The crisp morning air carried a sense of tension and anticipation as students from multiple high schools gathered at Maryland Elite Testing Center for their SAT exams.
For most students, today was one of the most important days of their academic lives. Their college admissions, scholarships, and even futures rested on their performance in this exam.
But for Steven Blake, this was just another challenge to crush.
As he stepped out of his BMW M8 Coupe, his posture was relaxed, but his mind was sharp. Thanks to his system, he had already mastered every single concept, formula, and problem-solving technique needed to ace the SAT. Unlike his classmates, who were anxiously flipping through last-minute notes, Steven was completely calm.
However, as he walked toward the testing center, a small crowd had gathered near the entrance, whispering excitedly.
At the center of the buzz stood a tall, sharp-eyed teenager with jet-black hair, wearing a tailored navy-blue blazer with an embroidered golden crest.
Steven recognized him immediately—Alexander "Xander" Hawthorne.
A national math champion, three-time coding hackathon winner, and Wellington Academy's top student, Xander had a reputation for perfection.
"So, the rumors were true," Steven mused.
For the longest time, students and faculty alike had debated who was superior—Steven Blake or Xander Hawthorne?
Steven had never cared for the rivalry. To him, the SAT was simply another step toward college. But judging from the smirk on Xander's face, he clearly saw this as something else- A battle.
"You must be Steven Blake," Xander said, stepping forward.
Steven met his gaze, unfazed. "Likewise."
Xander's smirk widened. "It's rare for me to find real competition. I hope you don't disappoint."
Steven simply chuckled. "I'm here to ace the test, not impress anyone."
Xander raised an eyebrow but said nothing. He walked past Steven, heading inside.
Inside the massive SAT examination hall, rows of students sat at their assigned desks, their hands already clutching sharpened pencils, their expressions tight with stress.
Steven settled into his seat and tapped his fingers lightly against the desk, waiting for the test to begin.
But then… something felt off.
Several invigilators were whispering and exchanging odd glances while occasionally looking in his direction. It was subtle, but Steven noticed immediately.
Across the room, Veronica frowned in concern.
Just minutes before the exam was about to start, a stern-looking proctor walked up to Steven's desk, his expression sharp.
"Steven Blake?"
Steven looked up. "Yes?"
"You've been accused of bringing unauthorized material into the exam hall."
The room fell silent.
Students turned, whispering in shock.
Steven's eyes narrowed.
What?!
The proctor gestured under Steven's desk, pulling out a small, folded paper filled with detailed SAT formulas, essay notes, and problem-solving shortcuts—evidence that would immediately disqualify him from the exam.
Steven's expression darkened. This was a setup.
Someone had planted the notes under his desk.
But who?
The proctor's lips curled slightly. "This is a serious violation, Mr. Blake. You will need to step out for further questioning."
Steven clenched his jaw.
If he left now, he would be disqualified. Whoever orchestrated this wanted him to fail before the test even started.
From across the room, Veronica shot up from her seat.
"Sir! This is ridiculous! Steven has been sitting here the entire time!"
The proctor turned sharply toward her.
"Miss Veronica, sit down. This does not concern you."
But Veronica wasn't backing down. "Check the CCTV footage! The testing center has cameras everywhere. You'll see Steven never brought those notes in."
A hush fell over the room.
Many students nodded in agreement.
The request was reasonable. If the proctor was so sure that Steven had cheated, then proving it should be easy… right?
However, the proctor's expression darkened.
"No need," he dismissed coldly. "The evidence speaks for itself."
Then, in a shocking turn, he pointed at Veronica.
"In fact, considering how defensive you are, maybe you were his accomplice."
Gasps filled the room.
Now Veronica was being accused too.
Veronica's eyes widened in disbelief. "What?!"
"This kind of cheating usually involves two people," the proctor continued. "Since you were the first to defend him, I have reason to believe you were involved."
Now, the whispers among the students exploded into full-blown conversations.
This wasn't just about Steven anymore.
This was turning into a full-blown scandal.
The commotion grew so loud that it attracted the attention of the Head Invigilator—a strict but righteous official known for his zero tolerance for corruption.
The entire exam hall fell silent as the Head Invigilator strode in.
"What's going on here?" he demanded.
The proctor quickly stepped forward, feigning professionalism.
"Sir, Steven Blake and his accomplice Veronica have been caught with unauthorized materials. I was just about to remove them—"
The Head Invigilator narrowed his eyes. He could sense that the situation was more than just two students having cheating material.
"Did you check the security cameras?"
The proctor stiffened. "That… isn't necessary, sir. The evidence is clear—"
"That wasn't a request."
The air grew cold.
"Check the Cameras. Now."
The room held its breath.
The assistant proctors rushed to access the security footage.
Minutes passed in tense silence.
Then—the truth was revealed.
The footage showed a student from Blue Horizon School sneaking into the exam hall before the test and slipping the notes under Steven's desk.
But that wasn't all.
The same student could be seen working with the proctor himself.
More shockingly, it seemed that the principal of Blue Horizon School was behind it all.
The Head Invigilator turned to the proctor, his voice ice-cold.
"Care to explain this?"
The proctor stammered, sweat forming on his forehead.
"Sir, I—I was just—"
"Enough."
Security was called.
The corrupt proctor was dragged out.
The student from Blue Horizon was immediately disqualified.
As for the principal of Blue Horizon, an official investigation was launched.
Steven watched silently, his expression unreadable.
He hadn't expected his rival school's principal to resort to dirty tricks like this—not in the SATs of all things.
Once the situation was resolved, the SAT resumed.
Xander, who had watched everything unfold, gave Steven a nod of acknowledgment before returning to his own test.
As Steven finished first, Xander followed one second behind.
After the test, Xander approached.
"Well, that was unexpected," Xander admitted. "But we will compete again."
Steven shook his hand, smirking. "I'd be disappointed if you didn't."
The battle between geniuses had only just begun.