Chapter: 3
I stood amidst the throng of student hopefuls, my gaze fixed on Mr. Campbell as he addressed the group with a sharp, commanding tone. His presence demanded respect, and the faint tension in the air told me everyone felt it.
"All right, everyone," Mr. Campbell began, his voice cutting through the murmurs like a blade. "The test is simple. Each of you will step forward and use a single attack on the dummies in the distance. You will be graded on the intricacy and uniqueness of your technique. That's it. No exceptions."
I glanced around, noting the wide array of expressions on the other students' faces—anticipation, confidence, and in some cases, thinly veiled anxiety. My eyes caught on a raised platform in the distance where a group of upperclassmen observed the proceedings like hawks. Among them stood the girl from earlier, her eyes locked on me with an unsettling intensity.
Rolling my eyes, I turned back to the field. Can she not?
"Names will be called in alphabetical order," Mr. Campbell announced, scanning his clipboard.
Perfect. This gave me time to observe. Arms crossed, I leaned slightly, ready to analyze the competition.
"Abigail Bright, you're up," Mr. Campbell called, setting the tone for the first performance.
A teenage girl with olive-brown skin and piercing green eyes stepped forward. Her back-length brown hair, tied with a red ribbon, swayed as she walked confidently. She wore a fitted crimson shirt paired with black pants and boots, her entire appearance exuding determination.
As Abigail's hands began to glow, the temperature around her plummeted. A faint blue aura formed, and thin mist coiled at her feet, causing nearby students to shiver involuntarily.
She exhaled slowly, a confident smile playing on her lips as she conjured an intricate bow of ice. Lightning crackled faintly through the translucent weapon.
"Frost Shock Arrow," she said softly, her voice steady as she drew the bowstring back.
The arrow shot across the field like a streak of light, striking the dummy dead-center. In an instant, a massive iceberg erupted, freezing the dummy and the surrounding area. A heartbeat later, a bolt of lightning struck the iceberg, shattering it in a spectacular explosion.
The crowd gasped. When the dust settled, the dummy remained intact, albeit slightly scorched.
"Not bad," Mr. Campbell remarked with a nod, his tone measured but approving.
"Thank you, sir," Abigail replied with a polite bow before stepping back into the group, her confidence radiating.
"She's good," Daniel murmured beside me.
"Cryokinesis and electrokinesis," I mused, rubbing my chin. "That's a nice combo. Smart and versatile."
Sarah huffed beside me, crossing her arms. "I could do better."
I raised a brow, suppressing a sigh. "Relax, Sarah. It's not a competition… yet."
She rolled her eyes but stayed quiet as the next names were called.
Danny was next. As he stepped forward, his usual carefree demeanor was replaced with an uncharacteristic focus. A faint purplish-black aura surrounded his hands, crackling with restrained energy.
With a sharp swing, two arcs of invisible energy carved into the ground, tearing toward the dummy. Yet, when the dust cleared, the damage was minimal—barely scratches.
"Tsk, how strong are these things?" Danny muttered under his breath as he rejoined us, his disappointment evident.
"Apparently, stronger than you," I teased lightly, earning a chuckle from him.
The test continued, each student stepping forward to showcase their abilities. A boy named Derek Simmons followed, his black hair glinting in the sunlight. Shadows spread from his feet, tendrils snaking toward the dummy. With a sharp motion, a spear of darkness formed above him and launched forward, striking the target.
Again, the dummy stood resolute.
"What are these things made of?" Derek muttered, frustration evident in his silver eyes.
"Better keep watching. You might learn something," I thought, noticing the flicker of dissatisfaction on Mr. Campbell's face as he jotted down notes.
When my name was called, a hush fell over the group.
Stepping forward, I felt the familiar weight of countless eyes on me. A black aura began to swirl around me, shimmering faintly with the glimmer of a starry night sky.
Calm, steady, I reminded myself. Raising my hand, I conjured a small orb of blue energy. Its surface rippled like liquid, radiating a quiet but potent energy.
With a flick of my wrist, the orb shot forward, striking the dummy. The moment it made contact, the orb expanded violently, freezing the target and the ground around it in an instant.
With a snap of my fingers, the ice shattered into countless pieces, leaving nothing but a sparkling crater behind.
Mr. Campbell's face betrayed a flicker of approval—a rare moment of recognition. I returned to the group, ignoring the murmurs and envious glances from the other students.
"Kevaughn Pinnock."
Kevaughn stepped forward next, exhaling deeply as purplish-red energy radiated from his body. The energy concentrated into four glowing arrows, which shot toward the dummy with blinding speed.
Upon impact, chains burst forth from the arrows, wrapping tightly around the target. The chains glowed ominously before detonating in a massive explosion.
When the dust cleared, the dummy was missing an arm but remained otherwise intact.
Kevaughn stared in disbelief before turning to me. "How?" he mouthed silently, his expression incredulous.
I shrugged, trying not to laugh as he groaned in frustration.
"No, seriously, what are these things made of?" Kevaughn asked aloud, throwing his hands up.
"Apparently stronger than your haki-egrokinesis," I quipped, earning a glare.
Then Sarah's name was called, and she practically skipped to her position, an eager grin plastered across her face.
"How bad do you think this will go?" I asked the group, my voice low.
"I think she might nuke the field," Kevaughn deadpanned.
"Would you two have a little faith?" Danny scolded, though his tone was skeptical.
Behind us, the air began to crackle with energy. We turned to see Sarah surrounded by an electrifying aura of silver lightning and blue flames. Above the dummies, dozens of glowing swords and spears shimmered into existence, each pulsating with elemental energy.
"Here we go," I muttered.
With a single motion, Sarah unleashed her attack. The weapons rained down in a relentless volley, each impact sending shockwaves across the field. Explosions rocked the area, the ground trembling violently under the onslaught.
When the dust cleared, multiple craters marred the field. The dummies, while still standing, were scorched, frosted, and deeply slashed.
Sarah turned back with a satisfied smile, brushing her hands off dramatically. "What?"
"N-nothing, sis," I stammered, averting my gaze.
From the distant platform, the girl named Chevelle watched intently, her eyes narrowing.
"His group is… impressive," she murmured, her tone carrying a mix of curiosity and intrigue.
"You're obsessed, Chevelle," Thai, another upperclassman, muttered, rolling her eyes.
"She's not wrong," added a white-haired girl leaning casually against the railing.
Their murmurs faded as Shaheem's name was called.
Shaheem stepped forward, his usual nonchalant demeanor unchanged. A mix of white, black, and purple flames concentrated at his fingertip. With a single motion, he fired a laser-like beam that pierced straight through the dummy's head. The entrance point melted away, leaving behind a smoldering hole.
"Nice work," Mr. Campbell remarked, his expression unreadable.
Shaheem shrugged as he walked back. "Thanks, I guess."
"Good work," I said, nodding.
"Yeah," Shaheem replied, his tone as casual as ever.
"Shaheem's underwhelming response aside, let's see how this plays out," Kevaughn said with a grin.
"Let's," I echoed, a smirk tugging at my lips.
Chapter 3: End