Night fell quietly. Stars glittered across the dark sky, and the tide beat rhythmically against the shore. The damp sea air carried a faint saltiness that eased the tension in Lock's body.
"Once again… thank you for your guidance."
Lock wiped the sweat from his forehead and bowed deeply to Phantom Soul, sincere gratitude shining in his eyes.
The final day of special training had come to an end.
Tomorrow at 9:00 a.m., the Provisional Hero License Exam will begin.
Phantom Soul shook his head, a trace of emotion softening his usually stern tone.
"I don't think there's anything more I can teach you. From here on, just focus on becoming a Hero."
Lock nodded firmly. "I will. Definitely."
Seeing the confidence burning in the boy's eyes, Phantom Soul felt a mix of admiration and unease.
Ten days. In just ten days, Lock's progress had been nothing short of astonishing.
That wasn't polite exaggeration—it was literal truth.
During their final sparring session earlier that evening, Phantom Soul hadn't held back. He'd used not only his Quirk: Double Phantom to create countless clones but had also joined the battle personally, fighting Lock with his full strength.
And yet, Lock handled every assault with composed precision.
At times, Phantom Soul even suspected he was holding back—whether it was the thunder magic from before, or some other hidden ace.
In the end, their match ended in a draw.
A draw between a Pro Hero and a second-year student.
It was terrifying to think about.
But as impressed as he was, Phantom Soul also couldn't shake his concern.
The moment Lock's name appeared on the public roster of examinees for the upcoming exam, the internet exploded.
Every Pro Hero examiner was a public figure. Their candidates' names, too, were officially published by the Hero Public Safety Commission.
And Lock's name had instantly rocketed to the top of the charts.
A second-year student taking the Provisional Exam? With Ryukyu as his sponsor?
It became the hottest topic in Japan overnight.
Public opinion was brutally divided.
Some praised his courage and raw potential.
Most mocked him, calling him a reckless child who didn't know his limits.
"Another kid drunk on delusions of grandeur," one trending post had sneered.
They'd even given him a nickname: "The Boy Who Reached for the Sky."
Phantom Soul clenched his fists behind his back.
They didn't know the truth.
They hadn't seen Lock fight—or how frighteningly capable he was.
But the world rarely cared for truth. He'd seen what happened to the Flamingo—a once-promising rescue Hero destroyed by the tides of public judgment.
If Lock failed…
Phantom Soul couldn't imagine the pressure that would crash down on the boy.
It would be far worse than what Flamingo had endured.
"By the way," Lock's voice cut into his thoughts, "after I become a Pro Hero… can I still attend U.A.?"
Phantom Soul blinked. "Ah, right—U.A. High."
He considered it for a moment before replying, "It's definitely possible, though it'll be unusual. Still, Lock—you're only in your second year of junior high. Completing high school is mandatory under the education law, so you'll have to attend regardless."
Lock nodded in relief. "That's good."
He couldn't skip U.A.—not only because it was the cornerstone of the hero world, but because his system's main mission required him to enter it.
"It's late," Lock said, glancing at the time. "I'll head home and rest. Thank you again, Sensei."
Phantom Soul inclined his head, watching as the boy's silhouette disappeared down the dark shoreline.
"The future of that kid," he murmured, "is going to be extraordinary."
Back home, Lock showered, letting the hot water rinse away the day's exhaustion. Then he lay down, staring at the ceiling.
"Enter system space."
The world froze instantly.
His retinal screen flickered to life, displaying his current points total—3,000 Fame Points.
"Three thousand…" Lock muttered, excitement stirring. "Enough to exchange for a Dragon Slayer Magic."
He hesitated for a moment, his thoughts drifting.
The internet chatter about him had reached a fever pitch. Everywhere he looked, people were questioning, mocking, or sensationalizing his upcoming exam.
Reading those comments, Lock's jaw tightened.
"Let's see who's laughing after this," he said quietly, eyes flashing.
He'd already made his decision—he would exchange for Natsu Dragneel's Fire Dragon Slayer Magic.
In Fairy Tail, Dragon Slayers were divided into four generations.
While not fully explained, the first generation—those personally taught by real dragons, like Natsu, Gajeel, and Wendy—were believed to possess the purest and most powerful form of dragon magic.
Of course, there was one drawback: motion sickness.
Every Dragon Slayer shared it, to their eternal suffering.
Still, Lock didn't hesitate.
"System," he commanded, "exchange Fire Dragon Slayer Magic."
'Confirm expenditure of 3,000 Fame Points?'
"Confirm!"
In the next instant, a torrent of blazing power erupted within him.
A flood of molten heat surged through his veins like magma, roaring and alive.
Pain seared through his body as though his meridians were being torn apart and reforged from within.
His breath quickened—half gasp, half growl. Sweat poured from every pore.
Then came the itching—a deep, primal sensation that felt like his body itself was evolving.
Minutes—or maybe hours—passed before he finally opened his eyes.
They burned, glowing faintly crimson-orange, like twin embers.
He exhaled. A puff of flame escaped his lips—the mark of a true Fire Dragon Slayer.
Lock clenched his fist, feeling the immense change coursing through his body.
His physique was denser, stronger—his vision sharper, his hearing clearer, and his sense of smell so keen it startled him.
The Fire Dragon Slayer Magic had reshaped him—granting the traits of a dragon: hardened scales, claws, and teeth beneath human skin.
But most remarkable of all—
It resonated perfectly with the dormant Quirk factor he'd inherited from his parents: the Dragon Transformation ability.
It wasn't just compatible—it was a perfect fusion.
Lock's lips curved into a fierce smile.
Even without battle experience or years of training, he could feel it—his strength had skyrocketed.
Tomorrow, the world would see for itself.
---
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