"WELCOME TO SHINUTSU HIGH(2)"

"Really? That's tough," Kota consoled.

He proceeded to look at his watch, realising that they were running out of time.

"Shoot umm… we'll talk about this later, alright, but for now, let's get to class. We've got three minutes," he informed.

"Right!"

Kai and Kota both rushed at great speed and managed to catch up to Gaia, who was at the field strolling to class.

"Oh, hi there."

"Look who's gonna be late to class."

Both Kai and Kota mocked Gaia.

"Oh, no you don't," Gaia announced boldly.

Gaia picked up the pace and proceeded to wave her arms in a circular motion causing the earth to begin to rumble.

The earth beneath her soon became an improvised earth skater which she used to overtake the two and get to class on time.

Kota and Kai reached the field on time and began to pant after completing the race.

"No fair. No techniques allowed," Kota said, calling the shots.

"And who made that rule?" Gaia cleverly clapped back.

"Touché," Kai concluded.

Shujin suddenly appeared in front of them, causing a huge fright.

"You're lucky you weren't late. Join the others."

They did as commanded but Shujin called Kai out.

"We have an exchange student in our midst. You can call him Kai. Ensure he feels at home. So no bullying of any sort, okay?"

"Yes, Sensei!" the students agreed in unison.

"Alright!" Shujin replied.

"You may go now," he told Kai.

Kai joined his classmates. Kota found him to keep him company.

"Okay!" Shujin began lecturing. "As we all know, the annual tournament between the first and second years is this Saturday. This is done to know the outstanding students in the 1st year with lots of potential, and to take account of your progress as a Daemon."

"So today," he continued. "And for the remaining part of this week, we are going to do something different. Each and everyone of you would go at it against one another in a battle of our own. I can't let you walk out of that tournament looking all weak that day."

"This set produces extremely promising students as I have handpicked each and everyone of you based on your potential to grow and soar to new heights." He paused.

'As opposed to dumping over thirty students on me as usual. Having only ten students to train right now is worth it. Ten potential-heavy Daemons at that,' he thought, smirking deviously.

"With this battle, you'll be able to have an understanding of battle strategies and creative thinking," he concluded. "The matchups will be decided formally. Are you up for it?"

"Yeah!" the students chanted.

"Wait, rumor has it that Kai here doesn't have an ability. How's he gonna face us, fellow stronger Daemons?" a female Daemon questioned.

"I believe he can hold his own against you guys," Shujin replied.

'After all, I've trained him for all these years,' he thought. "And heck, not all of you have abilities that can actually deal damage to opponents."

"So it'd just be a 1v1 battle between each other. We're ten now so everyone will get to fight against each other," another fellow Daemon highlighted.

"Affirmative," Shujin confirmed.

"So Kai over here doesn't have an awakened technique yet. How will he fare against us?" A male Daemon questioned.

"He may not have a technique yet, but he can utilize the energy of his inner core. So he can go against you all equally," Shujin replied.

"That's a pretty bold claim, Sensei. Sounds like you underestimate the Daemons you have raised, but, I know too well to take every word you say to heart," he reasoned intelligently. "I'm looking forward to witnessing your worth," he informed Kai.

"We'll see about that," Gaia said to Kota.

"Oh C'mon, Gaia. You really wanna be like that?"

"It's a tournament, isn't it?" she rhetorically questioned. "When does it start?"

"In about thirty minutes," Shujin replied. "You better start preparations until then."

Everybody began to chatter away.

"Kai! Come with me," Shujin requested.

"What's up?" he asked, worried.

"You need to see this. C'mon."

Shujin took him to the school's inventory. Inside contained a mirage of the best ancient divine weapons sourced all around the world.

"Woah," he exclaimed.

"This battle is gonna be the real deal," Shujin informed. "You'll need a weapon to back you up."

"I don't think I still have stable control over my Core yet," Kai acknowledged. "I don't think I'll be able to advance in this contest any further."

"But you do know how to use a weapon, don't you?"

“Well yeah, but…"

"And you do know how you engage in combat, don't you?"

"Well yeah…"

"Then put some power behind them. You understand?... Allow me to demonstrate," Shujin taught as he picked up a nunchaku from the wall. "Tell me the difference between these two strikes."

He looked towards a dummy. He performed a simple combo attack that moved the dummy around. The second time though, he performed the same combo attack and destroyed the dummy as each attack hit it.

"Wow. The first didn't have any use of core energy but the second did!" Kai exclaimed.

"Exactly," Shujin concluded as he dropped the nunchaku back to its original position. "Now, when you first tapped into the sacred energy, how did you do it?"

Kai suddenly recalled one of his dreams with the mysterious man.

"Hmm. I really can't say," he announced. "It's really crazy to explain either way."

"As long as you make me proud— Pick a weapon. One that will help you in this tournament. You are skilled in all these. Which would favor you in this battle?" Shujin asked.

"Won't these be potentially fatal to opponents?"

"That's why I'm here. In the contest, students are allowed to go all out. The purpose is to make your fellow opponent surrender or get knocked out."

"Hmm. Okay then…. I'll take the Iron Claws," Kai requested as he pointed towards it.

"It's yours."

"Alright! Let's do this!"

"You have about twenty minutes to prepare."

"Right!... I gotta do one thing first."

Kai and Shujin departed from the inventory. Gaia was seen spying on them. She looked in disbelief as she walked away.

Meanwhile, Kai searched for a quiet, abandoned field and went to its center to meditate.

"I can't believe I'm doing this, but here goes nothing…" Kai muttered. "Let me in."

The call awakened the mysterious figure, who grinned and gave a dark chuckle in consent.