A massive crowd of students gathered in the academy's open field, their eyes fixed on the towering holographic screen displaying the rules of the entrance exam. Tension filled the air as they murmured among themselves, each one eager to prove their worth.
Bolt stood at the edge of the group, keeping his head low. He could feel their gazes—some curious, others dismissive. He had no reputation, no powerful lineage, nothing that made him stand out. That suited him just fine.
A loud beep silenced the chatter as a woman with silver hair and sharp golden eyes stepped onto a hovering platform above them. She was Instructor Veyna, one of the academy's top evaluators.
"Welcome, applicants," her voice echoed through the field, firm and commanding. "The entrance exam will be divided into two parts. The first test—combat evaluation. You will be facing elemental combat robots, and your goal is simple: defeat as many as possible within the time limit."
Murmurs spread through the crowd. Some students clenched their fists in excitement, while others tensed up.
"Your performance will determine your ranking in this exam. Top scorers will gain priority in class placements." Veyna's gaze swept over the students before she gave a sharp nod. "The test begins now."
With a wave of her hand, the ground beneath them shifted and split apart. Platforms rose from beneath the earth, revealing battle arenas filled with combat robots of different sizes. Some were small and agile, while others stood twice as tall as a normal person, crackling with elemental energy.
Bolt inhaled slowly, stepping toward his designated area. His hands curled into fists.
The moment he set foot inside the arena, a robotic voice announced:
"Begin."
The robots moved instantly. Fire, ice, wind, and lightning surged across the battlefield as students unleashed their elemental attacks. Bolt saw some students using massive fire blasts to melt their enemies, while others summoned walls of stone to crush their opponents.
He spotted Aether in the distance, weaving between attacks with precision. His wind abilities allowed him to move fluidly, dodging strikes before countering with sharp wind blades that sliced through the metal bodies of his enemies.
Akane fought differently. She was calm, efficient, defeating enemies with minimal movement. She barely wasted energy, her strikes landing at weak points of the robots, shutting them down instantly.
Then there was Ryzen Velcroft.
With crackling lightning surrounding his body, he vanished from sight, reappearing near a robot and piercing through it with electrified punches. He moved too fast for most to follow, taking down enemy after enemy with a smirk on his face.
Bolt clenched his jaw. He needed to act.
A small-tier robot rushed at him, a blade protruding from its arm. Bolt sidestepped, then threw a punch enhanced with raw elemental force. The robot's frame dented slightly but didn't break.
Too weak.
A second robot lunged, and Bolt instinctively dodged—but it was too slow, too hesitant. He barely managed to avoid getting hit.
Time passed, and one by one, students racked up their scores. The top performers were shining, while others were struggling to stay afloat.
Bolt had barely taken down one robot.
"Five minutes remaining," the robotic announcer echoed.
Bolt took a deep breath. He needed to focus. He channeled energy into his hand, feeling the mix of all elements within him.
A medium-tier robot charged toward him, its arms covered in spikes of ice. Bolt dodged to the side and grabbed its arm, letting his energy surge.
A mix of fire and lightning exploded at the point of impact, creating a burst of unstable energy. The robot's entire arm shattered, causing it to collapse.
Bolt turned—just in time to see another robot approaching.
"Time's up."
A loud alarm rang through the arena.
The robots froze in place, deactivating instantly. The holographic screen above the battlefield flickered, showing the results.
Top Performers:
1. Ryzen Velcroft – 18 robots
2. Aether Renford – 14 robots
3. Akane Hoshino – 13 robots
Lower down the list, barely visible—
Bolt – 2 robots.
Whispers spread through the crowd. Some students snickered.
"That guy barely even fought."
"How did he even get in here?"
"Maybe he's just weak."
Bolt exhaled, forcing himself to ignore the voices. He expected this. He wasn't here to impress anyone—not yet.
Ryzen stepped forward, his eyes full of mockery. "Seriously? Two robots? That's it?" He let out a laugh. "Are you sure you're not lost? Maybe you should apply for a normal school instead."
Bolt didn't respond.
He had nothing to prove to Ryzen.
Yet.
"The first test is complete," Instructor Veyna's voice rang out. "The second test will begin shortly. Prepare yourselves."
Bolt glanced up. He had barely survived this round, but the exam wasn't over yet.
And something told him things were only going to get harder from here.