Dawnforge Arc Begins
The day had finally arrived.
The Dawnforge Tournament—Lionel Academy's greatest event—was about to begin, and excitement flooded every corner of the academy. Students rushed into the massive stadium, parents filled the stands, and even top-ranked national heroes took their seats to witness the next generation rise.
Inside the Hero Class waiting area, everyone buzzed with energy.
Roger stretched exaggeratedly."Today… HISTORY will remember me."
Zack rolled his eyes. "History will remember how fast you get knocked out."
Rain giggled softly. "Please don't start fighting before the tournament starts."
But all chatter died when people remembered the first match of the day—
Astra Noire vs Bam Relic.Two of the strongest students in the class.
Everyone knew the difficulty of it. Astra was a monster in human form. Yet Bam trained harder than anyone could imagine.
Raze, adjusting the new blue combat suit Forgebound had built for him, looked at Bam quietly.
"You ready?"
Bam grinned, clenching his fists."Bro… I've been ready since birth."
Roger patted Bam's shoulder."Win or lose, surviving Astra for even a minute will make you a legend!"
Zack snorted. "Survive ten seconds and I might even respect you."
Bam exhaled deeply."Thanks for the support, idiots."
Raze smirked. "You'll do fine."
Bam nodded. "And you better not lose your match either. Finale boy."
Raze tightened his gloves. "I won't."
◆ ◆ ◆
The Stadium Roars
The Dawnforge Stadium was PACKED.
Every seat was filled—students, teachers, families, and pro heroes. The energy shook the ground.
Principal Ricardo Leonel floated down to the center, raising a hand to silence the crowd.
"Today," he declared, "marks the beginning of the Dawnforge First-Year Grand Tournament. A test of will, ability, and spirit. Let this be the day the world sees a new generation of heroes rise!"
The crowd erupted.
Bam smacked his cheeks. "Alright… it's now or never."
"Match One!" the announcer's voice boomed across the stadium."Astra Noire! Bam Relic! Please step into the arena!"
Thunderous cheers filled the air.
Bam pounded his chest, cracked his neck, and walked into the blinding lights of the arena while applause shook the stadium.
But…
Astra did not appear.
Seconds passed.
The crowd murmured.
"Where's Astra?""Is she late?""No way, not Astra…""Did something happen?"
The announcer hesitated.
"…Astra Noire, please step into the arena."
Silence.
Still nothing.
Bam frowned and looked toward the tunnel she should've walked out from.
"Oi… Astra?" he muttered, confused. "Don't tell me you overslept or something…"
Roger, from the stands, squinted."This is weird… Astra is never late."
Rain bit her lip anxiously."Something feels wrong."
Zack crossed his arms."She wouldn't skip a fight. Not her."
Raze felt something twist in his gut.Astra wasn't someone who ignored battles.Something must have happened.
Suddenly, teachers and staff began whispering frantically. Principal Leonel's expression tightened.
Celeste Ardyn rose from her seat, eyes sharp.
"Where is she?" she whispered.
A wave of unease washed through the stadium.
◆ ◆ ◆
Bam Steps Forward
Bam raised his voice nervously, trying to make light of the situation:
"Uh… Astra? You know this is our fight, right? You're the star today! Get out here!"
He laughed awkwardly.
No response.
A cold breeze drifted across the stadium.
Rain whispered, "This… isn't normal."
Raze clenched his fists.
Astra Noire, the strongest of their year…missing on the very first day of the tournament?
Impossible.
Principal Leonel finally stepped forward, face dark.
"Students. Remain calm. There seems to be a situation."
A chill spread through the stadium.
Raze stood up slowly, eyes narrowing.
"…Astra. Where did you go?"
The Dawnforge Tournament had begun—but the opening match… didn't start immediately..
And the academy was about to find out why Astra was missing.
*********************
Confusion spread through the Dawnforge Stadium like wildfire.
The announcer's voice cracked in the echoing silence:
"C-Contestant Astra Noire… has not arrived!"
Bam, standing alone in the arena, raised both hands helplessly.
"Uhh… so… do I win? Or…?"
"Bam, shut up," Zack muttered.
Roger leaned forward over the railing."Where the heck is she!? Astra is never late!"
Rain bit her lip. "Something must have happened. She wouldn't miss this without a reason."
Raze silently agreed.Astra Noire was many things—quiet, cold, intimidating—but irresponsible was not one of them.
Just then, a teacher approached a woman seated near the front.
A gentle-looking woman with short black hair and a composed face.
Astra's mother—Serene Noire.A normal human. No Nexas.Just an ordinary mother in an extraordinary world.
The teacher asked softly,"Ma'am… do you know where your daughter is?"
Serene sighed, her voice calm but tired.
"She's fine.Check the news."
Immediately, every screen in the stadium flickered and switched to a global broadcast.
The entire arena fell silent.
◆ ◆ ◆
Yesterday—One Day Before the Tournament
Astra sat on her couch, munching on snacks, watching morning news.
The broadcaster spoke casually:
"Good evening. A small meteorite—roughly 60 meters in diameter—is estimated to strike the northern polar region tomorrow morning.Government officials assure there is no threat to human populations."
Astra nodded to herself."Okay, so no people hurt. Good."
Then the announcer continued:
"However… nearly two thousand Emperor Penguins are currently nesting in the predicted impact zone."
Astra froze mid-bite.
"…Penguins?"
The news showed a cluster of penguins waddling around adorably.
Astra's eyes widened.
"Oh no. No no no."
She immediately stood up and headed toward the door.
Her mother dropped her laundry basket.
"Astra! Where are you going!?"
"I'm going to save the penguins!"
Serene rushed in front of her."You have a tournament tomorrow! The big one! The whole nation is watching!"
Astra, dead serious, replied:
"Mom. Penguins."
Serene pointed a trembling finger."Astra… you cannot save every animal on Earth."
"I can't," Astra agreed. "But I can save these ones."
Before Serene could protest, Astra hugged her tightly.
"I'll be back before the matches begin. Promise."
Then—
WHOOM!
Astra blasted into the sky with a sonic boom.
Serene stood alone at the doorway, laundry forgotten, muttering:
"…My daughter is going to give me a heart attack."
◆ ◆ ◆
At the North Pole — Hours Before the Tournament
International news drones captured live footage of a massive fiery meteor descending.
Reporters shouted over the roaring winds:
"W-We are currently witnessing a live view of the incoming meteorite—!!"
But then—
A streak of light shot upward from the ice.
A girl.
No flight device.No support gear.Just raw power.
"A STREAK—!! Wait—Is that a person!?"
"Is someone—FLYING!?"
Astra Noire punched straight upward, reaching the meteor in seconds.
She tried smashing it—but she stopped instantly.
"If I break it… pieces will fall.They might kill the penguins…"
She gritted her teeth.
"Okay… option two."
She positioned herself under the meteor and pushed upward.
Her arms shook.Her bones cracked.Her vision blurred.
The meteor pressed down like a falling mountain.
"Nngh—!Come on…!MOVE!"
The ice below her splintered.
Dozens of cameras around the world zoomed in.
A girl—barely a teenager—holding a falling meteor with her bare hands.
International broadcasters were losing their minds:
"IS THAT A CHILD!?""WHAT COUNTRY DOES SHE BELONG TO!?""H-Her strength… this is beyond hero-level…!!"
Astra screamed:
"IF YOU HURT MY PENGUINS—I SWEAR I'LL BREAK YOU!"
Slowly—inch by inch—the meteor began to slow.
Then—
It stopped.
Astra panted heavily.
"I… did it…"
She gently set the meteor down on empty ice, far from any nests.
The penguins in the distance squawked happily.
Astra melted.
"Awwwwww."
She flew back at Mach speed.
"I have a match to get to!"
◆ ◆ ◆
Back to the Stadium — Present
Every screen showed the meteor footage.The audience was dead silent—mouths hanging open.
Even pro heroes stared like children.
Roger screamed,"SHE SAVED PENGUINS!??"
Bam fell to his knees."I'm supposed to fight THAT!?"
Zack grabbed his head."She's not human. I refuse to believe it."
Rain whispered,"…She really did that just for animals…"
Raze stared in stunned disbelief.
Principal Leonel covered his face.
"She moved a meteor…A METEOR.And she's still competing!?"
Then Serene Noire stood and spoke calmly:
"She'll arrive in a few minutes.She said she'd be back on time."
BOOM—!!!
A deafening sonic boom tore across the stadium.
A streak of white-blue light split the sky—
And Astra smashed into the arena like a falling comet.
CRAAAACK—!!
Half the battlefield cracked under her landing force.
She stood up, dusting off snow and ice.
"…Sorry I'm late."
The entire stadium erupted into hysteria—
"ASTRAAAAA!""THE PENGUIN SAVIOR!!!""IS SHE EVEN A STUDENT!?""WHAT KIND OF MONSTER IS THIS!?"
Bam stared at her with shaking hands.
"…Astra…L-Let's fight another day… maybe…?"
Astra tilted her head.
"No. I'm ready."
Bam's soul left his body.
Raze watched from the seats, awe in his eyes.
Even he had to admit:
Astra Noire was in a league of her own.
And this was only Match 1.
*****************************
The stadium was still trembling from Astra's entrance—she had just landed from MACH SPEED after stopping a meteorite, and now she stood in front of Bam like nothing happened.
Bam swallowed hard.
"H-How am I supposed to fight someone who was at the end of the world ten minutes ago…?"
His hands were shaking, but his spirit wasn't.
Astra tilted her head innocently.
"Ready?"
Bam raised a trembling hand.
"Wait, uh… should we maybe postpone the match? You literally stopped a METEOR. You must be tired."
Astra shook her head.
"I'm fine. I just saved some penguins. Let's fight."
The audience ERUPTED.
"PENGUINS!!""THE CHILD OF GOD SAVED PENGUINS!!""THIS IS THE GREATEST TOURNAMENT START EVER!"
Even the pro heroes watching looked emotional.
Bam forced himself to breathe.He tightened his gloves.He stood tall.
Astra took one step toward him, eyes soft but serious.
"Bam. Your Nexas is pure strength, right?"
"Yeah."
She nodded once.
"Then for this match… I'll only use strength. No speed. No flight. Nothing else. Not because I underestimate you… but because I want this to be fair."
Gasps exploded across the stadium.
Bam stared at her, stunned—then a grin stretched across his face.
"No need for that. Use your full strength.If I lose, I lose. I'll accept it."
His classmates beamed with pride.
Roger whispered,"That's our Bam."
Rain nodded,"His heart is strong."
Even Zack smirked,"Idiot. Brave idiot."
Principal Leonel raised his hand.
"MATCH ONE… BEGIN!"
◆ ◆ ◆
The Clash
Astra bent her knees slightly and soared straight upward—not fast, not using flight, just a superhuman jump.
Bam braced himself.
Forty meters up, Astra kicked off the air and dove.
She didn't accelerate. She didn't break sound. She simply… dropped with her natural strength.
Bam planted his feet.
"COME ON!"
Their fists collided.
BOOOOOOM!
The shockwave tore across the stadium.Dust blasted outward.The ground cracked beneath them.
The audience screamed.
"WHAT A HIT!!""BAM IS HOLDING HER OFF!?""NO WAY!!"
Astra smiled.
"Good punch."
Bam coughed blood.
"I'm just getting warmed up—NGH!"
Astra landed lightly, then dashed forward.No flight. Just raw muscle.
Bam swung—Astra slipped inside—they clashed again.
BOOM!BOOM!BOOM!
Each hit pushed Bam back further.His arms trembled.His legs shook.
But he never backed down.
"I…won't…run!"
Astra admired that.
But the fifth collision—a clean body blow—sent Bam skidding across the arena.
He slammed into the boundary and slid out of the ring.
Silence fell for two seconds.
Then—
THE STADIUM ERUPTED
"ASTRA WINS THE FIRST MATCH!""SHE SAVED PENGUINS AND STILL FOUGHT!?""I'M GONNA CRY!"
Bam groaned, trying to stand—Astra gently helped him up.
"You were strong. Really strong."
Bam laughed weakly.
"Yeah? Then next time I'm beating you."
Astra smiled sincerely.
"I look forward to it."
His classmates rushed him.
Roger: "YOU FOUGHT A GOD, BRO!
"Zack: "You didn't die. Respect."
Rain: "You did well, Bam."
Astra received cheers, applause, flowers—and penguin plushies thrown from the stands.
Even principal Leonel sighed,
"Bless the animals… and bless this child."
The tournament had only just begun.
But the world already understood one thing:
Astra Noire wasn't just a prodigy.
She was a hero—through and through.
And Bam?
He walked away with pride…and a new fire burning inside him.