Adam stood in the arena, his heart racing, watching Kyle approaching at incredible speed.
He had never felt such power before; everything seemed bigger and stronger than anything he had ever known in his life.
"I… I'm too weak…" he whispered to himself.
He remembered his earlier thoughts:
"I'm just an orphan… I don't deserve to be here."
Kyle attacked with terrifying speed, and all the students stared in awe, some laughing mockingly.
Adam tried to move… but he felt his body didn't have enough strength to respond. Every step, every motion felt heavy, as if he was resisting something far greater than himself.
Then suddenly, a faint black flash appeared around him, a strange feeling inside whispering:
"You can do something… just move."
Adam took one step, partially dodging Kyle's strike—but not completely.
Kyle staggered slightly, his eyes widening. He realized something no one else had: this boy's power was greater than expected.
But Kyle's pride would not let him admit it:
"It's just luck… he's weak!"
At that moment, Kyle's hidden father—a retired but one of the strongest hunters in the academy—intervened subtly, dampening Adam's power and giving Kyle a chance to land a decisive blow.
Adam fell to the ground, feeling helpless.
"I really am weak… I can't win," he thought, while Kyle grinned arrogantly in front of the students, believing in his true superiority.
The students were shocked by Adam's defeat, but the director and instructors noticed something strange:
"This child's true power… has not yet revealed itself."
Adam lifted his head, disappointment in his eyes, yet something inside him remained unbroken. Something mysterious, very small, whispering to him:
"This is not the end… you are stronger than you know."