First Mission

I can control my power the way I want, but my personal technique still won’t show. No matter how hard I try—four whole months training with Matteo—nothing.

Matteo taps my shoulder and says the same thing every time:
Matteo: “It’ll surface somewhere. Don’t fixate. We keep practicing.”

Training goes on in class and on the field. During spar drills everyone pairs up, but I’m often left solo. My power’s still above the class, yet the fact my technique hasn’t manifested keeps needling me. I’ve got control… but no art. It sits inside me like an uncomfortable silence.

Months later, we’re waiting for Commander Caitlyn when the door opens—and the chief commander walks in. She’s Black, too.

Ellie: “Hello, soldiers. I’m Ellie Maude, the base’s overall commander. Good to meet you.”
Class (in unison): “Thank you!”

Ellie: “First, congratulations on your progress. You’re doing excellent work. It’s time to deploy.”

The room buzzes with excited whispers.

Ellie: “Silence. This is an official op. Details: After the invasion, some cults sided with the aliens. Most we dismantled, but a few operate deep underground. We just located one of them. You’re going to smash it. Be careful—their members have power. Do not underestimate them.”

— Still scum like this, huh. I’ll kill them all.

Ellie: “Suit up, grab your gear, board the helicopters.”
Class: “Understood, commander!”

I hurry into the armor Matteo made and clip on my katana. As I head to the pad—

Matteo: “Kiyo—shiii!”
—I want to ignore him.
Matteo: “You’re riding with us—the commanders’ chopper.”
Kiyoshi: “Why?”
Matteo: “Chief’s orders.”

They stick me with the brass. Inside are Chief Commander Ellie, Caitlyn, Matteo, and the old exam proctor, Rodney. We lift off. En route, Ellie turns to me.

Ellie: “Kiyoshi, I’ve heard a lot about you from Matteo.”
— What did this idiot say now?
Kiyoshi: “Chief commander, whatever I did—my apologies.”
She blinks.
Ellie: “Why apologize? I was going to praise you.”
Matteo bursts out laughing.
— I’m definitely punching Matteo someday.

Ellie: “Your physical power is extraordinary, but your magic technique hasn’t shown yet.”
Kiyoshi: “Yes, commander. I couldn’t unlock it.”
Ellie: “You don’t need to; it’s already unlocked.”
Kiyoshi: “How can you tell?”
Ellie: “It came with the injection. You just don’t know what it is yet. You’ll learn on this mission.”

We breach down to an underground level, blowing a hole clean through. Dust falls like a curtain; the bosses’ room is laid bare.

Quick scan: three of them. As they register what’s happening, all three flare powers at once—fire, water, wind.
Clear colors: Red (slightly dark), Blue (slightly dark), Gray (slightly dark).

A wave of fire skims past my shoulder, a water lash scrapes the floor, wind shoves. I loosen my knees; pulse steady.

Kiyoshi: “Three-on-one, huh…?”
A hard grin edges my mouth.
“I’M GOING TO KILL EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU.”

I slip the fire wave with my shoulder and crash the Red.
Single-axis body shot—THOK.
Rib plate caves in; a hole blows out behind him. As Red drops, the other two panic and bolt.

I spring to Blue; my knee rings on stone. I ride him down, pin his wrist, rise to head height.
Heel down—KRAK.
Silence.

Gray stays put. His lips flicker—words I don’t know— the air’s timbre shifts.
“No,” I say, and rush him.

Just as I’m about to grab—an explosion. The air cracks—something like a dark gate yawns open.
Something humanoid drifts out.

The wind-user screams with joy:
Wind: “HAHAHAHA! NOW YOU DIE—WITH ME!”

Kiyoshi: “Keep dreaming.”

The thing turns its head to him… and moves once.
The wind-user snuffs out on the spot; his body drops like a rag. Then the creature locks eyes on me.

Kiyoshi: “What are you?”

Before I can decide, the radio hisses—Caitlyn:
Caitlyn: “Kiyoshi, get away from it! That’s an alien!”

The words barely finish before it surges at me.

— Fast.

It closes its fist and hammers down. I lock my guard; dust lifts like a rug from the floor. My shoulders don’t give.

I mutter into the radio:
Kiyoshi: “Not now, commander. I’ve got an alien to kill.”

The alien suddenly weaves fire and wind. It can use every element. I have to find and break the core—but how do I track it? Another hiss—Matteo.

Matteo: “Ever tell you how to find an alien core?”
Kiyoshi: “No.”
Matteo: “Okay, you’ll learn now: hit it hard with everything you’ve got.”

I close in. Slip the left hook, cut inside the right. Body’s open. I drive a single-axis punch.

THOK.
A hole opens in its torso—and a glowing orb slides inside, moving through the body.

Kiyoshi: “I think I saw its core.”
Matteo: “Good. You learn the core’s path by impact.”
Kiyoshi: “But this one’s moving.”
Matteo: “Then damage it so you can see it clearly—slow it or force it onto a path.”
Kiyoshi: “Understood.”

It knits up in seconds and dives again. A rain of punches. I keep the shell up, but they’re heavy—I get launched and slam the wall.

— Okay, straight fists aren’t working…

I draw the katana. It braids a complex pattern—fire, water lash, wind shove. I stay calm and step through each beat. In a hidden beat it snaps to my face—takes feedback from its own attacks but heals fast. I give ground— it’s on me again. I can’t shake it.

— Damn it… I need a way out of this.

Something hums inside me. Black flow seeps from my ribs—like shadow smoke. The thing wraps itself around the alien’s spells.

— What is this?

The black flow hangs outside for a breath, then pulls back into me— and the alien’s magic dies. The air’s tone empties; my field opens. I slip past the alien’s fist as it vanishes and reappear at the edge.

— What just happened?

The alien tries to cast again—fire sparks, water tremor… nothing sticks. The light at its fingertip collapses. Its eyes widen—first time it’s surprised.

I take a deep breath.
“So this is…” I lower the katana and set my stance.
“Blackout.”

Its shoulders tense—nothing left but raw strength. My field is quiet, sharp, and black.
“Let’s try this,” I say. “Without magic.”

Looks like my magic suppresses the opponent’s magic.

Let’s test this Blackout more.

I gather the black mass from inside and fire it; it slams into the alien and begins to wrap. Once it seals, the mass rushes back into me. I study the alien: it can’t move. It tries; I can see it from the twitch—but it can’t. I don’t know how long this lasts, so I close fast and carve the alien into fifty pieces with the katana. The core shows; I spear it and cleave it in two. The alien starts to melt.

I think I won. My first alien kill.

I climb back to the surface and answer the radio.

Kiyoshi: “Sir, the three bosses inside and the new alien are down. Mission accomplished. Awaiting orders.”
Static—then Ellie:
Ellie: “Good work, soldier. We’re bringing the helicopters in. The others cleared their sectors, too. Mission successful—congratulations.”

The chopper drops; I board and we head for the base. Matteo turns to me.

Matteo: “How did that alien show up?”
Kiyoshi: “No idea. One of the bosses started mumbling something weird. At the blast a dark gate opened—came from there.”

Ellie joins in:
Ellie: “If the other cults can do this, we’ve got a serious problem—and the aliens’ return is imminent. Anyway, setting that aside… did you manifest your magic?”

I hesitate, then tell the truth.
Kiyoshi: “Yes. If I hadn’t, I’d probably be dead.”

Caitlyn cuts in:
Caitlyn: “I told you to retreat. We were on the way. Why ignore my order? That’s 500 push-ups when we’re back.”
Kiyoshi: “You’re right, commander; but I believed I could do it—and I did.”
Ellie: “Hey, Caitlyn, don’t ride the kid too hard—it happens. Now, tell us about that power.”

I gather the blackout in my palm again; everyone stares.

Ellie: “What is that?”
Kiyoshi: “If I throw it at an opponent’s magic, it nullifies it and blocks further casting. If it hits the opponent, they start to freeze—completely neutralized.”
Ellie: “Wow, that’s strong. You’re already at a level where you could clash with an alien commander—whether you’d win, I don’t know. If you encounter a commander, you call us.”
Kiyoshi: “Understood.”

Back at base, everyone in Platoon B is celebrating their first mission. There’s a party. I head to the training hall instead—I want to test the power. Matteo appears behind me.

Matteo: “Hey, what are you doing down here while everyone’s partying?”
Kiyoshi: “I need to test this.”
Matteo: “Alright, I’ll help. What do you want me to do?”
Kiyoshi: “Attack me.”
Matteo: “Okay. Your call.”

Matteo draws his sword; I coat my whole body in blackout. He darts in and slashes— I don’t feel the hit. He pulls back; I let the blackout fall.

Matteo: “You didn’t take the strike; my sword didn’t vanish either—nothing happened to it.”
Kiyoshi: “Try cutting my arm.”
Matteo: “You sure? You live with the consequences.”
Kiyoshi: “I’m sure.”

He lunges again and tries to cut my arm— but the blade doesn’t bite.

Matteo: “HOW? Why won’t it cut?!”
Kiyoshi: “There it is—an unbelievable defense. Get it now?”

Matteo can’t hide the shock; I step out of the room.

But there’s a catch: when I cover my head, I can’t see. So my face has to stay open. My weak point is obvious: my head.
And I can only armor my whole body for five minutes, max. Maybe I can extend that with training.

I head home. Only one thing on my mind: strengthening this magic. I lie on the bed; my eyes fix on the ceiling.
What could happen in the coming days?
Extend the duration; cover the “armor” without losing vision…
I count my breaths. Tomorrow, we continue.