The Superior Rebirth: A Hero's Awakening

A Fierce Student Battle

Team 12 advanced cautiously through the dense forest, assuming the battle formation they had planned in advance.

Aria glanced at her teammates and asked, "Do you think we should ambush Jason and his team?"

Jack scoffed. "Like Princess Misaki said, that'd be a death sentence. That guy's a damn genius when it comes to strategy."

Elowen furrowed her brows. "Is he really that smart? Smart enough that an ambush is impossible?"

Princess Misaki nodded. "Not impossible, but close. Jason plays mind games. He'll have us second-guessing every move before we even make it."

Xavier smirked. "I always knew my cousin was sharp, but I never thought of him as some kind of mastermind."

"Wait, you two are cousins?" Aria and Elowen asked in unison, caught off guard.

Xavier shrugged. "Yeah. Our fathers were childhood friends."

Jack grinned. "Maybe we should take you hostage then. Might make things easier."

Misaki raised an eyebrow. "And why would I let that happen?"

Jack waved his hands defensively. "Relax, your Highness, just a joke!"

Xavier chuckled. "Actually, not a bad plan. Maybe we should try it."

But just then, his dark crimson eyes flickered—his senses warning him of incoming danger. His instincts kicked in. Without hesitation, he summoned his vector shield, expanding it to encompass the entire team.

"Nice reflexes, Xavier," Misaki praised, unsheathing her katana.

"What's happening?" Elowen asked, scanning the area.

Before anyone could answer, an immense beam of energy erupted through the forest, obliterating everything in its path. The ground trembled under its sheer force. But thanks to Xavier's vector shield, Team 12 remained unscathed.

Jack let out a shaky breath. "What the hell was that?!"

Misaki narrowed her eyes. "Jason."

"Which means they're already here," she added. "And they're not holding back."

Xavier kept his shield up but turned to Misaki. "I can only maintain this for a few more seconds."

"Why?" she asked.

Xavier tapped the glasses resting on his face. "These suppress my abilities. Normally, I could've redirected that attack right back at him. But with these on, I can only block, not counter."

Misaki considered this before asking, "Can you take one more hit?"

Xavier nodded. "Yeah, but that'll be it."

A smirk crept onto Misaki's lips. "That's all we need. Hold the barrier. When it breaks, we strike immediately. No hesitation."

"Yes, Captain!" everyone responded in unison.

In the distance, Jason emerged from the shadows, flanked by his teammates. He grinned mockingly. "Oops. My bad. I saw a centipede and had to squash it. Nasty little things."

Misaki smiled back, unfazed. "Funny. But if that was your best shot, you might as well surrender now. That attack was all flash—no substance."

Jason's grin twitched, but he remained composed. "Oh yeah? Let's see you handle another one."

He raised two fingers toward Team 12. "Ergokinesis Cannon."

A massive energy blast erupted from his fingertips, surging toward them at blinding speed. The ground quaked beneath its raw power. Xavier braced himself, pouring all his strength into his vector shield. The impact sent cracks rippling across it. Jason smirked and pushed more power into the attack, the energy intensifying.