三十一|Thirty-One

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"Thank you, Athena

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"Thank you, Athena. But, you've never told me about what your Quirk was." I could already feel my eyelids get heavier, the adrenaline fading into drowsiness as I look up at her one more time.

"Let's just say I can wield the power of Gods themselves."

"This place has gotten bigger since the last I was here..." Looking from the top of the stairs, my eyes catch sight on the grand hall that was in front of me, seeming to be able to fit over hundreds upon hundreds of Pro Hero -all shapes and sizes- into and still have room.

"Ah, you've found the ballroom." Hearing Athena's voice from behind me, I whirl myself around to look at her in shock, eyes wide and mouth agape.

"Why would you need a ballroom?" I questioned, staring at the high ceiling of crystal chandeliers dangling, having tall Roman columns supporting it around the sides in a pure white colour.

"Well, being the Top Hero around here can get you pretty busy with parties. I swear that people here are insane, I even had to host a grand ball during when Freya had puppies." She said, causing a laugh to erupt from me as I imagine the whole scene in my head. 

"I'd like to come to one of these Grand Balls of your's someday. But, when will my mother be arriving?" Changing the topic, Athena and I walk down the long hallway, the soft padding of our footsteps echoing against the walls.

"Ah, she should be here soon. Then we'll leave the rest to her for the majority of the day for training and evaluation." Athena hummed, a few maids and servants bowing in respect as we walk by, herself nodding back with a kind smile before continuing on. 

As soon as we reached the lounge room, the sound of the doorbell rang followed by someone opening a door, faint voices being heard from the foyer.

"Thank you, Frederick. I see that things haven't changed much apart from a few members of staff." A female voice was heard, approaching to where we were until two people appeared from the doorway.

"Seirei! It's great seeing you here again. Must say I missed you so much!" Athena grinned, rushing forward and engulfing the woman in a hug, the latter doing the same with a warm smile and sparkling eyes.

"You too, Athena. It has been months since we've last met." She said, until her eyes found mine and let go of their hug, coming towards me.

"I'm so glad to see you again, Shiro. Though I was disappointed you didn't choose me for your internship." Her words made me smile, instantly wrapping my arms around her in a hug, feeling her own tenderly around me. 

"I've always wanted to work with Athena, mother. Plus I visit you at work all the time when I was little." Looking up at her, I watch as she chuckles and looks at me with her amber-gold eyes, the colour shining from the sunlight streaming in.

"Yes, I remember the days when you'd jump around all the time in my office all excited. You went around hugging every single Hero there." Her words caused a small pigment of red to spread on my cheeks, the embarrassment filling me as I look away.

"R-right...! Well, what're you waiting for?! You must have a lot to test on so we should get a move on!" Moving with haste, I speed-walk mechanically out of the room and towards my awaiting destination.

-x- TICK -x- 

"Alba Tenebris*." Lighting suddenly filled the room, the walls reflecting the white colour as holographic panels of blue appeared around me, words and other things on them. "Training System: Activated."

"Welcome, Shiro Kurayami." An automated voice echoed, the voice sounding feminine as the panels around me glowed, my fingers swiping at them and tapping on specific buttons.

"Let's start with your left side first." My mother's voice could be heard from the speakers as I nodded at her through the separating glass by the side of the room. 

"Right. Lumen: Nocte Campester**." The panels responded with a flicker and disappeared, the lights in the room shutting off as well until everything was covered in darkness.

"Training sequence has begun." The automated voice alerted, my body instinctively letting off a faint white glow that allowed me to only see till my shoes.

'Use both sides as once. Sense movements through the dark and attack.' 

Almost instantly, my senses overcame me and I lifted my left hand in front of me, sending a ball of energy hurling, hitting my target as the tangible systematic hologram burst into pieces. 

"Aegis Shield!" Yelling my words, a dome of light appeared a little ways from me, trapping several grouped hologram villains together as they banged on the dome. 

Turning away from them, I clench my fingers around the formed hilt of my sword, an exploding sound coming from where the dome was as pieces of blue were thrown to the floor by me. Lifting my sword, it comes into clash with a bright blue one, the hologram pushing at me as I try to stay balanced. 

Using my strength, I push my sword forward in hopes to throw off the hologram's balance, causing it to stumble back as I advance forward. With no hesitation, I slash at it diagonally, slicing it in half as it burst.

"Tentacles!" Felling the appendages appearing on my tailbone, I will the ones on my right to slash at the horde of holograms coming my way, successfully tearing them apart and diminishing half of my targets,

More of this continued on, using the tentacles on me to slash and attack villains until the sudden wave of drowsiness came in, forcing me to dispel them and rely on my sword instead to conserve energy.

Just as I had finished off another with a stab, everything went silent, having no more holograms charging at me. This made me confused and cautious, not knowing what was going on in the dark room as I tried to sense for anything else.

'This can't be right. There should have been more coming. There's no way I've reached the passing point that quick.'

My eyes continued to look around aimlessly into the dark, still not being able to sense any more holograms moving on the ground anymore, my sword blazing in my left hand as it radiated an intimidating aura of energy. 

I would've been able to block it if i had been quick enough, but I wasn't. 

It was stupid of me to not notice this sooner. The holographic arrow had already lodged itself right in the position where my heart was.

My sword was gone, my hand hovering over the pierced arrow with wide eyes, the dark room now filled with light again. Hand quivering slightly, it felt as if my heart had really stopped.

-CRACK-

"Task failed."

《THE CLOCK HAS A CRACK》

======To Be Continued======

"Alba Tenebris*" = "White Darkness" (The direct translation of Shiro's full name)

"Lumen: Nocte Campester**" "Light: Level Midnight"

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I honestly don't know what to say here. But tomorrow's Shiro's Birthday! 

-Kuno HikaYashi
12th October 2018 (Unedited)

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