The long-awaited morning had finally arrived. The main training field of Camp Nova Academy was filled with cadets standing in neat rows, each clad in their chosen armor. Some looked eager, some appeared tense, while others simply wished for the exam to be over quickly. Among them was Deren, standing with a blank expression, as if this was just another ordinary day.
Before them, the instructors stood tall, with Captain Vargan and Lieutenant Seraphina positioned at the front. Beside them, two of the most outstanding cadets of this generation—Renard Asval and Selene Ardent—stood confidently, appearing far more composed than the rest.
Captain Vargan stepped forward, his voice echoing across the field. "Cadets! Today marks your first true test as future Aether Corps members. This exam will determine whether you have what it takes to remain in this academy or not."
The cadets' eyes widened; some swallowed hard, but none dared to complain.
"As previously explained," he continued, "this exam consists of two phases. The first phase is a solo trial, where you will face Metavores scaled to your capabilities. You will earn points based on the level of Metavore you defeat. Keep in mind that the maximum score you can obtain in this phase is 70, meaning even if you defeat a Tier 3 Metavore, you must still proceed to the second phase."
Lieutenant Seraphina took over, her voice calm but firm. "The second phase is the team trial, where you must work together to take on stronger Metavores. This will be the true test of your ability to survive in real combat situations. The points you earn from both phases will be accumulated, and you must reach at least 100 points to pass."
Some cadets began whispering among themselves, looking anxious. Ryn swallowed nervously, while Kael let out a long sigh, his face showing clear regret for not finding a way to avoid this situation.
Seraphina continued, "To ensure your safety, each cadet will wear their chosen armor. This armor will serve as your protective limit during the exam. If your armor is destroyed or its energy is depleted, you will be automatically removed from the simulation to prevent fatal injuries. In other words, if your armor collapses, your fight is over."
Another instructor stepped forward to explain the different types of armor available:
Light Armor: Provides high speed and flexibility but offers low protection. Ideal for those who rely on agility and reflexes.Standard Armor: Balanced in defense and mobility, commonly used by cadets still getting used to combat.Heavy Armor: Offers maximum protection but reduces mobility. Usually chosen by those who prioritize defense over speed.Adaptive Armor: Features limited regeneration and can adjust to combat conditions but consumes more energy.
Deren glanced around. Ryn looked hesitant, trying to decide between light and standard armor, while Kael eyed the heavy armor with clear uncertainty.
"Deren, which one are you picking?" Kael finally asked.
Deren let out a bored sigh. "Standard armor. Decent defense, not too heavy to move around in, and I don't have to worry about excessive energy consumption."
Kael clicked his tongue. "Of course, you'd pick the most efficient option. I don't know whether to admire or envy you."
Just then, the sharp sound of a whistle echoed across the training field, signaling that selection time had ended.
Captain Vargan raised his voice once more. "Your choices have been made! Now, the first phase of the exam will begin. The Metavores are prepared, and you will be called one by one into the arena!"
An instructor stepped forward with a roster in hand and began calling the first cadet. All eyes turned toward the center arena, where a massive gate slowly opened, revealing a vast simulation area filled with rocky terrain and ruins designed to mimic a real battlefield.
Deren let out another long sigh. The sooner this is over, the sooner I can get back to bed.
Meanwhile, Ryn clenched her fists tightly, and Kael gulped audibly.
"You're not nervous, Deren?" Ryn asked, her voice slightly shaky.
Deren glanced at her briefly before turning his attention back to the arena. "I just want this to be over quickly."
At the front of the line, Renard Asval and Selene Ardent, the two most promising cadets, stood confidently. Renard exuded an air of dominance in his heavy armor, while Selene offered a small smile, eager to showcase her skills.
"Let's see who truly deserves to be here," Renard said, his voice full of challenge.
Deren just yawned.
And with that, the exam began.
With the sound of a gong echoing across the training field, the first phase of the exam officially began. One by one, the cadets were called into the simulation arena, facing Metavores scaled to their abilities. The arena, once just a field of ruins, now felt like a real battlefield, complete with the clang of weapons and the desperate shouts of cadets fighting for their survival.
On the sidelines, the cadets still waiting for their turn closely observed the battles taking place. Some watched in excitement, while others grew anxious as they realized just how difficult it was to face a Metavore—even in a simulation.
"Renard Asval, enter the arena!" an instructor called out.
All eyes turned to the towering figure clad in heavy armor. With unshakable confidence, Renard stepped into the arena, immediately facing off against a Tier 3 Metavore. Within seconds, he launched a brutal assault, swinging his massive axe with overwhelming power. His strikes landed with such force that the ground cracked beneath him.
"Holy crap... he took it down so easily!" one cadet gasped.
"Damn, he doesn't even look tired," another added.
Shortly after, Selene Ardent was called. Unlike Renard, who relied on raw strength, Selene moved with agility, effortlessly dodging the Metavore's attacks while striking with near-perfect precision. In no time, the Tier 3 Metavore collapsed, and Selene returned to the line with a confident smile.
"Okay, that was incredible," Kael muttered, looking even more uneasy. "They make it look way too easy."
However, not all cadets had such flawless victories. Many struggled to even defeat a Tier 1 Metavore, while some failed outright—their armor breaking before they could even land a proper hit.
When Ryn's turn came, she took a deep breath, staring at the arena with a mix of determination and anxiety. "I can do this. I have to do this," she muttered before stepping forward.
Her battle lasted far longer than most. She fought with everything she had, dodging attacks with agility and countering with all her strength. After a long and grueling struggle, she finally managed to bring down a Tier 3 Metavore—but not without consequences. Her body was covered in scrapes, and her armor was barely holding together.
"ARGH! I'm alive!" she gasped, collapsing onto the ground as the simulation ended.
Shortly after, Kael entered the arena. His fight was much more chaotic. He tried to take down a Tier 3 Metavore, but he was repeatedly struck, barely holding his ground. With his last remaining energy, he finally managed to bring the creature down. But by the time he exited the arena, his clothes were tattered, his hair was a mess, and his face was covered in dust.
From the sidelines, Deren, who had been sitting comfortably the entire time, finally spoke up with a blank expression. "You guys look like you just crawled out of a dumpster."
Still gasping for breath, Ryn turned to him with a fiery glare. "You think this was easy?! That thing almost tore me to pieces!"
Kael groaned as he slumped to the ground. "I think my bones have shifted. This is NOT normal."
Deren simply shrugged. "Yeah, yeah. I get it. You survived, didn't you? So stop complaining." He smirked slightly. "But seeing you guys like this... makes me even lazier to take this exam."
"If you're that lazy, why don't you just run away from the academy?" Kael grumbled, wiping the dust off his face.
Deren let out a long sigh. "Believe me, I've thought about it. But fate refuses to let me go. So here I am, stuck in an exam I couldn't care less about."
Before Ryn could respond, the instructor called the next name.
"Deren! Enter the arena!"
A sudden hush fell over the training field. All eyes turned to Deren, who slowly got up from his seat.
"Alright," he said in his usual dull tone, stretching lazily. "Let's get this over with."
And with that, Deren casually walked toward the arena, ready to face his trial.
Inside the Simulation Arena
Deren stepped into the simulation arena, his pace calm and relaxed, completely different from the other cadets who had entered with visible tension on their faces. The arena, filled with scattered ruins and terrain designed to resemble real-world battle conditions, was eerily silent—until a mechanical voice echoed around him.
"Beginning with Tier 1," the simulation system announced.
From a distance, a Tier 1 Metavore emerged, letting out a low growl before charging toward Deren at full speed.
Deren let out a long sigh. This thing doesn't even realize how wide open it is.
Without hesitation, he fired his pistol at the ground near the Metavore's feet, causing dust and debris to rise into the air, obscuring everyone's vision. In the blink of an eye, he swiftly stepped to the side of the disoriented Metavore and plunged his dagger directly into its weak point.
Within seconds, the monster collapsed—defeated without much resistance.
"Tier 1 defeated. Proceeding to Tier 2."
Outside the arena, several cadets watching began murmuring among themselves.
"Wait, did he just take it down in one hit?"
"I couldn't even see what happened!"
Selene, observing from the sidelines, narrowed her eyes. "Interesting... but is he actually strong, or just lucky?"
A Tier 2 Metavore emerged—larger and far more aggressive than the previous one. This time, Deren took a moment to scan his surroundings, calculating the best route to move. As the monster charged, he aimed his pistol at one of the arena's fragile walls, causing rubble to collapse and kick up a thick cloud of dust.
Swiftly, he maneuvered through the shadows of the debris, misleading the creature before delivering a precise strike to its weak spot.
"Tier 2 defeated. Proceeding to Tier 3."
Renard, standing with his arms crossed, now looked slightly intrigued.
Then, a Tier 3 Metavore appeared—larger than the previous ones and far more aggressive, smashing through the rubble around it with wild attacks. However, Deren only sighed and repeated his strategy—utilizing the terrain, creating dust barriers, and striking at the perfect moment.
As the Metavore lunged violently, Deren sidestepped and shot at the side of a rocky cliff in the arena. The impact caused a weakened section of the cliff wall to collapse. The Metavore, unable to stop in time, charged straight into the sharp rubble that jutted out from the fallen rocks.
"Tier 3 defeated. Exam complete."
For a brief moment, the watching cadets fell silent before whispers spread among them.
"That... that was just luck, right?"
"Or did he actually plan that?"
From a distance, Revand scoffed. "Hah, clearly just a coincidence. There's no way he planned that."
Selene, however, remained focused, her eyes narrowing in thought.
I'm not so sure. If it was just luck, why did he stay so calm throughout the entire exam?
Even she couldn't tell if Deren was merely exploiting his surroundings or truly strategizing every move.
Meanwhile, the exam overseers began discussing amongst themselves.
"That still counts as a victory, right?" one of them asked.
"Yes. The Metavore is down and unable to continue. The result is the same."
As the dust began to settle, everyone awaited Deren's condition. But when their vision finally cleared, they saw him already casually walking out of the arena, looking completely unfazed.
The moment he stepped out, Ryn and Kael rushed toward him, their faces filled with disbelief.
"You have GOT to be kidding me!" Kael shouted, his face still covered in dust from his own battle. "I almost DIED fighting that thing, and you look like you just went for a casual stroll!"
"Yeah! Did you use magic tricks or something?!" Ryn added.
Deren chuckled softly, patting their shoulders. "Not my fault you guys chose to fight with muscle instead of brains. I just... used the environment."
Kael squinted at him. "So what you're saying is... you just hid behind dust and rubble, and the Metavore accidentally got hit?"
Deren shrugged lazily. "Who knows? Maybe the monster got dust in its eyes, and I just happened to notice."
Ryn eyed him suspiciously. "I feel like you have some secret strategy, but I'm too tired to figure it out."
Deren chuckled. "Good. Keep thinking that way. While you guys are busy exhausting yourselves, I'll just sit back and relax later."
Meanwhile, the overseers were still trying to interpret what they had just witnessed.
"So... is he actually talented, or just lucky?" one of them asked.
"Hard to say. He doesn't stand out much, but the results speak for themselves."
One thing was certain—while Deren hadn't drawn direct attention to himself, a question was beginning to form in everyone's mind: Was he truly strong, or just absurdly lucky?
Deren, however, didn't care about any of that. The only thought in his mind was: Finally, I can get some rest.
And with that, the first phase of the exam came to an end.
After the First Phase
After the first phase of the exam ended, the cadets were gathered at Nova Academy's main training field. Some looked exhausted from their intense battles, while others stood more confidently after managing to defeat a Metavore.
However, there was no time to relax, as the second phase loomed ahead.
Standing in the center of the field, Captain Vargan wore a serious expression. Beside him, Lieutenant Seraphina held a small holographic device, resembling a tablet.
"Congratulations to all of you who have successfully passed the first phase of the exam," Vargan announced in a commanding voice. "However, your trial is far from over. The second phase will be the true test, where you will not only be evaluated on your combat skills but also on your ability to work as a team."
A murmur spread among the cadets, some looking more nervous than before. The tension was further heightened by what had happened in the previous exam—many were still unable to comprehend how Deren had passed so easily without a single scratch. Some had begun labeling him as the "luckiest cadet in the academy," while others suspected that there was something more than just luck at play.
"This exam will be conducted in teams of five," Seraphina continued. "You will be facing Metavores scattered throughout the battlefield, and their numbers will be significantly higher than in the first phase. However, since you will be fighting as a team, the points earned per Metavore will be lower and will be evenly distributed among all team members."
One of the cadets raised a hand. "Is there a limit to the tier of Metavores we'll be facing?"
Seraphina nodded. "Most of the Metavores will be from Tier 1 to Tier 3. However, there will also be two Tier 4 Metavores and one Tier 5 Metavore, each presenting a significantly higher level of difficulty. Teams that are brave enough can choose to target them for higher points."
The cadets gulped. Tier 4 and Tier 5 Metavores were considered serious threats even to Aether Corps soldiers, let alone to cadets who had just finished their first exam. Some began exchanging glances, trying to gauge who might be the most valuable allies for their team.
"If a team successfully defeats a Metavore," Seraphina continued, "then all members of the team will receive full points from that monster. In other words, teamwork will be the key to success."
Standing beside Ryn and Deren, Kael whispered, "So basically, we just need to stick with a strong team and let them do all the work?"
Deren turned to him with a blank expression. "Good tactic, but unfortunately, we can't pick our own teams."
As if responding to Deren's statement, Seraphina spoke again. "To ensure fairness, team assignments will be randomized through a lottery system."
Groans and complaints immediately erupted among the cadets. Many who had hoped to be with their friends now looked uneasy.
A large screen behind the instructors lit up, displaying the randomized team assignments.
"Alright," Vargan said. "Let's see who you'll be working with for this exam."
One by one, names appeared on the screen.
"Team 7: Deren, Selene, Orvan, Mikhail, and Diana."
Deren let out a long sigh. I was hoping for a more laid-back team...
But the moment he saw Selene's name, his mind started working. Wait... this might actually be the perfect chance.
Selene was one of the academy's top cadets. With her on the team, they would likely secure points quickly. And since points were shared evenly among teammates...
I can sit on the sidelines and still get points?
For the first time in his academy life, Deren felt like fate might actually be on his side.
Meanwhile, Selene glanced at the screen with an unreadable expression, then turned to the other team members. "We need to strategize properly if we want to earn enough points. Orvan, Mikhail, Diana—make sure you're prepared." She made no comment about Deren or his previous performance. However, deep down, she was still wondering—was Deren truly skilled, or just incredibly lucky?
Other team assignments continued appearing on the screen.
"Team 11: Ryn, Kael, Revand, Gregor, and Alicia."
Kael immediately groaned. "No! I do NOT want to be on a team with Revand! He's just going to make everything more complicated!"
Ryn patted his shoulder. "Well, you don't have a choice. Let's just hope Revand doesn't get too full of himself."
Hearing his name, Revand turned with a smirk. "Perfect! I'll make sure our team wins! Just follow my strategy."
Kael buried his face in his hands. "I can already feel my headache coming..."
Meanwhile, Deren simply observed the chaos around him in silence.
At least I'm not on their team. That's good enough.
Vargan regained control of the group's attention. "Aside from the team assignments, for this phase of the exam, you will also be given additional armor that will last throughout the battle. If your armor's energy is depleted, you will be automatically removed from the battlefield for safety reasons."
More cadets began murmuring among themselves, anticipation and uncertainty filling the air.
"So if our armor breaks, we can't continue?" someone asked.
"That's correct," Seraphina replied. "So be careful in battle and don't waste your energy recklessly."
Deren nodded slightly. Even better. That means I won't have to do much—just survive and let Selene handle the rest.
Vargan wrapped up the session with final instructions. "With your teams assigned, you will have two days of rest before the exam begins. Use this time wisely to prepare yourselves, both physically and mentally."
Kael turned to Deren. "So, what are you going to do with this break?"
Deren lazily stretched. "Of course, I'll use this time for the most important thing."
Ryn leaned in curiously. "Training?"
Deren smiled calmly. "Sleeping."
Kael and Ryn nearly fell over where they stood.
"Are you serious?!" Kael almost shouted.
Deren shrugged. "What else? I'm already prepared. If I exhaust myself before the exam, it'll just be more of a hassle later."
While the other cadets began discussing strategies and engaging in light training, Deren was already envisioning himself resting peacefully for the next two days. However, something inside him told him that this team exam wouldn't be as easy as he hoped...
And with that, the preparation for the team exam began.