"You've gotta be kidding me… bubbles?"
"Ahem… that's quite interesting," the announcer cleared his throat.
"Never in this academy has anyone had this type of attribute… bubbles."
A wave of murmurs spread through the crowd.
"How is that even possible?"
"Is he going to become a circus performer?"
"This kid is doomed…"
I just stood there, frozen, mouth slightly open, unable to process anything.
"There must be a mistake. Let me retake the test. There's no way I can have bubbles as my Zen attribute."
"I'm sorry. You cannot change it. That is your innate trait," a calm female voice responded.
I turned.
It was the rector of the academy. Juliette. Tall, composed, around forty, with sharp blonde features that made her presence feel overwhelming even from a distance.
"Zen attributes are deeply connected to your innate technique. You know that as well," she said while stepping slowly onto the stage.
"Your innate technique is rooted in a Zen attribute, which is connected to a dimensional pocket… a domain where that concept prevails. In your case… bubbles." She paused, placing a hand on her chin. "I never imagined something like this would exist."
My chest tightened.
"It doesn't make sense… maybe there was an error in the Zen waves. Maybe something interfered. I want to retake the test."
"No," Juliette replied immediately. "Nothing can interfere with Zen waves. Each one is derived from its original domain. They cannot mix, nor can they be altered."
Her eyes locked onto mine.
"Now please, Mister Orin. Step down. Others are waiting."
"I just-"
I lifted my hand slightly.
And then…
A few small bubbles floated into the air.
Silence fell instantly.
My face burned.
I looked around. Dozens of students waiting. Watching.
Judging.
I swallowed whatever pride I had left and stepped down from the stage.
Defeated.
And of course… right next to the stage-
Kneil.
Holding a camera.
Laughing.
Pointing at me like he had just captured the greatest moment of his life.
That bastard. I swear I'm going to kill him.
But even that thought couldn't fix the sinking feeling in my chest.
Why bubbles?
Why me?
I trained for years. Combat, theory, applications. I memorized Zen usage patterns for dozens of powerful attributes.
And this… is what I get?
I sat there, staring at the next students as they received fire, lightning, metal… everything I had ever wanted.
My chest felt heavy.
Overflowing.
Jealousy.
But then-
Something inside me cracked.
That dream…
There were bubbles there too.
And that woman…
She could control them.
There's a theory… that memories can travel through Zen. Between users of the same attribute.
"…Was that her memory?"
A chill ran down my spine.
Cold sweat followed.
"Fuck… that wasn't a dream, was it…" I whispered.
"It was real… that person existed…"
My heart skipped.
"Knock knock."
Kneil dropped beside me.
"Why do you look like someone died, man?"
I didn't answer.
"I mean yeah, your attribute is trash, but you didn't have to embarrass yourself like that on stage."
Still nothing.
"Here."
I glanced up just in time to see a bottle of water floating toward me.
His power.
I burst out laughing.
"Aaaah man… even if we got garbage attributes, we can still get into one of the Combat Facilities."
"I know, right?" Kneil grinned. "We're still strong."
"We're passing both tests. Combat and written."
I smirked.
"Yeah? What's the plan? I distract them with circus tricks while you cook them burgers?"
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
We laughed like idiots until the ceremony ended.
---
"Mom, dad… I'm back."
They rushed toward me the moment I stepped inside.
"It's okay, son," they said, eyes already tearing up.
"We still love you. Don't give up."
"…What are you even saying?"
Then it hit me.
Right.
It was broadcast live.
"Orin…" my dad stepped forward. "I know what you're feeling. I went through the same thing."
He forced a smile.
"My attribute… is plant growing."
He looked like he might cry.
I sighed.
"It's fine. I'm not giving up. I'm still getting into one of the Ten Swords' Combat Facilities."
"That's our son!"
"That's our son…"
Dinner passed normally.
At 23:00, I collapsed onto my bed.
"AHHHHH… that feels so good…"
For a moment, I just stared at the ceiling.
"…Bubbles, huh…"
"Even if it's trash, I'll develop it. I'm actually curious now. If my innate technique is tied to bubbles… what will my Speciality look like?"
Pause.
"…Actually, forget Speciality. That's insane. Outside the Ten Swords, no one can even manifest one officially."
I crossed my arms behind my head.
"Hm…"
"Yeah… I can't even imagine my Divergent or Convergent Zen…"
A yawn escaped.
"I'll figure it out later…"
Darkness took me.
---
Bzzzzzz.
Ignored.
Bzzzzzzzzzz.
"MHMM—!"
I snapped awake-
But I wasn't in my room.
That place again.
"…!"
I looked around.
No blood.
No corpses.
Just… emptiness.
Then-
A girl.
Same age as me.
But dressed in ancient Zen attire, from thousands of years ago.
She was crying.
Whispering something I couldn't understand.
Her arms were locked tightly against a training dummy.
Then suddenly-
She collapsed to her knees.
I tried to move.
I couldn't.
Her crying got worse.
It felt like she was about to give up.
But…
She stood up again.
Wiped her tears.
This time… she didn't lock her arm.
She simply placed her hand on the dummy.
A bubble formed around it.
Her eyes sharpened.
She clenched her fist-
And struck.
The bubble shattered-
And the entire stone dummy exploded instantly.
A scream burst out of her.
Not pain.
Release.
Victory.
My heart pounded violently.
She slowly turned toward me.
Red eyes.
A bright, genuine smile.
"That's how you do it."
---
"GASP!"
I shot up.
Breathing heavily.
Outside… complete darkness.
4:44.
I grabbed water, drinking fast-
But then-
A grin spread across my face.
"…Those weren't dreams."
"They were memories."
"The previous user… she's guiding me."
My hands trembled.
"She destroyed a stone dummy with one strike… at the beginning…"
"…This ability…"
I looked out the window.
"…might not be so bad after all."
---
At the same time.
Somewhere in an abandoned district of Zarnio , one of the 10 capitals.
"Puhahaha! Did you see that? A guy with bubbles as his attribute? That's hilarious!"
A man in a blue cloak laughed loudly.
"Shut up, idiot. You literally use puppets," a woman in a red cloak replied coldly.
"…What did you say?" his tone dropped instantly.
"Oh no… the puppet master is angry. I'm sooo scared-"
She didn't finish.
His punch sent her flying through multiple buildings.
"…You asshole."
She reappeared instantly, closing the gap.
Both raised their fists-
But-
Their attacks stopped mid-air.
Blocked.
Invisible barrier.
"…What?"
"Both of you. Stop."
A man in a purple cloak stood between them.
"Hey, old man. Who asked you to interfere?" the woman snapped.
"Be quiet. Or I will kill both of you."
Silence.
They knew.
That wasn't a threat.
"Follow me. The meeting is starting."
"…The others are already there?" the blue cloak asked.
"Yes."
They entered an abandoned building.
"Aaaa… look who finally showed up," a woman in a white cloak said.
"Causing chaos everywhere… unforgivable. You should be punished," a man in yellow added.
"Enough."
Silence crushed the room instantly.
No one dared speak.
The one who spoke wore black.
"The official meeting of the DICE… has begun."