"Hey, wake up" Thaleus felt someone shaking him and he started awake. Derek shook him again a little rougher. "Oof, I'm up, I'm up!" Thaleus exclaimed
"What's going on? are we here?"
"Yeah man, we just passed the gates." Kip explained.
"I hear they're driving us straight to a testing hangar" one of the recruits said at the back of the truck. "Shit, I can't wait to see how that Johnny kid does" someone whispered. Everyone knew Johnny was a gravity user. Only Thaleus had seen what he could do first hand though. He could still feel that fist connect with his face if he thought hard enough.
*Screeeeeeeech* The truck came to an abrubt hault causing everyone to grab onto something to keep from falling against their fellow peers.
"ALRIGHT EVERYONE OUT! MOVE IT, MOVE IT!" Terrance bellowed through the cockpit.
The door at the back of the truck swivelled up and they all hopped out covering their eyes from the sudden change in lighting. "You're teacher will be here momentarily to put you through the testing, abilities are allowed to enhance yourself and give you higher scores. If you would go off to your right and go stand next to the strength test to wait please." Terrance pointed at what looked like a metal gong implanted in the wall of the hangar. Everyone quickly and nervously walked over to the gong to wait.
"Hey do you think our teacher will be nice?" Kip asked shyly.
"I'm sure he or she won't be a complete asshole." Thaleus replied with a smirk. The four friends chuckled nervously.
"By the way guys, what are your abilities?" Thaleus asked with interest.
"Well you probably already know mine" Alice replied "I come from the Richards family of Lightning users. So far im only at a tier 3 though." she added sheepishly.
Kip looked down embarrassed. "Actually, I was going to be getting an ability from the military. I heard you can get a decent one if you do well on the testing."
Derek then looked at Thaleus. "Im a tier 2 wind user. I was almost on a breakthrough when i got here though so i should be tier 3 soon."
Thaleus looked grim. "I actually have no ability. However i don't want one from the military because i don't want to be indebted to them."
"Well lets do the best we can" Alice smiled trying to lift the mood a bit.
As their conversation finished *WHAM* the door next to tge strength testing station flew open and smacked the metal gong. the digital number saying 0 starting climbing rapidly 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 80, 110, 150, 205... The number stopped and everyones jaw dropped. They looked at the open door now to see a tall bald man with a thick red beard and sunglasses.
"Afternoon recruits, I will be one of three of your teachers over the next three years. My name is Sgt. Shaw. I will be hosting your stength, agility, and stamina test. Would anyone like to volunteer to go first?" Nobody raised their hands or spoke up after witnessing that raw display of power from just the door the man had flung open.
"Alright since we have no volunteers how about you come up and have a go." Sgt. Shaw pointed at Derek.
Derek shambled up to the front and sighed. "Alright here goes nothin." He pulled his arm back and stepped forward into his punch. he manipulated the air around his fist to speed up his punch and pounded the gong with a resounding *woooaoaooa* the 0 climbed 10, 15, 20, 25, 28, 29...
All the students clapped surprised at the number on the wall. "Well looks like we might have some powerhouses this year." Shaw smiled looking impressed.
After Dereks initial punch everyone lined up raring to have a go. As Thaleus watched the hits only a few seemed like they were confident. Unfortunately he was last in line right behind Johnny. Brett one of his underlings was fifth in line and he smashed a 51 onto the board a new record for the class. his ability was a tier 2 strength buff. Johnnys other goon was 4 behind Brett. "Come on Clay show us that power!" Brett yelled. Clay wrapped metal around his hands and pounded the gong. 0, 10, 20, 30, 40 ,60, 80, 90, 92, 93. "Holy shit" Thaleus thought " Im in a class full of monsters." 16 people had now gone and all that was left was Alice, Kip, Johnny, and Thaleus. Alice walked up to the gong nervously. "Come on Alice, you got this." Her friends encouraged in unison. She took a step back then put all her weight in to hitting the gong as her fist was about to connect it a bright blue ball of lightning wrapped around her fist. 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 75, 76, 77.... "Damn" Johnny whistled "Thats not bad at all."
Next up was Kip. He punched as hard as he could as wound up with a 21. The class laughed as he was the weakest so far. Only his friends didnt say a word.
Johnny stepped forward confidently. "This is how youre supposed to punch." he said grinning. "gravity punch". Everyone felt like they were being slightly pulled towards Johnny's hand. When he slammed it into the gong. 10, 30, 60, 100, 130, 140, 150, 152, 154...
The class went nuts no one could believe how much power Johnny possessed. Thaleus's heart dropped. "Fuck, I have to go after that beast." disenheartened he walked up amd punched the gong with all his might. 0, 10, 15, 16, 17, 18... "Fuckin loser." Johnny laughed The whole class followed suit now knowing who the weakest link was. "So much for getting stronger" Thaleus thought.
Next was the agility test. It was practically a game of dodgeball However many you could dodge were the points you accumulated. this also attuned to the persons stamina. Derek and Alice were the two fastest in this test getting a 76 for derek and a 106 for Alice. third was Johnny with 58 Brett and Kyle both got 25 Kip got a 23 and last place was Thaleus with 18. "Looks like I need to finish this last daily quest for the skill points" Thaleus thought.
"Alright everyone follow me. We will be going to the dorms were you can put your belongings. you will be free for the rest of the day. Tomorrow classes start. You will choose your bunkmate. Same sex only." Sgt. Shaw directed them to the dorm rooms.
Thaleus ended up bunking with Kip that way they could avoid any bullying issues right off the bat. Derek ended up with Kyle and Alice ended up with a girl name Lily a tier four Telepathy user.
"Time to get my last daily out of the way." Thaleus brooded after putting his bag on his side of the dorm. "Hey Kip, im going out to find the gym"
"Alright man, just dont get into any trouble."