CHAPTER 3:THE SPARK OF ESSENTIA
Morning light filtered through the cracked windows of a small cottage nestled in the outskirts of Lionheart. Muscle stretched his arms and yawned as the first rays of sun touched the earth. Turning to his side, he found Dagda still buried in the sheets.
"Hey, get up, you lazy brat," Muscle barked.
Dagda mumbled, "Just one more minute…"
Without warning, Muscle grabbed him and hurled him into the bathroom. A splash followed.
"Hey! What was that for?" Dagda shouted, soaked and annoyed.
Muscle folded his arms. "You said you wanted to be a predator, didn't you?"
Dagda groaned. "Not this early in the morning…"
Muscle's response was a punch to the head. "Toughen up. That's step one."
Grumbling, Dagda followed him outside. They began with basic training: sit-ups, push-ups, endurance runs. Dagda was reluctant at first but soon found himself moving with rhythm, slowly adapting to the physical demands.
After an hour, he dropped to the ground, breathing heavily. "Okay, now can we start the real training?"
Muscle smirked. "Essentia training, huh? Alright."
He sat cross-legged and motioned for Dagda to do the same.
"Essentia is the energy left behind from a cataclysmic event—a war between gods and monsters," Muscle explained. "Nobody knows the full truth, but carvings discovered long ago hinted at it. We didn't believe it at first… until one man awakened that energy within himself. That was the beginning of the Predators."
Dagda's eyes lit up. "So people learned about this from carvings?"
"Yeah," Muscle nodded. "It's ancient knowledge, passed down through signs and symbols. Some call it fate. I call it power waiting to be claimed."
Dagda closed his eyes. "What do I do now?"
"Focus. Meditate. Feel for the energy inside you. Shut out everything else."
Dagda sighed. "Ugh… meditation? Seriously?"
Muscle cracked his knuckles. "Want another punch?"
Dagda snapped upright. "Nope! Got it. Meditating now."
As Dagda fell into silence, Nico observed from a distance, arms crossed, a rare smile tugging at his lips. The boy was undisciplined but determined.
Meanwhile, in the distant halls of the Blood Hoods' castle, Ronan sat in his chamber, gazing through the window toward Lionheart Castle. Below, boys and girls played freely, manipulating Essentia like second nature—wind swirled around their fingers, bursts of light danced in their palms. Ronan's eyes narrowed.
Soon, he thought. I'll show them all what true power is.
"Enjoying the view?" a voice called. Lorenzo entered, carrying a tray of food.
Ronan didn't look away. "Who are those kids?"
"Lionheart Academy students. Talented. But most don't make it past C-rank."
Ronan's gaze shifted to a series of statues in the hall. "Who are those?"
Lorenzo smiled. "The Z-rank Predators. Legends. Heroes. Their deeds carved them into history."
Ronan's fists clenched. "If I become Z-rank, will they carve my statue too?"
Lorenzo chuckled. "If you live long enough."
Back in the forest clearing, Dagda's breathing slowed. His body sat perfectly still, a calmness overtaking him. Minutes passed… then an hour.
Muscle finally stood. "That's enough."
Dagda opened his eyes—and gasped. A brilliant white aura surrounded his entire body, shimmering like mist under moonlight. It moved with purpose, with rhythm. It was alive.
"What is this?" he whispered. "I feel… divine."
Muscle took a step back, his expression one of awe. "I won't lie, kid… your Essentia is strong. Way stronger than I expected."
Dagda rose to his feet. "So what does it do?"
"Snap your fingers," Muscle instructed.
Dagda raised his hand and snapped.
A golden burst of energy erupted from his palm, brighter than sunlight. It illuminated the entire field, washing the trees and sky in a holy glow. The birds went silent. Even the air stilled.
Muscle shielded his eyes. "Light. That's your element."
Dagda looked at his hand in amazement. "This is… incredible."
"That's only the beginning," Muscle said with a grin. "You've taken your first step toward becoming a predator."
From a distance, Nico nodded. The journey had truly begun.