(Sora POV)
The start of Hiro's training went superbly, after holding a session for the cultivation of stabilisers, it was now time for Hiro's first combat assessment. I stood in the shadow of a large conifer near the clearing, waiting for the spar to begin. It was Hiro up against Kyosuke. With my focus on Hiro, I saw the determined look in his eyes, to win and ultimately try his hardest to do so, but knowing him fairly well, I also sensed fearful anticipation. Perhaps he felt if he lost this spar, he would embarrass himself in front of me, but honestly, whether he loses or not he'd still be the same Hiro to me. Kind and Brave, always ready to put others he cares about before himself. I smiled a happy smile, reminding myself about who he was and how he could be trusted. Trust was not something I gave out easily, that's why when we first met, I had assumed he had committed such a horrible deed without further thought. In that respect, I needed to grow as well.
To my side were Orion and Kira. Kira, mostly handling the systems that would be used to record Hiro's data across the battle, and Orion, well, staring stoically into nothing with his arms folded as usual. Once all systems were up, an array of gadgets and holograms were set up neatly in front of Kira, with monitors spreading across a neat black desk that seemed to have appeared from nowhere—displaying a variety of numerical sheets waiting to be filled with information. To make the recordings smoother, Hiro was dressed up in an advance super suit, coated with white and with radiant black highlights around all the pathways which Manta flows throughout the body. The suit, obviously being designed to better track Hiro's biometric and ethereal data.
They both stood opposite each other, within the middle of the clearing, waiting for Kira to signal the battles commence. Kyosuke remained with his usual analytical demeanour, and staring Hiro dead in the eye almost as if he had zoned out in the middle of processing. Though I had faith in Hiro, a sudden sense of worry washed over me. I grasped my cross necklace, praying a silent prayer that nothing would go wrong.
Kira spoke up, counting down loud enough so that they could hear, "Ready..! Set..! GO!"
—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
(Hiro POV)
As Kira's last words left her mouth, Kyosuke and I met each other, colliding with each other arm to arm causing a small shockwave. I pushed on him, activating my Trigger and utilising my endless leverage with flight. But Kyosuke saw through it, dashing to the side and avoiding my blunt attack.
"Good work Hiro. Using your flight to get the upper hand is smart, but I've already calculated it." He said, his eyes never leaving me once throughout.
I let my Manta release, flowing out of me, it coated around me like an offensive barrier—radiating a dominant golden aura.
Tsuyoi
Though unpractised, I went off what Sora described to be the strengthening application of Manta the other day, visualising and outlining my pathways, then realising it. I felt a surge of strength fill me, Manta reinforcing every muscle fibre in my body.
With my newfound strength, I darted towards him, targeting his gut for a devastating blow I was denied. Feeling the recoil of his block I fell backward, he took advantage, throwing a downward blow that hurled toward my face. I outputted more Manta into my Tsuyoi, using a defensive style of the technique to soften the blow.
If I took the blow now, he'd be open for a trade. Risky, but at least i'd land a hit.
As his fist collided with my face, so did mine. The entire area surrounding us erupted, causing masses of debris to launch outwards, like a ballistic missile had just detonated. In the centre of a large crater, formed from the massive collision, I laid there, my head ringing. I spat blood from my mouth, getting up on my feet although with much difficulty. Kyosuke was stood on the level ground above me, dazed but in much better condition than I was in. I rose to my feet in a haze.
How did he tank the force of my attack with such little time to react..? I pondered incredulously, as if a sensei were supposed to answer my question.
"Simple. By constantly coating my body with Tsuyoi, I gain quicker access to the abilities it grants me." He explained, looking down on me with a fervent smile, a strange sight to see.
Did he just read my thoughts..?
"Correct." He said, circling his right eye with his hand. "Nothing escapes my eyes. The Devil's Eyes.." As he spoke, his eyes began to glow an intangible yellow.
He engaged me once again, not giving me any time to breath. I exploded upwards to meet him. He struck forth with a variety of kicks—each with differing potency to through me off, his eyes radiating a light glow with each attack signalling use of his abillity. I parried every one I could, but I was eventually overwhelmed; I was slammed back down into the crater—causing me to cough agonisingly. I felt a warm liquid slowly dripping down the side of my mouth. A minor setback, but I got all the information I needed.
I'm guessing that's his core ability, allowing him to read my thoughts. In any case the extent of his power is still unknown to me. But I now know he can read my next move. I wiped some left over blood from the edge of my lip, my expression widening into a grin, pleased with my analysis. "So in order to beat you." I said within my thoughts, knowing he would comprehend. "I need to overwhelm you with sheer power."
I let out a small chuckle, watching a cold sweat drop from his forehead as his unbothered expression faltered.
"I guess I have my answer." I said aloud.
I thanked him mentally for giving me time to recuperate. Maybe he wasn't so smart after all. My small chuckle turned into a louder one as I noted the change in his stance. Once my laughter had diminished, there was a silence between us, a gentle breeze wafting anticipation in the air..
Then, bolting towards him with a burst of Manta, and ascending into the air, I released my power. An endless pool of energy filled the vicinity, all-encompassing and all-consuming in nature, it took Kyosuke, who had attempted to escape its grasp. The entire clearing was devastated, exploding in a bright, blinding light that seemed to suck out all the radiance in the area and project it upwards vertically. I suppressed my release after a certain amount of time, not wanting to accidentally kill him, then eventually, the light faded and the explosion subsided.
I fell to the ground, landing in an even bigger crater than before with a thump, my arms and legs stretched and my eyes looking out into the sky. Twinkling particles fell unnaturally slowly from the sky with a lucid glow, illuminating the empty cavern i had just created.
I was spent. Barely conscious, I panted as though the air was trying to escape me. Filling my lungs as full as possible, but coughing as dust and debris entered them—products of the overwhelming explosion. As for Kyosuke's condition, I had no energy to move my head to the side, but I could her a faint sound of clothes singeing with heat. With great effort I turned my head—and there he was, unconscious—sound asleep like a baby, his uniform smouldering, threads still crackling with leftover heat.
I rolled onto my back. Gasping with every breath, my limbs immobile and my muscles worn. Everything was unclear—my mind clouded as I coped with my overbearing exhaustion. I heard familiar voices, distant and faint but still audible. Exhaustion took hold, and soon my eyelids grew heavy. Staying awake became more and more of a chore. Eventually I gave in, my eyes shutting and my mind travelling to a place far beyond reality. To a world where everything was under my authority..
Finally, some good sleep.
—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
(Sora POV)
We found them both lying within the crater—unconscious. Kira verified the recordings she had taken throughout the battle before speaking up, her voice echoed through the vast cavity.
"Eh, I was hoping one would be awake so I could take some more readings, but this should suffice. Let's take them back to the mansion. It's nearly noon now anyway."
Orion took Kyosuke. Placing him on his back, he took off, launching into the air with an incredible leap. He truly was a mountain, such strength amazed me. I felt small and insignificant. I had been beaten by a boy with a little over a day of experience. Embarrassing. I truly feel like I was being left behind, what if the time came where Haru wasn't there to protect me. I'd grown complacent with my current situation.
I felt Kira's glance fall upon me.
"Sis.. Are you doing alright?" I could tell she was concerned from the sound of her voice.
To be completely honest, I wasn't okay. I was jealous. Of my brother. I'm sure that Hiro felt the same, just in a slightly different way. I saw it in his eyes, just prior to the spar—that If Orion was an immovable object, Haru was a deity, above us all. What upset me the most was my laziness. I had stopped training for some reason, as if he was going to wait for me to catch up, but he didn't. He had ascended to the Imperial stage—going above and beyond the expectations of our captors in Project Deity. I was set to surpass my older brother, and for a while, it seemed like that was going to be. But after being set free from our constraints, something happened. I stopped caring about getting stronger and instead, I cared for the more intrinsic things—like what types of clothes I was wearing, or what songs I would listen to. Sloth had dulled my growth, and I sensed shame encroaching upon the borders of my heart as a result. I let it. It's what I deserved after all.
Frozen in thought, I was grateful Kira didn't press further. I went over to Hiro's unconscious body, taking a knee to examine his state I wiped some left over blood from his cheek. I peered over his handsome face, running my hand through his straw-coloured hair with care, a gentle smile forming on my face. Hiro. I will admit, even bruised and bloody there was still nobility to his sleeping face—golden strands draped across his brow like silk, his breath slow but steady. I bit the bottom of my lip faintly as I continued to inspect his features.
"Ahem?" Kira interrupted.
My cheeks flushed in embarrassment and I hid my face with haste. How could I have been so careless?
"We should be going now Sora. Sorry if I interrupted anything." She went on, containing her laughter.
"Yes. You're right."
I grabbed his arms and scooped him up, holding him warily, as if he were a precious stone. Then, I utilised Nageru, casting a violet aura around myself I shot up into the sky with a propulsive force carrying my movement. I was cutting through the sky, soaring in the air, completely free from the restraints of gravity—I felt liberated. I inhaled a lungful of clean air, enjoying the warmth of the setting sun upon my face. Below me, trees swayed silently—as if dancing to a smooth melody. I don't like being under any restrictions, freedom has always been the most important theme for me, whether that be with my power or my actions.
I was beginning to near where Orion was—at the helm of a lush hill at the other end of the clearing that had been untouched by the massive explosion. To the side of him was a radiant portal, teeming with energy and pulsating with blue electricity—leading back to our sanctuary. I could sense Kira's presence right behind me as I descended to meet Orion, still holding Hiro in my arms.
Orion met me with an irritated expression, Kyosuke hibernating within his strong arms, "What took you so long?"
I kept silent.
"No matter. Let's get going shall we?" Kira interfered, landing just after I had touched ground.
Orion was visibly piqued, but he left it as it was; stepping through the portal, a white flash was left in his wake.
Kira gave me a comforting look, then followed suite, the same white flash leaving the portal.
I looked up, at the setting sun—an orange glow saturating the area. I then took in another eyeful of Hiro's handsome face, my heart lifting with just the idea of seeing him again, and to converse with him, simply being in his presence was enough really. I stopped myself from engaging an endless stare, striding toward the portal, I entered with a bright beam, leaving the aftermath of an encapsulating spar behind me..