The crowd grew silent once more, every eye turning toward the group to see who would be taking the test next. The reason was simple: they wanted to gauge the newcomers' potential, hoping for a chance to ally with them if they proved to be high-ranking students.
The instructor, showing little patience, merely glared, gesturing for the candidates to step forward. Then, with a slight nod, he called out a name, selecting one of the girls to begin.
"Olivia Gates, we'll start with you."
With a confident smirk, Olivia stepped forward, her seasoned blue eyes gleaming with anticipation. The first test had begun. A large, shimmering geoid sphere materialized before her, and as she set her gaze upon it, her expression turned serious.
"Begin," the instructor commanded.
The instant the word left his lips, Olivia sprang into action. She raced forward at full speed, her movements precise and calculated. As she neared the sphere, she launched herself into the air, a bright blue aura igniting around her clenched fist. She was ready to give it everything she had.
As Olivia's fist connected with the sphere, a resounding thud echoed through the room. Cracks splintered across its surface, and in an instant—boom—it shattered into countless tiny pebbles that disintegrated into dust.
The crowd fell silent, every gaze locked on her with awe, many secretly wishing they could be in her place.
Even the instructor was taken aback. Until now, the best any student had managed was a severe the holographic rock in half. But Olivia had obliterated it.
Clearing his throat, the instructor continued, "Now for the speed test." As he spoke, the terrain shifted again, forming a sleek track across the field.
"On the count of three, begin."
Kane noticed Olivia smirk once more, sending a chill down his spine. 'How skilled is she?' The thought echoed at the back of his mind.
"Bro, I think we've found the best student in the whole set," Leo murmured, to which Kane could only nod in agreement. Liam, meanwhile, was transfixed, watching her every move, utterly stupefied. After all, who wouldn't be? She had shattered the boulder with a single strike. 'It must have something to do with her ability, right?' he wondered.
Then Olivia was off again, racing down the track with breathtaking speed. Her movements were faster than anything anyone had seen all day, leaving even the instructor slack-jawed. She wove through the obstacle course as if she'd memorized it, dodging, rolling, and leaping with fluid precision. A faint blue aura enveloped her as she moved, making her appear almost otherworldly.
The speed test ended almost as quickly as it had begun, leaving the instructor as stunned as everyone else. Next came the agility test, and once again, she performed at a level few could rival. Although not as flawless as her previous displays, she still ranked among the very best.
When she finished, the instructor entered her results on his holographic tab and then announced, "Grade: B."
The crowd erupted in praise, while Olivia scoffed quietly, clearly displeased with her score, before rejoining the queue.
"Next: Mira Akimo," the instructor called.
A girl stepped forward, her jet-black hair cascading elegantly as she walked. She moved with a quiet, unhurried grace, her deep, expressive eyes reflecting an air of mystery. Her features were striking—smooth skin, high cheekbones, and a slight, knowing smile that hinted at inner strength. Beautiful and poised, she seemed to carry an unspoken confidence as she took her place, ready for her test.
Mira began with the strength test and performed admirably. Her ability was clear: she could control flames. With a fierce strike, her fiery fist connected with the boulder, leaving scorched cracks across its surface and drawing a round of cheers from the crowd, especially the boys.
Next, she moved to the speed test, and her control over flames seemed to give her an edge. She blasted through the course, deftly incinerating obstacles in her path and winning even more admiration. Each blazing step further showcased her skill and confidence.
By the end of her tests, the crowd buzzed with praise, clearly impressed by her fiery display.
"Grade: C," the instructor announced, his gaze showing a hint of admiration.
Even though she hadn't matched Olivia's level, Mira had still proven herself as a strong and capable contender. Her fiery skill and confidence had made an impression, leaving murmurs of respect rippling through the crowd as she returned to the lineup.
And unlike Olivia, she was very pleased with her score.
The instructor glanced at his tab and called out, "Leo… uh, just Leo"
It was very common for someone not to have a surname, mostly because they were orphans who lost their parents when they were too little so the instructor didn't stretch it.
Leo shot a confident look at Kane and Liam, flashing a thumbs-up before striding forward. He shook out his shoulders, grinning a bit too widely for someone who didn't know what he was about to do.
Of course, the obstacle course for those registered without any abilities was a bit easier so Leo figured that maybe, just maybe he could do something.
He started with the strength test, where a solid, intimidating boulder waited for him just as it had for the others. Leo took a deep breath, wound up his fist, and threw his best punch—only to pull back instantly, wincing and shaking his hand.
"Uh… made of… some strong stuff," he muttered, trying to ignore the smirks and chuckles rippling through the crowd. Embarrassed but undeterred, he gave it another go, this time opting to slap the boulder with a flat palm, resulting in a small, hollow thud—and nothing else. He quickly stepped back, mumbling, "I'm conserving my energy for the next test."
This drew open laughter from the crowd, some onlookers outright jeering. It was clear that, abilities or not, this was something else.
The instructor stifled his own amusement, motioning Leo toward the speed test.
Leo's confidence had visibly wavered, but he took his position on the track. As soon as the instructor gave the signal, he took off in a wild sprint, legs pumping furiously. He nearly made it past the first few obstacles, but a low hurdle tripped him, and he stumbled, scattering cones as he tried to catch his balance. Undeterred, he recovered and continued with awkward hops and sidesteps, finally skidding to a stop at the finish line, face flushed. The crowd's laughter was louder now, with more than a few dismissive groans.
Finally, the agility test. Leo threw himself into it, but his "tactical rolls" looked like clumsy somersaults, and his jumps were uneven, each landing drawing louder snickers. By the end, he'd made it through, but he was red-faced and out of breath, clearly aware of his less-than-stellar performance.
The instructor barely suppressed a grin as he announced, "Grade: E."
Leo's shoulders slumped, and he gave a sheepish nod to the crowd's mix of laughter and unimpressed whispers as he returned to the lineup. He muttered to Kane and Liam, "Just… warming up the field for you two."
The three exchanged a look, but this time, Leo didn't seem quite so sure.
Next, the instructor glanced at his tab and called out, "Kane, you're up."
Kane took a deep breath, trying to shake off Leo's disastrous performance. His nerves were on edge, but he couldn't let that stop him. He stepped forward with a forced grin, trying to look confident despite the weight of the crowd's expectant stares. The strength test awaited him.
He stared down the boulder, his muscles tensing. With a burst of determination, he swung his fist with all the strength he could muster. The result? A light tap—barely noticeable. Kane blinked, trying to act like he'd meant to do that. He quickly took a step back and cracked his knuckles.
"Alright, alright, round two!" Kane muttered to himself, winding up for a second swing. This time, he threw his whole body into it, but as his fist connected, the boulder barely budged. He winced, hoping the crowd couldn't see the embarrassment burning in his cheeks. A few snickers rippled through the crowd, the jeering growing louder.
The instructor sighed, gesturing toward the speed test, clearly trying to avoid eye contact. Kane trudged over to the track, his heart pounding in his chest. As the signal was given, he bolted forward—but his legs were too stiff, his movements awkward. He collided with the first obstacle, his foot snagging a low barrier, sending him crashing to the ground in a heap. Groans echoed from the audience as he scrambled to get back on his feet, stumbling through the course like a drunkard on roller skates. By the time he reached the finish line, he was gasping for air, his face a bright shade of crimson.
"Grade: E," the instructor announced flatly, his voice barely hiding his frustration. The crowd's laughter was deafening, mixed with audible sighs of disappointment. A few threw sarcastic claps his way, others muttered under their breath.
Kane shuffled back to the lineup, trying to hold his head high, but the sting of the crowd's disdain was almost unbearable. Leo patted him on the back sympathetically, but even he was struggling to suppress a grin. Kane didn't have the heart to return it.
Finally, the instructor called out, "Liam, it's your turn."
Liam walked up with his usual calm expression, but the tension in the air was palpable. He knew what was coming. The crowd had already seen enough failure to last a lifetime, and it didn't help that he had no special abilities like the others. He stepped up to the boulder, his gaze unwavering.
With a slight exhale, Liam swung his fist at the rock. The sound that followed was less a punch and more like a weak tap on glass. The boulder didn't even flinch, and a few people in the crowd actually groaned aloud. Liam tried again, this time leaning into the punch, but the result was the same: a tiny crack that quickly vanished as if the boulder itself were mocking him.
The instructor didn't even bother hiding his disappointment. "Speed test, now."
Liam walked to the track with a steady pace, but as soon as the signal was given, his run was sluggish. His legs were stiff, his form poor, and his movements clumsy. He tripped over nearly every hurdle, his attempts to correct himself only making it worse. At one point, he actually collided with one of the obstacles and fell flat on his face. The crowd erupted in laughter, some outright mocking his every move. "Is he even trying?" someone shouted.
When Liam finally crossed the finish line—exhausted, covered in dirt, and humiliated—the audience was quiet for a split second before the ridicule began again. They laughed even louder, their derision palpable.
Liam took a deep breath and braced himself for the final test: agility. He moved through the obstacles, but it wasn't any better. His "graceful" movements were more like a series of awkward flails and missteps. At one point, he managed to get his foot caught in a rope and tripped, falling into the dirt. He tried to recover, but his confidence had shattered. The crowd's sneers were unmistakable.
When it was over, the instructor didn't even bother to look at his tab. "Grade: E."
Liam felt the sting of every harsh laugh and judgmental stare. As he trudged back to the lineup, he couldn't even meet Kane and Leo's eyes. The trio had failed miserably, and it felt like the entire room was ready to forget they'd ever existed.
Leo, trying to offer some comfort, gave a half-hearted laugh. "Well, we sure made an impression… just not the one we wanted."
The crowd's mocking tone followed them as they returned to their places, the weight of their failure pressing down on them harder than any test ever could.
A few more hours passed, and everyone had finished their tests, with the telecoms on their wrists displaying their results graciously.
Many had already formed alliances with the strong. Kane could see some of their friends back at the haven making bonds with new faces.
As for them, they were like rotten apples no one wished to work with. It was normal for them—Kane and his friends had grown very accustomed to being treated this way, so they weren't affected.
"Now, for those who don't have any abilities, follow me," the instructor said briefly before turning to leave.
The boys looked at each other and nodded. The time had finally come. They didn't know if the ring Miss Lena had given them would work, but all they could do was hope.
.