"Hmm? Machi is on Earth?" Reaper looked up. He was sitting on the edge of a large vast canyon. Standing next to him was Manaka.

"Yep." said Manaka. "It appears after Chasm appeared, the rest of the Powers Society sent her to investigate.."

"One of the Galactic members of Powers Society.." muttered Reaper. "I'd hate to be Chasm right now..  considering just how powerful they are.."

"Actually, Chasm is still more powerful." said Manaka. "All in all, I don't think Machi can win that fight.."

Reaper gave a start. "No way.. My master.. outmatched by an unknown creature?"

"The Universe is pretty big.." said Manaka. "We don't know half the things that go on out there in the vastness of space.. for all we know, there might be something far stronger than Chasm.. it's why we need more people like you.. like my granddaughter.. "

"Hmmm.." said Reaper. "So.. that's what you've been preparing her for.. so you really think she has what it takes.."

"Yes.." said Manaka. "I do.. Chasm pretty much proved it by taking his own interest in her.."

"Yes.. my interest in her is indeed a good indicator of her potential." said a familiar electrically distorted voice. "But might I ask.. what is this new term I haven't yet heard of? Powers Society Galactic.."

Chasm landed behind Manaka.. a gust of wind accompanying his sudden entrance.

Manaka narrowed her eyes. "Oh? So you're Chasm.. I see that descriptions of you weren't overly exaggerated. You truly are powerful.."

Chasm's eye crackled with electricity. "You've never been honest.. have you woman? In any case.. Narina's potential wasn't just judged from fighting her.. You know about my telepathic powers yes? Well.. the world truly is naïve, if they believe Reaper is truly the strongest being on this planet..  when really, the truly strongest being is right in front of me.."

Manaka smiled slyly. "Oh? you're a bit smug to be talking about a fight with me.."

"Truly.. but I feel a certain kinship with you and your family." said Chasm. "We're both users of electric powers.. both our families hold deep roots in dragons.. you could say I'm like a member of your own house.. wouldn't you?"

Manaka's eyes glowed with electric power, and the very canyon began to shake as her hair shaped itself like a white wolf.. electricity rippling down her body. "Careful what you wish for Chasm.. you might still be stronger than me.. but I can definitely put a sound thrashing on you.. you might even lose a few limbs.."

Chasm laughed. "Ease off woman.. I was about a thousand kilometers away when I eavesdropped on your conversation.. I'm just curious about this.. Galactic Powers Society..  I've read all the minds of all the humans in the world when I woke, and I heard no whisper of this.. Galactic.. "

"It's a largely guarded secret.. so largely guarded.. that we sealed our minds of the information being taken telepathically." said Reaper. "But.. I guess a being of your kind of power couldn't be kept in the dark for long.."

"Heh." Chasm chuckled. "That's rich.. but I guess you might be right.."

"Aliens weren't discovered quite as recently as even the King himself was led to believe." said Manaka. "In truth..  aliens were discovered long before.. and the Powers Society existed for millions of years.."

"Intriguing." said Chasm. He walked over to a boulder and sat down, gesturing his pincer arm politely. "proceed.."

"Throughout the millennia, many throughout the universe have cultivated the unique ability to evolve and develop special abilities that most of their race wouldn't usually possess. This 'super human' gene was thought to be a gift." said Reaper

"So the elders of the Universe felt it would be best to come up with the concept of heroes with powers." said Manaka. "In that way, they could keep these super powered beings in check, and at the same time use them for the greater good of the universe."

"They went from planet to planet, creating one Powers Society after the next.. on low tech worlds that weren't yet ready to be part of the Intergalactic union, they hid the existence of the TRUE Powers Society, a massive entity that encompasses many planets and far of regions of space, involving many alien races, including humans." said Reaper. "Earth is one of those planets, so only those promoted to the True Powers Society Intergalactic Division ever find out.. "

"And that's what you hope for Narina isn't it Manaka..?" said Chasm. "That is the true reason the Academy was born.. to prepare everyone for the REAL Powers Society in the end..  and in order to be part of that.. you at least have to be as strong as Reaper.. interesting.. a final test.."

"Most definitely." said Manaka with a sigh. "I want her to succeed.. I want her to find that even somebody who accidentally swapped her own gender can succeed in the biggest way.. and I hope Mizo can eventually achieve that too.."

"So.. what is your role in all this?" Chasm asked. "What is your position in the Powers Society Galactic Division?"

Manaka smiled. "I'm the chairwoman.."

Chasm laughed. "Of course.. and the other Titans, and the Chairwoman of the Powers Society of Earth?"

"They know.. they are charged with regulating Earth, and I believe they're the ones who called Machi to investigate you.." said Manaka. "I suppose she's finished her investigation.. right now.. I think she's taking a little free time to do what she loves most.."

"Which would be?" Chasm asked.

"Isn't it ovbvious?" said Manaka with a grin. "Teaching.."

______________________________-

"Gasp... gasp... gasp.." Narina and Ezra were both on their knees, attempting to catch their breath. They were inside a large traditional Japanese Palace.. barely able to keep upright on mats they were supposed to be sitting on to greet the village elder... sweat pouring down their faces, still wearing exercise clothing..

Violet raised an eyebrow at the duo as Sora and Stoor also eyed them with confusion.

"So.. did the Hotspring put up a good fight?" Stoor muttered.

"You.. gasp..have no idea.." Narina groaned.

Machi grinned from a darker part of the room, where she stood watching. Hmm.. all was fair in training and polishing right?

The village elder, was a very elderly looking man, he had a long thin wispy beard, and was quite thin. As he had been born far before the phenomenal health care technology that kept people looking young was invented, he was perhaps the first 'old' person Narina had ever seen.

According to Mitsune, the elder was perhaps the oldest person on Earth, being alive since the Edo Period and long before.  The elderly man's eyes seemed to widen slightly as he saw Narina.

"Great Elder.." Mitsune bowed and gestured a hand at Narina and the others. "These are the heroes that have been sent to help us.."

"Ahhh.. when you've lived as long as I have.." the Elder said in English. "You learn to see the same eyes in different people.."

"Er.. Star Wars reference?" Narina muttered.

"What?" said the Elder with confusion.

"Episode 7... er.. never mind.." Narina muttered. 

"In any case.. you don't just have the same eyes.." said the Elder. "You look just like a young Ninja girl from the White Wolf clan I met eons ago.. one who could control lightning from the heavens.."

"Right.. I'm descended from her." Narina said. "Plus I accidentally rebirthed into my Grandmother.. whose descended from that clan.. I guess.."

"Hoho.." the Elder nodded.. "In any case, I always had a soft spot for Marina Jousuke of the White Wolf Clan, she had a strong will, yet she was always sort of shy for some reason.."

Violet smirked. That was Narina down to a T. So she and her ancestor did have plenty in common..  (had Narina awakened his powers before rebirthing, his hair would've turned white like all members of the White Wolf Clan). 

"We are very glad you have come." the Elder continued. "We Ryuu are quite skilled and powerful in battle, however, our forces it seems, aren't much of a match against the strange artificial warriors the King has sent to slaughter us."

"The Androids." said Ezra. "They were pretty strong alright. I didn't think the King kept such combat ready tech all to himself when he already has Knights."

"The King likes to reserve the androids for killing those he considers less than ants.. which I do find strange considering his relation to our people." said the Elder. "The knights are for those he considers 'worth his time'. "

"That jerk.." Sora muttered. "Narina, I know he's like your uncle and all.. but he's a jerk.."

"No problem with that, I think he's a jerk too." said Narina. "So.. is there any particular way you want us to help? Or could you at least provide us with an idea of what we're up against? We can't do anything much unless we have something to build a plan on."

"Unfortunately, most of our forces are destroyed upon taking the enemy on.. so our surviving witnesses cannot tell us much." said the Elder.

"I see." said Narina, frowning. "That's not much to go on.. that's for sure.. So, what do you think.. Stoor?"

"Stoor!?" Everyone else looked at Narina, stunned. Why him!?

Stoor scratched his chin. "Right.. this is a tough one, I might need a full layout of the village, and a small idea of what a typical android foot soldier is capable of."

"Stoor was pretty much a tactical genius from the time we were kids." Narina explained. "He might not be a hero right now.. but he used to always beat the adults at chess."

"Ahh.. so Game Master was right." Machi said quietly to herself. "This boy really is something special.."

Violet raised an eyebrow."Intriguing.. but do you really think him intelligent enough to trust the defense of actual lives to his care?"

"Uhhh.." Stoor looked uneasy, but Narina nodded fervently. "He's the kind of guy who reads war strategy books during his free time.. plus I've seen him in action.."

"Narina.." Stoor muttered. "Bro- I mean.. gal... or.. yeah. This situation is way different than Virtual War World."

"That game is a real time simulator, and you've got the high score." Narina said. "Come on.. we don't have any other options.. "

"Sure then.." said Stoor. "But.. I hope you aren't putting your hopes in me alone.."

Ezra leaned in close to Narina. "Seriously, are you sure about this? He's not even practiced in Hero Battle Tactics that we learned back in the Academy.."

"He doesn't need to be practiced in it..he memorized the manuel when he was 12." said Narina.

"WHAT!?" Ezra stammered. "That book is 400 pages!!"

"He's a complete genius." said Narina. "He acts like a rebel mostly to try and get girls to like him.. but.. he's pretty much the smartest person I know."

Machi's eyes sparkled. Even the non super powered humans here.. so many jewels waiting to be turned sparkling and bright.. she just couldn't wait..

As the group left the Elder's house, Machi grinned. "Well, I have to say.. you ALL show some massive promise.."

"OKAY!!" Narina roared, pointing a finger at Machi. "Time to explain.. just WHO the heck are you!?"

Machi smiled. "I am what you call an Appointed Master.. an agent of the Galactic Powers Society who is sometimes assigned to possible recruits due for a promotion into the greater circle of our lovely organization.."

"Eh?" said Narina.

"NEH!?" said Ezra.

"The Whatsit?" said Sora.

"Who ha now?" said Stoor.

"I see.." said Violet.

"You WHAT!?" everyone else looked at Violet, looking stunned.

Violet chuckled. "Don't be too surprised, Manaka, Narina's Grandmother is a close friend. She's in that 'bigger circle' that Machi-senpai described.."

"Oh? So you've heard of my name.." said Machi with a grin. "Not bad.. and you know Manaka? My Narina-chan! Your family knows everybody!!"

"Can somebody please explain what's going on?" Narina said. 

It took only a few minutes to explain.. and by then, Narina's mind was blown.

"IN SPACE!?" Sora stammered. "Like duuuude...IN... SPACE!? WITH ALIENS!?"

"That's all you can say?" Ezra muttered. 

"An Appointed Master scouts out potential members of the Powers Society to be upgraded to Galactic employment." said Machi. "Usually this is assigned.. but sometimes.. I see a jewel with massive potential.. and I just can't help myself.."

"Machi was here to make reports on Chasm's activity on Earth." said Violet. "At least that's my guess."

"Oh you're correct on that.." said Machi. "Though I find it odd that such a powerful Arzoian appeared on Earth..I thought they were all extinct.. in any case, I'll be on Earth for a while just to keep an eye on him.. so, I might as well train some new recruits.."

"You.. think we have what it takes?" Narina said.

"Of course.. " said Machi. "You learn faster than Jugi, my current Apprentice by the way.. you'd be able to pass the final test in no time.."

"And what is the final test pray tell?" Ezra asked.

Machi smiled slyly. "Why.. to beat one of our stationed Earth members of course.. our examiner... Reaper.."