Energy

In the hallway, Eno and Lily walked side by side, their conversation light as they made their way to class.

"Hey, you two!" a voice called out from behind.

Eno and Lily both stopped and turned around. "Oh, Jonas, Sophia," Eno greeted with a grin.

"Hey, Eno!" Jonas called out, jogging to catch up. "I just heard you took down a D+ monster. Pretty impressive, huh?"

Eno chuckled, shaking his head. "That happened like half an hour ago, and the whole Academy already knows?"

"Well, it's not every day a student takes down a D+ rank monster so easily," Sophia chimed in, crossing her arms. Her eyes narrowed playfully as she continued, "Speaking of which, rumors are going around that you're much stronger than before. Some people are even saying you've hit C- rank. Is it true?"

Eno smiled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, it's true. I hit C- earlier today."

Jonas groaned dramatically. "Man, it's really irritating being friends with super-geniuses," he joked, slinging an arm around Eno's shoulders.

Lily smirked, glancing sideways at Jonas. "Yeah, but we both know it doesn't actually bother you."

"True," Jonas admitted with a laugh. "I guess I'm just used to it."

Sophia, who had been quietly observing, suddenly spoke up. "Well, speaking of ranks… what about you, Lily? You've been keeping awfully quiet about your own progress."

Lily's smirk widened. "Oh, you want to know?" With a subtle flick of her fingers, she released a small pulse of her aura, allowing them to sense her rank. Jonas and Sophia both blinked in surprise, though Sophia recovered quickly, her playful grin returning.

"Oh, come on," Sophia said, a teasing lilt in her voice. "Here I thought one of you had finally left the other behind, but it looks like you two are clinging to each other, as usual."

Before she could react, Eno and Lily simultaneously gave Sophia a light smack on the head.

"Sophia, could you please stop saying stuff like that?" Lily sighed, a faint blush dusting her cheeks. "You always make it awkward."

Eno nodded, his own cheeks tinged red. "Seriously. You know that kind of talk makes us uncomfortable."

Sophia rubbed her head, a pout forming on her lips. "Well, you should've just said that instead of hitting me," she complained, her voice turning mockingly teary.

Jonas chuckled at the sight, shaking his head. "She's got a point, though—though I admit, she worded it in the worst possible way."

Lily sighed, crossing her arms. "You're all making a big deal out of nothing. Eno and I have been rivals since we were kids. Naturally, we're always trying to surpass each other. So yeah, we happen to be at the same rank right now—it's nothing unusual."

Sophia wasn't satisfied with the answer, her pout deepening. "Are you sure about—?"

Jonas cut her off with a dramatic sigh. "Alright, alright, I think we're done with this conversation. Besides, we've already reached class."

Sophia frowned but chose not to argue as they approached the classroom. The tension in the air eased slightly, and Eno exchanged a quick glance with Lily. Both of them seemed a little embarrassed by Sophia's earlier comment, their expressions softening for a moment. However, Lily's eyes quickly shifted, the glint in them sharpening into a look of quiet determination.

can I ask you something really quickly?" Lily's voice cut through the silence, causing the group to pause just before reaching the classroom.

Eno turned to face her, his brow raised slightly in curiosity. "What's up?" he asked.

Lily hesitated for a moment, glancing briefly at Jonas and Sophia before focusing back on Eno. "I wanted to ask you this earlier, but… what was that white lightning you used during your fight? I assumed it was some kind of technique, but it didn't look like anything specific. You were fighting normally, so… what was that?"

Jonas and Sophia perked up at the mention of Eno's lightning, clearly intrigued but having held back from asking earlier. Jonas scratched the back of his head. "Yeah, we were wondering the same thing. We figured it was personal, so we didn't bring it up, but…"

Sophia nodded. "It was kind of hard to ignore."

Eno glanced at his hands briefly, flexing his fingers as if remembering the sensation. "To be honest," he started, "I don't really know what it is either." His eyes flickered with uncertainty. "My lightning turned white when I broke through to C- rank. That's when it started happening."

Lily's face softened, concern flickering in her dark eyes. "Is it something dangerous? Are you okay?" she asked, her tone careful but clearly worried.

Eno shook his head quickly. "No, nothing like that. It actually feels… good, in a strange way. My power's just different now, like it's stronger or something." He gave a small shrug. "I'm not entirely sure what's going on, but I'll ask one of the teachers about it later, just in case."

The trio exchanged glances, their concern lingering, but they didn't press further. Lily's lips tightened into a thin line before she let out a small sigh. "Alright. Just make sure you do."

Jonas clapped Eno on the shoulder, his usual grin back in place. "Well, as long as you're not about to start shooting lightning everywhere by accident, I guess we're good."

Sophia giggled, though her gaze was still thoughtful. "White lightning, though… it's definitely something unique. I've never heard of anything like it before."

Eno smiled reassuringly as they resumed walking toward the classroom door. "Yeah, me neither. But like I said, I'll figure it out."

Though the three of them still felt a hint of worry, they trusted Eno completely. Whatever this change was, they knew he'd get to the bottom of it. So, without another word, they followed him into the classroom,

Entering the classroom, all eyes immediately landed on Eno. As expected, the attention was almost palpable. Even though he was used to it by now, it didn't make the experience any less uncomfortable. He caught a few students whispering as they passed, but Eno, Lily, and the Greer twins quickly pushed past the stares and made their way to their usual seats.

But when they arrived, someone was already there, casually lounging in one of the chairs.

"Hey, Lance," Eno greeted.

Lance looked up, his expression as calm and uninterested as ever. "Hey. And here I thought all of you were going to be late."

Eno shrugged, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Yeah, we had a little chat on the way."

"Chat, huh?" Lance raised an eyebrow, clearly uninterested but playing along. "I think I can guess what it was about."

"Oh really?" Lily cut in, folding her arms. "And what's your guess?"

Lance leaned back in his chair, his eyes flicking between them lazily. "It's about the fact that you and Eno both reached C- rank. Everyone's been talking about it."

Lily blinked, surprised. "How did you—?"

Lance gave her a nonchalant look. "I saw the fight earlier. Eno's aura shifted. It was pretty obvious you broke through. And considering how you two are never far apart in rank, it was pretty clear that you'd be right there with him."

Lily sighed, shaking her head. "Are we really that predictable?"

Lance smirked, his aloof attitude masking any surprise. "Well, kind of."

Eno chuckled, watching the exchange. "So, when are you planning to catch up, Lance?"

"Soon," Lance replied with a shrug. "I'm pretty sure I'll break through today. Probably just need a few more hours."

"That's good," Eno said, nodding in approval. "You're not far off."

With that, the group settled into their seats, chatting quietly amongst themselves until the classroom door swung open, signaling the arrival of the teacher.

"Alright, class," the teacher greeted, walking to the front of the room with an air of authority. "Today, I'm going to teach you something special."

The room buzzed with faint murmurs of excitement. Whenever the teacher said something was 'special,' it usually meant that they were in for something significant.

"But before that," the teacher continued, "I want to review some basic knowledge about energy."

A collective groan rippled through the class, but the students knew better than to protest. If the teacher insisted on reviewing the basics, then they will review the basics

The teacher stood at the front of the class, his presence commanding silence. He cleared his throat, eyes sweeping over the attentive students before him.

"Energy," he began, his voice firm and deliberate, "is something unique to only 20% of humanity. It's not just a tool, not just a force—it's life itself, coursing through your very being. For those who possess it, energy is the difference between ordinary and extraordinary, between human and superhuman."

He began pacing slowly, and continued speaking "Now, as most of you already know, energy can be used in two fundamental ways. The first, the most basic application, is to enhance the body. This means heightened strength, speed, endurance—you name it. With energy, you can push your body beyond human limitations, making you faster, stronger, more resilient it will make you live much longer than any normal person. It's what turns a person into a true hunter."

The students watched as he paused, letting the weight of that statement settle.

"But that," he continued, "is merely the surface. The second, and more complex use of energy, is its ability to manifest as an ability, a unique power that differs from person to person. One individual might be able to manipulate fire, while another might control shadows, or even fly. These abilities are as varied as the people who wield them. Each of you has your own power, something that sets you apart, and it's a direct expression of your energy."

He stopped pacing and faced the class, his tone lowering, becoming more serious. "But here's the part where things become difficult. You see, while all of you have the potential to grow stronger, that growth comes at a cost. The process of condensing and expanding energy within your body is what allows you to increase your strength. It's what allows you to rise through the ranks. But condensing energy isn't like lifting weights—it's more dangerous, more painful. It puts immense pressure on both your body and your mind."

He tapped the side of his head for emphasis. "This pressure isn't something you can ignore. It grows more intense with every rank. And the higher you go, the more it demands from you. That's why climbing the ranks isn't easy. It's why only a handful of people make it to the top."

The students were silent, captivated by the intensity of his words.

"The ranks," he continued, "range from F- to SSS+. Everyone starts at F- rank. It's where you learn the basics, where you begin your journey. But as you rise, from F to E, then to D, the pressure on your body and mind intensifies. Condensing and expanding energy takes its toll, and every rank you climb is another test of your resilience.

He took a deep breath, his gaze sharp as it moved across the room. "Now, you might be thinking that if everyone feels the same pressure, everyone should be able to reach the top, right? Wrong. It's not just about enduring the pressure; it's about how you handle it. Some people reach their limit at D-rank. Others break down at B-rank. The process isn't something you can brute-force your way through. If you push yourself recklessly, the pressure can quite literally tear you apart."

His voice dropped lower, and the weight of his words hung heavy in the air. "The few who make it to the highest ranks—those who reach SSS+—are rarer than you can imagine. They are the true diamonds in the rough. They are the ones who have not only survived the process but thrived in it. They've gone beyond what most people are capable of, withstanding the crushing pressure and honing their energy to its peak."

"You all have potential," the teacher added, his voice firm but not unkind. "But only a few of you will rise to the top. Some of you will push through the pain, grow stronger, and advance. Others may find that the pressure is too much. That's not failure—it's the reality of the path you've chosen. But remember this: those who make it to the top have earned it. They didn't stumble their way there. They fought for every step, every rank, with their bodies and minds on the line."

He stopped, his eyes locking with a few students in the front row. "Today's lesson is to remind you of the path ahead. The ranks are not just a measure of strength. They are a testament to your will, your endurance, and your understanding of your own limits. Climbing the ranks means understanding your energy, mastering it, and respecting the toll it takes on your body and mind. Those who forget this—who become reckless in their pursuit of power—are the ones who don't make it."

The room was silent as his final words settled over the class. Each student seemed to be considering their own journey, their own potential.

The teacher took a step back, his intense expression softening slightly. "Now that we've reviewed the basics, it's time for today's special lesson."