After consoling the tearful Target, Arkens walked her to a point where the road split into two diverging paths. They slowed as they approached the crossroads, a comfortable silence settling between them. Standing a few feet apart, they exchanged warm smiles, the earlier tension between them replaced by a quiet understanding. The distance between them felt natural, as if they had found some peace in the moment.

"Cya, Arkens. Even though you have a stupid face, you sure know how to cheer someone up".

"I don't know if I'm supposed to give my thanks or to insult your ridiculous height, but I guess thanks".

Target quickly bowed before clutching her school bag and dashing down the road, disappearing around the corner in a flash. Arkens watched her go, taking her sudden departure as his cue to head home finally. The sun was setting faster now, casting longer shadows across the road as he walked. By the time he neared his house, the sky had darkened, and the quiet of the evening settled in.

Just as he reached the gate, ready to let himself in, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He paused, pulling it out to check the notification. At first glance, his eyes widened in surprise; something about the message caught him off guard.

"A text message?".

It read: *Change your clothes and meet me in the mountains. Keep going until you reach Mount Hiro. I don't need to tell you how to get there. - Kojima* Arkens clenched his phone tightly, his eyes narrowing as a mix of seriousness and excitement flashed across his face. A grin slowly spread, his anticipation growing. He knew this was no ordinary meeting. Mr. Damatsu had a plan. His heart raced for whatever awaited him on Mount Hiro.

"Things are starting now, huh? For some reason, I'm excited to put my life on the line.. Am I just crazy?".

Arkens wasted no time. When he saw the message, he stormed through the front door, barely registering his surroundings. He charged past the kitchen, his focus entirely on the task ahead.

Inside the kitchen, his mother sat at the dinner table, a towel draped over her shoulders, her hair still damp from a recent shower. She had been quietly enjoying dinner with his younger sister, Hama when Arkens' sudden dash up the stairs caught her attention. She glanced toward the doorway, her eyes narrowing in confusion as she watched him disappear in a blur, leaving only the echo of his hurried footsteps behind.

"Hey! Arkens, what's gotten into you, boy?!".

From upstairs, Arkens' voice echoed back, hurried but determined. He yelled as he tore through his closet, quickly changing into casual attire. He slipped into a white T-shirt with bold red lettering that spelled out "Crazy Kid," paired with black shorts featuring two white lines running down the sides. His outfit was completed with a pair of well-worn red running shoes, beaten up from use but still reliable enough for what he had in mind.

"Nothin'! I'm just heading out for a run; I wanna stay in shape, ya know!".

"At this time?? That's something you should do in the morning or, better yet, during gym class!".

Arkens bolted down the stairs without hesitation, racing straight for the front door. The door swung open with a sharp sound, followed by the familiar thud of it closing behind him as he disappeared into the night. Mrs. Ebihara sighed softly, gently placing both hands over her face, clearly used to Arkens' impulsive behavior. Hama, sitting quietly, smiled nervously at the scene, unsure whether to laugh or be concerned.

"I'll make sure his dinner's ready for when he comes back.. You sit tight, Mom; I'll handle the rest".

Arkens approached the forest entrance with a steady, determined stride. A locked gate stood in his path, meant to keep people out at this time of night, but it didn't stop him. Without breaking his pace, he easily vaulted over the gate and continued his run. He knew the forest and the mountains like the back of his hand, having ventured there countless times as a kid with friends his age. Finding where Mr. Damatsu might be waiting was second nature to him.

After about 20 minutes, he reached an elevated point high on Mount Hiro. The night air was cool and crisp as he caught sight of a prominent, imposing figure sitting on a rock. The man's posture was stiff and upright, not a hint of slouching; he sat with perfect form, like a statue. As Arkens got closer, he recognized the familiar face. A man with furrowed brows, a shaved head, and his arm resting in a sling stared at him, his intense gaze focused directly on the boy.

It was Mr. Damatsu, waiting patiently for Arkens' arrival.

"Great. Seems as though you arrived at a good pace. It appears you ran here like I had hoped".

"I-I'm.. haa- ahh.. ahhh.. I did".

"Take a short break while you can because your training begins today, and from then on, there won't be any more breaks".

Arkens, hunched over with his hands resting on his knees, glanced up at Mr. Damatsu. The tone in his mentor's voice was dead serious, and there would be no more breaks from now on.

"There is no easy path to becoming the strongest, and I hope you are prepared to torture your body, mind, and soul".

"Now let's begin with a quick recap. Tell me what you remember and understand about Sera Energy".

Arkens straightened up, placing both hands on his hips as his chest rose and fell with quick, shallow breaths.

"Sera Energy is the lifeblood of all living things. Everyone has it, but not just any regular person can use it. To do that, they must undergo a process called Serawakening, which is unpredictable and rarely occurs".

"And with Sera Energy, I essentially become superhuman just like you? That's all I've got right now".

Mr. Damatsu nodded, his expression firm and unwavering. His gesture was subtle, conveying that he approved of Arkens' readiness.

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"Hmm, good, you've got the basics from what I told you before back in the science class".

"But that's only skimming off the surface. You have so much more to learn, Ebihara. And I recommend you to keep track of my lectures.. Shall we begin?".

Arkens closed his eyes, placing his right hand over his chest. Memories of those closest to him flickered through his mind like scenes from a movie, each interaction vivid and heartfelt. He saw their faces, friends, family, and people who mattered most. At the end of each memory, they all smiled warmly at him. That brought a smile to his face, filling him with strength.

When he opened his eyes again, there was a clear shift in his demeanor. A fiery determination burned brightly in his gaze, an impossible sparkle to ignore. Mr. Damatsu saw it immediately, and the eyes of someone transformed. Not just a boy, but the eyes of a different kind of monster, ready to face anything.

"Perfect first, I want to cure you of your weakness".

"Weakness? What do you mean?".

Mr. Damatsu rose from the rock and walked toward Arkens, his steps deliberate and calm. Without a word, he placed his flat hand on Arkens' chest, right over his heart.

"I forgot to mention when you undergo Serawakening, your ability to channel Sera Energy may be awakened. However, there's a catch. Initially, your energy levels explode exponentially, but without proper control, they decline. That's why your Sera Energy has been slowly dropping. We call this phenomenon Sera Energy Deficiency, or SED ".

"A-And what does that all mean?..".

A bead of sweat formed on Arkens' face as he nervously glanced at Mr. Damatsu's grizzled expression. The seriousness of what was being explained made Arkens uneasy.

"It means you're slowly dying-".

Arken's face was turned entirely white, and his face was transformed to be simple and lacking in detail. A blob with red hair as he heard the words "Slow Death".

"Don't be so dramatic".

"Dramatic?!?! You were way too blunt in telling me I'm dying!!!".

"Just listen carefully. If you run out of Sera Energy, you die. SED makes sure of that. But once I funnel my Sera Energy into you, like jump-starting a dead car battery, your body will reset. It'll start producing Sera Energy on its own again and even prevent you from ever hitting zero. So, relax. You'll be fine".

With the little Sera Energy he had available, Mr. Damatsu focused, sending a shock of bright, astral energy directly into Arkens' body. Like a jolt of electricity, the surge traveled swiftly through him and immediately jump-started Arkens' Sera Energy. The once depleting power inside him began to stir, reawakening with a renewed force as the energy flowed through his veins.

"W-Woah! What was that? I feel.. so much lighter and stronger?-".

Arkens inspected his body, almost in disbelief. The weakness that had plagued him for the past few days was gone, replaced by a sense of vitality he hadn't felt in a long time. Not only did he feel normal again, but there was something more, a surge of energy coursing through him, making him feel stronger and sharper than before. It was as if the Sera Energy within him had not just returned but revitalized him entirely.

"Hmph. Of course you do. But don't be shocked now. This is nothing you'll be able to do in the future with my teaching and rigorous training".

"First, you need to understand what Sera Energy can offer you at its core. It can significantly enhance your physical strength and sharpen your senses beyond what an average human can. You'll be able to detect and gauge the Sera Energy of others, allowing you to perceive the energies around you. With enough concentration, you can temporarily close wounds and even slow the effects of poison. And eventually, you'll learn to transfer your Sera Energy to others or through objects and even mask your energy to hide from unwanted attention".

"Do you understand?".

Arkens shivered slightly, feeling nervous when the question was posed to him. In his way, he understood Sera Energy's immense potential and the weight of responsibility that came with it.

"I got it down packed- Is that all?".

"No. One more thing, something I should tell you that'll give you an advantage when it comes to battle. Something else awakens within you alongside Sera Energy".

"What's that? Don't tell me- Another Sera Energy kinda disease?!".

"Not at all. More like something you should know and be mindful of. When you awaken Sera Energy, you also unlock an ability. To make it easier and clear to understand, a superpower".

Arkens' eyes widened dramatically, his mouth hanging open in shock as if thunder had struck directly above his head. The realization hit him hard, leaving him momentarily speechless, his mind racing to process it.

"S-S-S-Superpowers?! What do you mean?!".

This was serious, no question about it. But the more Arkens thought about it, the more it felt strangely familiar, like something straight out of an anime or manga, especially a Shonen story.

"Exactly like I said, a superpower, an ability unique to you and only you. Though, there are cases where some people end up with powers that resemble others' abilities".

"I know this is a lot to take in, but hang in there. There's one more important thing you need to keep in mind. Whatever power you awaken can be just about anything. And to be blunt, it's the difference between whether you survive or become the strongest".

Arkens grasped the reality of gaining a superpower. There was no predicting what ability he might awaken or how lucky or unlucky he would be. The possibilities swirled in his mind, from transforming into something powerful to the horrifying thought of becoming a toaster, a worm, or worse, a hamster. The sheer absurdity of it all was mind-crushing. Still, he couldn't afford to dwell on the fear of the unknown. He had to figure out what power he possessed or risk putting the lives of innocent people in danger.

"How can we determine my power?".

"There isn't a defined method to discovering that, but once I train you on the basics, we can test what will trigger its activation. With that knowledge, I'll devise a plan based on your capabilities".

"Now, enough playing around. Let us begin!".

Arkens stood in a more relaxed posture. Mr. Damatsu, standing across from him, stared intently.

"We're going to focus on training two key aspects—your physical abilities and the amount and strength of your Sera Energy. You'll need to spread your Sera Energy throughout your body while engaging in physical activities. And the best way to achieve that? Sparring. Hand-to-hand combat".

"So I'm going to fight you while training myself? Isn't that unfair with your arm and weakened state?".

Mr. Damatsu smirked slightly, a rare expression from the usually stoic man. It might have been the first time Arkens had seen his teacher show real emotion, which sent a chill down his spine. The sight of it seriously creeped him out.

"Ebihara, I appreciate the concern, but it's misplaced. You should worry about your well-being".

"Channeling Sera Energy isn't hard; maintaining a steady, optimized flow is the real challenge. And you'll need that if you want even a sliver of a chance to survive. Ebihara, focus on where you feel the strongest surge of Sera Energy in your body and then visualize it spreading like a stream throughout your entire being. Now, go!".

Arkens listened quietly, absorbing every word of his teacher's instructions. He took a deep breath in, then out, his mind focusing on the sensation of Sera Energy gathering within him. It was intense, almost overwhelming, a fiery surge in his stomach. Closing his eyes, he concentrated on that point, channeling his thoughts as he envisioned the energy flowing outward like a stream.

Slowly, he directed the energy to spread throughout his body into his lower body, upper body, arms, legs, cheeks, eyes, head, back, fingers, and toes. As he did, a sudden surge of cosmic energy burst from him, unstable yet strangely calming, as it enveloped his entire body. He could feel the immense force empowering every part of him, a raw and intense energy surging through his veins, filling him with strength unlike anything he had experienced.

"Hmph! Good! Looks like you managed to figure it out; not too horrible for a beginner. I hope you know what comes next?!".

Empowered by the swirling Sera Energy coursing through his body, Arkens raised his fist, locking his gaze on Mr. Damatsu. A confident smirk spread across his face, the surge of power fueling his determination. He was ready for whatever came next, his entire being brimming with energy and strength.

"Here I come, Mr. Damatsu!!!".