66 Asterisk (1/2)

In another world, a purple spatial door suddenly formed in a lush 'forest', when a white-haired black-robed man then slowly walked from inside it.

”It seems like I've arrived in a forest again huh.... Hm, heh, looks like it is also a quite interesting world.” When Rafi walked out from his spatial door, he saw that he arrived in a lush greenery, not a real forest as he also saw huge and complex apartment-like buildings in near distance.

Boom!

As he started to walk around, a sudden sound of explosion from that apartment-like building piqued his interest when a commotion quickly happening there. After cloaking his presence, he walked in that direction, to confirm his guess. When he arrived in the center of that commotion, he found a dispute between two students, a pink-haired girl and a purple-haired boy, while other students were only looking interestedly at their duel.

”... You understand the rules already don't you? You must destroy your opponent's badge before you are considered a winner.” Her long, bright pink hair slightly danced in the wind as she spoke firmly to that boy in front of her.

”Yes.” While that purple-haired boy then replied curtly as he nodded, preparing his sword stance, while a mechanical voice sounded in their midst.

[Countdown... Start.]

[Three... Two... One.]

[Start of the Duel!]

”Then, here I come! Bloom, Longiflorum!” She quickly channeled her mana as she formed several flower-shaped fire lances in midair, before hurling it in rapid succession at the purple-haired boy. While the boy then nimbly evaded and parried her attacks as he tried to close their distance, to fight her in a close distance.

”So, it is that world huh. I guess there is not much interesting matters here, beside that old monster loli and that Diva. Better get going, ah I want to watch her concert... though, other idols from Queenvail are also nice...” Looking at that boy and girl, Rafi immediately understood which world he arrived to. Sighing softly to himself, he walked away from that commotion as he went to the city. It was because he remembered about that world's story that he felt lazy to just be there, opting to leave silently.

It was because, not long before, due to that world's Earth faced an Invertia, in which rain of meteors rained to Earth from a higher plane, causing Earth to experience an evolution to a higher stage. Though, it was a world that just had an evolution recently, thus it was still in a transition phase. Because of it, there were still many oppositions and fear toward the newly-birth race known as Genestellar, as it appeared after the first Invertia. Although Genestellar was also humankind, but due to their superior physique characteristics and ability to manipulate prana, common people were still afraid of their powers, which in turn causing multiple rules that highly supervised Genestellar's rights.

Then, some people(Integrated Enterprise Foundation) had an idea, finding a middle way for compromise, in which they would create a special place for Genestellar on a man-made island. Because, beside as sources of fear, Invertia and Genestellar were also an opportunity for mankind to advance, heading to a higher race in whole aspects. Meanwhile, in that man-made island, Genestellar could learn to control their power, while their power would also be observed by Integrated Enterprises Foundation, as it would be way beneficial to both sides.

After several decisions among the higher-ups, there would be six Academies built on that island, as per the interest of those members of Integrated Enterprises Foundation. Those Academies were built surrounding the center island, forming a star-shaped island on the whole. Due to that, that island was thus called, the floating island of Academic City Asterisk. Moreover, there would be annual tournaments for Genestellar to show their powers and abilities to the world, as it was legally-approved by the Foundation as its host of event, with the winners would be granted 'any' possible wish by the Foundation as the prize. Thus it would, inevitably, attract every Genestellar to join them, to fulfill their dearest wish.

”Tch, and those tournaments,... are just too sad... to watch. Everyone have their own wishes. To tell them fighting among each other, in an arena just like gladiators, while crushing other's wishes as they strive to realize their own wishes... Although, in the end, it is just an interaction of interests, whether through conflicts... or exchanges... Just, the way of the world...” Rafi mutterred to himself when he saw an ad of the upcoming Phoenix Festa.