Chapter 5 "Shadow's Gift"

Medical Ward 7  Evening

KNOCK KNOCK!

"Soya! You alive in there? I'm coming in!" Soya's eyes snapped open. His body screamed every muscle bruised, 

every bone aching like he'd been trampled by a Striker squad."I... fainted again?"

Disappointment hit harder than Ashwel's punches. "Another loss..." The door burst open.

A girl with bright orange hair and a Neia badge bounced inside, carrying a tray of glowing vials. Her smile could light up the stormiest arena.

"Hey! I'm Mina your personal guide!" Her voice was sunshine after endless rain. Soya just stared, hollow.

Mina pouted, hands on hips."Master Ashwel personally requested me, and you're moping? Rude!" Soya blinked.

"Why would Ashwel..." Mina's eyes sparkled. She leaned in close."Because, genius you made him BLEED."

Soya froze.

"In the last DECADE, no one's scratched Master Ashwel. You did it with TWO SPELLS."

A tiny smile cracked Soya's face. He tried hiding it. Failed. "So I... actually did something?"

Mina grabbed his arm, yanking up the sleeve. Three runes glowed on his wrist."WHAT THE ?! ANOTHER SPELL?!"

Soya stared, heart pounding. Mina grinned like she'd won the lottery. "Before you passed out? You dipped your hands into your own shadow..."

"...and pulled out THREE BLACK DAGGERS Then you made the undefeated Striker bleed."

Soya's breath caught."Shadow... Arsenal?" The door burst open again. Ashwel strode in, carrying three frosted bottles sweating in the ward's heat.

"HEYYY!"

He tossed one to Mina. She caught it mid-air with a grin. "Thanks, Master Ashwel!"

Soya stared. This was the man whose Nuke Punch leveled stadiums? Outside training, Ashwel was... human. Throwing cold drinks. Laughing.

Ashwel cracked his bottle and sat on the bed's edge. Fresh bandages wrapped his knuckles the ones Soya had cut.

"How you holding up, kid?" Soya swallowed."I... I'm okay."Ashwel took a long swig, then fixed Soya with a serious look.

"Be proud."

"You just earned Top 9 Assassin ranking in the Asprint Junior League." Soya's brain short-circuited.

"Top... 9?"

The myth himself was saying this. After one fight. Ashwel leaned forward, voice dropping.

"That Shadow Arsenal? Overpowered. Needs mastering yesterday."

Soya's throat tightened."T-thank you, Master Ashwel..." His voice cracked. Tears welled up hot, unstoppable.

Mina peeked from behind Ashwel."Awww!" Ashwel clapped a massive hand on Soya's shoulder.

"Your journey's just starting Welcome to Neia."

Neia Club Grounds Golden Hour

Mina dragged Soya through the gates, her orange hair bouncing in the evening light."C'mon! Time for the VIP tour!"

Soya's legs wobbled, but the fresh air felt... good. The Neia grounds stretched endlessly Towering obsidian spires caught the sunset, glowing like dragon scales.

Training craters smoked with residual mana, edges still molten.Weapon forges hammered rhythmically, sparks dancing like fireflies.

Mina pointed to a massive lake ringed by floating platforms. "Aqua Arena! Mages practice there don't fall in unless you wanna be fish food."

Soya's eyes widened.They passed the Armory a cathedral of steel where swords floated in mana suspension.

"Every weapon's enchanted. Pick your poison later!"At the heart of it all loomed The Eye of Storm.

Neia's legendary stadium.

Blackened steel battlements. Jagged lightning rods. A coliseum that screamed "Champions forged here."

Mina spun, arms wide. "This is YOUR home now!"

Soya touched the central fountain a massive obsidian eye that wept black water. Shadows rippled around his fingers.

Three black daggers materialized in his palm. Mina gasped."You can already summon them?!"

From a nearby rooftop, cold eyes watched. A girl with silver hair and twin pistols leaned against a chimney.

"Reblian reject's already showing off..." Dormitory Wing Night

Mina pushed open a steel door."Your room! Don't trash it."Inside: a spartan chamber with a mana-forged bed, weapon rack, and holo-screen showing live Asprint League rankings.

Soya's name glowed: #9 Assassin. He stared.

Mina grinned mischievously."Training starts at 0500. Don't be late or Riku will eat you alive."

"Who's Riku?" Mina winked."Your squad leader. Good luck." The door clicked shut.

Soya collapsed onto the bed, daggers still clutched in his hand.

"Top 9..."

"Shadow Arsenal...Neia..."For the first time since the Reblian trial...he smiled for real.

But across the city, in Reblian Tower Kael Voss stared at his own holo-screen.

Soya's name: #9 Assassin.

His cybernetic eye whirred red."Already climbing...Good. Makes crushing you sweeter."

TO BE CONTINUED