The next day arrived, marking the final stage of the physical evaluation.
On the first day, every contestant had participated in three exams, though the specific tests varied among individuals. Now, the remaining three awaited them.
And the first exam of the day was Jumping.
Both Ash and Avasyu were set to compete.
As the contestants gathered, the instructor arrived—a tall woman with golden-yellow hair and sharp golden eyes. She wore a sleek black suit, resembling a personal assistant, but the authority in her stance was unmistakable.
Some of the boys in the crowd whispered among themselves, admiring her appearance.
She ignored the murmurs and raised the mic.
"This exam is called Jumping."
Her voice was clear and commanding.
"The rules are simple: you will be tested on two things—
1. How high you can jump.
2. How far you can jump."
She let the information settle before continuing.
"Unlike previous tests, the scoring system has been adjusted.
First place will receive 2 points.
Second and third place will receive 1 point each.
"So remember—jump higher and farther."
She scanned the contestants with a confident smirk.
"Good luck, everyone."
With that, she turned her attention to the participant list, preparing for the first name to be called.
The competition was about to begin.
One by one, the instructor called the names of participants to jump.
Some took a brief running start before jumping, hoping to maximize both height and distance. Others relied purely on strength and power.
However, none of the well-known figures—not the Air user, nor the top students from Class-A—were present in this test.
Except for one.
Contestant No. 7.
The student who had placed second in the first exam.
As his turn arrived, he sprinted forward, covering nearly 500 meters in an instant before launching himself into the air.
His jump was impressive—10 feet high and 20 feet far.
Yet, despite the solid result, he didn't look satisfied. His height was commendable, but he had hoped to cover more distance.
A few more participants followed.
Then, it was Ash's turn.
Unlike the others, Ash did not take a running start. He simply activated his power, channeling energy into his legs. Then, with a single push—
He jumped.
His jump wasn't as high as Contestant No. 7's, but it was significantly farther.
8 feet high.
30 feet in length.
The crowd barely reacted, as if they had expected nothing less.
Except for one person.
Avasyu.
And that was exactly what Ash wanted.
Landing smoothly, Ash smirked, looking directly at Avasyu. As he approached him, he whispered,
"Jump higher and farther."
"Otherwise, you'll never figure out my secret."
Then, the instructor called the next name.
"Contestant No. 15!"
Avasyu stepped forward, standing at the jumping line.
Taking a deep breath, he activated his First Stage of Thunder, feeling the power surge through his legs. His muscles tightened, his energy crackled—
And he jumped.
The moment he was airborne, he released his power—or rather, he unleashed an even greater boost.
For a split second, everything felt weightless.
Then—
Boom!
He shot even higher, even farther.
The crowd gasped.
Even the instructor, who had remained composed throughout the exam, couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow!"
As Avasyu landed, the instructor checked the results and announced,
"Contestant No. 15 has completed his jump!"
"Height: 20 feet."
"Distance: 40 feet."
The highest and farthest jump of the entire exam.
Whispers spread through the crowd. He beat Ash.
Avasyu walked back to where Ash stood, a triumphant grin on his face.
"I did it."
"I beat you."
"Finally."
He laughed, letting the feeling sink in before exhaling deeply.
"Ahh… this feeling."
"I love this feeling of winning."
The instructor stepped forward and announced the results.
"Third place goes to Contestant No. 7."
"Second place goes to Contestant No. 14."
"And the first place goes to Contestant No. 15."
"Congratulations."
Avasyu clenched his fists in satisfaction. Another win. He was climbing higher.
Then, the next exam was announced.
Dodgeball.
The instructor explained, "This exam is called Dodge the Attacks."
He continued, "You will have to dodge balls coming at you from different directions and at various speeds. The more you dodge, the higher your score. The challenge lasts for one full minute."
"One successful dodge equals one point. However, the balls may come from multiple angles simultaneously."
"Good luck, everyone. The exam will begin in five minutes."
During the wait, Avasyu and Ash stood together, talking.
"How does it feel to be first place?" Ash asked.
Avasyu grinned. "It feels amazing."
"I want to win again."
Ash smirked. "Then be first again."
He leaned in slightly. "I'll tell you another secret about me if you manage to take first place in this one too."
Avasyu's eyes lit up with excitement. "Deal! If I win, you have to tell me your best secret—one that no one else knows."
Ash chuckled. "Let's see if you can handle it."
The conversation left Avasyu even more determined to win.
Soon, the exam began. One by one, contestants entered a large room filled with automated machines positioned around them.
Each participant had their turn.
Then—
"Contestant No. 15, step forward."
Avasyu walked to the center of the room, standing still as the instructor asked, "Are you ready?"
"Yes." He replied, his voice calm.
The countdown began.
"5… 4… 3… 2… 1…"
"Begin!"
Immediately, balls shot toward him from multiple directions.
The first few were difficult to dodge, but as the seconds passed, something clicked.
He started seeing the balls more clearly—tracking their movement before they even reached him.
His body reacted instinctively.
By now, he had already activated his power in his legs and arms.
But his eyes—his vision—had always been a weak point.
He remembered something Ash had told him during their training:
"To control your power on specific body parts, you need absolute focus."
Activating his power in his eyes had always been difficult.
But in this moment—something changed.
As more balls came flying at him, he pushed his energy toward his eyes.
His vision sharpened. The world slowed.
Suddenly, the balls weren't coming fast anymore.
They were predictable.
He dodged with precision, avoiding every attack that came his way.
By the time the minute ended, he was still standing—completely untouched.
The instructor checked the results.
"Contestant No. 15's score is 300."
A perfect score.