Takuyaki downloads into the simulated arena, and Amaya Yoshino of Kyo academy downloads opposite him. The countdown begins and the horn is sounded. Momentarily it feels like time goes in slow motion, lightning begins to appear around Takuyaki. Amata gets into a fighting stance and starts to lift her arm, again in slow motion. Suddenly, time goes back to moving normally and within an instant Takuyaki’s hand is against Amata’s forehead, he drags her to the side of the arena and throws her off it. The crowd go wild and the winner sign appears.

The commentators go crazy. “Oh my, wow Keiji did you see that?”. “I’m going to be honest Chiasa, no I didn’t, that was probably one of the fastest knockouts we’ve had in these tournaments so far, unfortunately, Amaya didn’t stand a chance”. “Wow well, that was one to remember, and with that Takuyaki races into the next round of the 1v1s”. “Let’s move on to the next fight Raiko Soda vs Maduka Ozawa, how do you think this is going to go?”. “Well as I mentioned earlier Raiko is going to be the safe bet with her unique ability but you just never know with this competition, this match could go any way, let’s find out”.

Raiko and Maduka download into the simulation. In the main arena hall, Hiro is watching the tv closely, and she suddenly realises Etsuko is speaking to her. “Hey Hiro, can you hear me?”. She turns and nods her head “oh sorry what were you saying?”. “Oh, nothing I just said that’s your roommate right?”. Hiro nods. “Oh yeah, she is”. “Is she nice?. “Yeah she’s really lovely, like really nice”. Hiro turns and again looks at the tv and starts staring at it. Etsuko looks at Hiro as she is watching the tv. In the simulation, the countdown begins and ends and the horn is sounded. Immediately Raiko fires an earth projectile at Maduka who jumps out of the way and dodges it, he goes to punch the air in front of him, and as he does his arm goes flying across the arena towards Raiko. Suddenly Raiko and Maduka switch positions and Madukas arm hits himself in the face knocking him back slightly. He then grabs it and reattaches his arm. “So you’ve currently got Suzu’s and Shigeo’s abilities, that means this is going to be a hard fight, but that's fine I don’t mi…” before he can finish the sentence Raiko speeds in similarly to Takuyaki and pushes Maduka out of the arena. As she does The winner screen shows Raiko's name on.

As Raiko is leaving the simulation room she sees Hiro outside. “Heyyyy Raiko I just wanted to say well done, you did amazing”, Raiko looks up, sees Hiro and smiles. “Oh hey, Hiro thank you very much“, “Oh by the way I noticed you only used 3 of your powers, what other one do you have at the moment”. Suzu smiles, “you trying to find out what my powers are so you can tell your classmates?”. Hiro begins to panic and waves her arms around, “no, I’m sorry I didn’t even think about that at all, I was just…”. Raiko giggles, “I’m just playing with you, yeah of course I have a fourth power”. She lifts her hand and the plant pot next to her starts to levitate. “I guess this could come in handy at some point”. Hiro looks over, realises it's her power and they both begin to blush.

Takao comes walking past and pushes his way through them going into the simulation room. “Out of my way”. Hiro shouts at him “Hey, do you mind”. He turns around with a sinister look in his eyes. Hiro and Suzu both look a little scared. He turns back around and continues into the room. Hiro and Raiko look at each other, roll their eyes and say together at the same time “boys”. After a few seconds, they both start to giggle. Takao downloads into the simulation and Hajime downloads opposite him. The countdown and horn are sounded. Immediately Hajime lets off a massive burst of light from his body, Takao covers his eyes with his hands as he is temporarily blinded. Hajime starts running towards him and lets off a burst of light energy. Takao opens his eyes and gets blasted backwards landing on the floor behind him. Hajime runs over and goes to blast him again. Takao stands up, wipes himself down and then looks up with an evil glare in his eyes, Hajime notices Takao's eyes have become completely black. He stops dead in his tracks and takes a step back whilst looking at him in fear. He falls to the floor and starts screaming covering his eyes and ears with his hands. “No please not that, don’t make me see that”. Suddenly he goes silent and Hajime passes out, a voice is heard over the speaker “due to Tajime Hajime no longer being able to continue the fight he is eliminated, therefore our winner is Takao Araya”. The Titan students are watching the match, they all look worried and confused. Daisuke speaks up “what the hell just happened”. Yuka replies, “I don’t know but I don’t like it. His power looks even scarier than they said, Shuichi if you win this fight you will be going up against him in the next round, be careful”. Shuichi stands up “true, but I can’t think about that right now, first I have to win this match”.

Takao walks into the main hall where everyone is watching the tv, the other students turn and stare at him, he tuts and walks past everyone then sits down to watch the fight. Shuichi downloads into the simulation, and Sadow is opposite him. The countdown and horn are sounded. Immediately 2 shadow wolves jump out of Sadow’s shadow and start running towards Shuichi. He pulls out his sword and with a single swing cuts both of them in half, they then both disappear and turn to shadow smoke returning to Sadow. He starts running towards Sadow with his sword again ready to strike, this time a shadow snake, an eagle and a bear both appear from his Shadow. The bear stays next to Sadow to defend him while the snake and eagle both attack. The snake lunges and the Eagle dives towards Shuichi but he dodges the snake and then slices his sword through the eagle above. The eagle returns to shadow smoke and the snake turns and wraps around Shuichi tying him up. 3 more wolves appear and start running towards him. He turns his sword so the edge is against the snake and pushes it outwards, cutting it in half and making it also disappear into smoke. He then runs at the 3 wolves and slices his sword through the air, “single blade slice”, a wave of energy comes from his sword cutting all 3 down in one. He then runs up to the bear, it growls and swings at him but he dodges it and slides his sword through it, the sword continues and ends up going through Sadow, who falls to the floor and then disappears. The winner screen shows Shuichi's name.

The hosts can be heard “ Well that concludes the first part of the 3rd event, the round of 16 is over and very shortly we’re going to move to the quarterfinals. let’s have a look at who will be facing who”.

Match 1 Yuka Yoshida vs Kenikai RandyMatch 2 Suzu Inaba vs Mizo InabaMatch 3 Takuyaki Kikuchi vs Raiko SodaMatch 4 Takao Araya vs Shuichi Ogaru

“Well, would you look at that I actually can’t believe it”. “What’s that Chiasa?”. “In a surprising debut to their first arenas, half of the contestants to make it to the quarter-finals are students from Titan academy. It goes to show there is a lot of talent in that academy”. “Some people may say these students have been lucky to get into round 3 let alone make it through into the quarterfinals but I think they’ve done an incredible job, let’s see just how far they can go”.

Shuichi is in the meeting hall with Sadow they both bow at each other. “Thank you for a great match”. “You too, hopefully, we will see each other next year”. They both walk off and Shuichi sits with his academy, next to him are Yuka and Kenikai, they both turn to Oni academy to see Takao glaring at them. Yuka turns to Shuichi. “Just ignore him he’s probably just trying to psyche you out before you match”. “Yeah, any way you and Kenikai should probably head off for your next match”. They both stand up, look at each other, smile and Hi five then walk off to the simulation room together. Shuichi looks back over again to see Takao is still staring at him. He then turns to watch the tv, pushes back the glasses on his face and smiles.

Yuka and Kenikai both download into the simulation. The horn is sounded. Kenikai immediately activates his ability and slaps his face. “Crap”. He shouts out. “Hey Yuka, I just got a dud activation, absolutely nothing… do you still want to fight”. Yuka laughs, don’t worry I won’t even need mine to kick your ass, sounds good, let’s do it”. Kenikai laughs and they both run at each other. As they collide they begin to fight, punching and kicking while the other dodges, they grapple and Yuka smiles. “Are you going to start trying at some point?”. Kenikai kicks and Yuka grabs his foot and slams him to the floor. He gets up and gets into a fighting stance. “Oh sorry I don’t get to fight with the number 1 hero in Japan all the time. Imagine trying to punch Kame, the sparring isn’t exactly very exciting”. Yuka laughs and Kenikai lunges in again. Yuka grabs him, knocks over his foot and slams him to the ground. The fight continues until eventually Kenikai stands up and places his hands up “ok, ok, enough of that you’re kicking my ass I forfeit”. The winner screen shows and Kenikai walks over and lifts up Yuka’s arm into the air, the crowd start cheering and Kenikai punches Yuka in the stomach. “Damn it, you idiot”. They begin grappling and fighting until eventually, they both disappear from the simulation.

Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

They both head into the main hall and continue hitting each other and laughing as they head back to their area. As they head back they both sit down and Yuka turns to Mizo “hey, good luck, you got this”. She blushes and stands up. As she walks over Etsuko turns around to see Suzu looking over at Titan academy and sees she is smirking at them. Etsuko grabs Mizo’s arm. “Hey Mizo, kick her ass for me”. Mizo nods and smiles.

Mizo and Suzu download into the simulation and the countdown and horn are heard. Immediately Suzu sends a wave of rock towards Mizo who gets knocked down straight to the floor. “Not again. Another weak Titan academy student, why did your school even bother coming”. Mizo gets up “because we’re all here to be heroes, but you aren’t a kind person and heroes are kind, you humiliated my friend in the last match”. Suzu laughs “that weakling, being a hero is all about power you don’t need to be kind, and as far as power goes you 2 both don’t have much, therefore you both have no chance of becoming a hero”. She sends another wave of rocks again knocking her to the floor. Her eyes glow slightly red. She gets up again “being a hero isn’t all about power”. This time she sends a rock flying that hits Mizo in the stomach knocking her to her knees, her eyes flash red but she takes a deep breath. Suzu laughs “being a hero is all about power, look at Titan he’s the number 1 hero because he is the strongest hero, he could take down any other hero without even breaking a sweat”. Mizo gets up and wipes the dirt from her face. Suzu steps forward and fires another rock at her. “unfortunately the students of Titan academy are so weak it’s a joke… except that Yuka guy” Mizo looks straight at Suzu past the rock as it flys towards her and flys right past her, as it does Mizo doesn’t flinch at all. Suzu fires another large rock into the air and then towards her, “I dunno maybe when I’m done kicking all your asses and I win this tournament I’ll ask him on a date”. Mizo suddenly goes into a massive rage, the red rage aura around her is stronger and larger than it has been before. Mizo grabs the rock with one hand and crushes it completely. Suzu looks worried, she puts up 10 earth walls. “Maybe I shouldn’t have provoked her too much, ah it’s fine she can’t get through these walls”. She placed her hand on the floor and feels the vibrations through the earth, her eyes widen as she realises with a single punch, Mizo lunges forward and smashes through every wall, her fist then collides with Suzu’s face, sending her flying out of the arena and into the wall. The winner board shows and Mizo transforms back into her normal self. “Try kissing him without any teeth”.

Yuka is in the main hall watching the fight, the other students turn to him as he looks at Mizo on the screen and he starts blushing. He shakes his head quickly “what are you all looking at”. They all laugh and Hiro joins in, she then turns to Raiko who has stood up to go for her next match, Raiko looks back at her and Hiro mouths good luck to her. Raiko smiles and heads off to the simulation room.

Raiko and Takuyaka download into the simulation. “Hey your academy isn’t a high-scoring hero academy so I don’t have any problems with you but don’t think that means I’ll go easy on you, especially because you’re a girl, I won’t let anything get in the way of me reaching my goal”. Raiko rolls her eyes. “You boys and your big egos”. The horn is sounded. Once again Takuyaka immediately runs towards Raiko who just narrowly jumps out of the way at super speed. “Using my power against me, it’s a smart move but the problem is, your speed pales in comparison to mine” he then runs at her again, she holds out her hand and suddenly Takuyaki stops in his tracks and Raiko gets knocked back a bit. He looks around his body and tries to move but can’t, as he tries to do so she gets pushed back a little more, “I wasn’t expecting that, you’re using the power of that Titan academy girl aren’t you, once again, it’s a smart choice of powers, if I can’t move then it doesn’t matter how fast I am but still, this attack is incredibly weak”. He then pushes forward, breaks free and punches her in the stomach sending her flying backwards.

He makes another run for her but she puts up a wall of earth. He goes around it and hits her from the side. She puts up an earth wall to stop her from flying out of the arena and she crashes into it. He makes another run for her this time she stands up and directs a beam of light into his eyes from her hands. He falls over and she runs over to him again and drags him to the edge of the arena. Just as she reaches the edge he suddenly lets off an electric surge from his body which sends her flying as her body rolls and finally stops he stands up and brushes himself down, “I’ve been working on that one with Lucifer, didn’t think I would have to use it in this tournament with all these weaklings but guess you’re pretty good, I’ll give you the credit you deserve, but, I’ve developed my power and now can create lightning attacks as well, you really don’t stand a chance”. She goes to stand up, but her body is fried and she falls back to the floor. He lets off another electric surge from his hand and a bolt of lightning hits her, she then falls to the floor, he walks over and picks her up then slowly walks over to the edge of the ring, a small pillar of earth flies towards him and he shocks her again, the pillar then stops just before him, he goes round it and throws her out the ring. The winner screen shows.

Takao gets up and starts walking towards the simulation room as he looks to his side he sees Shuichi who is also walking towards the simulation room. They walk next to each other without saying a single word. “Ready to lose?”. Shuichi smiles, “I’m ready for whatever the outcome may be, I'm not scared of what will happen”. Takao chuckles and mutters to himself “we’ll see about that”. They both download into the simulation and the counter and horn are sounded. Immediately Shuichi pulls out his sword. “I watched your last match, I know your power is fear, but I won’t give you time to use it on me”. He slices his sword in the air and an airwave is emitted. Takao steps to the side just narrowly dodging it. “Do you think I asked for this power? We don’t get to choose our abilities. All my life I was told my power could make me a great villain. But I never wanted to be one, all I want to do is save people, but still no one listened, no one cared, everyone feared me, and by fearing me they respected me, so I rolled with it, now I’m the most most popular kid in school”. Shuichi fires another wave at him, once again he narrowly dodges it. “Then why do you act the way to people that aren’t even in your school, what did we ever do to you”. Takao steps back “My power has always been to rule with fear, it’s just all I’ve ever known. Shuichi, in a defensive stance, replies “but being popular and ruling by fear doesn’t make you popular it just makes people scared of you, and it certainly doesn’t make you a hero, it makes you a villain”. Takao’s eyes go black.

Suddenly Shuichi is surrounded by darkness, he can only see his brother, Hatanaka, in front of him holding a sword. He overhears Takao’s voice coming from his brother's mouth. “Don’t call me a villain, I don’t want to be one of them evil withered”. Suddenly the voice turns into his brothers, “if anything you’re the villain, as you’re going to have to kill your brother”. Hatanaka lunges towards him, Shuichi quickly pulls out his sword and stops his attack, Shuichi knocks his brother back with his foot “I didn’t mean it like that, you chose the hero course because you want to be a hero and yet you’re acting like a villain, you have the power to choose what path you take but also how you treat others, you don’t need to listen to anyone else”. His brother attacks him again swinging his sword but Shuichi continues blocking, “what’s the matter, don’t want to strike your brother huh. Hatanaka knocks him to the floor and goes to swing his sword down at Shuichi. Shuichi rolls out of the way and kicks his brother’s leg, then gets up and jumps backwards. “If you want to be a hero then start acting like one”. Takao’s voice is heard again “I have no other choice, this is all I can do, it’s easy for you to say, you have a power that can be used for good, all I have is fear”. His brother lunges at him again, Shiuichi holds his sword in a defensive stance, “I won’t fear you, I know you’re not my brother and that none of this is real, Takao I’m going to relieve you of your own fear, I know that you’re actually the scared one. As Hatanaka’s sword gets closer, Shuichi knocks it away and slices his sword through his chest. He falls to the floor and Shuichi holds him as he does. Shuichi holds him in his arms as he dies.

Back in the tournament simulation, the real Takao is standing over Shuichi’s body who is on the floor pretending to hold his brother but is instead holding nothing. Takao takes Shuichi’s sword and holds it in the air with both hands ready to stab Shuichi. Suddenly the sword glows brightly. Shuichi looks up, grabs the sword from Takao, stands up and holds the sword to his throat. “Your fear projection isn’t real, but the bond I have with my brother is in that sword, and that bond is real. You don’t need to be a villain anymore, forget your fear and make being a hero your reality”. Takao looks at him with fear in his eyes, and he suddenly hangs his head, and places both arms up “I forfeit”. The winner screen shows Shuichi. A pop-up appears ‘new skill achieved, fearless, fear now nullified’.

We see them both walk out of the simulation room. As they exit they stop walking and look at each other, for a few seconds they stand there looking at each other without saying a word before Takao turns his head and walks away. Shuichi nods and returns to Titan academy which are all cheering for him. Everyone stops cheering and looks behind Shuichi, he turns to see Takuyaki “hey Takuyaki, what’s up?”. “Don’t forget your promise, you said you wouldn’t go easy on me, I want to see what you can do”. Shuichi smiles “as long as you don’t forget your promise to give it your all as well”. They both smirk and Takuyaki returns to his area, they both sit down with their academies. Yuka and Mizo stand up. They look at each other and begin to blush. Yuka speaks up, “ready” she replies “ready”. They both walk towards the simulation room.