"You all will be divided into five groups: A, B, C, D, and E," Camila spoke, her gaze piercing through the crowd, causing several students to swallow nervously.
With a snap of her fingers, patterns materialized beneath everyone's feet, causing some students to nervously stepped out of the pattern, thinking it was a trap.
However, after a glare from the vice principal, they were all forced back into the line.
"Fools, this is a teleportation pattern!" Yolan sneered. "Clueless bastards like you don't deserve to be here!"
"The muscle-bound simpleton is correct," Camila spoke with an icy tone, causing Yolan to grin. "This pattern will teleport you to the designated groups you belong."
"That said, let's go through the rules. From the starting line, you all should be able to tell that the exam is a race. Each group will accommodate a total of 20 participants, and you will all be aiming for the finishing line."
"Doesn't it sound too easy?" One student whispered to another.
"If it's like this, then I'm confident I can pass this exam," another chimed in.
Nyx was also paying strict attention to what was being said, but unlike these kids, he knew this exam was not as easy as Camila was making it look.
'Even in the past, the Hero Academy had been a prestigious school that only a few privileged were opportune to attend.'
There were also rumors that students in the academy didn't exceed 2000, so if the exam was this easy, wouldn't the school be overcrowded and lose its prestigious status?
"Silence!" Camila issued a stern warning to the chaotic crowd, who all gulped collectively. In the heat of the moment, it seemed they'd forgotten about the reputation of the woman standing in front of them.
After maintaining semblance of order, Camila continued. "Of course, this is not a simple race as you think. Only the top 3 will pass this exam!"
Silence fell on the crowd for a moment as Camila's words sank in before they started whispering silently among themselves.
"This is bad; I hope they don't place me in the same group as Violet and Ikor."
"This is unfair; how would they accept only three students out of 20!"
"Last year's exam wasn't like this. It was much easier."
"Dummy, of course they would change it to avoid predictability."
"This exam is clearly made for the students with powerful ability!"
'If you guys are scared, you can leave anytime." The vice principal spoke in a low tone that could be heard by everyone, instantly silencing the chatter. No matter what, none of these students want to bail out now. Becoming a Hero was a childhood dream for most of them.
They wanted to defeat villains, save civilians; plus the fame and luxurious life that came with it was just too enticing for them to quit now.
Seeing their determined expressions, Camila nodded. "Very well then."
"Hey, if we happen to be in the same group, let's team up." Apollo suggested, knowing that the best way to pass this exam was to cooperate with others, a common thought process shared by everyone.
Nyx looked at the easygoing black-haired boy for some time before shifting his attention into the distance.
"We wouldn't be placed in the same group."
Apollo shot a quizzical look at the red-haired boy.
"How did you know?"
The black-haired boy never got his answer because at that moment, the patterns beneath their feet started to light up, and one after the other, the students started to vanish from their spot. As he disappeared, Nyx's voice lingered in the air.
"Because… of my bad luck."
***
( In the surveillance room )
"Ikor and Violet should have been among the recommended students." A man with a crooked nose, bald head, and a white mustache spoke as he stared at the massive screen that currently displayed the students who are about to take the entrance exam.
This man was Mister Isaac, an instructor at the Hero Academy!
"Yes, the academy did offer them recommendation slots, but their parents turned it down," said a stoic-looking man, donned in a tailored grey suit and black eyeglasses. His blond hair slicked backward, and his handsome face was wrinkle-free.
Momo, the man in the suit, elegantly crossed his legs and added, "You guys should know those two and their crafty ways by now.
"Hmmm, I think it's a PR move," said a beautiful woman with green hair and green eyes.
"A PR move?" Isaac spoke with curiosity.
This time around, it was Momo that answered. "According to my sources, Ikor and Violet awakened a rank 5 ability."
"A rank 5 ability!" Isaac opened his mouth in shock. "A freaking rank 5! Why didn't anyone tell me."
[AN: Ablity are ranked from 1 to 5]
"Of course, they wanted to keep it secret; the last thing they want is a bunch of villains targeting them, but for some reasons unknown, they want to display their strength now." The green-eyed lady spoke, sipping from a glass filled with green liquid.
"By showcasing their kids' prowess in this exam, not only will Torrin and Dalton strengthen their position in the superhero world but also force academies and agencies worldwide to invest in them, nurturing their potential to be the next big thing." Momo calmly spoke, taking a moment to let his words sink in.
"Sure, there's the looming threat of villains, but we all know the Hero Academy's defenses are top-notch. It's the safest bet for them. Essentially, those two managed to hit two birds with one stone," he concluded, casually shifting his gaze to the screen where students were appearing in their designated groups.
At that moment, the camera briefly showed a red-haired boy, and besides him were the two prodigies that were too frightening for their age: Ikor Dalton and Violet Blackstar.
"These kids are finished; their luck must be the worst in the world. I bet they never thought of being in the same group as these two monsters." Isaac remarked with a light smile on his face.