After confirming that I had obtained the scholarship for the Hero University, I left the building where the Branch evaluation was held with a sense of satisfaction. I wasn't in a rush, so I decided to stay a while longer to observe other tests. The evaluations, like the Branches themselves, were divided into three categories: mental, physical, and elemental. I decided to first approach the area for elemental tests.
Walking calmly, I headed to the testing area. The atmosphere was charged with energy; groups of applicants moved from one station to another, performing their tests. There were zones dedicated to both elemental and physical trials, each equipped with tools, objects, and scenarios specifically designed to challenge the participants' abilities. My mind was still processing what had happened during my own evaluation, but the elemental zone quickly caught my attention.
When I arrived, I saw several young people focusing on their abilities. Some controlled fire, others water, air—but it was one particular group that stood out to me. Three individuals drew attention not only for their skill but for the way they used their abilities with such control and efficiency.
The first of them, a boy with a serious look, seemed to have the power to reinforce objects with just a touch. I watched closely as his hand passed over a revolver, and the weapon seemed to become more solid, more robust. At first, I thought he was just a skilled weapons user, but after seeing how he manipulated the revolver with mastery and then enhanced an instructor's Branch by touching them, I realized his ability didn't just improve objects but also temporarily boosted people's abilities. This "buff" made him a formidable opponent, enhancing both his weapons and his allies.
The second boy I observed had a much more impressive ability. He controlled both earth and metal, but he did so in a way that was almost hypnotic. I watched him mold metal structures with his hands as if they were clay. His control over the ground was equally astonishing; he slid his palms over the surface, causing the terrain to rise into stone pillars. What impressed me most was how seamlessly he combined the two elements with such fluidity and precision. This kind of ability would be powerful in combat and invaluable in rescue or defense scenarios.
The last person to catch my attention was a girl with a gravity-related ability. Not only could she exert pressure on objects, as if crushing them with a mere thought, but she also controlled multiple objects at once, lifting and manipulating them in the air with impressive precision. I watched as she made a pile of rubble float, moving it as if they were chess pieces. Her control over gravity gave her not only a combat advantage but also showcased a remarkable strategic mind and mastery of her skill.
I felt a mixture of admiration and motivation watching them—not just for their abilities but for how expertly they used them. It made me reflect on my own skill and how much I still needed to improve to reach that level of control and understanding.
I decided to continue to the physical tests area. The environment here was even more intense. Applicants of all shapes and sizes faced obstacles, raced, and lifted weights. Some stood out for their brute strength, others for their extreme speed, but there was something predictable about them. Most relied too heavily on a single aspect of their Branch, which limited their versatility.
It was then that a boy caught my attention. At first glance, he didn't seem remarkable in any way. He wasn't the strongest or the fastest, and his initial presence was nothing extraordinary. However, something about the way he moved made me take a closer look. He didn't rely on a single aspect of his ability but combined strength, speed, and reflexes seamlessly. Each of his movements was precise, calculated, as if his body responded with an efficiency others couldn't match.
As I watched him, I realized he wasn't just physically capable; he had absolute control over his body. His versatility was impressive. Maneuvering through obstacles with agility, lifting weights with ease, and reacting quickly was something few applicants could do. His Branch seemed to enhance all physical aspects in perfect balance, a rarity among the other candidates.
What truly surprised me was how effortlessly he did it all. While other applicants pushed themselves to their limits, he moved calmly, as if it were all easy. But it wasn't disinterest—it was control. His ability was so refined that it appeared almost simple.
Lastly, I noticed another detail: his appearance. Though not particularly muscular, his body reflected a perfect harmony of strength and agility. And his face… even from a distance, I found it attractive. It wasn't the kind of beauty that sought attention, but somehow, it drew it anyway. He was the kind of person who stood out effortlessly.
For me, the most impressive thing wasn't just what he did but how he did it. The elegance, the absolute control he demonstrated in every movement, reminded me of how far one could go when they fully understood the limits and potential of their Branch.
As the exhaustion began to settle in, I decided to head home. Night had already fallen, and the cool air helped clear my mind. On the way, I thought about everything I had seen during the day, but my mind drifted to a topic that had lingered since I started understanding the magnitude of Branches.
It was common sense: leveling up a Branch was never easy, and the difficulty increased exponentially with each level. Although everyone was born with a Branch at level one, most people only reached level two by the time they turned 30. And level three? Most people never reached it, despite their efforts. Only elite schools like the Hero University trained those with the potential to go that far.
What fascinated me most was the disparity between people with a normal base Branch and those with an extraordinary one. While someone could level up their Branch with effort and dedication, the gap between them and someone with an exceptional base ability would always remain significant. For instance, imagine two people with strength-enhancing Branches. One might have the ability to increase their strength by 10% per level, while the other, due to a much stronger base ability, could increase their strength by 50% per level. In the end, even if both leveled up, the second person would always be closer to surpassing the first.
When I got home, I took off my shoes and collapsed onto the bed. I closed my eyes, letting the exhaustion envelop me. The echoes of the tests and the people I had observed throughout the day faded with each breath, but my mind kept turning over everything I had witnessed.
I wasn't too worried about the process of leveling up my Branch. I knew it would be difficult, that most people would never achieve it. But something inside me told me my ability was different. My Branch was unique, and while it might be harder to elevate, its potential was limitless. If I focused, if I trained enough, I could reach places few could imagine.
The future was full of uncertainty but also opportunities—a myriad of paths to take, each with its own challenges and dangers. As my thoughts began to fade, a sense of anticipation coursed through me.
How far could I go?
That question lingered as sleep began to pull me under. I didn't know what tomorrow would bring, but something inside me told me things were about to get even more interesting. And deep down, that uncertainty, that feeling that everything was just beginning, made me smile—though silently, where no one could see.