Orion Institute of Mech-Soldiers is a well-known and very hard-to-enter academy.
Despite the ridiculous Trial, it was done not without a reason.
From the memories he gained, Alex knows that the Orion Institute of Mech-Soldiers is one of the best Mech-Soldiers academies around located on Planet Dolotov, and has become the dream of many youngsters who have big ambitions to join and make a name for themselves.
Its participation requirements are very strict.
Even failure in one metric would automatically fail the candidates' submission.
Not only does one need to be in the range of accepted age and have no physical disabilities, but the candidate's physical examination, academic excellence, background checks, and even Bio-aptitude must meet the academy's standards.
Only then that the candidates be interviewed and allowed to attend the Trial.
Each year, there were two sessions of Trial that would be done.
Admitting around eighty thousand participants per session, and would only accept more or less 600 new Aspirants, roughly less than a 0.4% acceptance rate. It's extremely hard to stand out, but anyone who managed to get inside would be guaranteed a bright future.
Due to this enticing deal, candidates came from varying backgrounds.
Candidates didn't come from the planet itself.
Most of them hailed from a Solar Colony known by Hyperion Empire's standards, the Dune Colony, hosting Planet Dolotov itself and also encompassed several closely situated solar systems.
It's a dream come true for people of working age to be submitted to Planet Dolotov.
For the locals, the academy is close to them yet far away.
None of them could compete with the aristocratic families that wanted to submit their offspring to this behemoth of an academy, producing the best Mech-Soldiers and having numerous high-company commanders and generals as its alumni.
If Alex had not known any better, he might have felt out of place.
After all, Xander doesn't even have the money to fill his weapon quota for the Trial.
However, despite his poor circumstances, no one could've predicted that his last name was 'Sitradus', a powerful family with influence extending across multiple Solar Colonies, including the closely governed Dune Colony.
One of the loyal follower of his mother, aid him to give him a shot at the Trial.
'Well, if not for Uncle Fredrick, then it would be impossible for me to be here. So if I had the chance, I'll repay him for this' Alex pondered, nodding his head as he took his bag and followed Ms. Joselyn to step out of the spaceship.
Standing on the landing platform, he could instantly feel the refreshing air.
It was nothing like he expected.
Planet Dolotov revolves around the innovation of technologies, anybody knows that. In addition, it's also served as a military base, thus he expected that the air here would be crisp and infused with a sharp metallic scent that pointed at its advanced civilization.
But contrary to his expectations, the air is extremely cool and refreshing.
It didn't take long before military personnel came out of the building and approached them.
A middle-aged man with toned muscle, bulging evidently from the white and grey skin-tight combat suit he's wearing approaches them. Stopping before Ms. Joselyn, he saluted and greeted her, slightly shouting due to the loud background noise of spaceships, "Welcome back Instructor Joselyn. We have already received your message, and the principal already awaits your arrival in his office"
Upon hearing this, Ms. Joselyn also saluted before nodding. "Lead us to their lodgings first"
"Of course, please follow me" the military personnel replied before gesturing to follow him.
Alex and Natalia trailed behind as the military personnel led them into the building, which the two initially assumed to be the academy itself. However, it soon became evident that it was merely the space terminal for the academy.
Just this alone shows that the academy is massive if it has this facility.
While following from behind, Alex looks around the vast place and sucked in a cold breath.
It's so big, equivalent to one of the biggest sects or guilds building in Adudal Principality. I expected no less from one of the Hyperion Empire's finest academies. Alex marveled, taking in the entire view of an environment that was extremely foreign to him, a previous dweller of the magical world.
Soon enough, the four reached an underground station.
Learning from the military personnel who gave them small information along the way to this station, the aspirants of the Orion Institute of Mech-Soldiers used some sort of train to help them reach places faster.
For Alex, all of this is his first time.
Even an underground station and a train are a foreign concept for him.
Clicking on a device positioned near the platform, a mechanical hum and gas can be heard as a small train, shaped like a capsule arrives in front of them and the door opens, revealing four seats.
Taking a seat inside, Alex strapped himself in a reverie.
Back in Adudal Principality, people used to ride magical beasts or fly for faster travel. So this is one of the means the Hyperion Empire used for everyday travel. Alex pondered, trying his hardest to not look too surprised.
However, the military personnel seem to notice this quickly.
Putting on a pleasant smile, the military personnel gazed at the two sitting across him and asked, "Where are the two of you from? Are these facilities too advanced compared to your home planets?"
"Y- Yes, I've come from a Class 4 Planet, so this is all new" Natalia was the first one to reply.
Upon hearing this, the military personnel chuckled, "Oh, I see..."
The Hyperion Empire's planets were classified into classes starting from 1 to 5.
Depending on the assessment that was done once a decade, the planets under their reign would be evaluated and put into classification. For instance, Class 4 Planet only has limited advanced technologies. Basic smartphones and traditional vehicles are the norms there.
Contrary, a Class 2 Planet would have a more advanced civilization.
Space travel is the norm here. Augmented reality, magnetic, and even gravity technologies are also some of the technological usages that stretch from daily tools, to the medical field, and also military-grade weaponry.
Even though this is Alex's first time in a technological world, he knows how things work.
Xander is not a bum, he knows how to operate advanced technologies.
"Since Planet Dolotov is a military base, it's a given that it's a Class 2. But don't worry, you can find the manual for living here in your lodgings, and you can read it and adapt quickly. I'm sure you won't have any trouble, if you have any questions, you can come to me" Ms. Joselyn chimed, assuring the two that it will be fine.
In response, Natalia nodded his head, excited about this whole ordeal.
After she answered, the train propelled forward and moved quickly through the subway. Soon, the military personnel glanced over at Alex, "What about you? Your name is Xander, right? Where did you come from?"
Upon hearing this question, Ms. Joselyn quickly turned her attention towards Alex.
During their brief eye contact, Alex found that she was shaking her head, seemingly signaling something to him. But then again, he didn't understand what she meant so he decided to ignore it, "I'm from Planet Tannara, so I will be fine"
Ms. Joselyn could only grasp her face and sighed when she heard this.
She already knew where this was heading.
Just as she expected, upon hearing Alex's home planet, the military personnel and even Natalia have their eyes widened completely. "P- Planet Tannara?! A- Are you being serious...? If it's true, then may I ask your surname?"
"Sitradus, my surname is Sitradus" Alex replied nonchalantly while looking out of the window.
Like an instinctive response, the military personnel straightens his back instantly.
Realizing that he was talking with one of the descendants of the Sitradus Family, he was cursing himself inside as he was talking informally with Alex earlier. "My apology for not recognizing you, Sir Xander!"
"Settle down, I'm fine with the way you treated me" Alex replied, waving his hand.
In truth, Xander doesn't like to tell others that he came from the Sitradus Family due to his condition and also his relationship with his family, especially his relationship with the second wife of his father who actively seeks his demise.
However, Alex wouldn't let the privilege he gained be wasted like this.
Since I come from an enormously influential family, I'm going to use this to my advantage. I'll quickly use this to rise the ranks until I reach the required rank to have my own ship. Alex nodded, he already thought about this before.
Natalia was still looking at him in disbelief, and she could feel a chill running down her spine.
Even though his name sounded familiar, she thought nothing of it.
But she was wrong to do that, she had already seen from the list of applications before the Trial that there was a descendant from the Sitradus Family that was inside her batch Trial, yet she couldn't believe that it was Alex.
Still in disbelief, she tapped Alex's hand lightly with her trembling hand.
"Are you really a Sitradus...?" She asked softly.
Upon hearing this, Alex shrugs his shoulders, "Believe me or not, it's up to you"
Natalia's body quickly stiffens when she realizes that Alex is not playing around, 'Oh my god... I pointed my Psi-blades at him! H- He's not bitter about that is he? If he is then I'm going to be in trouble!'
'I need to make sure that he didn't resent me' She bit her lower lip in determination.
Oblivious to what she was thinking, Alex gazed out of the window silently, dwelling in his mind. This would be the official start of his new life. No matter what lies ahead, he's determined to keep his focus on his goal.
A moment later, the four of them reach the principal office.
Entering the office behind Ms. Joselyn, Alex and Natalia found themselves face-to-face with the Orion Institute of Mech-Soldier's principal, a retired major general in his seventies. Despite his age, his body remained muscular, chiseled, and imposing.
It gave him the aura of a fearsome veteran who has lived through countless battles.
Unwavering in the face of any challenges.
His hair displayed signs of aging, and he wore glasses along with a silk-smooth, high-quality white and blue robe. One prominent feature that stood out was the grievous battle scar that ran above his left eye down to his cheek.
No candidates are not aware of this old man, the famous principal of the institute.
Douglas Rae Elgin, also known as Major General Red Arm.
"So these two are candidates who survived a beast horde and outmaneuvered a Type-4 Beast?" Principal Douglas squinted his eyes, inspecting Alex and Natalia closely. "I can see it in their eyes already, they are trained. Instructor Joselyn, how about you introduce the two of them to me?"