He's Ready!!

In the heart of a deep, dark forest, surrounded by towering trees that loomed like silent sentinels, Ryuu sat atop a flat rock, his body still and his eyes closed.

The forest was alive with the sounds of nature: the rustling of leaves, the chirping of distant birds, and the whispering wind.

Ryuu focused, drawing upon the energy within him, tapping into the elemental magic he had been training to master for the past three months.

Suddenly, he opened his eyes, a spark of determination igniting within their depths.

He raised his hand high into the air, and to his amazement, a bright red flame flickered to life above his palm, dancing with vitality and power.

With a swift motion, he directed the flame toward a nearby rock, a sense of exhilaration coursing through him.

"Here goes nothing!" he thought, heart racing with anticipation.

Boom!!!

The flame collided violently with the stone, unleashing a shockwave that kicked up a massive dust storm.

The explosion echoed through the forest, sending fragments of rock scattering in all directions.

Dust enveloped the area, obscuring vision as the air grew thick and heavy.

As the dust storm began to settle and the air cleared, two figures emerged from the haze: Shigeru and Akiko, both staring wide-eyed at the spectacle before them.

When the dust finally cleared, the sight was astonishing.

The rock had been utterly pulverized at the point of impact, a gaping hole left where the bright red flame had struck.

Ryuu's heart swelled with pride and joy at the sight of his accomplishment.

He jumped off the stone and ran toward Shigeru and Akiko, a radiant smile illuminating his face.

"Master! Akiko-san! I did it! I was finally able to use the basic-level spell of fire magic!"

He exclaimed, his voice filled with uncontainable excitement.

Both Shigeru and Akiko were astonished, unable to hide their surprise.

Akiko, in particular, couldn't believe the speed of his growth.

She had watched him struggle at times, never imagining he would come to understand the flow of magic in the world so quickly and effectively.

Shigeru, too, felt a wave of happiness wash over him.

However, beneath that surface joy, a complex web of thoughts began to weave through his mind.

(I've never witnessed anyone progress at this rate. The way Aramiya-kun grasps everything feels so instinctive.

And that flame… it's pure—more potent than I could have anticipated. It pulverized everything in its path.)

Shigeru regarded Ryuu with a proud smile, mixed with a hint of curiosity.

"Aramiya-kun," he began, his voice steady and reassuring.

"All your hard work over these past three months has finally paid off.

You've unleashed the power that resides within you."

Ryuu met his gaze, excitement bubbling within him as he felt the weight of Shigeru's words.

This was just the beginning of his journey—an adventure he had long dreamed of.

"Aramiya-kun," Shigeru continued, his tone shifting to one of seriousness.

"In three days, the Inter-Division Battles will commence.

As the Board of Education decided to assign me as your teacher, you haven't had the chance to earn any contributive points in the training area.

However, the president has determined that if you stand out in the Inter-Division competition, you will be granted the opportunity to witness the legendary weapons—the Atsuras."

Ryuu's heart skipped a beat at the mention of the Atsuras.

Memories of the mysterious cave flooded his mind, where he had first encountered the ancient images of those legendary weapons.

He remembered vividly how an azure flame had appeared on his forehead at that moment, igniting a fire of curiosity within him.

Shigeru continued.

"Do you remember that day? When you saw the pictures of the Atsuras in that mysterious cave, and suddenly, that azure flame manifested?

I believe witnessing the Atsuras with your own eyes could provide us with crucial insights about that azure flame within you.

This is a chance to understand more about yourself, to uncover the depths of your potential.

So now, Aramiya-kun, it all hinges on your performance in the Inter-Division Competition."

Shigeru's serious demeanor conveyed the gravity of the situation.

He knew this was a golden opportunity not just for Ryuu, but also for his own quest for knowledge about the unknown element that resided within his student.

As Ryuu listened intently, the weight of the impending competition settled on his shoulders.

He was determined, his resolve solidifying.

He wanted to unravel the mysteries behind the strange dreams that had haunted him and confront the pain that lingered in his heart.

(Inter-Division battles, I'm coming. This is my moment to prove myself, to find answers and embrace the power within me.)

With a deep breath, Ryuu envisioned the battles ahead—not just as a test of his magical abilities, but as a critical step toward understanding who he truly was.

The anticipation of the Inter-Division Battles filled him with a mix of excitement and determination.

Igniting a fire within him as fierce as the flames he commanded.....