“Sensei… my power is Wind.
Level 1… Breeze.” Maris spoke calmly and precisely.
For a moment, the entire clearing fell silent.
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
Foshi stared at him.
Then— “PFFT!” The teacher coughed violently.
Water splashed from his mouth directly onto Maris’s face.
Maris froze.
A drop of water slid down his cheek.
Foshi wiped his lips.
“Ah—sorry.” Maris slowly wiped his face.
“…Sensei.” “Yes?” “Why did you spit on me?” “I was surprised.” “Could you be surprised somewhere else next time?” A few students tried desperately to suppress their laughter.
One finally failed.
“Pfft—” Maris looked at him.
The student immediately covered his mouth.
“Sorry.” Foshi stared at Maris again.
But inside, his thoughts screamed louder than thunder.
This boy…
He doesn’t even know.
Or is he pretending?
His sharp eyes examined Maris from head to toe.
The Fruing Clan.
Legends say one of them could wield five powers.
And here he is…
claiming Wind.
The weakest elemental ability.
Just like…
him.
Foshi’s expression became serious.
“Don’t pretend.” Maris blinked.
“Pretend?” “Tell me your actual power.” Maris frowned.
“Sensei…
I swear it’s Wind.” Foshi stared at him.
Maris raised both hands.
“Level 1.
Breeze.” A tiny swirl of wind formed around his palm.
“See?” The students exchanged glances.
Then someone laughed.
“Wind?
Seriously?” Another student shook his head.
“That’s the weakest power!” A third student grinned.
“Maybe he’s going to defeat Fiends by giving them fresh air.” The class burst into laughter.
Maris stared at them.
“Very funny.” The student shrugged.
“I thought so.” Another mocking voice came from behind.
“Wind?
You’re a joke, Maris!
No wonder Sensei thought you were joking!” “Yeah!” “What are you even going to do with that?” “Blow someone’s hair?” Maris looked toward them.
“Probably.” The students paused.
“…What?” Maris shrugged.
“I could give you a haircut without touching you.” The students went silent.
Someone whispered, “That wasn’t even a comeback.” Another replied, “Still better than nothing.” Foshi slammed his foot into the ground.
BOOM!
The earth cracked beneath him.
“Silence!” Every student immediately shut up.
Foshi looked around the clearing.
Then his eyes stopped on Maris.
“Your full name, boy.” Maris hesitated.
“…Maris Fruing.” The atmosphere changed.
Gasps echoed across the forest.
“Fruing?!” “Wait…
Fruing?” “The Fruing Clan?” “The strongest clan?” A student stared at Maris.
“Then why is his power Wind?” Someone laughed nervously.
“The strongest clan produced the weakest power.” Another whispered, “That has to be a joke.” Maris looked around, confused.
Why is everyone reacting like that?
Foshi’s eyes narrowed.
I was right.
He really is a Fruing.
His gaze remained fixed on Maris.
But should I reveal his true nature now?
He considered it.
No.
He must awaken it himself.
Foshi turned away.
“Enough.” The students slowly settled down.
“All sixteen powers have been checked.” He closed his notes.
“Now…
training begins.” Maris lowered his head.
Why did Sensei ask for my full name?
He looked at Foshi.
What does he know…
that I don’t?
— The Forest of Surprise The class followed Foshi deeper into the forest.
The trees became thicker.
The sunlight barely reached the ground.
Branches twisted above them like giant fingers.
A cold breeze passed through the group.
One student rubbed his arms.
“Why is it suddenly so cold?” Another looked around nervously.
“I don’t like this place.” “That’s probably because we’re going to die.” “Can you stop saying things like that?” “I was only being realistic.” Eventually, they reached a large wooden sign hanging between two enormous trees.
The old letters were carved deeply into the wood.
THE FOREST OF SURPRISE A student stared at it.
“That’s a terrible name.” Another nodded.
“Yeah.” “If something surprises us here, I don’t think it’ll be pleasant.” Maris looked at Foshi.
“Why are we training here, Sensei?” Foshi stopped.
His expression became grim.
“Listen carefully.” The students gathered around him.
“When our powers came through the Orb two centuries ago, our people believed we would finally become strong enough to defend ourselves.” He paused.
“We were wrong.” The students listened silently.
“Even after receiving these abilities, our people continued losing against otherworld invaders.” Foshi’s voice became heavier.
“We were weak.” The wind moved through the trees.
“So, one hundred years ago, when this Academy was founded, the Headmaster established a contract.” A nervous student raised his hand.
“What kind of contract?” Foshi looked directly at him.
“The losers in training would be eaten.” Silence.
The student’s hand slowly dropped.
“…I’m sorry?” Foshi continued as if he hadn’t heard him.
“Only the strong survive.” A few students swallowed nervously.
“Only the worthy become Elites.” Maris stared into the forest.
“So we’re actually fighting Fiends?” “Yes.” “Alone?” “Yes.” “No help?” “No help.” Maris’s expression became serious.
Foshi pointed toward the deeper forest.
“Do or die.” One student raised his hand again.
“Sensei?” “Yes?” “Can we choose the ‘do’ option?” Foshi stared at him.
“That is generally recommended.” The students laughed nervously.
Then— RUMBLE.
Everyone froze.
A deep vibration travelled through the ground.
Maris looked toward a nearby cave.
“What was that?” A wet, slithering sound echoed from within.
Sssshhhk…
Then another.
Sssshhhk…
Something moved inside.
Foshi stepped backward.
“Your trial begins now.” The students stared at the cave.
Two glowing red eyes appeared in the darkness.
Then four.
Then eight.
Tentacles slowly emerged from the entrance.
One student whispered, “Oh no.” Another took a step backward.
“There are too many.” The Octoheads crawled into the daylight.
Their twisted bodies moved unnaturally as more and more creatures emerged from the cave.
The forest filled with screeches.
Maris clenched his fists.
So these are the Fiends.
One Octohead suddenly charged.
Melio stepped forward.
Flames erupted around his fists.
“Come on then!” He punched forward.
BOOM!
Fire exploded across the first creature.
It was thrown backward.
Another Octohead lunged.
Melio spun around.
“Too slow.” His fist connected.
Another burst of fire sent it crashing into a tree.
The students stared.
“Melio is actually insane.” “He didn’t even hesitate.” Melio looked back.
“What are you staring at?” A student pointed toward the cave.
“There’s more!” Everyone turned.
The swarm wasn’t stopping.
More Octoheads poured from the cave.
Ten.
Twenty.
Then even more.
Melio’s expression finally changed.
“…Seriously?” One student screamed, “That’s not a swarm!
That’s an army!” Foshi remained on the tree branch above them.
“Don’t rely on numbers.” The students looked up.
“Sensei, that’s easy for you to say!” Foshi smiled faintly.
“Then become strong enough to say it yourselves.” An Octohead suddenly rushed toward Maris.
Maris turned.
His eyes sharpened.
The wind beneath his feet began to swirl.
A faint vortex formed around his legs.
“Level 1…” The air compressed beneath him.
“Breeze.” WHOOSH!
His body lifted from the ground.
The students stared.
“He’s flying?!” “That’s Wind?!” Maris shot upward.
The world seemed to slow around him.
He twisted his body through the air.
The wind followed his movement.
Then— SLASH!
He sliced through the incoming Fiend.
Maris landed several meters away.
His coat fluttered behind him.
He looked at the remaining swarm.
His expression was calm.
“Alright.” Another vortex formed around his feet.
“Who’s next?”