Psychic Overlord

The newly formed Overlord Force piled into their cars with a mixture of excitement and laughter, as well as some still-lingering trauma.

Most were still recovering mentally from the pressure they’d felt moments ago, but none wanted to miss the momentous march to the stadium, especially not now.

Lisa jumped into the driver’s seat of her jet-black Mustang, revving the engine with a wicked grin. "Get in, losers. We’re going to change the world!"

"Don’t use that tone. You sound like a villain in a teen movie," Julia muttered, buckling in beside her with a sigh.

"I am a villain in a teen movie," Lisa replied confidently, stepping on the accelerator all the way.

Kaizer rode in his Dodge Viper ACR with Rina beside him in the passenger seat, her legs crossed and sunglasses on as if she were the real celebrity.

Behind them, the rest of the bunch followed in their luxurious convoy of cars, turning heads as they made their way down the main road toward the Esper Academy’s centerpiece.

And then they arrived, at the famous Esper Academy Stadium where all such events for the school were handled year by year.

The Esper Academy Stadium was enormous, circular and sleek, built like a blend between a sports coliseum and a high-tech military base.

It loomed ahead and blocked part of the horizon with its sheer size, like something out of a futuristic cityscape. The outer walls were lined with shifting digital banners that displayed students’ faces, logos of elite factions, and countdowns to the various End of Year events.

From afar, it almost looked like a glowing arena ready to host a galactic tournament.

Massive drones floated around the upper edges of the building, capturing footage for global broadcast across all esper channels. Security drones patrolled the skies like hawks while large platforms hovered over the crowd, some displaying VIP boxes, others broadcasting data and stats in real-time.

The main plaza around the stadium was packed as thousands of esper students milled about in excitement, each wearing outfits ranging from sleek battle gear to stylish uniforms depending on their Echelon.

Families gathered in large groups with some snapping pictures while others were crying tears of pride. Staff of the academy as well as the more than fifty mentors walked with grace, guiding the younger or newer students through registration.

Booths were set up for faction recruiting, merchandise, and interviews as corporations had sent representatives, being men in black suits with expensive coats as well as ladies in heels holding tablets with the new esper’s details flowing on them, allowing them to mark their targets.

There were also reporters from various news outlets affiliated with the esper world, students with livestream equipment planning to grow their channels, and even scouts from international esper leagues looking for new talent.

In the center of all of this, the most elite spectators stood tall, the government officials from the United Federation whose presence was signaled by dignitary cars and subtle yet intimidating escorts in uniform. The crest of the Federation glinted against their lapels.

And then came the choked silence, because finally, the Overlord Force had arrived.

A group of vehicles rolled into the designated arrival point, the sheer power of the psychic and elemental signatures making the closest espers freeze in place.

Kaizer may have reduced his intensity, but that was only for his friends. To others, he was like a sun of esper power, or a nuclear furnace in the process of constant reaction.

Then, the doors of the flashy vehicle convoy opened, revealing Lisa and Julia first, giving the vibe of movie stars with explosive powers.

After them came Sophia, calm and elegant as always, as if she were royalty.

Maria followed with a flirtatious flick of her hair and a smirk like she owned the pavement.

Behind her, Hector adjusted his jacket while giving a two-finger salute to a group of gawking freshmen.

Morgan and Julius looked like children seeing Disneyland for the first time, while Dante and Cornelius tried to act cool and failed spectacularly.

Then came Kaizer and Rina, the main duo that was the talk of the entire esper world, and especially the talk of the academy.

The events of his growth were extremely detailed in the minds of everyone, from his forced awakening by a dark esper attack, to suffering continuous attacks till he joined the academy, then becoming the dean’s student, undergoing two months of training and becoming S-class after being registered at S- when he first entered, and especially his battle record at Al-Rafid.

If there were two things that got the blood of the esper world boiling, it was Kaizer’s two-month absurd growth and his Al-Rafid exploits.

As such, when Kaizer stepped out, the air shifted and not because he flexed his power again, there was no need to.

The weight came from the way he moved alone, like gravity bent just slightly around him... like he belonged at the center of every eye.

Naturally, in response to this, people began to whisper.

"Is that...?"

"It’s him. Kaizer Lunin."

"Dean Rochester’s student. The rumored strongest psychic."

"Wait, is that A Rank 33rd Sadistic Flame and A Rank 32nd Crystal Ice with him?!"

"And A Rank 12th Void Walker?!"

"Who the hell are these people?!"

Kaizer paused at the center of the plaza and looked up at the stadium entrance as he took a deep breath, then walked forward.

Within the towering stadium, the crowd buzzed like a living organism with their loud cheering, endless chattering, as well as surging with excitement. Drones floated overhead like curious birds, scanning the crowd as esper students of all ages filed through the various entrances.

Inside, the central coliseum was already alive with action where lights flashed along the curved ceiling as holographic projections highlighted current matchups and replayed battles from previous years.

A giant circular stage rested in the middle of the field, rotating slowly as platforms rose and descended, being the combat rings, the demonstration zones, and the holographic lecture spaces all shifting dynamically in real time.

Up in the private zones reserved for elites, Kaizer’s peers - his fellow Special Echelon members - stood in different wings of the stadium, each engaged in their own preparations.

In the eastern locker bay of the stadium, sparks crackled across Tyrron’s body as he rolled his shoulders, warming up. A pair of junior combat espers stood nearby, watching him with open admiration as he effortlessly crushed two weighted spheres between his palms.

"Sir Ragnar, your first match will be on Sector Red Platform. Also... Kaizer Lunin has arrived," one student reported with a serious expression.

Tyrron’s electric green eyes flickered. "He finally came down, huh?"

A grin split across his face as lightning danced around his neck like a living scarf.

"It’s about time. Let’s see if the hype holds up."

In the north observatory lounge, Eleanor stood alone in front of a transparent screen, reviewing strategic diagrams of battlefield layouts while a perfectly organized tray of tea and documents sat untouched beside her.

A junior from the Seltzer Clan approached quietly and bowed. "Lady Eleanor, the Dean’s disciple has entered the plaza."

Eleanor didn’t flinch, her fingers continuing to swipe through the projections.

"I am aware," she replied coolly.

She then waved the fellow away. "I’ll evaluate him the same way I do anyone; by results, not reputation."

But her lips twitched ever so slightly.

Within the meditation chamber of the central arena tower, Lucian sat in absolute stillness while around him, floating swords of light circled in perfect, deadly silence.

There were no guards, no noise, nor any distractions.

An instructor entered quietly, pausing at the door. "Vale... Kaizer Lunin has arrived."

Lucian didn’t open his eyes. "Then the battlefield will finally be worthy of my presence."

In the west training hall, loud thuds rang out as Tessa’s fists smashed against reinforced dummies. Around her, a squad of trainees flinched with every impact.

A sweaty assistant ran up. "Tessa! Kaizer is here!"

Tessa paused mid-punch, lips curling into a wolfish grin. "The Overlord, huh?"

She wiped her forehead with her wrist. "Let’s see if he can walk the walk... or if he’s just a pretty psychic face."

High above in a VIP overlook with glass walls, Roland leaned back in a reclining chair, sipping soda from a can. He casually waved away the assistant who rushed in with the announcement.

"Yeah, yeah. I know. Kaizer’s here," he said with a lazy grin.

"Let the others stress over it. I’m just here to enjoy the show."

He took another long sip, then murmured under his breath.

"...But if that guy really is Dean Rochester’s student, I wonder what kind of waves he’s about to make."

The stage was set.

From every wing of the stadium, eyes turned toward the plaza as those who previously thought themselves strong began to question the certainty of their power.

And the five already at the peak?

They felt the tremble in the air, one that was not just of a peer, but perhaps... of an emperor ascending.