Chapter 55

A few days had passed, and life at the Association had returned to its usual rhythm. Heroes trained diligently, honing their abilities in preparation for the unknown challenges that lay ahead.

Among them was Haruna, a fiery-haired hero-in-training. She had always pushed herself harder than most, her fiery determination matching her fire-based magic. That day was no different as she practiced her routine, conjuring massive fireballs with all her mana.

But something was different.

"Huh?" Haruna muttered, halting her movements. She blinked, her eyes scanning the air around her. Strange flickers of colorful light danced and swirled in the space, weaving in and out like living threads of magic.

Curious, she stepped closer to one of the threads. It shimmered like liquid fire, and as she reached out and lightly touched it, a sudden rush of power coursed through her body. Her eyes widened in shock, her breath hitching at the sheer intensity of the energy now flowing through her.

She instinctively raised her hand, conjuring another fireball. But this time, the resulting spell was far beyond anything she had ever cast-a colossal orb of fire that roared like a miniature sun, drawing gasps of astonishment from her fellow trainees.

"What... just happened?" Haruna whispered, her voice trembling as she stared at the blazing inferno.

---

Elsewhere in the Association

Maria paced back and forth in her office, her phone pressed tightly to her ear.

"Can you do it or not?" she demanded, frustration clear in her tone.

The voice on the other end replied with equal irritation. "You're asking me to find someone you've only seen vague hints of. The kind of magic you're describing is unheard of!"

"Look," Maria muttered, pinching the bridge of her nose, "just get me in touch with that bookworm. What was his name again?"

"Ganth," the caller corrected with a sigh. "And calling him a bookworm is a bit much, don't you think? He's probably the strongest S-ranker in all of Japan."

"Yeah, yeah, just contact him for me. If you can't do that, set up an appointment," Maria insisted.

"Whoa, hold on! I may be your friend, but I'm not your personal hacker or something," the caller retorted sarcastically.

Maria groaned. "Fine, how much?"

"Ten."

"Ten grand?! Are you insane?!" she shouted.

"Keep it down, will you? And yes, ten grand-for you. Anyone else? I'd charge a million. You know Ganth doesn't like meeting people."

Maria sighed deeply, reluctantly agreeing. "Fine. Just set up the appointment."

"Sure thing, Miss Pops!" the caller teased before hanging up.

"Wait-!" Maria started to protest but stopped when she realized it was too late. She clenched her fist in frustration, muttering to herself. "There goes my entire savings for the month..."

But her resolve didn't waver. Wiping away a single tear, she declared, "I have to find this goddess Zoth keeps praising. No matter the cost!"

---

Her determined thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a loud explosion that echoed through the halls.

"Boom-!"

Maria's eyes widened. "What the-?!"

She bolted from her office, her incredible speed making her a blur to anyone in her path. She zigzagged through narrow hallways, her urgency propelling her toward the source of the commotion.

When she arrived, the sight before her left her speechless. A massive crater marred the wall of the training area, and a large crowd had gathered around the scene, their voices blending into a cacophony of confusion and awe.

"What happened here?" Maria demanded as she pushed her way through the crowd.

When the murmuring didn't subside, she shouted, "Quiet!"

The crowd fell silent, parting to reveal Haruna standing at the center, her face glowing with pride.

Before Maria could say anything, Haruna rushed forward and hugged her tightly.

"I did it, Ma'am!" Haruna beamed, her smile as bright as her magic.

---

A Few Hours Later

Zoth strolled into the Association, his expression a mix of curiosity and annoyance.

"Why did you call me so urgently?" he asked, raising an eyebrow at Maria.

Maria could barely contain her excitement. "You won't believe this! One of the trainees broke through!"

Zoth's eyes widened. "Already? That's impressive. Who was it?"

Maria paused dramatically. "A girl named Haruna. She started saying things we couldn't understand, so I thought it best to call you."

"Thirty calls, Maria?" Zoth muttered, shaking his head. "Fine, take me to her."

Before Maria could drag him along, Zoth picked her up with ease, placing her on the ground beside him. "No need to drag me like a sack of potatoes. Let's go."

When they arrived at the training area, Haruna was basking in the attention of her peers. The moment she saw Zoth, her face lit up with admiration.

"You're the one who created this training, right?!" she exclaimed, rushing toward him.

Zoth raised a hand to calm her. "Yes, I designed it. But tell me, Haruna, what exactly did you experience?"

Haruna's expression turned serious as she recounted the glowing threads, the flickering lights, and the overwhelming energy she felt.

Zoth listened intently, then placed a hand on her head, smiling with pride.

Maria, still confused, frowned. "What's going on, Zoth?"

Zoth turned to her, his expression filled with satisfaction. "The training worked. Haruna..." He glanced back at the girl, whose face turned red with embarrassment. "...has awakened."