RECONNECTION

R2

Tora's POV

One could clearly see the precision in his movements. For someone of such a large build, his speed was quite surprising. The lackeys were already writhing in pain on the floor and the confusion could clearly be seen on the face of the challenger.

"What the hell did you just do you bastard?! Do you believe something of that level will be able to dissuade me? You're delusional".

With that, he rushed the large-looking fellow who just stood on the spot while watching him with a bored expression. With a simple side-step, he moved out of the way of the challenger's fist at the last moment. Using the same momentum, he struck the loud mouth at the back of his neck instantly knocking him out. Giving him one final look of disgust he walked away as the crowd that had gathered made a path for him as he approached.

Well, the morning seems to have started off on an interesting note. The lessons flew by in a blur and finally, the appointed time was at hand. Students filed into the auditorium where they could watch the proceedings of the reconnection awakening in a secure environment. Walking with the rest of my class towards the chambers the whispers and murmurs grew to a stable hum. Excitement, anxiety, hope, fear, wariness, and the smell of perspiration from nervous students filled the air.

"Students participating in the procedure today should please head to their locker rooms to get the safety equipment that have been laced in their assigned lockers."

The message was played three times over the public address system. Getting the outfits from our lockers I looked at myself in the floor-to-ceiling mirror that adorned a section of the locker room walls. White spandex with black protective pads adorning the chest, shoulders, and back. Black fingerless gloves and boots with shin guards were the standard issues for the upcoming endeavor. I clenched and unclenched my fingers to get used to the feeling of the gloves that I now wore.

"Hey! Doesn't Tora look like a character out of an action manga".

Leaving the now growing chatter behind, I walked into the chambers that was already filled with students ready to know their fate. Well no matter what I was, with the strength in my arms and the sharp steel of my katana I was going to map out my own destiny with my very own hands. Never will I allow such a flimsy exercise to determine my future standing.

Walking into the testing hall with the rest of the students, everyone looked ahead to what looked like a large mirror wedged between two trees. The surface of the mirror wasn't calm and steady but appeared smoky instead.

A man stepped in front of the mirror and looked at us. With his gaze alone the chatter died down and he ran his gaze across everyone present in the hall. With his tanned skin, red hair, and green eyes Professor Pius who was the strongest incarnate in our school with an actual dragon being his past life. Although he never revealed the name of his past life, his strength and prowess were more than enough to speak in his stead.

His demeanor and aura made it seem like he was a hulking piece of steel that was permanently inside a fiery furnace. Dressed in a white dress shirt, black trousers, and boots, with a golden belt adorned with a dragon head and finally a red mafia coat his presence was one of comfort for allies but terror for the enemy.

Finally, he began to speak.

"You know the rules, you know what happens when you break them. Walk up to the mirror, place your hand on it and surrender yourself to the guardian of the void. Once the connection has been made and you will see the image of your past life and your minds will become one. As you know, there are five levels of being an incarnate.  The green level shows a human incarnate, the yellow indicating a supernatural being, the red indicating a mythical beast, the blue being a god-level being and finally the white being a supreme cosmic incarnate. Now bear in mind that there might be some with two incarnates which is totally rare but still, you may never know".

"Excuse me professor, but has there ever been a white incarnate?".

A student from behind asked. Sighing, professor Pius replied "there have only been twelve known white level incarnates. They are the reincarnates of the Chinese zodiacs. Not much is known about them since every information concerning them is under lock and key. The only thing known about them is that their power is unlike anything ever known". "Well that's that. Let us begin".

And that's how the process started. One by one students went to the mirror and touched it. Different shades of light shimmered from the mirror telling what kind of being a person was in their past. Hues of green and yellow were seen constantly which was no surprise. There was the occasional red which was reflected from time to time making very few ecstatic as it meant a high standing in society for them.

While students were talking about who they were and their future plans a voice cut through the air at a volume loud enough to reach everyone.

"It's a blue level".This quickly created a chatter that swept through the surrounding students in a wave-like manner. Everyone was trying to get a peek at the mystery person who was a god-level incarnate. Looking at the person who was the center of attention, it was a muscular girl with a slim build. She had tanned skin and blue eyes. Her midnight black hair made the color of her eyes stand out like jewels protruding out of black sand. A light blue aura began to radiate from her causing a drop in the temperature around her as the smell of the sea began wafting in my direction ever so slightly. Strangely, I began to feel a sense of familiarity although I couldn't fathom why. All at once, the room temperature returned back to normal, and everywhere became calm again even as more chatter erupted.