[mass release 4/4]
Finally, it was just a day before the much-anticipated festival, and the entire academy was alive with vibrant energy. From the courtyard to the very edges of the training fields, the atmosphere buzzed with excitent. Laughter echoed through the halls, and the air carried the scent of roasted delicacies and sweet confections.
rchants from various corners had set up their stalls, offering an array of gas and events for students to try. Colorful banners fluttered in the wind. Music played from enchanted instrunts, and groups of students rushed around in a frenzy of exploration, eager not to miss a single mont.
It was a lively, almost magical environnt—one that no one wanted to miss.
Kairos had left his dormitory early that morning, not waiting for his two roommates to wake up. His phone buzzed with a ssage from lvin, his eccentric inventor friend.
He had written:
"I’ve got sothing amazing. Co test it. You’re going to love this one!"
Kairos sighed as he rembered the last ti he’d tested one of lvin’s "amazing" inventions. The mory alone sent a shudder through his arm, and he instinctively grabbed it. The pain from the evolution bot encounter was still etched into his muscles.
’I’m starting to rethink this partnership,’ he thought grimly, rubbing his shoulder.
Back in the dorm, the other two boys, Carlos and Darnell, had just woken up. They chatted excitedly as they dressed, already planning to check out the festival events. What surprised Kairos was how close the two had beco lately. Initially, he’d believed that Carlos and Darnell would never get along. They were just too different.
But now, seeing them joke and plan together, he realized how wrong he’d been.
Still... it’s good that they have ti together, he mused, a small smile tugging at his lips.
Kairos stepped out of the dorm, locking the door behind him, and made his way toward the Second Year Building. But unlike the last few tis he’d gone, this journey was far more difficult.
The entire academy had transford. rchants had taken over the walkways with their vibrant stalls, and colorful tarps hung from poles and trees. So stalls sold piping hot delicacies that made Kairos’ stomach growl with a single whiff—spiced ats, sticky buns, and exotic fruits.
Other stalls displayed glimring Core Weapons—items of imnse value and strength. These weapons were divided into tiers, and even from a distance, Kairos could tell which ones were Apex and which were basic.
His curiosity got the better of him. He approached a few stalls to inquire about prices, hoping to find sothing affordable to add to his gear.
"A thousand coins for the apex-tier chest piece," one rchant said nonchalantly.
"Five hundred for the apex core shoes," another added.
"Two thousand for the apex core gauntlets," a third chid in.
Kairos’ eyes widened at the absurd prices. It was exactly as he feared—these rchants were inflating their costs to unreasonable levels, knowing that only students with faction backing or wealthy patrons could afford them.
Typical, he thought bitterly, lowering his head.
All he had was the academy-based allowance—barely twenty coins on his phone. Not even enough for the cheapest item on display. With a quiet sigh of defeat, he turned away from the glittering gear and continued toward the Second Year Building, this ti careful not to glance at any more stalls. Temptation was dangerous when you had nothing.
Eventually, after weaving through crowds and dodging overzealous rchants, he reached his destination. The familiar sliding doors of lvin’s lab lood ahead. They opened automatically with a soft hiss.
Kairos stepped inside, and imdiately lvin sprang to his feet, practically leaping from his chair.
It startled him. lvin looked as though he had been waiting for this mont for weeks, maybe even months.
Unpredictable as always, Kairos thought with a shake of his head.
"So," he asked, his voice slightly wary, "what do you have for to test this ti?"
lvin didn’t respond imdiately. Instead, he rushed to his computer and began typing away at a digital keyboard, fingers moving with lightning speed. The display screen lit up with layers of blue code and schematics.
Then suddenly, he stopped typing and waved his hand. The screen shifted and moved on its own, responding to his ntal commands.
"Don’t worry," lvin said with a grin, "I won’t be putting you through any painful fights with another robot."
It was uncanny, as if he had read Kairos’ mind.
Kairos let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.
At least this ti wouldn’t involve broken ribs or bruised pride.
"The fight with that robot earlier? That wasn’t really for an evolving AI or anything. Nah, I’ve watched way too much Terminator to ever give a robot that kind of intelligence. That model was just a prototype—for sothing completely different," lvin explained, rising from his seat.
Kairos blinked.
Terminator?
"What’s a terminator?" he asked, genuinely confused.
lvin turned slowly, stared at him as if trying to process the absurdity of the question, and then shook his head in disbelief.
"You’re hopeless," he muttered, walking toward the testing area.
Kairos followed.
This ti, they didn’t head to the usual side of the room. Instead, lvin stopped in the very center and waved him over.
"Co on! I’ll be doing the test with you today," he said excitedly.
Kairos hesitated, caught off guard.
"You? Are we... going to fight?" he asked cautiously.
lvin chuckled. "Fight you? That’d be insane. Besides, I’d win." He grinned. "But no, no fighting today. This is just a new invention test."
From his pocket, he drew out a ring and slipped it onto his finger. Then he extended his hand.
"Now, try hitting —but not at full strength, please."
Kairos raised an eyebrow but obeyed. He stepped forward and delivered a punch—not too hard, but enough to make contact.
His fist suddenly stopped midair, crashing into sothing invisible. Blue light flared around his knuckles in a circular pattern. The impact was real, yet there was no solid object to see. Just shimring light, holding him back.
He pulled his hand back slowly. The light vanished.
"Pretty cool, right?" lvin said, practically bouncing.
Kairos was stunned. He stared at his hand, then at the spot he had struck.
What was that?
"Yeah, uhmmm... What is this?" he asked, the anxiety in his voice rising.
lvin’s eyes sparkled. "This is based on the concept of spatial rings—but modified. This is an evolving shield. It adapts to the force of incoming attacks and blocks them all."
He took a step back, then motioned again.
"Go on, try full strength this ti."
Kairos didn’t hesitate. With his full strength—augnted by his integration—he punched the barrier again. The shield lit up in a brilliant blue wave, glowing brighter than before.
But again, lvin didn’t budge. No force passed through. No dent. No recoil.
Kairos pulled back his hand and winced. His knuckles were red and sore.
"This... this is incredible," he said, awe-struck.
lvin grinned proudly. "With this, you could stand your ground even against beasts. Don’t worry, once I finish tweaking it, I’ll give you one of your own."
He then leaned back against the table and added casually, "Still, do you think this invention can win the Inventors Event tomorrow?"
Kairos narrowed his eyes.
"Inventors event?"
"Yup!" lvin said brightly. "Tomorrow, I’ll be participating in the Inventors Event. It’s going to be the highlight of the festival."
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