Limit Breaker Zero – Chapter 9: The Class S Test
Old Man Barra leaned back in his chair, a faint smile creasing his battle-worn face. "So that's your choice, huh? I'll take it."
Joseph smirked, eyes glinting with mischief. "You didn't have much of a choice, did you?"
Barra chuckled softly. "You're becoming a bit cocky."
Joseph shrugged. "Confidence suits me."
Barra nodded, still smiling. Just then, a knock echoed from the office door. "Come in," he called.
The door opened, revealing a group of teachers, their expressions serious but attentive. "Excellent timing," Barra said, gesturing toward them.
One of the teachers, a tall, stern-looking man, walked over and struck Ren Kurogane lightly on the shoulder. Ren shot upright, startled, his eyes wide. He opened his mouth to yell, thinking it was Joseph—but when he saw who it was, he froze in fear. "S-sorry, sir! Sorry, sir! Sorry, sir!" he stammered.
The teacher's eyes narrowed. "Stop sleeping on the job, idiot," he barked.
Joseph tilted his head, curiosity flickering across his face. "Who are these guys?"
Ren groaned, rubbing the back of his neck. "You don't know, huh? In this school, classes are ranked by ability—from D to S. And this…" he gestured at the teacher who had just scolded him, "…is Mr. Takeda, the teacher of Class S."
Joseph's eyes sparkled. "Oh… so he's going to be my teacher?"
Ren immediately slapped the back of Joseph's head. "Don't get full of yourself. He's already teaching the greatest of the greatest—the Class S students. If you want to reach that level, you'll have to prove your capability by creating a Soul Beast."
Joseph froze for a moment, his eyes widening. "A Soul Beast, huh? How… how do I do that?"
"You'll see," Ren replied, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips. "Because you're going to do it… right now."
Joseph blinked. "Now?"
Ren's smirk deepened. "Yes. Now. Don't waste time getting comfortable."
The office seemed to shift in atmosphere—the air thick with anticipation, the hum of latent energy vibrating against Joseph's skin. He took a deep breath, feeling a thrill of excitement mixed with fear. This was the first real test of his Limit Breaker potential, and it was starting…