Alex dodged at the last second, his Gale Striders activating. His fist shot forward, enhanced with Titan Strike, and slammed into Grimm's ribs.
Crack!
The impact sent Grimm stumbling back. The audience gasped—the underground arena never expected an unawakened fighter to land such a clean hit.
Grimm growled, but before he could charge again—
"Enough!"
A deep voice cut through the chaos.
The masked fighter stood at the edge of the ring, arms crossed. His aura pulsed subtly—a silent warning.
Grimm's body stiffened before he clicked his tongue and backed off.
The referee stepped forward. "Match over. The kid wins."
Alex released a slow breath. He won.
But something told him—this was just the beginning.
The masked fighter turned to him. "Follow me."
Alex followed the masked fighter through the underground corridors.
Inside a dimly lit chamber, the man placed a black token on the table.
"Do you know what this is?" he asked.
Alex studied the token. The moment he touched it, a faint aura pulse ran through his fingertips.
"An invitation to Zenith Academy," he muttered.
The fighter nodded. "It's an entry into the Academy's Awakening Program."
Alex's fingers tightened around it.
Zenith Academy.
It wasn't just a school—it was one of the most elite institutions for training aura users. Some of the world's strongest had graduated from there, but it wasn't absolute. Plenty of powerful people had no ties to it. Still, it gave opportunities that were hard to find elsewhere.
In his past life, Alex had never qualified. He had been too weak.
But now…
"This is an invitation to a hidden selection process," the fighter continued. "Zenith recruits promising individuals—even those without an aura yet. But competition is brutal."
Alex exhaled.
In his past life, he had watched from the outside as students left Zenith Academy stronger than before. Some became warriors, some joined elite forces, and others used their influence to secure power.
Now, he had a chance to step into that world.
"Zenith isn't the only path to strength," the fighter said. "But it's a good one. If you want resources, techniques, and a structured way to grow, this is your chance."
Alex glanced at the token one last time before pocketing it.
The masked fighter smirked. "Good choice. Just don't get yourself killed before the real test begins."
As Alex stepped into the night, his path was clear.
This time, I will rise to the top.