Nato7

The Awakening: Around 150 years ago, a mysterious event known as "The Rift" caused a dramatic shift in the world. This event opened portals from another dimension, bringing Essences—mysterious and powerful entities—into the world. These Essences granted some individuals extraordinary abilities and set in motion a global conflict.

Essence Warriors: These are people who possess the power of an Essence, which can take various forms depending on the individual’s soul and affinity. Some are born with their Essence powers from birth, while others awaken them later in life. These warriors are ranked according to their power level, and the rankings play a significant role in their status, training, and missions.

Essence Reborn

It had only been two days since the world saw Riku Hayashi rise from a forgotten D Rank to a legendary S Rank Essence Warrior.

But even now, things were changing—faster than he could process.

That morning, Riku stood in the center of an abandoned training field, miles from the city, his hands glowing with raw essence.

He had been feeling something strange inside ever since awakening Divine Avatar. But now, for the first time, it spoke to him—not in words, but in instinct.

"Call them," the power whispered."They are you… yet not."

And like smoke forming into solid shapes, a perfect replica of himself stepped out of a shimmering portal.

Then, another ripple in the air—and a massive black and blue wolf, fur crackling with aura, stood beside him, growling protectively.

Then came two armored knights, faceless but radiating intense Essence—each wielding a glowing spear.

Riku's eyes widened."…So I can summon them now?" he muttered.

The Divine Avatar wasn't just a transformation. It was a gateway. A realm. A source of power beyond anything he'd ever imagined.

That same afternoon, Riku received a sealed invite. Gold-lined. Heavy with importance.

"To Riku Hayashi, newly acknowledged S Rank Essence Warrior,You are formally invited to the upcoming S Rank Duel Gauntlet—a friendly but elite exhibition match among ten of the top S Rank warriors in the nation. Attendance is optional, but encouraged. The world is watching."

Riku flipped the card. On the back, the names of nine other warriors were listed. His eyes widened as four names stood out to him immediately—people he hadn't seen in seven years.

Yumi Aoyama (Now 19):The once-cheerful 12-year-old C Rank girl had grown into a confident, sharp-tongued warrior known as "The Blossom Blade." She still possessed her healing essence, but now wielded a radiant sword that bloomed petals with each swing. Rumor was, she could cut through space itself. She was still friendly—but now had a ferocious competitive streak.

Kazuto Mori (Now 20):The quiet boy with the destructive Essence had mastered it—barely. Now known as "Crimson Storm," he had become a living weapon. He rarely spoke, but his presence alone was chilling. His aura burned like a wildfire, and he had gained a reputation for brutal precision in combat.

Ayame Kuroda (Now 19):She remained a mystery. Even at 19, no one truly knew where she came from. She had tamed two Rift Beasts, kept them as companions, and was whispered to be able to command monsters. She was known as "The Rift Whisperer," and some still debated if she was even on humanity's side.

Toru Kurotaki (Now 20):Still loud. Still cocky. But undeniably powerful. Toru had earned the title "Starborn Tyrant" after crushing high-level threats before most people even made it to A Rank. His rivalry with Riku was still alive—and now it had matured into something more intense: respect, veiled behind taunts.

"This is no normal match," he said. "It's a stage."

A smile slowly curled on his lips.

Chapter 37: Summons and Spars