Prologue and Chapter 1 + Prenote

PRENOTE: 『』= Dialogue 「」= Thoughts

Thanks for reading! This is my first work. All characters are a work of fiction. Any resemblance to any real people are purely coincidental. Any mistakes that are found, please mark with a paragraph comment and I will find it and fix it! I appreciate your time.

Prologue

....

There once existed a great Creator who breathed life into an empty void. The first thing they created was a great tree, and from that tree sprung life and the universe.

And from that tree sprung the gods. There were many of them- in many different shapes and forms, and from them sprouted forth more life.

Monsters and great beasts had begun to roam the land, and so had the meager and feeble humans.

And on mankind, the gods had pity upon, for having nothing but their intelligence to fight off these beasts and demons.

To give the humans a chance, many different gods bestowed their gifts and bounties upon them.

One god gave humans the strength to fight back.

Another gave them mana, and with mana, the infinite applications of it.

Then the great Creator bestowed upon one human a seed from the great tree.

『From this seed begets infinite potential. Use it to reach what you truly desire.』[Creator]

And thus rose the first champion of mankind, the first ever Sprouted.

----

『GRAAAH!』[???]

The bloodied dragon-beast had screamed in rage and bloodlust.

Before the dragon-beast stood a young man with disheveled dark blue hair and bright blue eyes.

『My name is Nova, and I will strike you down, in the name of the ones I love!』[Nova]

As he lifted his sword, a blue aura surrounded his blade.

『HUR-E! HUR-E! HUR-E!』[Dragon-beast]

『Wh-What the?! Stop it!』[Nova]

Despite the protests of the young man, the noise continued to drive him insane.

「A-a-ah. It's my alarm..」 [Nova]

「Hmm.. Wasn't there something special today..?」[Nova]

He woke up in a jolt.

「Today is the testing ceremony… If I go later, I don't get to test for free!」[Nova]

Nova scrambled to get his clothes on before running out the door of his apartment.

「It's 8:37 right now, so if I get there in 23 minutes.. Alright. I have no other choice!」[Nova]

He began madly sprinting down the road- causing many people to laugh at the young man and his disheveled appearance.

…

『This is the right place... I think?』[Nova]

He looked up at the giant building that makes the grand gate for the school building look like a small fence around a residential house.

Nova's stupor shaken out of his state by a voice from behind.

『Hey, Nova!』[???]

Nova turned around to see a person with small eyes and hair that spiked forward.

『What, you late too, Rai?』[Nova]

Rai awkwardly scratched the back of his head, before replying.

『I don't see you doing much better.. Well, anyway! Let's go!』[Rai]

The two lined up in a queue that seemed as if it was at least a mile long. After conversing for an indefinite amount of time, they finally stood before a station with a nameplate labeling it the "Ability Testing Center".

『It's finally time. Whoever gets the better Seed has to treat the other to ramen!』[Rai]

Nova's nervous smile turned into a contemplative frown.

『Although, if you're paying I'd like a nice steak instead..』[Nova]

『Ahahaha! How about a steak if you're paying, and cup noodles if I pay?』[Rai]

Nova didn't have time to think about it before he heard someone tell them to step up. He stood before a man who wore a suit, with cleanly gelled back white hair and glasses.

『Put your hand out, and try to absorb the energy I'll give you.』[Proctor]

The proctor grabbed his hand, placing his thumb onto Nova's palm.

Throughout his body he felt a cold burning from the middle of his palm coursing from his arm, to his lower body, then cycling around until it returned to his hand.

He tried to stop as much of the energy as possible from escaping.

The burning feeling centered in on his core. The proctor was clearly starting to sweat now.

「Just how much energy.. Can he hold?!」[Proctor]