Ishimoto: 354

Ren Nakamura: 496

Akarui Hikaru: 496

Jao Pedro: 390

Noah Maxwell: 376

Hiroshi Suzuki: 367

Satoshi Sato: 424

Kenji Watanabe: 355

Daichi Tanaka: 360

Yui Takahashi: 363

Aiko Kato: 407

Izumi Kinoshita: 350

Chika Nishimura: 325

Makoto Yamaguchi: 380

Atsushi Yamashita: 387

Reina Okada: 350

Sayaka Morita: 379

Sakura Hanami: 430

Akira Akimitsu: 440"

Ren was furious, "How do me and Hikaru have the same level?"

I see... If I haven't beaten Ren. Maybe he would have won.

If Hikaru hadn't beaten me... No. If I had just a little bit more Chi. I would have won.

"Oh wow. This is actually more than the year's average. More than some second years also." Ms. Sakura broke the silence.

"What do you mean? That you didn't have enough expectations for us?" Ren spoke out.

Ms. Sakura smiled, "No. The average level for a student was 296. Half the class has a level more than 400. So as a reward we are sending you guys to a field trip to a nearby canyon. There have been strange disappearances and lots of shadow sightings. Go there. Find the cause. And kill it. Howzat?"

"It's been like 12 hours and already another mission?" Atsushi said.

"C'mon. What better way to learn, than to get experience?" Ms. Sakura replied

"Luka called out, "She's right. Be happy with these opportunities."

"Your right, I shouldn't be complaining with these opportunities to kick butt."

Ms. Sakura checked a letter, "Alright. So, you will be going to the field trip on 3.9.26. Akarui, isn't that your birthday?"

My eyes widened, "Oh yeah."

"Alright. Dismissed."

As we headed outside I asked Kaede, "What lesson do we have next?"

She said, "Well... Lets see."

She pulled out the schedule, "Umm Chi control."

"Oh. Alright."

Akira paused, "Chi Control? Follow me. We have Takashi Daiki."

"Alright." Akira took us to a huge room with each column being elevated more than the other. Like a college. Mr Takashiki. Was sitting on his desk. He had brown hair, 6 foot 1, brown curly hair, slim with small muscles, aviator slim sunglasses, bright skin and a warm smile, "Hello. I'm Your teacher Takashi Daiki. Please take a seat."

"Me, Kaede, Sakura and Akira took a seat at the front."

"Mr. Takashi stood up and announced, "Today we will be understanding Ikari."

After we took our seats he continued.

"Ikari is a method non-sorcerer, scratch that anyone can use it. They just don't perfect it to this..."

Mr. Takashi stood at the centre of the room, rolling his shoulders as he let out a deep breath. He pushed his sunglasses up slightly before addressing the class.

"Alright, listen up. You all know what Ikari is but knowing and mastering are two different things. Today, I'll show you what refined Ikari looks like."

The air around him shifted. It wasn't a change in temperature, nor was there any visible aura at first—just a sudden pressure, as if the very space around him was being forced to acknowledge his power. His muscles tensed, and then—

Boom!

A pulse of raw energy erupted from his body, distorting the air around him. The sheer force sent a powerful gust across the room, forcing some students to shield their eyes. Yet, despite its intensity, the blast was controlled, not wild or reckless. The floor beneath his feet cracked ever so slightly, but nothing beyond that.

That is impressive. But I have seen better.

Mr. Takashi stood before us, arms crossed. "Most of you already know what Ikari is. But knowing and using it? Two different things."

He stepped forward, planting his foot down firmly. Then—

BOOM.

A sudden pulse of force shot outward from his body, a wave of pressure rippling through the air. Dust lifted off the ground, the sheer impact sending a few students stumbling back. But there was no fire, no lightning—just the raw force of his chi breaking free.

"Ikari is simple. It's the most fundamental release of Orthodox Chi. No elements, no tricks—just pure energy unleashed." He rolled his shoulders. "But once you master it, you can shape it however you like."

He raised his arm and flexed his fingers. A soft hum filled the air as his chi wrapped around his forearm like a faint golden aura.

"You can coat your weapons..." He swiped his hand down, and a nearby training dummy split apart as if struck by an invisible blade.

"You can amplify your attacks..." He stomped the ground—BOOM! —and a visible shockwave spread outward, leaving a crater beneath his foot.

"And if you're skilled enough..." He held up his hand, chi surging around his palm before erupting outward in a condensed, focused blast. The energy shot through the air like a cannon, smashing into the far wall with a thunderous crash.

He turned back to us, adjusting his sunglasses. "Now then. Who's first?"

I raised my hand, and I stepped forward.

"You are Hikaru?"

"Yes."

He picked up a paper and looked at it, "Hmmm. And your dad is...."

"Yes."

"Well knock yourself out!"

Without waiting, I exhaled and let go.

Alright.

BOOM.

A wave of pressure burst from my body, sending cracks through the stone beneath me. My Ikari felt heavier than Mr. Takashi's—denser, darker. While his spread out evenly, mine lashed outward in jagged bursts, almost like a violent pulse.

I focused, directing the flow into my arm. Instead of dispersing, the energy wrapped around my fist like a second skin, flickering in deep purple waves.

I clenched my fingers. More.

The chi condensed, pressing tightly against my knuckles, and I could feel the difference. The weight behind my strike. The raw, amplified force.

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I smirked.

"Alright," Mr. Takashi nodded, his grin widening. "Now we're talking."

Mr. Takashi adjusted his sunglasses, his grin unwavering. "Not bad, Akarui. Not bad at all."

I let my Ikari settle, but the lingering energy still crackled around my knuckles. The ground beneath me had splintered from the initial burst, and a faint haze of displaced air surrounded my body.

The room was silent. Then—

"I'll go next."

Ren stepped forward, rolling his shoulders.

Then—BOOM!

A violent shockwave erupted from him, blasting out in all directions like a wild explosion. Dust and loose debris scattered across the floor as a searing heat spread through the air. His Ikari wasn't controlled, wasn't subtle—it was aggression, pure and unfiltered. The ground beneath his feet cracked in jagged lines, and his aura flared like a raging fire, unstable and angry.

Ren exhaled sharply, his breath practically steaming. He clenched his fists, and the energy around him surged, growing hotter.

He stomped the ground.

BOOM.

The entire floor shook, a fiery burst of Ikari exploding outward from the impact. It was different from mine—less like a shockwave, more like a detonation. His Ikari wasn't just releasing chi—it was burning through it.

Mr. Takashi whistled. "Raw. Uncontained. But damn, it hits hard."

Ren cracked his neck. "Why hold back?" His aura flared again, wilder than before. "Ikari is all about letting loose, right?"

Mr. Takashi chuckled. "Alright. Who's next?"

"Me."

Akira stepped forward, cracking his knuckles.

Unlike me and Ren, he didn't waste any time. He exhaled sharply—

BOOM.

His Ikari exploded outward, but instead of simply dissipating, it curved around his body like flowing currents. It didn't spread randomly or violently—it moved, swirling in rhythmic patterns.

Then, with a flick of his wrist, he pulled the energy back inward—

And it formed into a condensed sphere in his palm.

A solid, rotating orb of pure Orthodox Chi.

The entire class went dead silent. Even Mr. Takashi raised his brows. "Oh?"

Akira grinned. "I figured if Ikari is just the release of chi, then why can't I shape it immediately?"

He tossed the orb into the air and caught it effortlessly. The energy hummed, compact and stable, a controlled explosion waiting to happen.

Then, without warning—

He threw it.

The orb shot forward like a bullet, slamming into the reinforced dummy at the far end of the room.

BOOOOOOM.

A controlled blast erupted, shattering the dummy into pieces. Unlike a regular Ikari burst, this wasn't just raw energy—it was molded, focused.

I whistled. "Damn."

Ren crossed his arms, still radiating heat. "Tch. That's a cheap trick."

Akira grinned. "Nah, it's just called being smart."

Mr. Takashi chuckled. "Now that's what I like to see. Innovation." He turned back to the class. "Alright. The rest of you—step up and show me what you've got."

One by one, the students came forward. Some had wild, unfocused bursts. Others had refined, controlled releases. Some tried shaping their Ikari like Akira, while others reinforced their bodies.

Each one was different. Unique.

After most of the class was done showing their Ikari he said, "Now. Not everyone needs to use it. But it's a good buff. While everyone can use Ikari. It's the few that perfect it. SOOO. Dismissed"

As soon as Mr. Takashi dismissed us, the room buzzed with quiet chatter. Some students were still hyped from showing off their Ikari, while others seemed exhausted from the sheer energy output. I stretched my arms, feeling the lingering tingles of chi flowing through my body. Even though Ikari was just an orthodox release of chi, using it so often in one session had its toll.

Ren scoffed, cracking his knuckles. "Tch. Perfect it? I already got it down."

Akira smirked, spinning his leftover chi between his fingers before letting it dissipate. "Yeah, if 'perfect' means 'wildly throwing explosions until something breaks,' then sure, Ren."

Ren turned to him with a glare. "You wanna say that again?"

"Relax," I sighed. "We just finished a lesson, and you already wanna throw hands?"

Ren huffed but didn't press it further.

Kaede, who had been watching the entire time, crossed her arms. "Ikari really is different depending on the user. Yours was like a shockwave, Ren's was explosive, and Akira's was—" she paused, searching for the right word.

"Controlled," Akira answered for her.

She nodded. "Yeah. That. And then there were people who couldn't even release much at all."

I glanced around. It was true—some students could barely get more than a flicker of energy out. Ikari was accessible to everyone, but perfecting it? That was a different story.

Mr. Takashi leaned back against his desk, pushing his sunglasses up. "You're all free to go, but keep in mind—Ikari's not just a tool. It's an extension of yourself. The better you know your own chi, the better you'll use it."

With that, the class started filing out.

As we stepped into the hallway, I turned to Kaede. "What's next on the schedule?"

She pulled out the paper again. "Uhh... looks like we have combat drills."

Akira grinned. "Finally. Something hands-on."

Ren cracked his neck. "About time."

I smirked. After all that Ikari training, this was about to get interesting.

Mr. Sigan clapped his hands loudly, grinning at the gathered students. "Alright, everyone! Time to move! You all want to get stronger, yeah?"

A chorus of "Yes, sir!" rang out.

"Then let's not stand around like statues!" He rolled his shoulders, bouncing on his feet. "Today's lesson is speed and adaptability. Power is great, but if you're slow, you're done for. So, let's see how well you handle unpredictability."

His eyes gleamed as he scanned the class. Then, without hesitation, he pointed straight at me.

"Hikaru! You're up first."

I blinked, but before I could react, Kaede whistled. "Oh, this is gonna be fun."

Mr. Sigan was already stretching, grinning like this was the highlight of his day. "Your goal? Land a single clean hit on me."

I stepped forward, smirking. "Just one?"

"Yep! Easy, right?" He tapped his cheek. "C'mon, give it a shot."

I didn't hesitate—darkness flared around my arm as I shot forward. But just as my fist neared his face—

He ducked, twisted around me, and flicked my forehead.

"Too direct!" he said cheerfully. "Try again!"

I spun, feinted with a low kick, then aimed for his ribs.

He caught my wrist mid-air, grinning. "Better!"

I yanked back, darkness erupting to disrupt his grip, but he flipped backward, landing lightly. "Oho, tricky! I like it!"

The class laughed as he bounced on his feet. "C'mon, Akarui! I know you can do better than that!"

I grinned. "Alright. No more holding back."

For the next few moments, it was a blur of dodges, counters, and rapid exchanges. Every time I thought I had him, he was just a step ahead—twisting, redirecting, laughing.

Finally, I lunged with a sudden burst of darkness from behind—forcing him to jump—then spun mid-air and grazed his shoulder.

"Hah!" I grinned.

He landed, eyes wide for a split second before laughing. "Now that was slick!" He clapped a hand on my shoulder. "See? That's the kind of thinking you need!"

And that's when I struck.

With a casual grin, I reached up and tapped his shoulder.

The second he turned to look—BAM! Ikari came barreling toward him, launched straight from my shadow.

He barely had time to register it before WHAM—a clean impact right to his side.

The class erupted in laughter as Mr. Sigan staggered back, blinking in surprise before breaking into a huge grin. "Oh-ho! That was sneaky!"

He ruffled my hair. "Alright, you got me. That's how you use adaptability. Well played, Hikaru!"

Mr. Sigan clapped his hands together, still grinning. "Alright, pick a partner!"

The class shuffled as everyone paired up. I ended up with Kaede, who smirked. "You really got him with that one, huh?"

Before I could reply, Mr. Sigan spoke again. "Now listen up! Fighting isn’t just about throwing punches and dodging attacks. It’s about reading your opponent. If you can predict them, you can control the fight."

He stepped between the groups, folding his arms. "So, here’s the exercise—one of you will attack, and the other will only defend. No counterattacks, just dodging, blocking, and redirecting. Your goal isn’t to overpower your opponent—it’s to read them. If you can predict their next move, you win."

He tapped his temple. "Combat isn’t just about speed and power. It’s a conversation. If you can tell what your opponent is about to ‘say,’ you can interrupt them before they even finish their thought."

Kaede rolled her shoulders. "Guess I’m attacking first."

I grinned. "Try me."

Mr. Sigan nodded. "Thirty seconds per round. Go!"

Kaede lunged immediately, her fist shooting toward my face. I leaned back just in time, feeling the air rush past my nose.

She didn’t slow down—her footwork was sharp, cutting off my movement as she threw another jab. I twisted to the side, barely dodging.

"Tch. Fast."

But I wasn’t just dodging—I was watching. Every move she made, every shift in her weight, every flicker of intent in her eyes.

A kick came next. I stepped back—just a little too late. Her foot grazed my ribs.

"Damn. She’s reading me faster than I thought."

Mr. Sigan called out, "Don’t just react—predict! Look at her stance. What’s next?"

Kaede’s weight was on her back foot. That meant—

Another kick.

I moved before she could. My arm shot up, blocking just as her leg swung up—exactly where I expected.

Kaede’s eyes widened. "What the—"

I sidestepped her next punch, weaving under her arm.

My grin widened. I got it now.

Mr. Sigan chuckled. "There you go! Keep going!"

For the rest of the match, Kaede kept attacking—but I was ahead of her now. Each move, I was just barely ahead, dodging before she even fully committed.

Finally, Mr. Sigan clapped his hands. "Time! Switch roles!"

Kaede exhaled. "Alright, let’s see if I can read you now."

I smirked, stepping forward. "Good luck."

Kaede settled into a defensive stance, her sharp eyes locked onto me.

Mr. Sigan crossed his arms. "Alright, Hikaru, now it's your turn to attack. But remember—this isn't about brute force. Make her work to keep up with you."

Let's see how fast she adapts

I lunged forward with a quick jab—not to hit, just to test her reaction. Kaede swayed to the side effortlessly.

I followed up with a feint—a low kick that never fully committed—before twisting into a real strike aimed at her side.

Kaede’s arm shot down, blocking it in time.

She's already adjusting... Not bad.

I shifted my stance and picked up the pace, mixing in different angles—high, low, sudden bursts forward. But Kaede was keeping up, dodging and redirecting with impressive speed.

"Nice!" Mr. Sigan called out. "Don't just follow his rhythm, Kaede—break it!"

Kaede narrowed her eyes. The moment I stepped in for another strike, she moved before I even threw it, positioning herself just out of range.

She's already predicting me?

I threw a quick series of attacks, forcing her to keep up, but she was starting to dodge more smoothly, reading me just like I had read her.

Alright... time to change things up.

I suddenly slowed my attacks, letting her get too comfortable, too used to the rhythm.

Then, in an instant—I broke it.

I stepped in, my foot pivoting fast. Instead of a punch, I tapped my fingers lightly on her shoulder.

Kaede blinked in surprise.

In that moment of hesitation, I crouched and launched Ikari, a controlled but quick strike aimed just below her ribs—clean, precise.

She barely had time to react before I stopped my fist just short of landing.

Her eyes widened.

Mr. Sigan let out a loud laugh. "Oh-ho! That was sneaky!"

He ruffled my hair. "Alright, you got her. That's how you use adaptability. Well played, Hikaru!"

Then, spinning back to the class, he grinned. "Alright, pick a new partner!"

"Hey Akarui. Wanna join me?"

"Huh?" I turned around and saw Luka.

"Sure..."