The sky above the Dimensional Nexus burned crimson as twilight settled over the fractured landscape . Kurosaki Ichiwa stood at the edge of the Academy's training grounds, his dark hair whipping in the wind that carried whispers of ancient power . Unlike the mundane world his ancestors once knew, this dimension pulsed with raw energy—every living being possessed abilities that defied the old laws of nature ."Another failure," Ichiwa muttered, staring at his trembling hands . Around him, fellow students demonstrated their powers with ease: elemental manipulation, temporal distortion, even reality warping . But his own ability remained dormant, locked behind some invisible barrier he couldn't break .The Academy of Convergence towered behind him, its crystalline spires reaching into the blood-red sky . This institution trained the elite of their world, those destined to become Guardians who protected the dimensional barriers from the Void creatures that lurked beyond . Yet here he was, seventeen years old and still unable to manifest even a spark ."Ichiwa! Master Takeshi wants to see you," called out Yuki, a classmate whose ice manipulation had already earned her recognition among the first-year students . Her concern was genuine, but he could sense the pity beneath it—something he'd grown accustomed to over the past months .He nodded silently and made his way toward the Central Tower . The academy's corridors hummed with residual energy from countless abilities being practiced simultaneously . Students parted as he passed, their whispers following him like shadows .Master Takeshi's chamber occupied the tower's peak, where the dimensional fabric was thinnest . The old Guardian sat in meditation, his silver hair flowing with ethereal light . Without opening his eyes, he spoke: "Ichiwa Kurosaki, descendant of the old world bloodline" ."You summoned me, Master?" Ichiwa asked, kneeling respectfully ."The Council has made their decision," Takeshi said, finally opening his ancient eyes that seemed to hold galaxies within them . "Tomorrow's evaluation will be your final chance to demonstrate your power . Fail, and you'll be expelled from the Academy ."The words struck like physical blows . Expulsion meant exile to the outer regions, where those without powers struggled to survive against the creatures that occasionally breached the barriers ."I understand," Ichiwa replied, his voice steadier than he felt ."Do you?" Takeshi leaned forward, studying him intently . "There's something different about you, boy . Your power doesn't flow like others—it's as if something far deeper sleeps within you . Something that predates even this dimension ."Before Ichiwa could respond, alarms shattered the evening calm . Red emergency lights flooded the corridors as a voice boomed through the Academy: "Breach detected! Void creature manifestation in Sector Seven!"Master Takeshi rose instantly, his power flaring . "Stay here, Ichiwa . This is not for students—" But Ichiwa was already running .He sprinted toward Sector Seven, ignoring the Master's commands . If he couldn't manifest his power during controlled training, perhaps mortal danger would be the catalyst he needed . The corridor opened into the western courtyard where chaos reigned .A massive Void creature—all writhing shadows and countless crimson eyes—tore through reality itself . Advanced students and instructors engaged it with spectacular displays of power: lightning, flames, gravitational waves . Yet the creature absorbed or deflected everything, growing larger with each attack .Ichiwa's heart hammered as he watched his classmates fall back, overwhelmed . Among them, he spotted Yuki frozen in terror as a shadow tendril lashed toward her .Time seemed to slow . Without thinking, Ichiwa dove forward, pushing Yuki aside as the darkness engulfed him . Cold unlike anything he'd ever experienced seized his body . The creature's essence invaded his consciousness, seeking to consume his very soul .But deep within that frozen darkness, something stirred .A voice—ancient, powerful, and unmistakably his own—whispered from the depths of his being: "Finally... you've touched the shadows . Now, awaken ."Black flames erupted from Ichiwa's body, flames that burned with darkness itself . The Void creature shrieked and recoiled as these flames consumed its tendrils . Power flooded through Ichiwa's veins, vast and terrible and intoxicating .He raised his hand, and the shadows obeyed . They bent to his will, forming a blade of pure darkness that hummed with otherworldly energy . With a single strike, he cleaved through the Void creature, severing its connection to their dimension .The creature dissolved into nothingness, leaving only stunned silence .Ichiwa stood at the epicenter, black flames still dancing across his skin, the shadow blade dissipating in his grip . Every eye in the courtyard fixed upon him—the powerless student who had just manifested an ability unlike any they'd witnessed before .Master Takeshi appeared at his side, wonder and something like fear flickering across his weathered face . "Shadow manipulation of the highest order," he breathed . "But more than that—you touched the Void itself and made it yours . This power... it shouldn't exist in our dimension ."As the black flames faded, Ichiwa felt the weight of destiny settling upon his shoulders . His journey was just beginning, and the mysteries surrounding his true nature ran deeper than anyone could imagine .Tomorrow's evaluation would certainly be interesting .
