Kaito and Valentina stood casually beside the neatly arranged pile of unconscious examinees. Kaito had his arms crossed, as he admired their handiwork. Meanwhile Rikona, was hunched over her tablet not too far from them, fingers rapidly tapping away as her drones continued to analyze the land.
BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP
Kaito and Valentina's wristbands both began to beep rapidly, startling them slightly. Rikona nearly dropped her tablet in surprise as Astra's familiar holographic projection fizzled into view above them.
"Congratulations, ascendants. You've successfully completed the first exam." She declared, before shifting to a slightly more serious tone.
"Now, prepare yourselves for the second exam—The Cosmic Death Relay."
Valentina scoffed subtly.
"Cosmic death relay? Sounds overly dramatic, don't you think robo-bit… I mean, exam organizer, robo… bitch..?"
Astra ignored her completely.
"Teams have been determined based on wristband colors. You and your teammates must meet up to a predetermined location where D-class starships await you. From there, you will journey to this planet's only moon to retrieve a flag matching your wristband's color. Once the flag is obtained, you'll race back to the edge of the planet's atmosphere where your final checkpoint awaits. Once you pass that checkpoint, coordinates for the cosmic well where the final exam will take place will be sent to each of your wristbands."
Kaito looked down curiously at his wristband, which was a muted gray. Rikona and Valentina did so as well, seeing they had an identical gray band. Valentina's face crumpled up slightly, irritation flashing across her face.
"Hey, robo-thing, we only have three people. What's the deal!?" She demanded impatiently.
Astra's four eyes shot over to her instantly, making her sweat from her back touch her ass at the intensity felt even through a holo-projection.
"Ah, your fourth teammate is currently on the move toward the rendezvous point. I'd advise you to meet them there swiftly, lest you lose valuable time."
Rikona glanced nervously toward Valentina.
"Could it be Zeek?" She muttered.
Valentina sighed heavily, rolling her eyes.
"It better be that lanky blue bastard. If not, I'm going to shoot whoever this mystery teammate is myself."
Astra's projection flickered briefly, her voice growing distant.
"Ascendants, bear in mind—this is a timed event. Teams that fail to reach the final checkpoint before the master timer expires will be disqualified and forced to retake the exams next cycle. Also, if the head guardian is defeated before you're able to reach the location of the final exam, you are also eliminated. Good luck, and may your essences shine bright."
Her hologram fizzled out, instantly replaced by a large timer hovering above their wrists.
00:30… 00:29… 00:28…
Kaito chuckled lightly.
"Guess there aren't any halftime shows here, huh?"
"Ha ha ha… If you've got time for jokes round-ear, you'd better be damn sure you can back it up with some serious speed." Valentina demanded as she walked over to help Rikona pack her things.
Kaito bounced on his toes, a playful grin on his face.
"Don't worry bout me, speed is kinda my thing."
Elsewhere, in the rocky terrain dotted with unconscious bodies of examinees, Nara, Sylas, and Finn's wristband displayed the same timer. As they prepared to head to their designated location, Finn, who had been trailing slightly behind, suddenly halted. An unsettling sensation bothered him as he surveyed the scattered examinees.
"Hold on a second…" He ordered out.
Nara turned to him curiously and somewhat annoyed, while Sylas narrowed his eyes in silent agreement. Then realization hit him like a punch…
"Some of them… they're faking it." He whispered before raising his voice urgently.
"They're conscious… and their essence feels dark! They're waiting to ambush us!"
A few days earlier, during their one on one training, Kaeline and Finn sat cross-legged across from each other on the training room floor aboard the Starlight.
"Finn, what's your fighting style?" Kaeline asked calmly.
Finn averted his eyes slightly.
"Well… I don't really have one to be exact sensei. Kaito's been teaching me a few human fighting styles he calls martial arts. I think the ones he uses most are named muay thai, boxing, and karate. He said he knows others and there are a ton more, but those are his favorites."
"Karate?" Kaeline's eyes narrowed with curiosity, her short dark grey ears perking up subtly.
"That name sounds... familiar. On Urovia, my homeworld, we practice an ancient martial art called 'Karata.' It's the cornerstone of nearly all combat styles on my planet."
Finn's small pointy ears perked up, his own curiosity ignited.
"Really? Karata? You know… they do sound really similar. Kaito said karate originally came from a place on Earth called Japan—that's where his mother was from. He said he found lots of stuff about it on the black market—books, movies, even video games. Apparently, humans had tons of fighting styles, but karate was one of the most famous on their world."
Kaeline's golden eyes grew slightly distant, her expression unreadable as her mind wandered momentarily… a moment too long for Finn though.
"Uhhhhhh, sensei…? Is everything okay?" He asked hesitantly.
Snapping back to reality, Kaeline nodded subtly.
"Yes, I'm fine. It's just... I'd like to learn more about this 'karate' and Earth. Maybe Kaito and I should have a conversation about our worlds one day… But that'll have to wait." Her expression grew serious once more, eyes locking firmly onto his.
"Finn, the reason I asked is because having a base fighting style, or multiple, is essential. Not only does it ground you in battle, but it opens a path to discovering new skills and techniques. A fighting style gives you structure, balance, and adaptability. Relying purely on instinct can get you far, but eventually, you'll encounter situations where instinct alone is insufficient. Deep down, you already know this, don't you?"
Finn's fists clenched in his lap, the weight of her words hitting deep.
"Yeah… I know." He admitted quietly, his shoulders sagging slightly.
"But I don't know any fighting styles and Kaito's way too busy to train me properly…"
Kaeline chuckled softly, shaking her head gently.
"Saying you don't have a fighting style isn't entirely true, Finn. I've watched you carefully. Without realizing it, it seems you combine your abnormal agility with the precise blade skills from your cooking. Moreover, your essence control is remarkable… actually far beyond the average Star Traveler." She paused, her golden eyes piercing his.
"That's why I want to train you to become a shinobi, like me."
Finn's eyes widened dramatically.
"A… shinobi? But sensei, why me? And what exactly is a shinobi?"
Kaeline straightened her back a bit more, her voice quiet yet firm.
"Finn, you wish to stand at Kaito's side, don't you? To be his right-hand man as he journeys toward becoming King of the Stars?"
Finn nodded determinedly.
"Yeah, that's definitely one of my goals! But still… sensei, why ask?"
A passion never once seen before by Finn burned fiercely within her golden eyes.
"Because we share a similar goal. I, too, wish to stand beside Elysia and now Kaito—to be their shadow. To protect them from the dangers lurking beyond every star they reach for. They are the key to our… no, to the universe's salvation."
Finn felt his heart skip a beat, breath catching in his throat. The sincerity in her voice and the intensity of her words resonated deeply within him for some odd reason. She didn't let up though. Her words became more and more passionate with every sentence, her black essence subtly beginning to flare up around her.
"A shinobi is more than just a warrior. We are protectors who move unseen, becoming one with the darkness so our allies may shine bright. Our path is hidden, filled with challenges both physical and mental. But it is necessary, Finn. To ensure they reach the goal, we must embrace the darkness, becoming their shadows so that they may illuminate their light across the entire universe."
He felt goosebumps ripple across his skin as he absorbed her words, heart pounding harder with every syllable.
Kaeline reached carefully into her bag, pulling out a tattered, ancient-looking book.
"This book, along with many others, was passed down to me by my own sensei when I was about your age. It contains the ancient techniques of my world—techniques we call jutsu."
Finn's eyes widened.
"Jutsu?"
She nodded slowly.
"These jutsu are incredibly unique. They allow us to wield affinities we were never born with."
Finn's jaw dropped, his mind racing.
"Access to other affinities? B–But I thought it was impossible without a cosmic artifact?"
"That's correct, but jutsu allows one to bypass this. It's one of the reasons my world is hidden from the rest of the universe along with the other unique worlds in Elysia and I's home galaxy. The reasons are still shrouded in mystery, even to my people and uncovering those secrets is part of my own journey. However, that's a conversation for another day."
She gently placed the book down and faced Finn once more, expression solemn.
"Finn, before you walk this path, you must understand the dangers of becoming a shinobi. It's a path of shadows, secrecy, and sacrifice. You will face challenges that might push you to do things you once considered impossible… or immoral."
Finn gulped hard. The path she hinted at was clear… sacrifice, darkness, and even death. But before his thoughts could creep up and overwhelm him, his eyes caught something unexpected.
Kaeline reached out, her fist extended in a gesture Finn recognized instantly–the same one Kaito had taught him sitting on the training room floor.
"So, let's protect them together." She said gently with an uncharacteristically warm smile.
Finn stared at her fist for a brief moment. His green essence ignited subconsciously, swirling softly around him.
A confident smile spread across his face. Without another moment's hesitation, he bumped his fist firmly against hers.
"Yes, sensei!"
Nara and Sylas scanned the surrounding area. Seconds later, six examinees sprang from their pretend sleepover, lunging forward with essence blazing like wildfire. Each boasted a CPI of no less than 75,000.
Leading the charge was a tubby alien with pale pink skin and a head round as a bowling ball and littered with countless jittery eyes… far more than any being ever needed. He shouted gleefully as he swung a jagged sword towards Nara.
"Gotcha now, you cocky brats!!"
A sinister smirk formed on Nara's face and her fingers tightened around the hilt of her blade, but before she could even draw her sword, a sudden gust of wind surged violently past her, sending the pudgy pink alien tumbling across the dirt.
"Wind? But from where—?"
Her thoughts paused abruptly when a figure appeared into view in front of her, a green scarf waving through the breeze. Finn stood there calmly, two kunai already drawn and held in a reverse grip, crossing each other in front of him. His emerald green essence flowed smoothly, clinging tightly to his body.
He glanced back over his shoulder, meeting Nara's slightly startled gaze.
"Don't worry, I got this." He said casually, an unfamiliar confidence clear in his eyes.
Sylas grinned approvingly, arms crossed.
"They're all yours, my elven comrade."
Nara's expression hardened slightly, her CPI scanner flickering in her eye.
Finn: 125,000 CPI
She crossed her arms and scoffed lightly, though, there was a glint of curiosity behind her harsh gaze.
"Hmph. Don't come crying for help if they beat you into the dirt, okay cook?"
The pink, tubby alien, still struggling to roll onto his feet, barked at his remaining allies.
"What're you idiots waiting for!? Grab the tiny elf brat alive—he'll sell well on the market!"
Sylas's eyes narrowed dangerously at the alien's words, his usual playful demeanor replaced momentarily by a flicker of cold fury.
Without hesitation, the remaining five examinees charged Finn at full speed. Just as they closed in, Finn tossed one of his kunai high into the air, directly toward the red sun overhead.
All of the examinees' eyes instinctively followed the kunai, each confused, but on guard. Taking advantage of their distraction, Finn weaved a single handsign.
"Solar Illumination Jutsu!"
The airborne kunai lit up violently, reflecting the sun's light. The radiance was so intense, it was as if a second sun formed in the sky, forcing the examinees to halt instantly, covering their eyes in agony.
Sylas chuckled, staring straight at the ability without blinking.
"Yes, very good my elven comrade. I'm beginning to see your true strength clearly now!"
Nara shielded her eyes slightly, observing with a silent and subtle fascination. As the flash dissipated, two of the attackers cautiously lowered their arms only to freeze in confusion. Their three comrades, along with Finn himself, had vanished.
"W-where did they go!?" One examinee cried out.
The pink alien's multitude of eyes darted frantically until they fixed upward. He pointed one of his three trembling fingers toward a small rocky cliffside overhead.
"There!"
Their missing companions dangled helplessly, wrapped in thin metallic threads held in place by a single kunai with Finn's emerald essence flowing around it.
"H-how did they—!? Wait—where is that elf brat!?" The pink alien frantically asked.
As he desperately searched the area with all of his eyes, a chill raced down his spine as one of his eyes saw something. Finn stood casually several meters behind them, seemingly relaxed as could be. Not the pink fellow though. Rage boiled inside him, temporarily overriding his fear.
"What're you two morons waiting for!? Take him down!" He instructed the remaining two examinees.
They rushed recklessly toward Finn. Yet without urgency, Finn hurled his remaining kunai straight forward, zipping straight past the attackers, grazing just beside Nara's cheek before lodging deep into a large boulder behind her. Nara didn't even flinch, her eyes stayed glued on him… heck she couldn't move them if she wanted at this point. He had her full attention now.
Finn raised both hands and dozens upon dozens of metallic strings burst from beneath the rust-colored soil, surrounding the battlefield like a spider's web. He crossed his arms over his chest, the strings tightening instantly, binding the two rushing examinees, locking them mid-charge.
"How did he set all these up!?" One of the examinees shouted helplessly.
But his question wasn't answered… Instead Finn said something else calmly.
"Forgive me, I'm still learning, so I'll need you to stay still while I concentrate."
He performed a sequence of hand signs, ending with his fingers interlocked, index and middle fingers pointed skyward. The air shimmered, his green essence roaring around him. Nara's CPI scanner flickered rapidly..
Finn: 125,000… 180,000… 250,000 CPI…
Her eyes widened, not from the numbers, but from the familiar scorching heat radiating around him.
"This heat… It can't be—" She began to mutter out subconsciously.
Finn inhaled deeply, chest swelling.
"Blazing Stream Jutsu."
He blew out forcefully, unleashing a swirling torrent of emerald colored flames.
"Green fire!? Since when did he have a fire affinity!?" Nara thought to herself, wide eyed.
The flames traveled on all of the strings in a blink of an eye, scorching the two examinees to a crisp. The pink alien stared upward in horror at his burnt and unconscious allies, now limp and hanging.
"Th-this can't be real! I can't lose to a brat like you!" He stammered, eyes bulging.
He looked down to see Finn who was just standing there… menacingly. That was until he turned to the side and began walking, his head and eyes still locked him.
He created countless afterimages of himself, circling around the pink fellow, each identical, each completely unreadable. The pink bastard began sweating a dark green oily substance from his skin.
"Wh-what kind of trick is this!? Which one is the real—!?" He blurted out in a panic.
He blinked and all of the afterimages vanished. A faint glimmer of hope grew in his body, but it was quickly extinguished as a sudden weight settled atop his head. Trembling, he slowly raised all of his eyes.
Finn stood there calmly on his head.
Pinky froze, paralyzed with fear. Yet, Finn wasn't even looking at him anymore. His eyes were fixated elsewhere entirely.
Right on Nara.
Nara stared back at his calm yet fierce gaze. The silence stretched between them, neither one blinking, neither one yielding… only being broken by the beep of their wristbands as the timer ran out.
Elsewhere, Kaito sprinted forward at top speed, Rikona latched tightly onto his back, with Valentina effortlessly keeping pace beside them. Without warning, he halted abruptly, nearly ejecting Rikona from his back.
"What gives, round-ear!?" Valentina barked impatiently.
"We've got places to be!"
Rikona adjusted herself before lifting her head anxiously.
"Is something wrong, Kaito?"
"Yeah… everything's fine." Kaito answered absently, eyes fixed on the distant horizon… but his thoughts whispered something entirely different.
"This feeling… it's just like earlier, right before the exams."
Valentina scoffed impatiently.
"Move your ass already! We don't have time to stand around daydreaming!" She instructed before bolting off.
Shaking off the weird sensation, Kaito nodded and chased after her. Little did he know, whatever he'd sensed…
Had sensed him too.