The courtyard of Reikosha Academy had never felt this tense before. Students who had once been laughing and training only minutes earlier now stood frozen in place, watching the strange boy who had walked into their school as if he owned the ground beneath his feet. Goro stood calmly in the center of the courtyard, his expression unreadable while faint traces of energy flickered around his fingers. The Divine Warrior students could feel the pressure coming from him, not overwhelming but strange, like a quiet storm waiting to happen. Even the wind seemed to slow around the training grounds as if the world itself was holding its breath. No one wanted to be the first to move, yet everyone knew that the moment for peace had already passed.
Professor Takahano observed Goro carefully, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp with attention. As an instructor and a former Divine Warrior, he had faced dangerous enemies before, but something about this boy felt different from ordinary threats. Goro did not show the arrogance of someone who wanted to dominate others, nor the cruelty of someone who enjoyed hurting people. Instead, there was a hollow curiosity in his gaze, like someone who had been wandering alone for far too long. Takahano understood immediately that this was the kind of opponent who could become very dangerous if left unchecked. The academy courtyard was filled with talented fighters, but allowing a chaotic battle to break out here would only cause unnecessary harm.
Kairo clenched his fists as he watched the situation unfold from the edge of the courtyard. His instincts were screaming at him to step forward, especially after seeing the academy student earlier get thrown across the ground by Goro's copied attack. The energy replication ability alone was enough to make Kairo uneasy because it meant that every technique used against Goro could be turned back on them. Still, standing still while someone challenged the academy felt wrong to him. He had come to Reikosha to become stronger and protect people, not to hide behind instructors when trouble appeared. The frustration in his chest grew heavier with every second that passed.
Kimimaru noticed Kairo's growing tension and placed a firm hand on his shoulder to stop him from moving forward. He understood Kairo's personality well enough to know that he hated watching others get hurt without doing something. However, Kimimaru was far more cautious when it came to unknown opponents. Goro had already shown that he could replicate energy techniques perfectly after seeing them once, which meant rushing in blindly would only make the situation worse. Fighting someone like that required careful strategy and patience rather than emotion. Kimimaru kept his voice low but serious when he spoke.
"Think before you act," Kimimaru said quietly. "You attack first, and he copies you immediately."
Nearby, Yura watched Goro with intense focus while keeping her Hikari energy restrained inside her body. Unlike Kairo, she was not driven by impulse but by observation. Every small movement Goro made, every flicker of energy around his hands, and every change in his expression told her something important. She noticed that Goro's eyes constantly scanned the area like someone memorizing every ability around him. That behavior confirmed her suspicion that he was not simply looking for a fight but also studying everyone present. If that was true, the longer this confrontation lasted, the stronger he could potentially become.
Goro, meanwhile, looked around the courtyard with calm curiosity rather than hostility. The academy was full of energy signatures that felt different from one another, and each one fascinated him in a strange way. Some were sharp and aggressive, while others felt balanced and controlled. For someone with the ability to replicate and emulate energy, a place like this was almost like a library full of techniques waiting to be studied. However, none of the students had shown him anything impressive yet. He was beginning to wonder if the rumors about this academy's strength were exaggerated.
Professor Takahano took a slow step forward, placing himself between Goro and the group of students behind him. His voice remained calm, but the authority within it was impossible to ignore. The courtyard fell completely silent as everyone waited to hear what he would say next. Takahano understood that if this situation escalated into a full battle, many of the younger students could get injured. That was something he refused to allow while he was responsible for protecting them. Even so, he could not ignore the fact that Goro had already attacked someone on academy grounds.
"You came here looking for strength," Takahano said in a steady voice. "But strength is not something you demand from others."
Goro tilted his head slightly while listening to the professor's words. He did not appear offended or angered by the statement, only thoughtful. For a moment, he seemed to be considering something deeply before finally responding. His voice was quiet, almost uncertain, which confused several students watching from a distance. The tone did not match the actions he had taken earlier.
"I asked people to fight," Goro replied calmly. "They refused, so I kept asking."
The students around the courtyard murmured uneasily after hearing that explanation. To them, attacking others simply because they refused to fight sounded unreasonable and cruel. Yet Goro spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world. His understanding of social rules seemed strangely broken, as if he had grown up without anyone teaching him how people were supposed to interact. That small detail made the situation feel even more unsettling.
Kairo finally stepped forward despite Kimimaru's earlier warning, his determination overcoming his hesitation. The ground beneath his feet cracked slightly as his Reikou energy began to rise around his body. Several nearby students quickly stepped back, realizing that Kairo was about to challenge the intruder himself. Even Kimimaru sighed quietly, knowing that once Kairo made a decision like this, stopping him would be almost impossible.
"If you want to fight someone," Kairo said firmly, "then fight me."
Goro slowly turned his head toward Kairo, studying him with quiet interest. The energy surrounding Kairo felt stronger than the other students he had encountered so far. It was not overwhelming, but it carried a certain intensity that caught Goro's attention immediately. For the first time since arriving at the academy, he looked genuinely intrigued.
"You're stronger than the others," Goro said simply. "Show me."
The moment those words left his mouth, energy exploded across the courtyard as Kairo launched forward at full speed. The ground shattered beneath his step while his fist moved toward Goro with explosive force. Students gasped as the sudden clash finally began right in front of them. Goro did not dodge immediately; instead, his eyes carefully observed the flow of Reikou energy around Kairo's attack. The instant Kairo's fist connected, a shockwave burst outward, shaking the entire courtyard.
But when the dust cleared, something unexpected had already happened.
A faint glow of replicated energy began forming around Goro's hand.
He had already started copying Kairo's power.
And the battle had only just begun.