Micheal noticed he couldn't see outside from inside the door—a common measure in most schools to prevent students from knowing their way around. This was especially crucial because the Makisis could take a human form and infiltrate anywhere. That was how they had invaded the world. However, humans had managed to match their abilities and weapons, standing on par with them.
Although the Makisis could easily defeat humans due to their superior strength, they had ceased their war against humanity for reasons unknown. Humans always believed the Makisis would return one day to destroy the world, so they prepared for a potential conflict.Upon arriving at the academy, Micheal stepped out of the car.
In front of him, a large black gate emblazoned with the Teraim Academy logo—two swords crossed with a flame in the center, symbolizing "Destruction upon the Makisis." Suddenly, the gate vanished, leaving Micheal in shock.
He pointed at the spot where the gate had been, trembling. "Wha…t…just…hap—" he stammered. Tom gave him a sharp hit on the head, snapping him back to reality. Micheal rubbed the sore spot, wincing. The system screen popped up:
<98/100%>.
"I should stay away from sunlight? How?" Micheal thought, bewildered. Tom escorted him inside the academy, where he saw other students around his age in a large open field. A roof slowly began to materialize above them. Micheal sighed, "That's one problem solved," he thought.
Suddenly, a white gas started to fill the field, causing confusion and fear among the students. Tom stepped forward to address the crowd of about 150 students. "Don't be scared, pussycats. That's just sanitization smoke. Now, each student is to come forward and place their hands on this crystal." He gestured to a large white crystal.
Above it, a screen displayed "Grade 9."Micheal and the others gasped in shock. Ability users were graded based on their strength and potential, with Grade 10 being the highest. Tom was close to achieving that rank.
"Start coming forward one by one when you hear your names," he instructed.
One by one, students approached the crystal. About sixty received Grade 2, while forty were graded 1. Thirty received Grade 4, and fifteen were graded between 5 and 7. Soon, only five students remained on the field, including Micheal, two boys, and two girls.
Panic set in for Micheal; he had no abilities, and the crystal would expose that, leading to inevitable embarrassment.
"Darn. What am I going to do? This is messed up," he thought.
"Micheal Turner," Tom called. Micheal moved forward slowly, his head down, thoughts racing. As he stood beside Tom, all eyes were on him. Tom instructed him to place his hands on the crystal. With trembling hands, Micheal reached out.
Fear gripped him tighter as he touched the crystal. The screen displayed "Grade 1: Non-ability user." No one was shocked; non-ability users were common, so it was expected. However, Micheal knew he would be a target for bullying. He returned to his spot, relieved that no one seemed to care about his lack of ability.
"Blake Stallard," one of the boys stepped forward. "Name's Blake. Don't worry, I'll protect you," he said, standing beside Micheal. Blake was tall, with silk black hair, a sharp jawline, and a confident demeanor.
"Weird. Some people lack the important things in life, like brains. I never said I needed your protection," Micheal thought, then paused, "Wait. I do need your protection." He grinned awkwardly.
Blake placed his hands on the crystal, and it displayed "Grade 4." Micheal was amazed, feeling a surge of hope. "My new bodyguard is here." Blake returned and placed a hand on Micheal's shoulder.
"So, what's your name?" he asked. The system screen popped up in front of Michael.
Micheal stared at the screen, then looked at Blake, wondering if he could see it too. Blake's expression suggested he couldn't.
"My name is Micheal, and I guess you have the Copycat ability. Don't worry, I won't say a word," he replied.
Blake's eyes widened in shock and confusion. "How did you know my ability?"
"So the system isn't a prank. It's real, and everything I see on it could really happen," Micheal thought before responding, "I just guessed."
Blake looked at him strangely, clearly not convinced.
"Cole Hart," the second boy stepped up. With dyed blue hair and a sharp jawline, he approached the crystal slowly just like Michael had done. He placed his hands on it, revealing "Grade 2." He returned to join them.
"Lisa Elrod," the next girl came forward. She held a shapeshifting weapon trinket resembling a pendant. With blonde hair and beautiful features, she stood at 5'7". Micheal admired the trinket, wishing he had one.
The Shapeshifting Weapon Trinket is a magical item that can transform into various weapons, such as swords, bows, or axes, depending on the wielder's needs. Typically small and intricately adorned, it offers versatility in combat, adapting to different situations. The transformation is activated by the wielder's imagination, and each weapon form comes with unique enhancements. Limitations include a cooldown period and specific conditions for certain transformations. This trinket is quite expensive, with the crystals needed to create it primarily sourced from a grade 7 beast known as the Weapontail.
Lisa placed her hands on the crystal, receiving "Grade 4," the same as Blake. He extended his hand for a handshake when she came back, which she accepted.
Micheal realized he was being overly friendly but understood the reason. To copy an ability, one needed close contact.
The copycat ability allowed an individual to mimic or replicate the abilities, skills, or techniques of others. The user could imitate physical skills, such as combat techniques or abilities, making them versatile in various situations. The copied abilities typically lasted for a life time, turning them to a bank of abilities.
"Kaylee…" Tom paused, then cleared his throat. "Kaylee Whitlock." Gasps filled the air.
"The Whitlock family, the ones with ice and water abilities," a student whispered. Micheal was stunned; the Whitlock family was among the top five most powerful families in the world, known for their high-grade abilities.
The Teraim Academy was founded by the top five families: Whitlock, Stallard, Eden, Roosevelt, and Trevor. Blake belonged to the Stallard family, which was powerful but not as wealthy as the Whitlocks.
Kaylee, with her striking white hair, was even prettier than Lisa. She approached the crystal and placed her hands on it. Her grade was no surprise—"Grade 7"—as expected from a member of the Whitlock family.
"That's the Last set. Now it's time for your second test. A really thrilling one." Tom announced, with a creepy smile.