Hirua shifted uncomfortably among the sea of faces filling the expansive hall. The room buzzed quietly with murmurs and shifting feet, a diverse crowd brought together from who knew where. Everyone seemed as unsure as him about why they'd been summoned.
I don't see any familiar faces... It's boring and uncomfortable when I'm alone. He thought
The soaring ceiling, dotted with glowing orbs emitting soft light, cast a surreal atmosphere that made the waiting feel even more unreal.
Suddenly, a hush fell, and all eyes turned toward the entrance. A woman entered—striking, with bright yellow hair that shimmered like rays of sunlight itself, and deep star-speckled eyes that seemed to hold endless secrets. Her tailored suit was impeccably white, the same as the ties worn by several men who flanked her, clearly marking them as her associates. Without a word, she raised a hand and beckoned the entire assembly.
"Follow me," she said softly but with undeniable authority. She's scary, Hirua thought.
Without hesitation, the crowd stirred, each person falling into step behind the woman as if drawn by an invisible thread. Hirua followed, his heart pounding—not with fear but with a swell of anticipation he couldn't quite place.
They walked through gleaming corridors sliced with light, until finally the group emerged into a vast open area that stretched wide beneath the sky. Jagged caves dotted the rocky landscape like open mouths waiting to swallow the unwitting. More people surged forward, their numbers swelling into the hundreds.
A man stepped forward. Like the woman, he wore the signature white tie and carried an aura of commanding presence. He reached into a pocket and produced a small, polished watch, sleek and black with an illuminated arrow glowing faintly on its face.
One by one, he handed out these devices to the people gathered, finally giving one to Hirua. Immediately, the watch activated. The luminous arrow spun briefly before pointing decisively forward.
"This watch will determine your team assignments," the man explained, his voice firm and clear despite the distance. "Follow its guidance. Together, you will conquer the task ahead. It has some features where you can view registered people in the academy's gifts and some informations."
Hirua glanced down as the arrow blinked and began to direct him forward, pulling him away from the milling throng. Around him.
Hirua's steps quickened, eyes fixed on the glowing arrow on his watch. It guided him steadily toward a small cluster of people—each wearing the same sleek timepiece on their wrists. It's pointed at those people, I better go and say hi, As he approached, the group fell silent, exchanging tentative glances. The awkwardness hung thick in the air. I think it was a bad idea...
Breaking the silence, a girl with pale snow-cyan twin tails stepped forward. Her crystal-clear voice cut through the tension. "I'm Crystal," she said with a warm but cautious smile. "Looks like we're on the same team."
Hirua returned the smile with a nod. "I'm Hirua Amanai, 19 years old. Let's get through this as a team.
A black-haired young man with deep black pupils introduced himself next. "I'm Eunjo Yang." His tone was calm but guarded.
Following him, a blonde girl with bright eyes said, "I'm Liarah. Seems like we'll be stuck with each other during this examination, I hope we all get along."
The group exchanged brief nods, the ice beginning to break. Suddenly, a man approached—his demeanor commanding attention.
"Choose a cave and venture inside. Your task is to retrieve a crystal orb hidden within. Be warned: other teams may try to intervene. However, teaming up with other teams is permitted. If multiple teams recover the orb together, it will still count as a successful mission."
The man's words hung in the air before he turned and left without another glance.
Crystal shifted, glancing at the others. "What kind of Gifts do you have?"
Eunjo answered first. "I can copy the Gifts of others, sometimes I can't copy gifts that are intact to people or uhhh, like you know, aishhh I can't copy gifts that grows as a part of their flash or something like that!" He yelled in annoyance.
"Chill, well, I can turn things into crystals or summon them," Crystal said as a small crystal floated in her palm.
Liarah smiled softly. "I manipulate sound waves, bend and mold them to my will or make vacuum domains where sound can't travel."
"Me, I can enhance anything—powers, skills, even objects or other people." Hirua added with growing confidence. "It's not much alone, but combined…it's a different story."
The group shared a spark of determination and set off toward the cave entrances. The darkness swallowed them as they ventured deeper, obstacles and traps testing their resolve. Suddenly, their progress halted.
Ahead, a shadowy figure emerged from the gloom, its presence chilling the air.
The group exchanged determined nods, steeling themselves before stepping cautiously into the cave's gaping maw. The air grew cool and damp as they moved deeper, their footsteps echoing softly against jagged cave walls.
Crystal's keen eyes darted ahead, spotting a series of glimmering pressure plates embedded in the floor, each adorned with intricate rune-like carvings. "Watch your step, I see traps on the ground." she warned, voice barely above a whisper.
Hirua focused, extending his gift subtly to enhance their senses. The dim light around them sharpened, revealing faint energy lines weaving between the plates—likely triggers for deadly traps.
Eunjo moved first, his silent footsteps careful as he mirrored the intricate pattern needed to avoid triggering the traps. Liarah's control over sound came into play next; she bent her power to dampen their movements, muffling each footfall like a ghost in the dark.
Hirua boosted their reflexes, enhancing their reactions just enough to step precisely on safe ground and see properly. The synergy of their Gifts carried them forward, heartbeats steady despite the growing tension inside the cave.
Further inside, jagged spikes suddenly shot from the walls and floor in a swift, synchronized attack. The group froze for a split second before Hirua's gifted touch amplified their agility. With a sudden lunge, they dodged in unison, weaving through the spikes like dancers rehearsing a deadly ballet.
"I was about to block it with some ic-crystal," Crystal muttered, wiping a bead of sweat from her temple. "Let's keep going."
21They navigated twisting tunnels, each step bringing new challenges—swirling mists that dulled perception, slippery rocks that threatened to topple them, and ominous shadows that seemed almost alive. Yet, their combined abilities pushed them onward, united by grit and growing trust.
Suddenly, their progress halted at a cavernous opening, wider than any before. The shadows deepened here, broken only by the steady glow of faint crystals embedded along the walls.
And there, standing casually with a confident smirk, was a young man unlike any they had yet encountered.
He had striking pink hair that fell in careless strands around his face, topped by a pair of short black devil horns that curled upward just above his forehead. His black rectangular glasses glow a bright purple glow from his impish eyes that glinted with amusement. A long, slender tail with an upside down heart tip swaying behind him like a cat's tail.
Hirua's breath caught as he took in the figure fully—the relaxed stance, the devilish horns subtly twitching, the teasing grin that didn't quite reach those sharp eyes. Where is his team? Why is he alone? Hirua thought
The pink-haired young man tilted his head slightly and offered a casual greeting. "Konbanwa," he said smoothly, voice carrying a mix of amusement and playfulness.
Hirua didn't move immediately. Instead, he activated his Information interface, a soft glow emanating from the watch on his wrist as data flowed swiftly across his vision:
Name: Jinu Baek
Age: 20
Class: 2X
Gift:(Locked — only registered individuals can view this user's Gift.)
A flicker of surprise passed through Hirua's mind. It's locked? I didn't know they'd task people to fight us, he thought.
His gaze flickered to his newly formed team, searching their eyes. Crystal's expression hardened slightly, her fingers curling into quiet fists. Eunjo's eyes narrowed, focused and calculating. Liarah's lips pressed into a thin line, bracing herself. Hirua swallowed his unease and forced his voice steady.
"I'm Jinu Baek from class 1X, i'm the Examiner in this cave." Jinu's grin widened, a spark of excitement lighting his gaze. "So, you're the ones sent after the orb, huh? Let's see if you can earn it." His tail flicked playfully behind him as he took a step forward, the heart-shaped tip tracing lazy patterns in the air.
The cave's muted echoes suddenly felt charged — the silent promise of a preparation for a confrontation hang thickly between them. He's from class 1X, according to the databooks Class X or Tier-X is the highest tier in H.A, Hirua thought as he prepared himself to fight, knowing that the guy won't let them pass through without a fight.
We can do this.