"The best way to win this exam is to wipe out the other participants, leave only two people, then winning the race should be child's play. I can even stroll to the finishing line!"
One student stated the obvious as he conjured a pulsating ball of water that quickly dispersed mid-air, taking the form of sharp knives.
"Dammit, why didn't they ban the use of abilities?" Students cursed as they looked up at the array of knives that exceeded a hundred, hovering above their heads.
No doubt, if that student released the water knives, it would wipe out all those who couldn't protect themselves from it. It was the survival of the fittest right in front of their eyes.
"I want to win this race with Ikor and Violet! All you side characters can go to hell!" That student shouted as the knives descended on the students.
Students who possessed defensive abilities tried to shield themselves, and those who possessed offensive abilities could do nothing but gamble on their fast reflexes.
"Damn this asshole, I can barely dodge a single knife, how on the seven hells did this bastard expect me to dodge so many!" A student complained with his teeth grinding back and forth.
Several students shared the same thought process, and they internally swore to beat up this guy if they caught him outside.
"It's not my fault, if you're worthy of being here, then you should survive this!" The boy shouted as the knives inched closer to the students.
While some weak-spirited students closed their eyes, cowering in fear, some wore extremely determined expressions. One thing that was evident: they knew that this boy was very strong for him to have such powerful control of his ability.
People his age were usually struggling to even activate their abilities, but here he was manipulating myriads of knives at once!
His control was simply impeccable!
Silence!
A heavy silence fell throughout the field.
Students were confused.
They didn't lose consciousness!
And…they certainly didn't block the knives.
What was happening?!
"You…this is not how a hero is supposed to act."
The students heard a noble male voice that seemed to belong to Jesus. They looked up at the direction of the voice, seeing the powerful back of a tall student with a ponytail swinging in the air.
This was their savior, and at that moment, his visage appeared like that of a god. The students didn't know if they were seeing things, but they could see brilliant light behind his back, and all the water knives were hovering before his face.
"It's Ikor!"
"He rescued us!"
"Hahahah! There is a reason this motherfucker is the son of the second stronger Hero."
"I always knew he was strong."
"Yolan, right?" Ikor spoke. "I remembered you."
"Huh? You remember me?" Yolan seemed shocked at the revelation that Ikor knew him.
"Why won't I remember you? You were the arrogant one back in the Gathering."
Yolan's face twitched a little, and Ikor continued, unbothered.
"You're talented, but I don't think you belong here. This is the Hero Academy after all, not a place for selfish egoists!"
"How dare you!" Yolan sneered. "Who gave you the right to decide who would be here! You bastard!" Yolan rushed forward, a mass of water started to revolve around his arms, taking the shape of twin chains all ending with razor-sharp hooks.
With a barbaric smile on his face, Ikor swung the hook down on Yolan, who was still standing; he didn't make any movement to parry the hook that seemed as if it would cleave his skull into two.
"Is he seriously attacking Dalton Daze's son with the intention of killing him?"
Some students were even led to believe that Ikor was scared shitless to react.
"No matter how dense he is, I didn't expect him to be this stupid. If he touches even a strand of Ikor's hair, not only would he be killed, even his family."
"Bastard and here I thought you were someone special! It is you who doesn't belong here—"
Before Yolan could complete his sentence, Ikor snapped his fingers and whispered, "freeze."
Immediately the words left Ikor's mouth, Yolan froze, the water hooks suspended midair. The muscular student's eyes were wide open in realization that he couldn't move even a single muscle.
'How can this be? I don't want to lose. How would I show my face to father again if I can't even pass a simple entrance exam? Would he even accept me back? How could he be so strong.'
For the first time in his life, Yolan felt despair; at that moment, he knew he messed with the wrong person.
"Sleep," Ikor spoke, and the water surrounding Yolan's body collapsed along with the hooks, and the muscular student collapsed to the ground, knocked out cold.
[Participant 23 has been eliminated]
Before the students could come out of their stunned state, Ikor's body flickered and disappeared from there.
'Which ability is that…isn't it too overpowered?' Nyx thought after witnessing this scene, and he who was hardly moved by others was genuinely shocked. At that moment, he made the decision to recruit this kid as his pawn, and if that doesn't work, he would proceed to plan B…
'Kill him now that it's still early before he becomes a headache in the future,' the red-haired boy thought as he hastened his pace. In the distance, he could vaguely see the four people. Violet was at the forefront alone, a place that was previously occupied by Ikor.
'He must be pretty confident—'
Suddenly, a gust of breeze hit Nyx, and the red-haired boy saw a figure pass him with frightening speed accompanied by a whirlwind of dust.
When the whirlwind cleared, Nyx could see that familiar ponytail swinging alongside Violet's again.
It was Ikor, and he was ahead of everyone. At that moment, Nyx realized how big of a threat Ikor was.
Just then, he drifted off from his musing because he could…see the finishing line..