The five teenagers stood on the edge of Aurora Academy's grand courtyard, the morning sunlight casting long shadows behind them. They had been thrown together by fate, five UR+ awakened from different corners of the world, now united by a common destiny.
"So," Marvin said, breaking the silence that had settled between them after their official introduction ceremony. He ran a hand through his messy brown hair, green eyes scanning his new companions. "I guess we're stuck with each other for the foreseeable future."
Elianore laughed, her wild red curls bouncing as she shook her head. "Such enthusiasm, Rylan. Is this how you greet all your new teammates?"
"Only the ones with reputations that precede them," Marvin replied with a half-smile. "The Arcane King, The Phoenix Aurora, The Aegis, The Queen Elf, and The Berserker. We sound like characters from a video game."
Kaito Ryujin Kazuki, standing tall and imposing with his jet-black hair and intense dark eyes, crossed his muscular arms. "We may have fancy titles, but we're all level 1 right now. E rank nobodies with potential."
"Speak for yourself," Axel Thane Blackthorn interjected, his deep voice carrying a hint of challenge. "I was punching through training dummies before I could walk."
Lilia rolled her eyes, tucking a strand of honey-blonde hair behind her ear. "We've all heard the stories about the Blackthorn family's training methods. Impressive, but can you actually use that Berserker ability without leveling an entire building?"
Axel's confident expression faltered slightly. "I'm... working on it."
"That's the point of Aurora Academy, isn't it?" Marvin said, gesturing toward the imposing main building of the academy. "To learn control. To figure out how to harness what we've been given."
"I've been studying the ability progression system," Elianore said, her emerald eyes lighting up with excitement. "Do you realize what being UR+ means? We each have the potential to unlock three legendary abilities, plus all the other tiers. The level cap is 600. No one's ever reached that before."
"My grandfather came close," Marvin said softly. "SSS+ rank, level 420."
Kaito nodded respectfully. "Azwan Rylan is a legend. As is your grandmother, Elianore."
"Speaking of legends," Lilia interjected, pointing to a stern-looking man approaching them. "Isn't that Mikhail Baranov? The SS+ hunter?"
Marvin sighed. "My bodyguard. Grandfather insisted."
The others exchanged glances as Mikhail approached, his watchful gaze sweeping over the group.
"Mr. Rylan," he said with a curt nod. "The Headmaster wishes to speak with you all regarding your training schedule. The academy has arranged for specialized facilities to accommodate your... unique circumstances."
"Great," Axel muttered. "Special treatment already. That won't make us targets at all."
"We were always going to be targets," Kaito said matter-of-factly. "Five UR+ awakened appearing at the same time? The world is watching us. Every hunter, every guild, every clan."
"And every dungeon," Lilia added quietly. "If the monsters can sense our potential..."
A heavy silence fell over the group as the weight of their situation sank in.
"Look," Marvin said finally, "we can spend all day worrying about what might happen, or we can start preparing. We're level 1 right now, but that changes today. We train, we learn, we get stronger."
"And we do it together," Elianore added, extending her hand to the center of their small circle. "No matter what comes next."
One by one, the others placed their hands on top of hers—Kaito with solemn determination, Lilia with graceful precision, Axel with barely contained energy, and finally Marvin, whose hand glowed faintly with an aurora of flame as it touched the others.
"Starting at E rank isn't so bad," Marvin said with a grin. "Just means we get to enjoy the journey all the way to the top."
"Race you there," Axel challenged, a competitive gleam in his eye.
And so, Marvin Rylan, Elianore Everard Wynter, Kaito Ryujin Kazuki, Lilia Isabella Valois, and Axel Thane Blackthorn stepped out into the world, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. They were the five UR+ awakened, humanity's last hope against the encroaching darkness. They were the party that would be remembered throughout the history of humanity. Their journey had just begun.