The battle raged on, but Aiden and Riko were forced to retreat with the other first-years. The academy's emergency sirens continued blaring as teachers and upperclassmen guided the younger students into fortified underground bunkers beneath the school.
The adrenaline was still pumping through Aiden's veins. His ribs ached from the earlier impact, but his mind was too preoccupied to focus on the pain. He and Riko sat against the cold steel walls of the bunker, surrounded by their classmates, most of whom looked terrified.
They weren't alone.
There were at least sixty first-years crammed inside the bunker, whispering among themselves in hushed, panicked tones. Some were still shaking from the shock of seeing real combat, others sat frozen, staring blankly at the steel walls as if their minds had yet to process what had just happened.
Aiden exhaled through his nose. He could still hear the battle raging above them, distant booms and tremors shaking the bunker every now and then.
"Did you see how easily they handled those things?" Riko muttered under his breath, eyes filled with frustration.
Aiden clenched his fists. "Yeah… and we couldn't do a damn thing."
It wasn't just about being powerless. Even though they had trained in endurance, strength, and combat basics, it was nothing compared to what they had witnessed. The way the upperclassmen moved, the way they wielded their abilities—it was overwhelming.
He had thought he was prepared. That their training would mean something. But against creatures like that? They were ants in a hurricane.
A metallic creak filled the air as the heavy bunker doors groaned open.
A tall, silver-haired man with a scar over his left eye entered, his presence alone enough to silence the murmurs of the first-years. His uniform was tattered, evidence that he had just returned from the battlefield. His piercing gray eyes swept across the students like a hawk scanning for weakness.
"You all saw what happened out there," he said, voice deep and commanding. "For some of you, it was your first taste of a real battle. Let this be a lesson."
No one spoke. The weight of his words settled over them like a suffocating fog.
"You are weak."
The bluntness of the statement sent a ripple through the room. Several students flinched. Aiden felt his jaw tighten, but he didn't look away.
"You've trained without powers for a reason," the man continued. "Because if you rely too much on them, you'll crumble when they fail you. But make no mistake—training alone won't make you strong enough. The creatures you saw today? That was a minor incursion."
Murmurs spread through the students.
A minor incursion?
Aiden's stomach twisted.
The instructor's gaze swept across them. "Soon, you will choose your abilities. But power alone does not make you strong. What separates the weak from the strong is how you use it. How you adapt to it. And most importantly, how far you're willing to go to master it."
Aiden and Riko exchanged a glance. They both knew—the gap between them and those who had already chosen their powers was massive.
The instructor stepped closer, his eyes narrowing. "Some of you will choose flashy powers and expect strength to come naturally. Those people will die first."
A thick silence settled over the room. The weight of his words was undeniable.
"Power is a tool. And just like any tool, if you don't learn how to use it properly, it will break in your hands."
The man's eyes landed on Aiden for a brief moment before moving on, as if gauging his reaction.
Then, his expression shifted slightly.
"Since you're all here, let's test something."
The tension in the room thickened as he gestured to one of the first-years. A short girl with braided hair hesitantly stood up.
"What's your name?" the instructor asked.
"L-Lina," she stammered.
"Lina, show me your stance."
She gulped but did as she was told, raising her fists into a defensive position. The instructor watched her carefully before nodding.
"Attack me," he ordered.
Lina blinked, as did many of the students.
"S-Sir?"
"Attack me," he repeated, eyes cold and unwavering.
Lina hesitated before stepping forward, throwing a quick punch. It was clean, well-practiced—but the moment she moved, the instructor twisted to the side and effortlessly caught her wrist.
Then, he applied the slightest pressure.
Lina gasped as her legs buckled beneath her. In an instant, she was on the floor, her arm pinned behind her back. The entire maneuver had taken less than a second.
The other students stiffened.
"This is the difference between knowledge and application." The instructor released Lina, letting her scramble back to her feet. "You've trained. You've learned how to fight. But do you know how to fight?"
No one answered.
The instructor exhaled, rubbing his temple as if he was dealing with a classroom full of infants. "There is a difference between memorizing techniques and truly understanding them. Between possessing strength and knowing how to wield it." He gestured toward the heavy bunker doors. "And out there? Your enemies won't wait for you to figure it out."
His words hit harder than any punch.
He turned to leave. "The attack is being handled. You'll remain here until it's safe to return to your dorms."
With that, he was gone.
The Weight of Their Decision
The room remained silent long after the instructor had left. Some students still trembled, while others sat deep in thought.
Riko finally let out a heavy breath. "Damn… he really laid it out, huh?"
Aiden nodded, his mind still processing everything. "It's true, though. We're not ready."
Riko leaned back against the wall. "We will be."
Neither of them spoke for a while. They just sat there, feeling the weight of everything that had happened. The battle outside continued, but all they could do now was wait.
But one thing was certain.
When the time came to choose their powers, they wouldn't make the mistake of picking something ordinary.
They would find a way to be strong. No matter what.