The silence of space was milky white, only broken by the panting breath of a young boy. His stomach rose and fell in time with his ragged breathing. Huff... huff... huff... At his feet lay around fifty children of his age, their disheveled state bearing witness to the intensity of the training they had just undergone. Though worse for wear, they still breathed weakly.
The boy's irises were entirely white with a violet reflection, devoid of visible pupils, outlined by a thin contour. The blood vessels stood out prominently on his temples, signs of intense focus. His cold and impassive gaze swept slowly across the room, assessing the damage.
Suddenly, the creaking of a door broke the heavy silence. A figure appeared in the doorway. The boy turned to the newcomer and, recognizing him, showed no sign of respect.
The man who had entered spoke in a voice devoid of emotion, "I see that you are progressing at an astounding rate and that you have mastered your pupils perfectly, Akira. Your powers are developing well beyond our expectations."
Akira remained silent, merely staring at his interlocutor with his enigmatic eyes. A slight smirk formed on his lips.
"You know why I'm here, don't you?" continued the man. "The patriarch summons you in two days. Prepare yourself."
Akira nodded imperceptibly. The man then turned and left the room, leaving the young boy alone with the bodies of his training companions.
"It's been 16 years since I landed in this world," Akira thought as he touched his face. "And since then, I've been constantly increasing my power. The biggest change remains my eyes, which have awakened as Bakugan. I control them at a frightening level... But lately, I feel a subtle change within me. I still don't know what it is..."
He clenched his fist and murmured to himself, "For now, I just have to keep growing my power and prepare for what awaits me."
With a cold gaze, Akira stepped over the almost lifeless bodies and left the room with determination, already focused on his next training session. The patriarch's summons left him with only two days. Two days to push his limits even further. Two days to become stronger than ever.
Akira walked out of the training room, strolling nonchalantly down the corridor. Suddenly, he saw a boy about his age walking towards him. Having nothing to do with him, Akira continued on his way. However, when they reached each other, the boy abruptly turned, attacking Akira by surprise with lightning speed.
Reacting instinctively, Akira dodged the assault by throwing himself flat on his stomach, letting the boy's fist cut through the air above his head. Pushing off with his hands, he leaped backward like a spring, aiming to strike his assailant head-on. But the agile boy shifted to the left, easily avoiding the blow.
Without wasting a moment, Akira turned in midair and delivered a descending kick, his body twisting like a serpent to give more power to his attack. His opponent raised his left hand above his head, blocking the blow with disconcerting ease. Simultaneously, he gathered all his strength in his right hand and unleashed a devastating punch.
Akira crossed his arms in front of his stomach, absorbing the impact of the blow that sent him flying backward. As he touched the ground, he performed a backward roll, landing gracefully on the tips of his toes, knees bent, elbows resting on his thighs. His body was tense like a bow, ready to spring into action at any moment.
After a few seconds of stillness, Akira slowly straightened up. He shook his sore hands, as if the attack he had just endured had left him with lingering effects. Then, breaking the silence that had settled, he spoke...
"That was quite a blow... You almost killed me," Akira said with a sarcastic smile, a mischievous glint dancing in his eyes.
The boy, irritated by Akira's nonchalance, retorted sharply, "Don't play smart with me. That blow was just a scratch for you."
Akira tilted his head, intrigued. "Is that why you attack me without even bothering to introduce yourself?" he asked, a hint of curiosity in his voice.
"Does your opponent's identity truly matter?" the boy replied, a mysterious smile on his lips.
Those words brought a smile to Akira's face. He released a fraction of his murderous intent, a chilling aura suddenly enveloping him. "I don't think it's crucial, but it might save me from having to kill you," he said casually.
Despite the murderous intent emanating from Akira, the boy remained impassive, showing no trace of fear. "Not only is your reaction speed astounding, but you also possess monstrous strength... I understand better now why you are called 'the prodigious child'," he observed, a hint of admiration in his voice.
Akira grimaced, his disgust for that nickname clearly visible on his face. Though aware of it, no one had ever dared to call him that. Suppressing his murderous intent, he suggested, "I think it would be wiser for us to stop here."
A heavy silence hung between them, charged with tension. Then, the boy turned away, ready to leave. "Very well, my presence here is no longer necessary," he said neutrally.
As he was about to walk away, the boy stopped and added over his shoulder, "Ishiki. Ishiki Otsutsuki. That is my name. I hope our paths will cross again."
Upon hearing this name, Akira's eyes widened, a spark of recognition igniting within them. An enigmatic smile stretched across his lips as he murmured, "Fate is indeed full of surprises." Then, he turned around and resumed his path.6