When the old man made that request, I clenched my fists tightly, fully aware that everything was about to change. A sense of unease took over me; I knew that what was about to happen would not only reveal my power, but also set a new path for my life. I was lost in thought when the old man's voice snapped me out of my trance.
"Young Leo," he said firmly, "I would like you to show me your current power—and you'll have to face my apprentices."
At first, I hesitated. The thought of fighting four people at once filled me with anxiety, but a deep determination surged within me, and I accepted. The old man led me to a beautiful place, where tall trees stood proudly and a perfectly maintained garden spread out before me. I noticed others nearby—probably relatives or members of the old man's family.
Curious, I asked Kaori who they were. She answered calmly:
"They're part of the master's clan."
I nodded with a neutral expression, trying to hide my nervousness.
How does the old man even have a clan? I wondered.
When we arrived at the location, the old man told me to show my power. Without hesitation, I stepped into the center of the garden, spread my feet, and clenched my fists. I closed my eyes for a moment, feeling the energy flow within me. As I released my aura, the atmosphere grew heavy, and I saw the shocked expressions on the faces of the girls and the boy.
With a powerful yell, I unleashed my aura. A cloud of dust began to rise around me, creating a stunning visual display. When the dust settled, everyone stood frozen, eyes wide as they stared at the glowing, almost divine aura surrounding me—shimmering like rays of light.
My curly hair stood slightly on end, adding dramatic flair to the scene. I looked at the old man and said with a mix of pride and humility:
"This is my current power."
The old man stared at me, stunned by the intensity of my aura. The girls and the boy were just as shocked. The energy radiating from my body made the ground tremble slightly, and nearby leaves rustled as if caught in a strong breeze.
"Incredible…" the old man murmured. "Your aura isn't just powerful—it's remarkably stable. It's as if you've already mastered part of its natural flow."
I remained silent, still feeling the energy coursing through me. Then the old man spoke again:
"Now, let's move on to the second part of the test. I want you to fight my apprentices."
The four people stepped forward. Their expressions had changed—from surprise to determination.
"You can attack me all at once if you'd like," I said confidently, my aura still pulsing around me.
Kaori gave a faint smile.
"You'll regret saying that," she whispered.
In a blink, the four of them charged toward me. Their movements were faster than I expected. I dodged the boy's first strike, but then felt a sharp gust of wind graze my cheek—one of the girls had used an elemental technique.
I couldn't underestimate them.
I leapt back and channeled my aura into my fists, preparing for the real fight.
As the three girls closed in, I felt the tension in the air rise. They activated their auras, and I was surprised by what I saw: a light pink energy, vibrant and full of power. They were fast, throwing precise blows, and though I tried to predict their moves, I barely managed to dodge them. With a fierce shout, I counterattacked and sent them flying—at least momentarily.
But it wasn't over. The boy who had held back, wielding a katana and radiating a menacing aura, rushed at me. I vanished from his sight, using my full agility to avoid his attack. Taking advantage of his surprise, I struck his neck with precision, knocking him out.
The three girls didn't hesitate. Their auras intensified, as if feeding off the fight. As their power grew, they became more dangerous. A warning went off in my mind as I saw them join forces, fusing their auras into one dazzling display of power. The air around them shimmered from the force of their energy.
As they launched their attack, I knew I had to act fast. Without thinking, I pushed my aura to the limit. With a roar that echoed through the air, I let my energy flow freely, expanding around me and forming a powerful barrier of will.
My aura exploded outward, sending a shockwave through the ground and raising a new cloud of dust. The girls, cloaked in their fused aura, didn't retreat. Their speed increased, and their blows became sharper and faster.
I dodged a punch aimed at my face, but another hit me in the side. The impact was strong, but I stayed standing.
"Interesting…" I muttered, adrenaline rushing through me.
They weren't using their full power yet—I could feel it. So I decided to test something.
I focused my power into my right arm and threw a punch at the air. The force of it created a blast of energy that pushed the girls back a few meters.
I used the opening to teleport behind them and launched a descending kick. One of them reacted in time and blocked it, but the strength of the blow drove her to her knees.
The other two immediately counterattacked with a combined technique. From their hands, a dense energy sphere shot toward me.
"Don't underestimate my power!" I shouted, raising my aura to its peak.
I extended my hands and caught the sphere, but its pressure was immense. My aura shone brighter, and with one final effort, I deflected it into the sky—where it exploded in a blinding flash of light.
The battlefield fell silent for a moment. The girls were breathing heavily, and I too felt the exhaustion.
"Not bad…" I said with a grin. "But if that's all you've got, there's still room to grow."
The girls exchanged glances and, with defiant smiles, pushed their power even further.
The real fight had just begun.
As I watched the girls, an intense emotion stirred within me. But when I noticed Kaori wasn't among them, I used my detection technique and found her off to the side, supporting them with what looked like a healing ability. At that moment, I felt a mix of betrayal and deep curiosity about the potential these girls had.
As their power kept rising, their energy became overwhelming. I felt outmatched. They were giving it everything, and I could feel each of their hits shaking my body. Every blow reminded me that I had to push past my limits.
Then, unable to hold back any longer, I felt a surge of energy erupt from within me. I pulled away from them and began to scream, releasing my aura in full force. What was once a white glow started to shift—turning white with shades of blue, like the sky on a clear day. My eyes changed to a light violet with blue sparks, and I felt an incredible power coursing through me.
My hair stood on end, flowing like dancing flames. As the dust settled, I saw all three girls and the old man staring at me, their expressions a mix of fear and awe. My aura, which had once risen like steam, now surrounded me like ethereal fire. This power didn't just sharpen my vision, allowing me to track every movement—it made my strikes stronger than ever.
The silence that followed was overwhelming. I could feel the energy surging through my body in a way I had never experienced before. It was as if I had unlocked a new level of strength.
The girls, once full of confidence, now hesitated. I could see the sweat on their foreheads and the tremble in their hands. Their auras were still strong—but mine was overpowering them.
The old man looked at me, both surprised and deeply concerned.
"This… this isn't normal," he muttered to himself.
I clenched my fists. Even that small motion created gusts of wind that shook the nearby trees. My body felt lighter, faster, stronger—but I could also sense something else. Something inside me… wanting to break free completely.
"Incredible…" I whispered, staring at my own hands. "I never thought I could reach this point."
The girls looked at each other. They weren't ready to give up. One of them stepped forward with a battle cry and charged at me. Her speed was impressive—but to me, in this new state, she was moving in slow motion.
I tilted my head slightly, and her punch missed. Before she could react, I grabbed her arm and spun her through the air, sending her flying several meters back.
The other two didn't hesitate. They attacked me at the same time with incredible coordination. Their movements were sharp, and their auras burned brightly, trying to match the pressure of my new form. I blocked their attacks with ease, feeling as though time had slowed for me. I could see every movement, every shift in their energy, and I adjusted my position instinctively.
With a swift movement, I knocked one of them back with the back of my hand. The other tried to sweep my legs, but I jumped and twisted mid-air, landing behind her. She turned, startled, only to be met by my fist — though I held back enough to just knock the wind out of her.
All three were on the ground now, panting and looking up at me with a mix of awe and defiance. They hadn't given up, but they knew — they had been overwhelmed.
I took a deep breath, allowing my aura to settle slightly, and looked over at the old man. His expression had changed; he was no longer just surprised — he seemed deeply thoughtful.
—Leo… —he said finally— this power… it's not normal. It's as if you were chosen by something greater.
I remained silent, unsure of how to respond. Inside me, the power still surged, begging to be released again, but I kept it under control.
Kaori approached, now that the fight had ended. Her eyes were fixed on me, serious yet somehow proud.
—You've awakened something, Leo —she said—. But this is only the beginning.
I nodded slowly, understanding that everything in my life was about to change. This was no longer about training or proving myself. It was something bigger — something I still didn't fully understand.
But I was ready to find out.