The bus screeched to a halt, its doors swinging open as Benito Velasquez—Benny to his friends—stepped out, his sneakers hitting the pavement with a soft thud. He adjusted the strap of his duffel bag over his shoulder, eyes wide as he took in the towering structure of Super Duper Academy. The sprawling campus buzzed with students, all as different as the next, showcasing the sheer diversity of abilities present at this school.

  "Super Duper, huh?" Benny mumbled to himself with a smirk. He could feel the familiar tingling in his fingertips—the urge to manifest one of his purple balls flickered. His ability was simple yet powerful: he could create and shoot purple spheres of energy from his fingers. The longer they spun on his fingertips, the more destructive they became. But here, at the academy, he wouldn't stand out for it. Here, he wasn't the weird kid with a unique power; he was just another student in a sea of abilities.

  As he made his way across the courtyard, Benny checked the note in his hand—dorm assignments. Dorm 9, Room 12. His mom had been so excited for him to start here. She'd always been secretive about his dad, and Benny didn't care much. His mom was enough, and now this school would be his home for the next two years.

  After a few wrong turns, he found his dorm and pushed open the door. The room was simple but cozy: two beds, two desks, and a large window overlooking the academy's training fields. Already sitting on one of the beds was a tall, lanky kid with curly brown hair and a smile that stretched too wide.

  "Yo!" The kid stood up, hand outstretched. "You must be Benito Velasquez, right? I'm Rider Ridgan, your new roommate."

  "Just call me Benny," he said, shaking Rider's hand.

  "Nice to meet you, Benny! So, what can you do?" Rider asked, plopping back onto his bed.

  Benny grinned and held out his hand. With a flick of his wrist, a small purple ball of energy appeared on the tip of his index finger. It spun slowly at first, then began to pick up speed. "These bad boys. The longer they spin, the harder they hit."

  "Whoa!" Rider's eyes lit up. "I summon a horse. A massive one. Maybe one day we'll see whose power packs the bigger punch." He winked.

  Benny chuckled, feeling a bit of the nervousness slip away. Rider seemed like good people, and that was a relief. "Sounds like a plan, man."

  After settling in, the two boys made their way to their first class of the day: homeroom. The building buzzed with activity, students rushing to their respective rooms, their abilities flickering around them like a light show. Benny caught glimpses of fire, ice, even a kid floating a few inches off the ground.

  Homeroom was a large lecture-style room, and Benny spotted a few familiar faces from the entrance exams. He slid into a seat near the back, with Rider sitting beside him. It wasn't long before a tall man with sharp features and salt-and-pepper hair strode into the room. He exuded confidence, his eyes scanning the students like he was calculating their worth.

  "Good morning, class," the man said in a deep, commanding voice. "I am Mr. Machado, your homeroom teacher and the head of training here at Super Duper Academy. Over the next two years, you will learn to master your abilities. We are not just teaching you to control your powers—we are teaching you to surpass the Power Standard."

  The room fell silent. Benny knew what that meant. The Power Standard was the threshold that determined whether someone's ability was useful enough for professional use in society. To surpass it meant being able to make a real difference with their powers, to become heroes or top-tier professionals. It was no small feat.

  "As you know, this academy is designed to push you beyond your limits," Mr. Machado continued, pacing across the front of the room. "You will face challenges, trials, and yes—each other. But make no mistake, I will not tolerate mediocrity. You are here because you have potential. And it's my job to make sure you realize it."

  Benny's heart pounded. He glanced at Rider, who had the same determined look in his eyes. This was it. The start of something big.

  "Your abilities," Mr. Machado said, "are tools. Some of you may think you've already mastered them, but trust me, you have not. There are layers to your powers you haven't even begun to tap into. And that's why we're here. To dig deep. To uncover your true potential."

  Benny clenched his fists under the desk, excitement and nerves swirling inside him. Purple sparks danced on his fingertips for a second before he calmed himself.

  This was going to be harder than he thought, but he was ready.

  With a final, intense look from Mr. Machado, the bell rang, and the students shuffled out. Benny caught Rider's eye, both of them silently agreeing that this year would be nothing short of life-changing.

  As they headed out of class, Benny couldn't help but wonder what kind of challenges lay ahead. And maybe, just maybe, he'd finally figure out who his father really was. But for now, mastering his ability at Super Duper Academy would be his first step.

  The next day, the Super Duper Academy's training hall was a cacophony of power, noise, and energy. Benny stepped inside, eyes wide as he watched students practicing their abilities. Fire blazed, water whirled, and electricity crackled in the air. The sheer variety of powers in one place was overwhelming. For someone like Benny, it was both thrilling and nerve-wracking. His purple balls felt small compared to some of the massive displays of strength he was seeing.

  "Alright, everyone, pair up!" Mr. Machado's voice boomed through the hall, bringing order to the chaos. "Today's about gauging where you stand. We're starting light. This is sparring practice, not a full-on battle, so don't go overboard."

  Benny scanned the room, wondering who he'd end up sparring with. Rider was already chatting with a group of guys, one of them no doubt impressed by the idea of summoning a giant horse into combat. Benny was about to look for someone else when he heard a voice behind him.

  "You're Benito Velasquez, right?" A girl with sharp, determined eyes and a confident posture stood there. She had a slight smirk on her face, like she knew something he didn't. Her long, dark hair was tied back in a ponytail, and there was an aura of authority around her, despite her young age.

  "Yeah, but you can call me Benny. And you are?" he asked, trying not to sound too awkward.

  "Junine Kiney," she said, extending a hand. Benny shook it, feeling a spark of electricity—not literal, but there was definitely something about her. "I've heard about your ability."

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  "Good things, I hope?" Benny replied with a grin.

  "Let's just say, I'm curious to see it in action." She crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow.

  Before Benny could respond, another voice cut in. "Yo, Benny! You wanna spar with me?"

  It was Jerry Gartia. Tall, lean, with a cocky grin, Jerry looked like someone who always had something to prove. Benny had seen him around, but they hadn't really talked yet. From what he'd heard, Jerry was infamous for his ability to cut through practically anything with his bare hands. People said it was like his fingers were made of blades.

  Benny felt a competitive edge stir inside him. "Sure, Jerry. Let's keep it light, though, alright?"

  Jerry smirked, cracking his knuckles. "Of course, man. Light sparring. Just a little test."

  They both moved to the center of the sparring area. The rest of the students were busy pairing up, practicing their own powers, but Benny felt like all eyes were on them. He glanced over at Junine, who gave him a nod of encouragement, her arms still crossed as she watched from the sidelines. Rider stood next to her, eager to see what would happen.

  "Alright, ready when you are," Benny said, getting into a loose stance, his fingers twitching as a single purple ball manifested on the tip of his index finger.

  Jerry wasted no time, lunging forward with impressive speed. His hand came down in a slicing motion, aiming for Benny's arm. Benny instinctively dodged, the purple ball on his finger whizzing past Jerry's head as he narrowly missed a strike.

  "Nice try!" Jerry laughed, but there was a hint of excitement in his eyes.

  Benny grinned, keeping his focus. "I'm just getting warmed up."

  The sparring started light, just as they agreed. Benny would throw a few purple balls, and Jerry would dodge or swipe them away with a swift cut of his hand. But as the minutes passed, the atmosphere began to shift. Both of them were competitive, and neither wanted to back down.

  Jerry's next attack came faster than expected. His hand sliced through the air, aiming for Benny's torso. Benny barely had time to react, creating a purple ball in both hands and using them to block Jerry's strike. The impact sent Benny sliding back a few feet, his shoes screeching against the floor.

  "Not bad!" Benny called out, feeling the adrenaline rush.

  "Let's see you handle this!" Jerry shouted, charging at him again. This time, his movements were sharper, more aggressive.

  Benny's purple balls began to spin faster, their glow intensifying as he aimed at Jerry's legs. One hit, knocking Jerry off balance, but Jerry recovered quickly, swiping at the air and sending a shockwave that grazed Benny's shoulder.

  "Ouch," Benny muttered, wincing slightly.

  "Come on, Velasquez! I know you've got more than that!" Jerry taunted, clearly enjoying the rush of the fight.

  Benny narrowed his eyes. The light sparring was quickly turning into something more intense. He focused, manifesting a ball on each finger, the energy humming through his hands. He wasn't going to lose this spar.

  Jerry lunged again, his hand raised for a cutting strike, but Benny was ready this time. With a swift movement, Benny unleashed two of his purple balls, sending them spinning towards Jerry. Jerry managed to cut through one, but the other hit him square in the chest, knocking him backward.

  The crowd around them gasped, some of the students pausing their own practice to watch. But Jerry wasn't done. He grinned, wiping a bit of sweat from his brow. "Not bad. But let's take it up a notch."

  Benny didn't have time to react before Jerry charged again, this time faster, more precise. His hand glowed with energy, sharp and dangerous. Benny quickly manifested more purple balls, one on each finger now, spinning faster and faster.

  Jerry was coming at him full force.

  The air between them crackled with power as they prepared for their next clash.

  Benny's breath came in short gasps as Jerry charged at him, his hand glowing with that familiar cutting energy. It had become clear that this wasn't just a casual sparring session anymore. Each movement, each strike, was filled with intensity, as if both of them had something to prove.

  Jerry's next attack came fast, a sharp, slicing motion that Benny barely dodged. The blade-like edge of Jerry's hand whizzed past Benny's ear, close enough that he could feel the wind shift. In retaliation, Benny launched another purple ball, but Jerry deftly sidestepped it, his grin growing wider.

  "You're gonna have to do better than that, Velasquez!" Jerry taunted.

  Benny grimaced, his mind racing. He had to figure out a way to outmaneuver Jerry. His rival was fast—too fast—and his cutting ability made it dangerous to engage up close. That left Benny with only one option: go bigger.

  He took a deep breath, extending his fingers out. The purple balls on his fingertips began to spin faster and faster, charging with energy. He could feel the weight of their power building, the heat radiating from them. This was risky, especially in a sparring session, but he didn't see any other way to win.

  Jerry smirked as he saw Benny preparing for something bigger. "You're going all out, huh? Bring it on!"

  With a flick of his wrist, Benny released one of the charged balls. It shot through the air, glowing with a dangerous intensity. But Jerry was ready. He leaped to the side, narrowly dodging the ball as it sailed past him.

  "You missed!" Jerry shouted triumphantly, rushing toward Benny with renewed vigor.

  But Benny wasn't fazed. His eyes stayed locked on Jerry as he continued to dodge, weaving through the air with speed and precision. Benny grinned. He hadn't missed at all.

  The ball that had sailed past Jerry suddenly curved mid-air, turning back toward him like a homing missile. Jerry didn't notice until it was too late.

  Thwack!

  The ball struck Jerry in the back of the head, sending him tumbling forward. His body collapsed, and for a moment, the entire room went silent. Benny's heart skipped a beat—had he gone too far? He hadn't meant to knock Jerry out cold.

  Just as Jerry's unconscious body was about to hit the floor, a glint of silver flashed in the air. Metal bands, seemingly from nowhere, wrapped around Jerry's torso, gently lowering him to the ground.

  "That's enough," a calm voice echoed through the room.

  Benny looked up and saw none other than William Dangerfield, his presence commanding attention even after all these years. The former winner of the Power Royale stood tall, his eyes assessing the situation with a mix of concern and amusement. With a simple motion of his hand, William manipulated the metal to carry Jerry's unconscious form.

  "You pack quite a punch, kid," William remarked, his tone casual but sharp. "But you've gotta be careful. Don't want to end your sparring partner's career before it even starts."

  Benny scratched the back of his head, feeling a little sheepish. "Yeah... Sorry about that. Got a little carried away."

  William's gaze lingered on Benny for a moment longer than expected, his brow furrowing slightly. "You remind me of someone," he said, almost to himself. His words carried a weight Benny couldn't quite place, like there was something left unsaid, something important.

  But before Benny could ask what William meant, the former champion waved his hand, dismissing the thought. "Anyway, I'll take Jerry to the infirmary. Don't worry, he'll be fine. Just needs some rest."

  As William turned to leave, carrying Jerry's limp body with him, Benny felt a strange knot forming in his stomach. There was something unsettling about the way William had looked at him, almost like he knew something Benny didn't. And what did he mean by reminding him of someone?

  "That was incredible!" Junine's voice broke through Benny's thoughts. She and Rider rushed over, both looking at him with wide eyes. "That curveball was genius!"

  "Yeah, man," Rider added with a grin. "You really got him there. He never saw it coming!"

  Benny chuckled, trying to shake off the unease that William's words had left him with. "Thanks. I just kinda... improvised."

  Before they could continue talking, Benny felt a shiver run down his spine. He glanced around the room, his eyes narrowing. Something was off. It was subtle, but Benny had learned to trust his instincts. He couldn't shake the feeling that someone—or something—was watching him.

  He scanned the crowd of students, but no one stood out. Everything seemed normal, or as normal as it could be in a place where people were shooting fire and lightning at each other.

  Then, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a shadowy figure standing near the edge of the training hall. The figure was cloaked in darkness, their face obscured, but Benny could feel their gaze locked on him. A cold chill crept over his skin.

  "Hey... do you guys see that?" Benny asked, nodding toward the shadowy figure.

  Junine and Rider followed his gaze, but when they looked, the figure was gone. Vanished without a trace.

  "See what?" Junine asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.

  Benny hesitated. "Nothing... I guess."

  But deep down, he knew it wasn't nothing. Someone had been watching him. And whoever it was, they didn't want to be seen.

  The mystery of the shadowy figure loomed in Benny's mind, even as the adrenaline from the sparring match began to fade. Whatever was happening, Benny had a feeling this was only the beginning.

  To be continued...