The forest trembled.
The students froze.
Dust drifted through the air as something enormous moved inside the broken cave.
A shadow slowly emerged.
It was towering, grotesque, and far larger than any Octohead they had encountered.
Its massive body blocked the cave entrance.
Several students instinctively stepped backward.
One whispered, “That’s not an Octohead.” Another swallowed.
“Then what is it?” The creature raised its head.
Its glowing eyes swept across the students.
Then it smiled.
“I am the Head Octohead.” Its voice rumbled through the forest.
“The strongest of my kind.” The students stared.
“The strongest?!” The creature stretched its arms.
“I broke your pathetic boulders with ease.” Liberia frowned.
“Pathetic?” She looked at the destroyed seal.
“…Okay, maybe he’s got a point.” Maris glanced at her.
“You’re admitting defeat already?” “I said the boulders were pathetic, not me.” The Head Octohead continued.
“I have been watching your little fight.” Its eyes moved across the group.
“I watched your fire.” They stopped on Melio.
“I watched your ground.” Liberia’s expression changed.
Then its gaze moved toward Sophria.
“I watched your plants.” Sophria quietly lowered her eyes.
Finally, it smiled.
“But I am interested in the green-and-red, fire-powered one.” Everyone looked toward Melio.
Melio blinked.
“…Me?” Liberia immediately smiled.
“Someone noticed you.” Melio sighed.
“Please don’t.” Maris crossed his arms.
Of course.
Why does every powerful creature notice Melio?
He glanced at himself.
I fought well too.
He looked toward the Head Octohead.
Why doesn’t he notice me?
His expression became serious.
Am I the loser?
He paused.
No.
A tiny smile appeared.
They’re the losers.
I am the winner.
Maris took a deep breath.
He turned toward Melio.
“Let Melio fight.” Melio looked at him.
“Are you serious?” Maris nodded.
“Go.” Melio stepped forward.
Flames immediately erupted around his fists.
The Head Octohead laughed.
“So eager.” Melio narrowed his eyes.
“I don’t need your permission.” He charged.
The ground cracked beneath his feet.
“RAAAH!” He jumped.
His fist ignited with blazing fire.
“Take this!” He swung.
The Head Octohead casually raised one arm.
BOOM!
The punch was blocked.
Melio’s eyes widened.
“What—?” The monster barely moved.
It grabbed Melio and threw him backward.
Melio crashed through several trees.
“Melio!” Liberia took a step forward.
Foshi raised his hand.
“Stay back.” Melio pushed himself up.
“I’m fine.” The Head Octohead smiled.
“Are you?” Spikes suddenly erupted from its body.
Melio barely had time to react.
Several spikes struck him, forcing him backward.
He fell to one knee.
His breathing became heavy.
The Head Octohead walked toward him.
“I was wrong.” Its voice became colder.
“You are weak.” Melio clenched his teeth.
The monster raised one enormous hand.
“Now…” A massive spike formed within it.
“…die.” The students stared in horror.
“Melio!” Melio looked up.
For the first time since awakening his Lava power— fear flashed across his face.
His body remembered.
The fire.
The screams.
The helplessness.
Not again.
The spike moved toward him.
Maris clenched his fists.
His eyes narrowed.
Enough.
Electricity began crackling around his body.
I’ve been controlling myself.
A spark jumped between his fingers.
I’ve been wondering why nobody notices me.
More electricity gathered.
I’ve been worrying about looking weak.
The ground beneath his feet cracked.
But he’s my friend.
Lightning exploded around him.
And I won’t let him die.
Maris vanished.
BOOM!
He appeared directly in front of Melio.
His hand caught the massive spike.
The impact sent a shockwave through the forest.
The Head Octohead stared.
“What?” Maris’s shoes dug into the ground.
Electricity danced across his arms.
He slowly lifted his head.
“You…” His grip tightened.
“…cannot hurt my friend.” The Head Octohead’s expression changed.
“You?” Maris smirked.
“Yeah.” The monster pushed harder.
Maris didn’t move.
Behind him, Melio stared.
“Maris…” He tried to stand.
“Go back!” Maris didn’t look behind him.
“Call Sensei!” Melio’s voice became desperate.
“You can’t defeat him alone!” Maris smiled.
“Remember…” He glanced over his shoulder.
“Sensei won’t come.” Melio froze.
Maris’s smile became sharper.
“Do your part.” Lightning intensified around his body.
“Leave the rest to me.” Melio stared at him for a moment.
Then smiled.
“You’ve really gotten stronger.” Maris looked forward.
“So have you.” The two exchanged a determined grin.
The Head Octohead roared.
“You insignificant insects!” Maris released the spike.
The monster stumbled forward.
Electricity gathered between Maris’s palms.
A small sphere formed.
Then another layer of energy wrapped around it.
The sphere began spinning faster.
Sophria stared.
“What is that?” Liberia’s eyes widened.
“I’ve never seen him do that.” Maris looked at the sphere.
“Hmm.” He tilted his head.
“What should I call this?” Melio shouted, “NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO NAME YOUR ATTACK!” Maris paused.
“Fair point.” He threw the sphere.
“Take this!” CRACK!
The sphere struck the Head Octohead.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then— BOOOOOOM!
Lightning erupted through the monster’s entire body.
The Head Octohead screamed as electricity surged through every part of it.
Its body convulsed.
The forest lit up.
The students covered their eyes.
“What power!” “He’s using electricity!” “Since when can Maris do that?!” The Head Octohead staggered.
“No…” Its voice weakened.
“This shouldn’t…” Maris stood silently.
The lightning continued.
Then the creature collapsed.
Its body disintegrated into ash.
Silence returned.
Maris stared at the remains.
“…That worked.” Melio laughed weakly.
“You sound surprised.” “I am.” Maris walked over and helped Melio stand.
“You okay?” Melio nodded.
“Yeah.” Maris looked at him.
“Don’t scare me like that again.” Melio smirked.
“You were worried?” “No.” “Your face says otherwise.” “My face says nothing.” Liberia walked over.
“Your face is actually pretty expressive.” Maris glared at her.
“Nobody asked.” Melio laughed.
For once, his laughter wasn’t forced.
Foshi watched them from above.
His eyes shone with quiet approval.
He unlocked it.
Lightning.
He looked at Maris’s hands.
The electricity was still faintly crackling across his fingers.
His body is beginning to channel it automatically.
Foshi jumped down from the branch.
“Well done.” Everyone turned toward him.
“Let’s go back.” The students slowly began following.
But before leaving the forest, Foshi stopped.
“Take note.” Everyone listened.
“Two developments happened today.” He looked toward Melio.
“The first.” “Melio reached Level 2 Fire — Lava.” Melio clenched his fist.
A small flame appeared.
Then became molten.
The students stared.
“And the second…” Foshi looked at Maris.
“Maris unlocked Lightning.” The students erupted.
“Lightning?!” “Another power?!” “Didn’t he only have Wind?” Maris scratched his head.
“I guess I have two now.” Liberia crossed her arms.
“Show-off.” Maris smiled.
“You sound jealous.” “I’m not.” “You are.” “I’m definitely not.” Sophria quietly watched Maris.
Lightning…
Her eyes softened.
He’s even more unusual than I thought.
Maris suddenly raised his hand.
“Sensei.” Foshi looked at him.
“What?” “Level…
what decides levels?” Foshi nodded.
“Good question.” He turned toward the class.
“Levels indicate how much energy you can initially control.” He raised one finger.
“When you break beyond your current limits, your power can develop further.” He looked at Maris.
“You unlocked Lightning.” “Level 1 — Charge.” Then he looked at Melio.
“Melio reached Level 2 Fire — Lava.” A student raised his hand.
“So what’s the highest?” Foshi answered calmly.
“Most powers max at Level 3.” The students exchanged glances.
“Level 3…” “That’s the limit?” Liberia suddenly raised her hand.
“Has anyone ever reached Level 4?” The forest became quiet.
Foshi looked at her.
“No.” Liberia frowned.
“No one?” “No Fruilasapien has ever gone beyond Level 3.” His voice became grave.
“In other words…” He paused.
“It’s impossible.” Melio clenched his fists.
His eyes burned with determination.
Impossible?
He looked at his hands.
Then I’ll prove you wrong.
Maris noticed his expression.
“What’s with that face?” Melio looked at him.
“Nothing.” Maris smiled.
“You’re definitely planning something.” “Maybe.” “Should I be worried?” “Probably.” Maris laughed.
The group finally began walking out of the Forest of Surprise.
They were exhausted.
Their clothes were damaged.
Their bodies were battered.
But they were different from the students who had entered that forest.
Melio had broken through his fear.
Maris had awakened Lightning.
And somewhere deep within the academy’s history…
something had begun to move.
The students didn’t know it yet.
But the Forest of Surprise had not merely tested them.
It had awakened something.