1
I got up—well, I tried to get up. My dad is incredibly heavy, whether he's on top of me or not. Even while asleep, he grips me with surprising strength.
"Dad," I muttered, trying to pry his arm off me.
It wasn't like this before; we used to sleep together until he woke up on his own.
"Dad," I said again.
He remained absorbed in his dream. His hugs are comfortable when you're falling asleep, but it's a different story when you wake up. There's only one way to rouse him.
"Roberto Tyler, if you don't let me go right now, I'm going to bite you!" I yelled.
Nothing. That told me everything. With a little force, I bit his left arm.
"Huh? What?" Dad stammered.
"Finally," I sighed.
"Ah, good morning, champ," he said.
I got up and headed to the bathroom. Looking into the mirror, I saw something that actually scared me.
My fangs were longer, my eyebrows thicker, and my ears and tail were longer too. My hair was much denser, and I had a patch of black hair starting to sprout on my chest. My muscles had filled out a bit, though I was still lean.
Everything was just more defined.
"What?"
I was much taller now. If I was 1.60m before, I felt like 1.90m now. What happened?
"Wow," I whispered.
For some reason, I decided to check... down there. And yeah... I had grown 6cm more (it was 7cm before). Now it's 14cm.
Well, let's just ignore that for now.
After breakfast and heading to the Agency, Fuyumura pulled me into the conference room. She wrote the following on the whiteboard:
Element Main Weakness Counter-Attack Logic
Fire Water / Gas Water smothers it; gas can displace oxygen or cause an extinction-level explosion.
Water Electricity Water is an excellent conductor, making electrical damage massive and unavoidable.
Wind Ice Extreme cold densifies the air, leaving the wind "frozen" and powerless.
Light Darkness They cancel each other out, but absolute darkness devours photons.
Electricity Earth Earth acts as a natural insulator and "lightning rod," dissipating the charge.
Darkness Light Light reveals the hidden and dissipates shadows, destroying darkness's essence.
Earth Plant / Ice Roots break rock from within; ice expands cracks and fragments the soil.
Sound Wind Powerful gusts distort sound waves, causing the sound to get lost or disperse.
Gas Fire Highly volatile. Fire causes a chain reaction that consumes gas instantly.
Plant Fire / Poison Fire reduces them to ashes; poison withers biological organisms quickly.
Blood Ice Cold freezes fluids, stopping blood flow and nullifying movement.
Poison Psychic Mental power can purify toxins or attack the nervous system first.
Psychic Bug / Darkness Primal fears (insects/the unknown) are cracks in a powerful mind.
Ice Fire Direct heat melts the solid structure of ice into vapor or water.
Thread Fire / Bug Fibers burn easily; insects (moths/termites) devour the material.
Bug Poison / Wind Poison is lethal to exoskeletons; wind can crush small creatures.
Then, she made me memorize it. All of it.
"Wait, what do you mean everything?" I asked.
"You have to," Fuyumura said with a hint of annoyance. "Besides, I used Nium logic so you'd understand it better."
"...."
I wrote it all down in a notebook. Then Fuyumura told me:
"Once you finish memorizing, we practice."
2
Once I finished the table, understanding the other elements became much easier. My weaknesses are: Electricity, Ice, Water, Gas, Bug, and Darkness.
This is because of Trabis (Fire), Tinki (Psychic), and Patt (Water/Wind).
Even though it seems like many weaknesses—well, it is many—my mind convinced itself they were few so I could be more strategic.
"Are you done?" Fuyumura asked.
"Ah, yeah," I said. "Let me pack my things."
I put them in my bag and followed Fuyumura outside.
"Watch closely, Tyler," she said.
The air was serene, and the green grass felt cool against the soles of my boots. Fuyumura raised her silver key and, inhaling deeply, said:
"Ice Frost."
The sound of bells echoed as the air became dense and heavy. Frigid blizzards swirled around Fuyumura. They took shape like paint on a canvas until finally, with a flashing light blue glow and a sharp ZAS!!!, a giant snowflake appeared in front of her.
"Think fast," Fuyumura said.
The snowflake tore through the air at high speed, flying straight at me like a projectile.
"Ah, ah—FIRE BALL!" I yelled.
Trabis was by my side. Raising my key, the heat rose. A current ran through my arm to the key, which began to vibrate.
Flames appeared, forming a large fireball with the sound of a lighter. Using two mana reserves, I launched the ball at the snowflake.
They collided, and a cloud of steam erupted with an explosive BOOM!!!
The vapor spread through my field of vision, blinding me and making me stumble. My hand burned, but I didn't know why.
"You see?" Fuyumura said. "It wasn't necessary to create that giant ball. You caused this."
I looked at the ground. There was a giant crater.
"H-how?" I stammered.
"Simple," Fuyumura explained. "You created a smoke explosion when a smaller flame would have destroyed the snowflake without causing this."
"...."
So a tiny flame can destroy a giant ice projectile?
"Lisa," Fuyumura called. "Heal the boy."
Lisa entered, and seeing her run toward me reminded me of how my parents reacted to my growth spurt.
"Wow, son, now you're... tall," Mom had said.
"...." Dad had just stared, realizing I was almost as tall as him now.
"Dylan!" Lisa screamed.
She came running. Her voice sounded a bit strange. Wait...
"Crap," I muttered.
I had damaged my eardrums again.
"Dylan, oh..." Lisa stammered.
She looked at me—first my legs, then the bit of chest hair visible through my open shirt, and finally my arms.
"W-wow, um, wow... yeah," Lisa said, blushing.
"Uh, what's up?" I asked.
"Ah, n-nothing," she replied.
Carla and the others haven't seen me yet. I wonder what they'll say.
"Dylan, your hand!" Lisa pointed in horror.
I didn't understand until I looked down...
"AHHHH!" I screamed.
My hand was a mix of purple and raw red. The skin was completely burnt.
"Easy, easy—" Lisa tried to calm me, but...
MY HAND IS COOKED, AND IT BURNS SO MUCH.
I groaned and whined in pain until Lisa raised her key.
"Water cure," she recited.
Relief came with a bubbling sound and a light blue glow. When she finished, my hand was as good as new.
"Thanks, sweetheart," I said, kissing her cheek.
"You're welcome," Lisa said with a smile.
"Ahem, ahem," Fuyumura interrupted.
"Oh, right," I said.
"Your training method will be as follows," Fuyumura explained, stepping forward. "Since descendants of Merlin have a special gift called Copy.
It's basically adaptation. Every time you observe a spell, your body and mind create a record—both mental and muscular—without limits. I believe your only limits are the elements."
"And mana," Lisa added.
"Right, and mana," Fuyumura agreed.
"So?" I asked.
"We'll have you watch spells that are easy but not too easy—intermediate level—so you can defend yourself."
"I also think you should learn to use a weapon," Lisa said.
"Like what?" I asked.
"For you, Tyler, a dagger fits best," Fuyumura decided.
"Alright," I sighed. "Here we go."
And so, my training for this forced tournament begins.
3
Michael Fronx walked through the examination facilities. He was going to register for the agency competition. His magenta hair, blue eyes, and wolf ears/tail matched his brown fur.
He didn't even belong to an agency on this continent, but his grandfather—a six-foot-six wolf with brown fur and emerald eyes—had forced him to participate.
"You know what you have to do," his grandfather said, but his tone made it sound like an order rather than a question.
"Defeat Dylan in combat and make him interested in me," Michael replied.
The name of the chosen boy made his chest burn.
"Your father would be proud of you," his grandfather said. "You can free him once you-know-what is fulfilled."
Michael understood. He already knew.
They had to kidnap Dylan Tyler.
4
I was back where I started the first time I came here: a room with white walls and wooden benches.
Fuyumura had taught me a total of five new spells:
Water cure: To heal myself. (3 reserves)
Air rope: To bind my enemy. (2 reserves)
Psycho wall: A barrier. (5 reserves)
Fire gust: A fire tornado. (3 reserves)
Gravity beam: A pink laser. (2 reserves)
Generally, I wasn't bad with the dagger. Well, if "being good" means not hesitating to stab someone 47 times if necessary, I'm doing great.
Unfortunately, Mom only let me use something like a baton but shaped like a knife—like those police tactical weapons.
"Son, I'm hungry," Dad said. "Want to go buy something with me?"
"Sure, why not?" I said.
We left the room, leaving Mom alone. We walked through the hallways until we reached a sort of canteen. There was a long line, and Carla was at the end of it.
"Hi, Carla," I said, since I hadn't seen her this morning. "Are you participating?"
"I already told you no," she replied. "But Harold is. I'm his moral support."
Harold again.
"Oh, oh, okay," I said.
"She's got someone else," I told myself. "Just like you have Lisa."
It was true. In fact, I was happy for Carla. Why wouldn't I be?
"Achoo!" I sneezed.
"Bless you," a deep voice said.
I looked up. It was a wolf with brown fur and green eyes. He looked just like... my dad.
"A-ah, thanks," I said.
"Hi, Dylan," Michael said. "Nice to meet you."
His magenta hair and blue eyes were the same as always, with wolf ears and tail the same color as mine.
"...Hi, Michael," I said.
"This is my grandfa—" Michael was interrupted.
"Dad?" my dad asked, confused.
"Hello, son. It's been a long time," said the wolf who looked like my dad.
They were like two drops of water.
"Dad, you know him?" I asked.
"Oh, I think..." Michael said, "we're cousins, Dylan."
"Eh?"
"Dylan... let's go," Dad said, trying to lead me away.
"Wait, Roberto. Can't I see my grandson?" the wolf asked.
"Dylan, is he your maternal grandfather?" Carla whispered.
"I don't know," I whispered back.
"Hello, Dylan," the wolf said. "I am—"
RING!!
The bell rang, indicating it was time to leave.
"Ah, well, see ya," I said.
Who is that guy? Well, that's something for the future. For now, I need to focus on this first competition.
5
"Ladies and gentlemen, these are our dear contestants—59 in total! Let's see how they perform on this minefield track! START... NOW!!!"
The announcer spoke, and the crowd began to cheer. The 59 of us were placed on a track that looked like a desert but with trees and bushes.
The gong sounded, and I started running.
I knew Elizabeth and Elias were near me, but I lost sight of them when an explosion roared.
One of the kids had stepped on a mine. I didn't have time to check on him. I was running out of breath, and my mana reserves were vanishing in the blink of an eye. Running is my thing, but also not. My breathing became ragged while others shouted:
"Fire impulse!"
"Blood shoot!"
"Electric pulse!"
"Plant Tower!"
Crackling, rising, loud sounds.
Sparks and bullets filled the air. I lost my hearing again after the third mine detonation. Why do I always lose my hearing?
I just kept running with:
"Oculte dolence."
Even if it came from someone who tried to kill me, I had to admit it was useful. The windy sensation and the vibration of my key took effect, making me ignore any pain.
"Electric Claw!" someone shouted.
The sparking sound sent me flying. It was like a scratch, without actually being one.
I tumbled, my skin scraping against the dirt, grazing my elbows.
"Electric Bullets!" the guy shouted again.
But I aimed at the ground and said:
"Air ball."
The windy sensation ran through my hand, and a green ball of air formed just as sparks flew toward me.
I launched the air ball at a nearby mine. Fear vanished, replaced by bravery and energy.
Exploding, the mine expelled a cloud of smoke and dirt that seemingly destroyed the attack. I was pushed a few meters forward. From the ground, I could see a fight.
Elizabeth and Elias were next to Michael. Then Lupin arrived.
Elias tried to slow Lupin down with a fire cut—a potent orange light with great heat and speed. But Lupin, with a simple flick of his sword through a blue gas cut, made the fire vanish.
With a look of annoyance, Lupin punched Elias in the face, leaving him behind.
When I managed to stand up, the ones in the lead were Lupin and Michael.
"Let's go," I said.
Remembering Lisa's last words:
"Go Dylan, I know you can do it."
My motivation surged. Besides, I'm a descendant of Merlin, right? So watch this. (By the way, I wanted to talk to Michael—his face had changed to something listless. What happened to him?)
I grabbed a piece of wood and headed toward one of the mines—or rather, the center of four mines. God, watch over me.
"Air impulse!" I shouted.
Launching myself with a windy boost in my legs, I slammed into the mines. They released gray smoke, sending me flying into the sky.
I fell at high speed, the wind whipping past my body. My "baton" was destroyed. I was falling and falling...
◇◆◇◆
"They say Morty has been spotted," Fuyumura had told Dylan.
"..."
He didn't even react.
"If you win the tournament, I'll give you more details and Morty's whole story."
◆◇◆◇
Those words gave me strength.
"Water Drop," I said.
The damp and windy sensation traveled from my hand to my key, generating a vibration. A small gust of air and water cushioned my fall.
Once I landed, I ran without looking back. My lungs were burning. I used a total of three reserves, but it didn't matter, I was almost there...
"DYLAN TYLER TAKES FIRST PLACE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!"
Exhausted, I looked at everyone cheering and praising me. My breathing was heavy, and I collapsed to the floor.
For the first time since I arrived in this world, I finally feel like a protagonist.