Chapter 2: The Hunter’s Academy

  Thrown Into Chaos

  The moment Usa-hime stepped out of the portal, her brain short-circuited.

  She had imagined space stations before—maybe something sleek and futuristic, with smooth white walls and glowing blue panels.

  But this?

  This was pure, unfiltered chaos.

  The Hunter’s Academy was massive—a colossal station floating among the stars, its ceilings made of transparent glass that stretched endlessly above, revealing the spiral arms of distant galaxies. Bright neon signs in languages she couldn’t read flashed across massive screens, displaying mission updates, news reports, and rankings of the top hunters.

  And the aliens—

  Dozens. Hundreds. All moving through the station’s grand halls.

  Some were humanoid, others completely bizarre—a six-armed lizard warrior adjusting a heavy blaster, a floating jellyfish-like creature clicking and chirping to a robotic drone, a seven-foot-tall insectoid carrying a duffel bag as big as Usa-hime.

  And then there was her.

  A small, awkward Earth girl standing frozen in the middle of it all.

  She swallowed. “Oh crap.”

  “Yeah, I’d keep that reaction to yourself,” Kuro muttered beside her, tail flicking as they stretched lazily. “Fresh recruits get eaten alive around here.”

  Usa-hime stiffened. “You mean, like—literally?!”

  Kuro smirked. “Maybe. Depends on who you piss off first.”

  Before she could process that terrifying thought, a loud alarm blared through the halls.

  “New cadet arrivals, report to the combat arena for evaluation immediately. Repeat—new cadet arrivals, report to the combat arena.”

  Usa-hime’s stomach dropped. Combat evaluation?!

  She turned to Kuro. “Wait—what does that mean?!”

  But Kuro was already walking away.

  “Figure it out, newbie,” they called over their shoulder. “This is your first test.”

  And just like that—they were gone.

  Usa-hime felt her blood run cold.

  She was alone.

  Mistaken Identity

  With no idea where to go, Usa-hime hesitantly followed the other new recruits through the winding halls of the station.

  The deeper she went, the louder the atmosphere became—hunters shouting, engines whirring, weapons humming as energy blades activated.

  She clenched her fists, trying to blend in—which was impossible when she was one of the only humans here.

  Then—

  “Hey! You!”

  A voice rang out from behind her.

  Usa-hime turned, only to find herself face to face with a tall, armored girl with glowing blue tattoos.

  The girl’s eyes narrowed. “You’re Usa-hime Inoue, right?”

  Usa-hime blinked. “Uh… yeah?”

  The girl’s lips curled into a smirk.

  “So, you’re their kid, huh? The legendary hunters’ daughter?”

  Usa-hime’s stomach twisted. “I—um—”

  Before she could deny it, another recruit snorted.

  “Figures. Gets special treatment just for having famous parents.”

  A few others laughed.

  Usa-hime’s face burned. They thought she was some kind of prodigy.

  She wanted to correct them. Wanted to say she had zero training, no experience, and barely knew how to throw a punch.

  But before she could—

  A new voice cut in.

  “She doesn’t look like much.”

  A figure stepped forward—a tall, lean girl with dark skin, piercing yellow eyes, and spiky black hair that flickered with energy. She carried herself with the confidence of someone who had already won the fight.

  “Zyra,” someone whispered.

  Usa-hime swallowed.

  Even without knowing her, she could tell—this girl was dangerous.

  Zyra crossed her arms, eyeing Usa-hime critically. “If you’re as good as your parents, this should be interesting.”

  Before Usa-hime could ask what she meant—

  A loud metal door slammed open.

  “NEW RECRUITS!”

  A massive alien instructor stomped into the room, his heavy boots shaking the floor. His body was covered in cybernetic armor, his arms lined with scars from past battles.

  “Evaluation begins NOW. No weapons. No excuses. If you can’t hold your own, you don’t belong here.”

  Usa-hime’s throat went dry.

  She was so dead.

  Thrown into the Fire

  Before she knew it, she was standing in a coliseum-style combat arena alongside the other recruits.

  The walls shimmered with hard light barriers, forming a massive battlefield. Towering observation decks lined the edges, filled with senior hunters watching from above.

  Usa-hime’s heart pounded.

  This was real.

  A robotic voice echoed through the arena.

  “Evaluation round: survival simulation. Work with your assigned partners to neutralize enemy drones. If eliminated, you fail.”

  Panels in the ground slid open—

  And from them, a swarm of combat drones rose into the air, their mechanical eyes glowing red.

  Usa-hime froze.

  “BEGIN.”

  The drones attacked.

  Blaster fire rained down as recruits dodged and countered. Explosions burst across the field as energy shields deflected attacks.

  Usa-hime, meanwhile—

  Stood there like an idiot.

  “Move, Earth girl!” someone yelled.

  She snapped out of it just in time to see a drone diving straight for her.

  Her brain screamed. DO SOMETHING.

  But her body—

  Moved first.

  Her feet shifted—her body twisted—her arms raised—

  And in one swift, unnatural motion, she ducked beneath the attack.

  The drone missed by inches.

  For a split second, everything slowed down.

  She wasn’t thinking.

  Her instincts had kicked in—like she had done this a thousand times before.

  Her parents’ words echoed in her head.

  “You’re not a fighter, Usa-hime.”

  But—

  What if they were wrong?

  She exhaled, tightening her fists.

  She could do this.

  She just had to prove it.

  A drone was coming straight for her.

  Its mechanical body whirred as it locked onto her, red targeting sensors glowing. A split second later, it lunged, a spinning energy blade extending from its side.

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  Usa-hime moved.

  She didn’t think. Her body reacted.

  With speed she didn’t know she had, she twisted under the drone’s attack, her breath sharp as she felt the blade slice the air just inches from her face.

  Then, something in her muscles tensed—an instinct buried deep in her DNA, waiting for the right moment to awaken.

  The drone came at her again.

  She didn’t run.

  She jumped.

  Higher than she should have been able to.

  Gasps erupted from the other cadets as she soared above the drone, twisting mid-air. For a brief moment, time seemed to slow—

  Then—

  WHAM.

  She kicked downward.

  Her foot struck the drone’s head—

  And the entire machine crumpled like tin foil.

  A shockwave exploded outward, sending pieces of metal scattering across the arena. The drone was completely destroyed—its core shattered, its once-lethal energy blade sparking uselessly on the ground.

  A stunned silence filled the coliseum.

  Usa-hime landed gracefully, barely out of breath.

  She blinked.

  Then looked down at the wreckage.

  Then back at her own foot.

  Wait. What just—?!

  Realization

  "Holy crap," one of the recruits muttered.

  "She just—took that thing out with one kick!" another said in disbelief.

  Even Zyra, watching from the sidelines, narrowed her eyes.

  Usa-hime’s heart pounded.

  That wasn’t normal. She knew that much.

  She had never been strong. Never been athletic. But just now—

  Her body had moved on its own.

  Fast. Powerful. Natural.

  Her legs still tingled with the force of that kick, as if some hidden strength had just been unleashed for the first time.

  What the hell am I?

  Before she could even process it—

  "Multiple hostiles incoming."

  More drones descended from above.

  A dozen this time.

  The simulation wasn’t over.

  And this time—they were targeting her.

  The Fight Awakens Something More

  The drones surged forward, blasters primed.

  Usa-hime tensed.

  Her body still felt light. Faster.

  She moved.

  With unnatural agility, she weaved between the drones’ attacks, dodging every strike with precision she didn’t know she had.

  A drone swung an energy blade—she flipped over it.

  Another fired a plasma shot—she twisted aside at the last second, the blast missing by a hair.

  She wasn’t just avoiding attacks.

  She was predicting them.

  And then—

  BANG!

  She kicked again.

  A devastating impact sent three drones flying at once, their bodies smashing into the arena walls.

  Another drone came from behind—she spun and lashed out with her heel—CRACK.

  The machine collapsed into scrap metal.

  The force of her kicks was like a bomb going off.

  With every movement, every strike, she felt it—

  Something inside her was waking up.

  Something not human.

  The Aftermath

  When the last drone hit the ground, the arena fell silent.

  Smoke and sparks flickered from the broken machines around her.

  Usa-hime stood in the middle of the wreckage, chest rising and falling with adrenaline.

  All eyes were on her.

  The recruits. The instructors. The senior hunters watching from above.

  Zyra’s gaze was sharp, unreadable.

  Kuro—who had returned to the sidelines at some point—had a smirk on their face.

  The instructor finally spoke.

  "…Interesting."

  That was all.

  Then, the simulation shut down, and the evaluation was over.

  Usa-hime staggered backward, still shaking from what she had just done.

  Her mind raced.

  She had always been different. But this?

  This was something else entirely.

  And she needed answers.

  Shock and Aftershocks

  Usa-hime sat on a bench in the cadet waiting area, staring at her hands.

  Her fingers trembled slightly—not from exhaustion, but from fear.

  Not fear of the drones. Not fear of failing.

  Fear of herself.

  She had moved too fast. Too easily. And her kicks—

  No normal human should be able to do that.

  She had felt the power surge through her body like a switch had been flipped. Her instincts were too sharp, her movements too natural—

  Like I’ve done this before.

  But she hadn’t. Had she?

  Confrontation with Zyra

  "Not bad."

  A voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

  Usa-hime looked up—

  And saw Zyra.

  The older cadet stood with her arms crossed, her electric yellow eyes sharp. She wasn’t smirking this time. She wasn’t mocking her.

  She was studying her.

  "You’re stronger than I thought," Zyra admitted. "But that wasn’t skill. That was instinct."

  Usa-hime tensed. "What do you mean?"

  Zyra narrowed her eyes. "You didn’t fight like a cadet. You fought like a hunter. A trained one."

  Usa-hime’s stomach twisted.

  Zyra took a step closer. "You’re hiding something, aren’t you?"

  "I—I don’t know what you’re talking about."

  “Zyra didn’t look convinced. "We’ll see."

  Then she turned and walked away.

  Usa-hime exhaled, her heartbeat still racing.

  Kuro’s Explanation

  Before she could recover, Kuro dropped down from nowhere, landing lazily next to her.

  "That was fun to watch," they said, tail flicking.

  Usa-hime groaned. "You saw that?!"

  Kuro smirked. "Everyone saw that. You wrecked those drones like they owed you money."

  Usa-hime slumped forward. "I don’t understand… that wasn’t normal."

  Kuro studied her for a moment. Then, their smirk faded.

  "It was your bloodline."

  Usa-hime looked up, confused. "What?"

  Kuro leaned against the bench. "Your parents were the best hunters in the galaxy for a reason. It wasn’t just skill—it was what they were."

  Usa-hime frowned. "But… they’re human."

  Kuro raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure?"

  The question hit her like a punch.

  "Your speed, your reflexes, your power—that’s not normal," Kuro continued. "That’s in your DNA. Whatever your parents are, they passed it on to you."

  Usa-hime’s breath hitched.

  She had always felt different. Always felt like something was off.

  And now, it was starting to make sense.

  She wasn’t just some random girl.

  She was something else.

  A Challenge is Set

  Before she could respond, a holographic alert flashed above the training area.

  "Cadet Sparring Matches—Now Open for Challenges!"

  Zyra’s voice rang out from the other side of the room.

  "Usa-hime!"

  Usa-hime turned—

  And saw Zyra standing in the middle of the arena.

  "You think you belong here?" Zyra called out. "Then prove it."

  She pointed at her. "Fight me. One-on-one."

  The room fell silent.

  Usa-hime’s throat went dry.

  She wasn’t ready for this.

  She barely understood what had happened in the simulation, and now Zyra—one of the strongest recruits—was calling her out?

  But then—

  Kuro leaned down next to her.

  "Do it," they whispered.

  Usa-hime swallowed. "What?"

  "You need to know what you’re capable of," Kuro said. "This is the perfect test."

  Usa-hime clenched her fists.

  Her body still felt light. Her muscles still hummed with that hidden power.

  She wasn’t sure what she was.

  But she was going to find out.

  She stood up.

  "I accept."

  The Arena Showdown

  The crowd of cadets gathered around the sparring ring, murmuring in anticipation.

  "She’s gonna get wrecked," one whispered.

  "Maybe, but did you see her in the evaluation?" another muttered. "She’s hiding something."

  Usa-hime stood on one side of the ring, her heart pounding in her chest. Across from her, Zyra stretched her arms, rolling her shoulders with a smirk of pure confidence.

  "I’ll give you one chance to back out," Zyra said, her yellow eyes glowing with static energy.

  Usa-hime clenched her fists.

  She wasn’t backing down.

  The training instructor raised a hand. "Sparring match: Zyra vs. Usa-hime. Standard combat rules—no weapons, no lethal strikes. Fight until one yields or is unable to continue."

  The room grew silent.

  Then—

  "Begin!"

  The Fight Begins

  Zyra moved first.

  Fast.

  Before Usa-hime could even react, Zyra closed the distance, her fist already swinging toward Usa-hime’s ribs.

  WHAM!

  Usa-hime barely dodged, the punch grazing her side. She staggered back, eyes wide.

  Zyra wasn’t just fast—she was precise.

  Another strike came—a kick aimed at Usa-hime’s head.

  Her body reacted on its own.

  She ducked—lower than she thought possible—and countered with a sweeping kick of her own.

  But Zyra was already gone.

  She’s reading me.

  Usa-hime barely had time to think before Zyra came at her again, launching into a flurry of attacks.

  She’s testing me.

  And it was working.

  Usa-hime was barely keeping up.

  She blocked a hit—dodged another—but Zyra’s skill was overwhelming.

  A final blow landed square in her stomach.

  BAM.

  Usa-hime gasped as the force sent her sliding backward across the floor.

  She dropped to one knee, coughing.

  Zyra scoffed. "Is that all?"

  Usa-hime’s vision blurred for a moment. The impact should have knocked her out.

  But she was still awake.

  Still standing.

  Then she felt it.

  That tingling energy rushing through her veins.

  Her body wasn’t giving up.

  It was adapting.

  The Awakening

  Zyra came at her again, fist raised.

  But this time—

  Usa-hime moved.

  Her legs felt lighter. Her body felt faster.

  Zyra’s punch barely missed as Usa-hime weaved under it, her instincts sharper than before.

  She twisted—and kicked.

  Not a regular kick.

  A devastating, full-force strike.

  BOOM!

  The air rippled with the impact.

  Zyra barely managed to dodge, the sheer force of the attack cracking the floor where she had just stood.

  The crowd gasped.

  Zyra’s eyes widened.

  Usa-hime landed, breath heavy, realizing what just happened.

  Her kicks weren’t just powerful.

  They were weapons.

  Zyra grinned. "Now that’s more like it."

  She charged in again—faster than before.

  Usa-hime met her head-on.

  They clashed, exchanging blows at a speed that Usa-hime wouldn’t have thought possible just hours ago.

  For the first time—

  She wasn’t just surviving.

  She was fighting.

  The Final Blow

  Zyra’s next strike came low—too low.

  A feint.

  Usa-hime recognized it a second too late.

  CRACK!

  Zyra’s elbow struck her shoulder, sending her crashing to the ground.

  Pain shot through Usa-hime’s body.

  She tried to push herself up—

  But Zyra’s foot was already at her throat.

  "Yield," Zyra said, voice calm.

  Usa-hime’s vision swam.

  She could barely move.

  But despite the pain—despite knowing she had lost—

  A smile tugged at her lips.

  Because for the first time, she hadn’t frozen.

  She had fought.

  "I yield," she rasped.

  The instructor nodded. "Winner: Zyra."

  The match was over.

  But for Usa-hime, something had just begun.

  Acknowledgment

  As the crowd dispersed, Zyra offered her a hand.

  Usa-hime hesitated, then took it, pulling herself up.

  "You’re not there yet," Zyra said. "But you’ve got potential."

  Usa-hime blinked.

  Zyra smirked. "I’ll be watching you, Rabbit Princess."

  Then she turned and walked away.

  Usa-hime stood there, exhausted, bruised—

  But grinning.

  Looking Up at the Stars

  Later that night, Usa-hime sat by one of the station’s observation windows.

  Beyond the glass, the stars stretched endlessly into the void.

  She wasn’t on Earth anymore.

  She wasn’t the quiet, awkward girl who sat alone at lunch.

  She was something else.

  Something more.

  And this was just the beginning.