Now that peace had finally returned to Earth, Adrian wanted nothing more than to relax. After everything that happened—the invasion, the losses, the chaos—he felt he deserved a break. So, he sat down in front of his computer, ready to play a few games and forget about the world for a while.
But before he could even start, his door swung open.
"Hey, son! Do you want to get stronger?" David asked, his tone unusually cheerful.
Adrian blinked in surprise. His father rarely sounded that excited. "Uh… sure? But why are you so happy all of a sudden?"
David grinned widely. "Oh! I forgot to tell you—I got you a teacher!"
"A teacher?" Adrian tilted his head. "For what?"
"To make you stronger, of course!" David said, almost bouncing with excitement. "This teacher is one of the best in the entire world. Every single one of his students has become an S-class hero! And get this—Cosmic himself used to be one of his students!"
Adrian's eyes widened. "Wait—Cosmic? The Light of Justice Cosmic?"
"The very same," David said proudly.
Adrian jumped from his chair, his earlier laziness vanishing in an instant. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go meet him!"
David laughed and motioned for him to follow. Together, they headed to the Hero Headquarters. Adrian had been there before, but this time, they went through a section he didn't recognize.
It was enormous.
A long hallway stretched endlessly ahead of them, lined with doors on both sides. Adrian could see glimpses of a gym filled with training machines, a high-tech combat simulation room, even an indoor basketball court. Farther down, he noticed a staircase leading to what looked like a basement.
At the very end of the hallway stood a large, old door.
David stopped and turned to Adrian. "Alright, this is where I leave you. Have fun, and don't get yourself killed!" he said jokingly, giving a wave before walking away.
Adrian took a deep breath and pushed the door open.
Inside was a massive room—simple, quiet, and empty except for one person standing in the center. An old man. He was bald, dressed in a clean white kimono, and holding a wooden katana. His beard was long and white, his expression calm but sharp, like someone who had seen countless battles.
Adrian hesitated for a moment. "Um… Sir? Are you my teacher?"
The old man slowly turned his head. "Oh, I didn't see you there. Perfect timing. Stand in front of me."
Adrian blinked, confused. "Uh… okay."
He stepped forward cautiously, standing where the man had pointed. The old man shifted his stance slightly, his grip tightening around the wooden sword.
"I'm afraid this is going to hurt, boy," the old man said.
"Wait—what do you mea—"
Before Adrian could finish, the man moved.
A blur. That was all Adrian saw. The old man's strike was so fast that Adrian couldn't even see him draw the blade. A sharp pain shot through his chest as the wooden katana struck him with incredible force, sending him flying across the room. He crashed into the floor, coughing violently as blood splattered from his mouth.
He looked up, dazed and furious. "WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR?!"
Adrian glared, clutching his stomach. "Above average? You almost killed me!"
The old man laughed again and walked over, handing Adrian a wooden katana. "The name's Kenji," he said with a faint smile. "I come from Japan. And don't mind that little attack—I just wanted to test your reflexes and durability."
Adrian snatched the wooden sword with an annoyed look. "You could've just asked."
Kenji's smile faded, replaced by a more serious expression. "Now, Adrian… I will teach you something few heroes truly understand."
Adrian blinked, still catching his breath. "And what's that?"
Kenji looked him in the eye, his tone calm but serious. "How to gain and use skills."