The ground shook violently.
Buildings trembled as twisted creatures rampaged through the streets.
Their guttural roars echoed between the houses, mixing with the screams of fleeing civilians.
“Run!” “Get inside!” “Where are the Elites?!” Some Fruiklers fought desperately against the Fiends, while others could barely keep themselves standing.
A Fiend crashed through a wooden stall.
Another leaped across a rooftop.
The streets had become a battlefield.
Amid the chaos, one Fiend’s gaze suddenly locked onto a girl.
She froze.
For a moment, her body refused to move.
Then instinct took over.
She turned and ran.
Straight toward Maris.
“Help!” Maris heard her voice and turned.
The Fiend behind her suddenly lunged.
Slimy tentacles shot forward, wrapping around her.
She screamed.
“Get away from me!” The creature’s tail whipped forward.
But before the horror could unfold— SLASH!
A violent gust of wind tore through the street.
Maris’s hand was already gripping the creature’s tail.
His expression had changed.
The playful awkwardness from school was gone.
His eyes were cold.
Focused.
Precise.
The Fiend stared at him.
Maris tightened his grip.
“You’re in my way.” A burst of wind exploded from his arm.
The tentacle was severed.
The creature was thrown backward, crashing through a wall before disappearing into the remains of a house.
Silence.
The girl stared at Maris.
He casually turned toward her.
“Are you okay?” She blinked.
“Y-Yes…” She looked at the destroyed house.
Then at Maris.
“I’m fine.” Maris nodded.
“Good.” He looked away.
Oh no.
She’s the most popular girl in school.
I can’t let her know I recognized her.
He straightened his posture and deliberately changed his expression.
“Are you fine, lady?” The girl stared at him.
Lady?
He…
doesn’t know me?
She almost laughed.
But before she could say anything, Maris pointed toward the defeated Fiend.
“Stay away from those octopus-headed Fiends.” She looked at him.
“Octopus-headed?” “Yes.” Maris spoke completely seriously.
“They don’t care about gender.
They implant their offspring into Fruilasapiens girls and kidnap them.” Her face went pale.
“That’s…
horrifying.” Maris nodded.
“Exactly.” He looked toward the streets.
“So if you see one, don’t stand around staring at it.” She nodded rapidly.
“I won’t.” “Good.” Maris turned away.
Behind him, the girl stared at his back.
Why does he act like we have never met?
She smiled faintly.
And why is he pretending so hard?
— The Next Day The girl walked through the academy corridors, holding a small box tightly against her chest.
She stopped.
Her eyes widened.
“Oops…” She looked down at the box.
“I forgot to give him the chocolates.” She sighed.
“I’ll give them to him at school today.” A student passing by looked at her strangely.
“Are those chocolates?” She immediately hid the box behind her back.
“No.” The student blinked.
“…That was suspicious.” “Mind your business.” She walked away quickly.
— School Grounds — Morning The students gathered in the academy courtyard.
Some were still talking about yesterday’s Fiend attack.
“Did you hear?
Apparently one of them destroyed three houses.” “I heard someone from our year fought one.” “Who?” “Nobody knows.” Maris stood among the students, listening quietly.
Melio crossed his arms.
“People exaggerate everything.” A student looked at him.
“You weren’t there?” “No.” “Then how do you know?” Melio stared at him.
“I don’t.” “…Fair enough.” A firm voice suddenly interrupted the conversation.
“Enough.” Everyone turned.
Foshi Peaner stood before them.
His posture was straight, his expression calm, and his presence immediately silenced the courtyard.
“I, Foshi Peaner, will test your inherited powers today.” The students immediately became excited.
“Okay, Sensei!” “Finally!” “Do we get to fight?” Peaner looked at them.
“No.” The excitement died instantly.
“We’re testing your abilities, not destroying the academy.” One student raised his hand.
“Can we destroy only a little?” “No.” “…Understood.” Maris raised an eyebrow.
“But Sensei…
how will you identify them?” Peaner smiled faintly.
“My ability is water.” The students became quiet.
“Fruilasapiens store their powers within their brains.
Since our brains are approximately ninety percent water, I can read the flow of water within your body and identify the nature of your inherited power.” The students stared at him.
“So basically…” One student whispered, “Sensei can read our brains?” Peaner glanced at him.
“Not exactly.” The student relaxed.
“Good.” “I can read the flow of your internal power.” The student immediately became nervous again.
“…That’s worse.” A few students laughed.
Peaner ignored them.
“Let’s begin.” He opened his notes.
“First—Melio Berrum.” Melio stepped forward confidently.
The students watched.
Melio raised his hand.
“Sensei…
my power is fire.” A small flame appeared over his palm.
“Level 1 — Ember.” The flame flickered.
Peaner nodded.
“Correct.” The students murmured.
“Fire…” “That suits him.” “Obviously.
He looks angry all the time.” Melio glanced toward them.
“Would you like to repeat that?” “No.” — “Next—Sophria Fruilder.” Sophria stepped forward.
She lowered her head.
“Sensei…” Her voice was barely audible.
“I don’t know my power.” A few students exchanged glances.
“She doesn’t know?” “That’s strange.” “Maybe she hasn’t awakened it.” Maris watched her silently.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Interesting.
Peaner placed his hand near her.
A faint green glow appeared.
He looked surprised for only a moment.
“Your power is plant.” Sophria looked up.
“Plant?” “Level 1 — Sprout.” A tiny green shoot emerged from the ground beneath her feet.
The students immediately reacted.
“Whoa!” “That’s actually cute.” “Plant powers?” Sophria stared at the sprout.
“I…
didn’t know.” Peaner nodded.
“Now you do.” — “Next—Lyberia.” Liberia walked forward confidently.
She brushed her hair aside.
“My power is ground.” Peaner examined her.
Then shook his head.
“Not complete.” Liberia frowned.
“What do you mean?” “You possess two elemental abilities.” The students immediately became louder.
“Two?!” “Seriously?” “That’s rare!” Peaner continued.
“Level 1 — Ember.” A small flame appeared.
“And Level 1 — Crust.” The ground beneath Liberia’s feet hardened.
Liberia smiled proudly.
“See?
I told you I was special.” Someone muttered, “She definitely didn’t need the test to tell us that.” Liberia turned.
“What was that?” The student immediately looked away.
“Nothing.” — Peaner looked down at his list.
“Next…” He paused.
Then raised his eyes.
“Maris.” The courtyard fell silent.
Every eye turned toward him.
Maris blinked.
“Me?” Peaner nodded.
“Yes.
Come forward.” Maris slowly stepped ahead.
The students began whispering.
“What’s his power?” “Probably wind.” “Why?” “He used wind yesterday.” “Wait, he did?” “You didn’t hear?” “I was hiding.” “Fair.” Maris stood before Peaner.
The teacher looked at him carefully.
“Place your hand here.” Maris did so.
Peaner’s expression remained neutral.
The water within Maris’s body began responding.
A strange pressure spread through the air.
The students watched in silence.
Maris glanced around.
Then sighed.
“Why is everyone staring at me?” A student answered honestly, “Because we’re waiting to see if you’re actually strong.” Maris looked at him.
Then smiled faintly.
“Don’t worry.” The student raised an eyebrow.
“Why?” Maris’s eyes sharpened.
“You’ll have plenty of time to find out after I’m stronger than you.” The courtyard erupted.
“OOOOHHHH!” “Bro!” “That’s savage!” “Maris actually talks?!” Even Melio’s lips twitched slightly.
Liberia folded her arms.
“Confident all of a sudden?” Maris looked toward her.
“I’m always confident.” Liberia laughed.
“Really?
Because yesterday you—” “Next topic.” A few students burst out laughing.
Peaner sighed.
“Enough.” The courtyard became quiet again.
He looked at Maris.
“Now…” His eyes narrowed.
“Let’s see what you’ve inherited.” Maris stared at his hand.
The water inside his body began to move.
And for the first time— Peaner’s calm expression changed.