With the first task behind us, we moved on.
"OKAY, PEOPLE! ARE YOU READY FOR YOUR NEXT TASK?!" Kiyoshi's voice blasted from the loudspeakers.
"YEEEEEEEAAAAH!"
"LET'S GO!!"
The crowd was fired up again.
"For your next trial, you'll be performing Elemental Resonance Conjuration," Goku-sensei announced, his voice cool and calm as ever, hands tucked into his coat pockets.
Someone in the crowd leaned over and whispered, "Isn't that just... Element Creation?"
"Close," Goku said, eyes narrowing. "But not quite."
He stepped forward onto the raised platform, voice amplifying across the coliseum with no need for a mic.
"Elemental Conjuration is the act of projecting tangible forms from your Resonant Core. In other words: shaping objects using the core essence of your Element."
Nervous murmurs echoed across the stadium.
"But there's more," Goku added, letting the tension settle. "Some of you may have noticed strange shifts in your abilities. Manifestations that go beyond traditional Elemental behavior. If that's the case... congratulations. You may be among the few who resonate with a Physical Element."
Gasps and stunned whispers rolled like thunder across the arena.
"Physical Resonance?"
"Wait, those are real?"
"I thought that was just a theory—!"
Goku raised a hand, silencing them with a glance.
"Physical Elements are a rare branch of Resonance—born from a deeper bond between body and Element. They don't simply control an Element. They become it. Fire doesn't burn from their hands—it is their hands. Ice doesn't form around them—it moves with their will."
He let that sink in for a moment.
"Because of this unique fusion between body and core, Physical Element Resonants will take a different version of the trial. You won't be required to replicate objects. Instead, you'll demonstrate the singular nature of your Resonance—what your Element can do through you that no one else can mimic."
"YOU MEAN THERE'S A WHOLE SPECIAL CATEGORY FOR PHYSICALS?!" Kiyoshi practically fell over his podium, throwing both arms into the air.
The crowd groaned.
"HOW IS HE THIS LOUD AND THIS CLUELESS?!" someone yelled.
The Day Before the Trial
A dusty staff room, coffee cups stacked dangerously high.
"So, what do we do about the Physicals?" a tired assistant asked.
"Evaluate them by raw resonance output," someone replied. "No one conjures objects. We test resonance stability, control, and body-element integration."
"Some of these kids are more Element than human," muttered another. "One accidentally shattered his father's wrist by grabbing it."
"Then let's see what they can really do."
Back in the Present
Goku raised his arm and pointed to the floating display overhead. With a crackle of energy, three transparent shapes materialized.
"The first object," he said, "is a simple cup. You'll resonate with its shape and project it through your Element."
Some students relaxed visibly. That sounded doable.
"The second," Goku continued, "is a glass bottle—but there's a twist."
The arena dimmed slightly as the object rotated in the air.
"You will have five minutes to study it… and will be blindfolded ."
"What?!"
"Seriously?!"
"That's gonna be impossible with unstable resonance!"
"The point isn't perfection," Goku clarified. "It's memory. Shape retention. Your ability to bond with the world through your Elemental Core. If you can't feel what you're conjuring, you're not truly resonating."
"And lastly…" Goku paused.
The platform beneath him hummed. Sparks of every color arced from his boots as the final image formed in midair:
"You will conjure your Veil Weapon."
A quiet ripple of murmurs spread through the crowd. But Goku-sensei raised a hand for silence, his tone razor-sharp with intent.
"This phase is reserved for Physical Element users," he clarified, his gaze sweeping across the stage. "Unlike elemental projection or manipulation, which flows naturally from most Resonant Cores… conjuring a weapon from your Core requires not just strength—but identity."
A hush fell over the arena.
"You are not borrowing a sword or summoning a shield," he continued. "You are manifesting your instinct—your combat soul. A Veil Weapon is a crystallization of what your Element is when it's turned into form. For Physical users, this is crucial. Some of your Elements blur lines with the body, others bend the rules of nature itself. Your Veil Weapon is the evidence of that bond."
He paused.
"Some of you may already feel it—like it's always been with you. Others… may have never reached deep enough to call it forth. That ends now."
Another pause. His voice lowered.
"Draw it here. Now. In front of everyone."
The arena was dead silent.
"This is not just another test. This is your declaration. You're not here to imitate. You're here to resonate."
The crowd had just finished reacting to the challenge laid out by Goku himself—blindfolded conjuration, object replication, and a personal weapon reveal for Physical Element users.
After explaining the rules, Goku casually stepped back toward the testing platform.
One student raised their hand. "Wait, Sensei! If you're giving us this challenge, don't we at least get to see your weapon first?"
Another student joined in, shouting, "Yeah! You're Physical-type, right? What's yours?!"
Goku tilted his head slightly, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"Oh?" he said coolly. "You want a demonstration?"
The stadium buzzed with excitement. Even the instructors along the observation deck leaned forward.
Goku stepped into the center of the conjuring arena, letting his coat fall from his shoulders. His right arm shimmered faintly—then began to pulse, as if something beneath his skin had awakened.
CRR-CRRRK—
His flesh warped. Shifted. Hardened.
A sickening crack accompanied the emergence of segmented plates—organic armor that rapidly encased his entire arm. It wasn't smooth metal. It was chitin, pitch black and layered like a living exoskeleton, humming with dormant energy. Embedded across the surface were strange, hexagonal nodules—like sealed hives waiting to hatch.
Gasps echoed through the stadium.
"What is that?!"
"It's not a blade—it's like… part of him!"
Goku flexed his transformed arm, and the hive segments shifted—clicking into place with unnerving precision.
"This," he said calmly, "is my conjured weapon—Kōmori no Tate (Shield of the Armored Hive)."
With a twitch of his fingers, the nodules pulsed. Chik-chik-chik—tiny insect-like drones the size of coins emerged, flying in smooth, precise patterns around him before vanishing into the air like mist.
"They're not just for offense," he added. "These drones scout. Relay enemy movement. They can also sting, paralyze, or explode—depending on my mood."
He extended the arm, and the tip elongated into a sharp, hooked blade—part spear, part claw, glistening like beetle shell in the light.
"Your weapons should reflect who you are," he finished, letting the weapon retract fluidly back into a shield form. "Some of us weren't born to swing swords or throw fireballs. Some of us… were born to evolve."
The entire stadium was dead silent.
Then came the eruption of cheers.
"THAT'S INSANE!"
"His arm transformed!"
"THOSE WERE REAL BUGS?!"
Jonetsu muttered under his breath, "Creepy, but... that was kind of sick."
I couldn't look away. It wasn't just raw power—it was precision, adaptability, and control. That weapon wasn't just conjured.
It was alive.
The crowd erupted—this time not with panic, but with a rush of adrenaline and buzzed chatter.
"Wait—did he say Veil Weapons?"
"No way… I've only read about those in advanced theory!"
"We're gonna get to see them in action?!"
While the majority leaned in with wide eyes and awe, those from the Physical Element category straightened with growing grins.
"Let's gooo! This is what we came for!" someone cheered from the front row.
"I thought this was gonna be a tame demo. I take it back," another muttered, adjusting his gloves with a smirk.
From his perch at the edge of the stage, Goku's gaze drifted across the crowd, scanning the next group of applicants. Most were buzzing with anticipation or weighed down by nerves. But one stood out—a boy with sharp, golden eyes that didn't wander like the rest.
Renji Takaomi.
Goku didn't react outwardly, but his mind filed the name away.
Steady. Observant. Not a twitch wasted.
No wings. No weapon. Nothing loud or flashy. But there was precision in the way he stood—like a blade that hadn't been drawn yet.
"Takaomi blood runs deep," Goku thought to himself. "He's hiding more than he knows."
From across the waiting zone, the Dragon element user rolled his neck until it cracked. "Tch. About time," he said. "Let's see who breaks first."
Meanwhile, a few students from the non-physical groups whispered among themselves.
"Man… kind of wish I had a Physical Element now."
"Are all their weapons that unique?"
"This is gonna be insane…"
Even Misaki stood a little taller, her expression brighter than usual.
"Looks like I get to loosen up a bit after all," she said, rolling her shoulders with a light grin, her posture relaxed—but her eyes sharp.
Up on stage, Goku-Sensei simply nodded once, satisfied with the electric shift in energy.
"Show us who you are." he said.
I blinked, stunned.
"They're actually making them conjure their Veil Weapons?" I muttered.
Jonetsu folded his arms. "Makes sense. For Physical Element users, it's the best way to show what their Element can really do."
"Yeah, but still… that's intense."
Misaki leaned in beside us, eyes on the stage. "Honestly, I think it's kind of exciting. It's rare to see a live conjuring—especially from people our age."
"I thought you needed a license to even attempt something like that," I said.
"You usually do," Jonetsu replied. "But this is E.A.C. They bend the rules when it means finding real talent."
Misaki's lips curled into a soft smile. "Well then… let's see who resonates loudest."
Then I remembered—"Wait, Misaki… what's your Element again?"
She smiled. "Metal."
My eyes widened. "Wait—isn't that the Element of that govern—"
The crowd buzzed, tension thick in the air—until a sharp voice boomed across the stadium.
"AND NOW—STEPPING FORWARD—TATSUYA OGOSAWARA!!"
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Even those who didn't know the name felt the weight behind it. Those who did went pale.
"Ogosawara… as in the Dragon Clan?"
"No way... That's the heir?"
"From that Ogosawara family?"
Up in the announcer's box, Kiyoshi practically exploded.
"THAT'S RIGHT, FOLKS! YOU HEARD ME! The direct descendant of the legendary Ogosawara Dragon Clan has graced our stage!"
He practically leaned out over the edge, yelling into the mic like the moment was too large for his lungs.
"This isn't just bloodline power we're talking about—this is generational resonance! THE OGOSAWARAS ARE SAID TO BE BORN WITH DRAGONFIRE IN THEIR VEINS!"
A hush rippled through the stands.
Tatsuya appeared at the edge of the platform.
Not with flash or theatrics—but with presence.
His black hair was tied back in a relaxed, warrior's knot—not a single strand on his face. Twin locks framed his ears, sharp against his pale skin. His long, open jacket rippled behind him with each slow, measured step.
Underneath, a deep purple combat shirt stretched over a broad, combat-toned chest. His gait was fluid. Coiled. Controlled. Like a beast that knew its strength—and didn't need to prove it.
But it was his eyes that made the arena still.
Slitted. Reptilian.
Golden, but burning from within like molten amber—true dragon eyes.
They scanned the crowd not with pride, but with ancient weight. Eyes that didn't judge. They evaluated.
A soft growl echoed from behind him as Rin, his companion dragon, padded silently into view.
No longer a cartoonish sidekick—Rin was sleek, serpent-like, and regal. His scales shimmered a deep violet, glowing faintly at the edges. Wisps of smoke curled from his nostrils as he moved in perfect sync with his master.
One kid in the stands gasped, clutching the sleeve of his friend. "He… looks like a real dragon rider."
Kiyoshi's voice cracked with excitement.
"Get ready, everyone—because the Ogosawara name doesn't just walk into places like this. It dominates them!"
Goku-Sensei watched from afar, arms folded.
"Tatsuya… let's see what the rumors don't tell us."
Tatsuya crouched beside his small dragon companion. "You ready, Rin?"
The dragon growled softly, eyes glowing.
Steam hissed from Tatsuya's nose. His throat swelled like a furnace, and then—
"DRAGON ELEMENT: DRAGON BREATH!"
A torrent of fire exploded from his mouth, lighting up the stage.
"W-WOAH!" I gasped.
"He's breathing fire," Jonetsu muttered, wide-eyed.
"THAT'S THE COOLEST THING I'VE EVER SEEN!" Misaki squealed.
Even Kiyoshi shouted, "NOW THAT'S SOMETHING YOU DON'T SEE EVERY DAY!"
Goku gave a rare nod. "Not bad. Let's keep going."
The next few tests flew by—each more impressive than the last.
Until…
"OUR NEXT APPLICANT—KONETSU JONETSU!" boomed Kiyoshi.
Jonetsu stood. "Guess I'm up."
"Shock them with the plan," I said.
He nodded. "Yeah, yeah."
As he made his way down, the crowd leaned in. Everyone knew his name. Everyone knew what he carried: the legacy of the Ice Element, one of the rarest and most powerful.
He grabbed the bottle. Studied it calmly—only two and a half minutes, no wasted motion. He blindfolded himself.
Then he glanced at me and smirked.
He lifted his hands. Frost spiraled from his palms.
A perfect ice replica took shape in seconds.
But he wasn't done.
"You all watched closely," Jonetsu said, stepping forward. "Ice is powerful. Versatile. But my Element… goes further."
He pointed. "Look closely. The two ice samples—different shades. Why?"
Goku sighed. "The darker one… It's denser. Stronger."
"Correct. This isn't normal ice. This is my ninth-generation Ice Element. And I can freeze anything it touches—on command."
He placed the conjured bottle down. A thin layer of frost spread beneath it like ink on paper.
"If someone were to swallow this ice…" he let the silence hang, "I hope I won't need to clarify what would happen next."
Gasps.
Stunned silence.
"No wonder he's from that family."
"He's insane."
"He's already past applicant level."
"Wait," Goku muttered to himself. "The director said there were two to watch out for…"
"OUR NEXT APPLICANT—SOSHIKABE ZAKOU!"
My name echoed through the stadium like a cannon blast.
My feet wouldn't move.
"I-It's my turn," I whispered, legs trembling.
"Y-YOU'RE SHAKING!" Misaki panicked.
I tried to breathe. Eight years. Eight years of training. You can't back down now.
"I can't control my Element well… but I have to try."
I walked onto the stage. Every step felt like dragging chains. The whispers stabbed like needles.
"That's the pale one…"
"Something about him feels off…"
"Did you see what he did last time?"
I reached the center. Felt the bottle in my hands, and lindfolded myself.
Focus. Focus. This is it. Just a bottle. Just conjure the bottle.
But my hands wouldn't stop shaking.
And the wind wouldn't listen.
I clenched my jaw. You've worked too hard to fail now.
I let go.
The stadium fell into silence.
I didn't dare open my eyes.
Then—
"I-Is that bottle… changing elements?" Kiyoshi gasped.
Goku stared. "So this is what the director meant…"
I opened my eyes.
And saw—
Nothing.
The bottle I had created had already dissolved into wind and light.
Gone.
"I-I… did I…"
My knees gave out.
The floor rushed up to meet me—but I never hit it.
I was floating.
Jonetsu had caught me with his Wind Element.
"You did well," he said softly.
And for the first time, I believed him.