V - Aqua: The Pseudo Core of... Oil?

A pseudo core? With an element affinity of Oil?

It sounds weird. It sounds interesting. But…

Sora: “Are there any drawbacks to using this?”

In shows like Tokusatsu and Anime, the inventors who make items for the heroes to use will be overpowered as heck, but it may have a price or cost that can potentially harm the hero’s health.

Sora’s Genesis Engine had a drawback, at least for now. The first time after he transformed and the battle ended, he immediately felt exhausted and passed out. If this pseudo core has any drawback, he’s afraid that he might get hurt. Not because he’s afraid of pain, but because it will be troublesome if he gets an injury early in the morning before classes start.

Kaito: “I just finished inventing it. So as of now… I’m not sure.”

Sora glances at the bright gold core he is holding, and grits his teeth.

Sora: “Well…Not like I have a choice. For the sake of protecting all the teachers and the students here…!”

Sora raises the Genesis Engine, takes the Ignis core out, and sets the golden core.

Set! Unknown Element!

Sora clicks on the trigger.

Synchronization complete. Pseudo core: Oil, activated.

A bunch of oil started bubbling up from the ground, and it slowly covered Sora’s body.

Sora: “W…What the..!”

Sora's body is covered in dark, metallic plates like liquid armor. Beneath the surface, molten gold veins pulse, tracing irregular patterns that alter and flicker like bubbling fuel. A faint stream of black energy ripples in the air from his visor, which shines in a smoky amber hue.

The smell of smoke and ozone, an odor of impending combustion, permeates the air around him. His body is encircled by oily wisps and sparks, creating a shifting aura that intensifies with each rapid heartbeat.

This is not the pure fire of nature; rather, it is the unstable, impulsive fire that human hands have created.

Sora: “Here I go…!”

The Aqua Mare’s body twists, trying to regenerate the severed arm. Sora swung his heavy sword from a distance, causing some oil to soar and splatter on the regenerating arm.

The Mare’s regeneration stopped, unable to grow an arm that it was trying to regrow.

Sora: “The Engine feels oddly heavy and unstable…But the result seems amazing!”

Sora dashes forward. His armor shimmers slightly when he moves, as if it were covered in a thin layer of slick oil. Short-lived ripples of black flame are left behind with each step, and they flare and disappear instantly. The Genesis Blade changes in his hand; its edges drip with energy streaks that, when swung, ignite into tiny explosions, while its core burns with volatile light.

The Mare generates a water sword using its other hand, and both of their blades clashed.

Sora clicks on the button, causing a waterfall of oil to leak from the blade and coat the water sword and the Mare’s arm.

Oil! Skill activate!

Sora: “You’re mine…!!!”

Sora swung his blade, smashing the water arm and sword into “pieces”.

Beginning Genesis: Oil slash!!

Sora lands another slash on its body. A huge, black, yellow-ish curve cuts through its body, splitting the Aqua Mare into two.

Sora: “Oh, right, the core!”

Sora reaches out to the Aqua core that is stuck in the center of its body.

But before Sora’s fingers could touch it, the Mare dissolved into water.

Sora: “Huh?”

Sora slammed onto the ground and undid his transformation.

Sora: “Shit…It ran…”

Sora later starts coughing violently as his vision begins to blur.

Akiha: “Sora!”

She starts rushing towards him, while Kaito, who has been watching for a while, follows her.

Akiha places her arm over Sora’s shoulder, showing concern.

Akiha: “Sora, hang in there. I’ll bring you to the infirmary…”

Kaito: “That’s not needed.”

Kaito takes out a test tube from his pocket. He uncaps it and pours it into Sora’s mouth.

Akiha: “W..What’s that?”

Kaito: “Medicine. One that can heal anything.”

After Sora swallowed it, his vision started to become clearer, and he managed to get up to his knees, wobbly.

Sora: “M…More energy is coursing through me, but…My head kinda hurts.”

Kaito laughs softly.

Kaito: “It’s a side effect. Come on.”

Kaito offered his arm, and Sora took it.

Kaito: “I’m Kaito Yuura. A tech officer from the MHRA. Nice to meet you, vessel.”

Kaito introduces himself as he pulls Sora up to his feet. After Sora maintained a steady balance, Kaito took out a tag from his pocket and showed it to the duo.

Akiha: “Y…You are a teacher here as well!?”

Kaito laughs loudly.

Kaito: “It’s just a disguise for this mission. And as for that Mare…”

Kaito glances at the wet floor for a while before continuing.

Kaito: “I suspect that it may be one of the teachers or students here.”

Sora: “W..Why is that?”

Akiha: “That’s why they could enter the school even though there’s a barrier?”

Kaito snapped his fingers and pointed at Akiha.

Kaito: “Exactly…! And… Someone seems to be coming.”

The trio turned back, and they saw a tall young man in formal wear.

Akiha: “B..Brother!”

It’s Mr. Senzaki, or Akira Senzaki, the coreless man who rose to the top and became the principal of Maho Academy.

Akira: “Good morning. And.. That's the new teacher starting from today?”

Kaito salutes him, unseriously and playfully.

Kaito: “Yes. I’m protecting those 2 students from the disaster happening from just now.”

He seems to be enjoying his undercover too much…

The duo thought. Akira turns towards them and gives Akiha a soft pat on the head. As he was patting her head, he glanced at Sora softly before saying something.

Akira: “As a brother and principal, I’m glad that you are both safe.”

Akiha blushes slightly and moves back from him after a few seconds.

Akiha: “S…Stop treating me like a kid…”

Akira laughs softly.

Akira: “Anyway… There will be a very important announcement regarding the safety of students due to today’s incidents. I hope to see you two there. Now excuse me.”

Akira waves and starts walking away.

Akiha: “Alright. Goodbye…”

Sora: “You must be really close to your brother, huh..”

Sora spoke after Akira slowly disappeared from their sight.

Akiha: “Yeah… And continuing from just now… Apparently, some Human-turned Mares still have human consciousness after those mass cases of Mares…”

Kaito: “Yep. And as for my investigation… There seems to be no one for now…”

Both Akiha and Sora stare at him with disbelief.

Sora: “Y…You’ve investigated already!?”

Kaito chuckles as he slowly takes something out of his pocket.

A circular object that is so small that it seems to be microscopic. It has tiny “legs” that are almost invisible, and two bright, blue lights that seem to be its eyes.

Kaito: “I’ve already sent a swarm of mana-detecting spiders through the school.”

Kaito tosses it into the air, and it vanishes from sight instantly.

Kaito: “They are small and undetectable. It’s meant to detect irregular traces of Mana.”

Kaito then pats both of their shoulders.

Kaito: “Well…Since it has only been minutes, wait till after school for the results. Leave the investigation to me. And I’ll see you two after school.”

And just like that, Kaito walks away with his arms in his pockets.

Sora: “He’s… Strange. But kind of cool, I guess?”

Akiha: “That’s just Mr. Kaito being himself.”

Just then, the morning school bell rang.

Akiha: “Crap, class is almost starting! Let’s race and see who is the fastest to reach class!”

Sora: “Wai…”

Before Sora could say anything, Akiha was nowhere to be seen.

Sora: “Oh boy...”

Before Sora could move, he suddenly felt like something had entered his ears.

Sora: “Urgh… A bug!?”

Sora raises his arm, ready to scratch his ears. Until a voice stopped him.

???: “Vessel. It’s me. Meet me at the rooftop during lunch break. Alone.”

The voice rang, and Sora felt something flying out of his ears.

A fly, but it's microscopic and metallic.

Sora: “W…What is that supposed to be?”