The screening for the trials had finally arrived, and Kenneth felt a mix of anxiety and excitement about what lay ahead.
Standing before the tall door of the Theta Building, where the screening would take place, she took a deep breath. As she pushed the door open, a wave of attention hit her, and she felt the weight of several pairs of eyes as she walked into the expansive room.
Choosing a seat near the back to avoid the spotlight, she settled in and took in her surroundings. The room could accommodate around 500 students, with a raised platform at the front where the judges would observe. At the centre was a massive ring, ten times the size of a standard one, which filled her with awe.
Kenneth noticed she was the youngest participant, marked by her light red badge, a contrast to the deeper shades worn by the other students. This detail didn't go unnoticed; whispers and glances followed her as she scanned the room filled with eighty competitors—forty girls and forty boys, each an expert in their own right.
She exchanged encouraging words with a couple of girls nearby, who wished her luck. Their support reminded her of Fletcher's parting words.
"Kenneth, you don't need luck—you're the strongest person I know. Just be careful. Try not to stand out too much and keep to yourself. You have nothing to prove, just go out there and kick butt." She had hugged her tightly, a reminder of her belief in Kenneth's abilities.
Fae had chimed in, urging her to perform well without revealing too much, emphasizing the importance of making a good impression on the judges. Kenneth appreciated their support, but she realized that her badge would make it impossible to blend in. Despite the stares and attempts at intimidation, she remained unshaken as she looked around, counting fifteen second-years, forty third-years, and twenty-five fourth-years.
The atmosphere buzzed with conversations about the number of rounds and predictions on who would advance. Just five minutes later, the doors to the second floor swung open, and five figures entered, their strong auras silencing the chatter instantly.
All eighty participants turned their attention to the platform, waiting silently for instructions. The vice captain, whom Kenneth recognized, stepped forward to address them.
"Hello, everyone. Thank you for taking the time to participate in today's screenings. You were all specially handpicked by me in order to take part in this screening, and I expect you to prove that my decision to pick you guys wasn't unfounded. Prove to us that you are worthy of being here." His warm smile was tempered by a steely look in his eyes that conveyed a clear warning:
Don't waste our time.
"Your fellow seniors will also be participating in the screenings this year," he continued, gesturing to the others on stage.
A familiar figure stepped forward to introduce the group. "I'm Ehioze, and these are Claudette, Herys, Eiden, and Miles." He smiled as the others nodded in acknowledgment.
"And we're the Ventures!" Eiden declared, prompting incredulous glances from Ehioze and Claudette, while Herys shook his head in embarrassment. Miles laughed, teasing Eiden about his overly dramatic introduction.
"Don't introduce us like we're some washed-up superhero team, man. It's cringey," he joked, lightening the atmosphere.
Eiden shrugged, flashing a charming smile that eased the tension. Kenneth noticed how his playful demeanor helped everyone relax.
Alcione cleared his throat to regain their attention.
"This screening will be straightforward. There will be six rounds, each featuring combat between competitors from your cohorts. We have four cohorts of twenty students each. Only ten students from each cohort will advance today. Each match will last five minutes; winners move on to the next round."
It was clear that the first day of screening was designed to weed out weaker competitors and identify the strongest. Everyone understood the need to perform well to progress.
"I have a list of all participants. I will now call competitors from cohort one."
Alcione began announcing names, alternating between girls and boys, until he finally reached Kenneth's.
"...Lastly, we have Kenneth Greywater."
As her name echoed in the room, Kenneth stood and made her way to the waiting area, her heart racing.
"The first match will be Alex Pashinko versus Amelia Brown."
The two fighters stepped forward, each adopting a fighting stance.
"I'll explain the rules," Alcione continued.
"The match ends when one competitor can no longer fight or decides to forfeit. Begin after you hear the buzzer."
The buzzer sounded, and the competitors immediately engaged, exchanging strikes and kicks. Alex, the larger fighter, faced off against Amelia, who was nimble and quick. She adeptly dodged his attacks and landed several blows of her own. However, her overconfidence made her vulnerable, and Alex took advantage, striking her side and knocking her to the ground.
With Amelia down and defenseless, Alex landed another hit, securing his victory.
"This match is over; the winner is Alex Pashinko!"
Cheers erupted as he returned to the waiting area, and the matches continued, each participant striving to advance. By the end of cohort one, ten students had emerged victorious—four girls and six boys.
The match for the second cohort began shortly after, featuring equally impressive fighters giving their all. So far, all the bouts had ended with knockouts, save for one forfeit.
Kenneth found each fight intriguing, noting that, unlike in her own world, success here depended on a balance of aggression and grace. No one resorted to dirty tricks; all competitors respected their opponents and kept their fights concise. The bout that stood out most was the sixth, featuring two third-years: Natalia Kane and Amber Hicks.
All eyes were on the pair as whispers filled the room, building anticipation for Natalia's return to the ring. When the buzzer sounded, Amber launched into a rapid-fire assault, trying to catch Natalia off guard. From a distance, it seemed Amber's strikes were landing, but Kenneth sensed otherwise. Amber moved with lightning speed, yet Natalia matched her pace, and Kenneth suspected she had the potential to be even faster if she chose to unleash her full potential.
Amber wore a smug expression as she continued her barrage of attacks, landing seemingly precise hits. "Looks like the famous Natalia Kane has gone soft," she sneered, taunting her opponent.
But Natalia remained unfazed, dodging effortlessly and moving with fluid grace, never breaking a sweat.
"Is dodging all you're going to do?" Amber taunted, pressing her attack. She executed a side kick that Natalia blocked with her forearm.
"Is talking all you're going to do?" Natalia shot back, countering with a powerful kick that sent Amber flying.
Amber's eyes widened in shock as she absorbed the unexpected blow, twisting mid-air to land on her feet. Clutching her sides, she felt a painful throb from the impact. Though shaken, she refused to let this setback deter her.
"It was just a kick, Amber. Walk it off." She told herself.
Natalia resumed her fighting stance, calmly waiting for Amber's next move. Amber's frustration grew as she charged in again, attacking from the left, then the right, landing a few kicks. The two engaged in intense hand-to-hand combat, neither willing to relent. As Amber feigned a kick, attempting to strike with her other leg, Natalia expertly caught her foot, spinning her off-balance.
As Amber struggled to regain her footing, Natalia swung her leg, delivering a powerful kick to the side of her head. Without time to block, Amber felt the full force of the hit, her knees buckling as she hit the ground. Her vision started to blur as the room started to spin, the inertia engulfed her causing her fo feel nauseous as she grabbed her throbbing head. Yet, she refused to be defeated easily.
Determined, Amber tilted forward, fighting against her disorientation to rise. But Natalia wasn't going to allow that. With a swift roundhouse kick, she sent Amber crashing to the mat. The last image Amber saw was Natalia standing over her, whispering, "Don't taunt an opponent you can't beat."
As black dots clouded her vision, Amber couldn't help but laugh weakly.
Why did I ever think this bitch had gone soft?
"The match has concluded; the winner is Natalia Kane!"
The room erupted in cheers, chanting Natalia's name. As she walked back to the waiting area, her gaze locked with a blue-haired girl who shot her a proud smile.
For the first time since the fights began, Natalia smiled back.