Chapter 7: hybrid

The next morning came heavy with fog.

A gray mist rolled across the academy grounds, swallowing the buildings and trees in a cold, damp veil.

Ryker stood alone at the edge of the tournament arena, hands buried in his pockets, hood up against the chill.

The stands were quieter today.

Whispers, hushed and tense, drifted through the fog like ghosts.

Everyone knew today's match wasn't normal.

Everyone could feel it.

Even the instructors lining the field wore grim expressions, their usual stern faces tight with unease.

Ryker closed his eyes briefly.

(Another test.)

He could hear Sol, Shin, Izumi, and the others standing just behind him, their presence like steady anchors.

But this battle—

This was his.

A loudspeaker crackled overhead.

"Next match: Ryker Tensai versus Subject-09."

The metal gate across the field groaned open.

Out of the mist, something stepped forward.

Ryker's eyes sharpened.

The creature that emerged looked almost human.

The crowd was buzzing with excitement.

On the tournament stage, the next opponent stood tall—

not human.

Not even close.

The instructors watched from the sidelines, uneasy.

(That thing... it's not a student.)

The hybrid glared at him — a beast with metal limbs and monster-like skin.

Without warning, Ryker dashed forward.

He leapt high, spinning in the air, and—

BAM!

His heel slammed onto the hybrid's head.

The crowd gasped.

The hybrid stumbled back.

But it didn't fall.

It roared in fury and charged.

The first punch smashed into Ryker's ribs.

CRACK!

Pain exploded through his body.

He staggered but didn't fall.

The second punch struck his shoulder—sending him sliding backward.

Blood dripped from Ryker's mouth.

He wiped it with the back of his hand.

Everyone in the arena was silent, wide-eyed.

(He's still standing?)

The hybrid roared again, slamming Ryker with a third brutal punch to the stomach.

Ryker dropped to one knee, breathing heavily.

But he glared up at the hybrid—defiant.

The fourth punch came like a hammer to his jaw.

Ryker's head snapped to the side.

The world blurred.

His knees buckled.

Still—

he didn't collapse.

He gritted his teeth, forcing his body upright.

The instructors moved urgently.

One of the scientists raised a gun and fired—

Pssst!

A dart shot into the hybrid's neck.

The hybrid jerked, movements slowing.

Its body crashed to the ground, finally subdued.

The fight ended — not by defeat,

but by intervention.

Ryker stayed on one knee, chest heaving, covered in blood and bruises.

His teammates rushed to his side—Sol, Izumi, Shin, Celica, Aisa, Akira, Yumi, and Tatsuya.

The instructors and scientists spoke in hushed, angry voices:

"He's not just a hybrid—he's a cyborg hybrid!"

"Mixed with monster DNA and machine parts...! A weapon."

The students in the crowd whispered fearfully.

(They sent a weapon against a first-year.)

Ryker smirked weakly, even through the pain.

"...Still breathing," he muttered.

Sol knelt beside him, fist clenched in anger.

"This tournament is rigged," he growled.

Ryker just chuckled, coughing up a little blood.

And even as darkness crept at the edges of his vision—

he knew it.

This wasn't the end.

It was only the beginning.

Staff Room

Aria-sensei sat quietly on a chair, holding a stack of papers in his hand.

The door opened with a soft creak.

Ms. Hana, a sharp and composed teacher, walked in.

She bowed slightly.

"What happened today, sir?" she asked.

Aria-sensei looked up from his papers, his eyes calm.

"It's complicated," he replied.

Ms. Hana hesitated, then asked carefully,

"Do you know anything about the Tensai family, sir?"

Aria-sensei leaned back in his chair.

"Ryker has a younger sister. That's all that's officially recorded," he said.

"You have any investigations or concerns?" he added.

Ms. Hana shook her head.

"No, sir. Nothing confirmed," she said.

Aria-sensei nodded, shifting the papers in his hand.

"Anyway, these are the tournament teams," he said.

He read aloud:

Third Year: Tohijo

Second Year: King, Shin kazuto and Hiroshi

First Year: Sol, Ryker, Izumi, and Tatsuya.

Ms. Hana smiled slightly. "A strong group."

Aria-sensei stood up, tucking the papers under his arm.

"I'll go announce it to the students," he said.

Later — In Class

The students sat in their seats, buzzing with curiosity.

Aria-sensei entered, stepping up to the front.

He cleared his throat.

"Listen up," he said.

"The tournament teams have been decided."

The students sat up straighter, excitement flashing in their eyes.

He continued, announcing the team names one by one.

Tournament Day

The day of the tournament arrived.

Every student, instructor, and staff member gathered in Tokyo, Japan, at a giant stadium built for the academy's most prestigious event.

The arena roared with energy.

Flags waved, the bright sky overhead buzzing with tension.

Today wasn't just a battle.

It was history in the making

Backstage — Before the Tournament

Ryker stood near the tunnel entrance, adjusting his gloves.

The sounds of the roaring crowd echoed through the concrete walls, rumbling like a storm waiting to break.

Sol leaned casually against the wall beside him, arms crossed and wearing a confident grin.

"You ready for this?" Sol asked, glancing over.

Ryker smirked faintly.

"Always."

Izumi jogged up, slightly out of breath.

"Hey, don't get yourselves killed out there," he said, half-joking, half-serious.

Tatsuya followed, checking over his weapon with sharp focus.

They were a team now.

No—more than that.

They were the front line.

Sol pushed off the wall and bumped Ryker's shoulder lightly.

"Let's show them what real first-years look like."

Ryker nodded, his eyes sharp like a drawn blade.

"We're not here to participate," he said quietly.

"We're here to win."

The heavy iron gates creaked open.

Blinding light from the arena spilled into the tunnel.

Their names were called, one by one.

The crowd roared like a tidal wave.

And together—

they stepped into history.

A Few Minutes Earlier…

As Ryker and the others were preparing seriously, a very different kind of chaos was unfolding backstage.

Sol suddenly grabbed Yumi's hand, his face lighting up like he'd won the lottery.

"YES!" Sol shouted. "I win! You promised! We're going on a date after this!"

Without warning, he took off running, practically dragging a bright-red Yumi along with him.

"Hey! HEEY!! I didn't agree to that!!" Yumi screamed, trying desperately to pull her hand free.

"IDIOT! LET GO!"

From the side, Celica watched the scene unfold with a deadpan expression, her arms crossed tightly.

"...Idiot," Celica muttered under her breath.

Meanwhile, Ryker, Shin, and Izumi exchanged glances, trying (and failing) to hide their smirks.

For just a moment, the heavy tension of the upcoming tournament—

felt a little lighter.

Ryker gave a low chuckle, shaking his head slightly.

As Sol returned, still looking ridiculously proud of himself, Ryker threw him a sideways glance.

"Try not to trip in front of Yumi, Romeo," Ryker said dryly.

Sol puffed up his chest, smirking.

"Please. I'll sweep her off her feet."

Izumi snorted.

"Yeah, straight into the emergency room."

Even Shin cracked a rare small smile.

And with that lightness still hanging in the air

the team stepped toward the roaring arena, ready to carve their names into history.

Announcements – Before Tournament Start

The loudspeakers boomed across the stadium, silencing the excited murmurs.

A deep, powerful voice echoed through the air.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" the announcer called out.

"Welcome to the Student Hero Tournament — in the era of the Abyss Heroes!"

The crowd erupted into wild cheers, the ground almost trembling under the noise.

Banners waved, cameras flashed, and the energy soared to a fever pitch.

The voice continued:

"Today, the brightest and strongest students from across the nation have gathered here in Tokyo, Japan—"

"—to prove their strength, their dreams, and their future as the next generation of heroes!"

Ryker stood silently with his team, the sound of the crowd like a living storm around them.

"Schools from all over the country are participating!" the announcer declared.

"Third-years, second-years, and even first-years—every student has a chance to rise!"

The camera screens flashed across the teams waiting in the wings — showing schools lined up, students in uniforms, eyes burning with determination.

"And now... let the Student Hero Tournament—"

"BEGIN!!!"

The gates thundered open fully.

The ground shook.

The future heroes stepped into the blinding light of the arena—

ready to make history.