The months before grade seven had been grueling.
Hiko Shinoegami and Goru Oraso trained endlessly, their bodies pushed to the limit. Each morning, the sun had barely risen when they were already up, running laps until their legs screamed, performing mana control exercises until their arms shook, practicing basic spells until their heads throbbed. Pain was constant. Every bruise, every scratch, every pang of exhaustion reminded them of their ultimate goal: Tengen High.
Hiko's scar on his right cheek burned whenever he pushed too far, a constant reminder of the Rank 0 Beast encounter and the price of weakness. Goru's teleportation practice often left him dizzy and nauseated, sometimes colliding with the ground or hitting nearby objects, but he refused to give up.
They encouraged each other with laughter when one failed, groaned when both failed, and never quit. There were days they collapsed halfway home, unable to walk without support, yet still returned the next morning with determination.
Finally, the acceptance letters arrived.
Hiko and Goru stared at the elegant seal for several moments before tearing the envelopes open. Inside, the confirmation was clear.
TENGEN HIGH.
The words glimmered with promise and fear.
They had made it.
Grade seven began with an entirely new world.
The Tengen High campus stretched endlessly. Towers reached toward the clouds, buildings were fortified with runes, and training grounds were vast enough to host dozens of duels at once. Corridors pulsed with mana, almost tangible, and students from every corner of the world walked through them, radiating strength and ambition.
Hiko and Goru approached the entrance of Class 1–C, hearts pounding.
"Here we go," Goru muttered.
Hiko adjusted his uniform and exhaled deeply. "Let's make a good first impression."
They entered together.
The classroom was alive with energy. Twenty-one students sat in neat rows, chattering excitedly. Some were Japanese, others from foreign lands, bringing a vibrant mixture of personalities, accents, and cultural quirks. The air was thick with anticipation.
Suddenly, the door opened.
Even before he spoke, the room went silent.
Rougen Ray.
Number 1 Sorcerer.
Void and Overmatter hybrid magic.
Hiko and Goru froze.
Whispers erupted across the classroom.
"R-Rougen Ray is our teacher?" one student whispered.
"Number 1 Sorcerer? Seriously?" another gasped.
The students' eyes were wide with disbelief. Some leaned toward their neighbors, whispering, others stared in awe, and a few even paled from the sheer presence. Rougen's aura was overwhelming yet calm, radiating authority without a word.
Hiko and Goru exchanged a nervous glance.
"Uh… this is going to be interesting," Hiko muttered.
Rougen's gaze swept over the students, sharp yet composed.
"I am your advisor," he said. "This year, I will guide your growth. Excellence is expected. Mediocrity is not tolerated."
The introductions began.
Each student was to state their name, origin, magic type, and their special talent. The room filled with voices, some timid, some loud, some proudly flamboyant.
Some introductions were straightforward; others were unique or downright strange, and many drew laughter or gasps.
Class 1–C Students:
Hiko Shinoegami (Japan) — Cursed Flame Magic — "Uh… I can make pancakes… really fast?"
Goru Oraso (France) — Dimension Magic — "I can balance spoons on my nose!"
Aren Valis (USA) — Earth Reinforcement — "I can crush rocks with one punch!"
Mira Lune (France) — Light Magic — "I can read ten pages in ten seconds."
Rex Calder (UK) — Explosion Magic — "I can blow up balloons in record time!"
Yuna Kirei (Japan) — Healing Magic — "I can wrap bandages neatly."
Dain Kroft (Germany) — Shadow Binding — "I can tie knots blindfolded."
Lio Fenris (Italy) — Wind Blade — "I can whistle through my fingers super loud."
Selene Mora (Sweden) — Ice Magic — "I can make perfect ice cubes instantly."
Kai Rendor (Japan) — Lightning Magic — "I can do ten push-ups in ten seconds."
Toma Grell (Korea) — Barrier Magic — "I can fold paper cranes in under a minute."
Rina Solis (Spain) — Fire Magic — "I can spin a flame on my fingertip."
Noel Aster (Russia) — Water Magic — "I can blow bubbles from water."
Iris Vane (Japan) — Poison Mist — "I can tie shoelaces with my eyes closed."
Bran Holt (Canada) — Physical Enhancement — "I can lift my backpack one-handed."
Elya Frostwind (Finland) — Hybrid Ice and Wind — "I can make wind spin a snowflake perfectly."
Korin Blaze (Brazil) — Hybrid Fire and Earth — "I can stomp so hard it makes a small crater."
Mae Lin (China) — Illusion — "I can hide my face behind my hands and still see."
Varek Nox (UK) — Dark Weapon — "I can balance a pen on my finger."
Sora Tyl (Japan) — Sound Vibration — "I can hum two notes at once."
Elric Dawn (Australia) — Mana Compression — "I can squeeze a ball until it pops."
Some lines drew laughter. Some drew gasps. Some even made Rougen raise an eyebrow. Hiko and Goru exchanged nervous looks, shrugging.
"We'll figure out the real talents later," Goru whispered.
"Yeah," Hiko replied, trying not to smile.
The students were then asked to perform their talents.
Aren crushed a small rock with a single punch, leaving a dust cloud in its wake. Mira flipped through pages of a book at impossible speed, eyes flickering with light. Rex detonated a balloon with a single spark, the explosion echoing in the classroom. Yuna gently wrapped a roll of bandages around a fake arm flawlessly. Dain tied knots blindfolded, and Selene shaped perfect ice cubes in her palm. Elya and Korin demonstrated their hybrid magic in tandem, creating a swirling spectacle of wind and ice, fire and stone, leaving the room awed and buzzing.
Hiko and Goru, still unsure of their real talents, decided to go with their own humorous creations. Hiko flipped a pancake into the air and caught it on his head, while Goru balanced two spoons on his nose until one slipped into Hiko's hair. The class erupted into laughter.
Rougen Ray observed silently, his piercing eyes moving over each student, noting their potential, flaws, and the subtle aura each carried.
"Interesting," he finally said, a faint smirk forming. "You all have potential, but potential means nothing without control, discipline, and courage. Let today be the beginning of your true journey."
Hiko's heart pounded.
This was not elementary school. This was Tengen High. The stakes were higher, the students stronger, and the lessons more demanding. Yet as he looked around at his classmates, he saw the spark of ambition in every eye.
The real story had begun, and Hiko knew that he and Goru had entered a world that would test them beyond anything they had ever known.