The schoolyard was packed with every third-year student, hundreds strong, a dark sea of uniforms. With so many people, the buzz of conversation was deafening.
On each face danced excitement, anxiety, anticipation—because what came next would decide their fates.
"Quiet!"
A low shout rang out and rippled across the field, as if spoken right in each student's ear, making eardrums throb and heads spin.
Instantly, the noise died. Hundreds of pairs of eyes snapped toward the platform, where a middle-aged man now stood, though no one had noticed him appear.
Amid whispering teachers from their own school:
"Don't be nervous. Go in with the hero you have in your heart. I believe in you… Benjamin Tanner, you first."
Benjamin Tanner, the class president, was a model student steady, determined. The homeroom teacher clearly hoped his success would fire up everyone else's morale.
At the cue, Benjamin stepped from the line and entered the glowing portal.
But resonance isn't just willpower luck matters too.
Moments later, Benjamin emerged, face downcast. The portal gave no sign he had failed.
The teacher's expression stiffened. The morale boost had fizzled.
"Faye Shaw, you're next."
Stepping forward, Faye Shaw calm, bright also returned without success. Two back-to-back failures crushed the class's spirits and left the teacher grim.
"All right… everyone, line up and try one by one."
One after another, students walked through the portal and emerged disappointed. Soon it was Vincent Fox's turn.
…
"Quiet!"
That same low command echoed again, silencing the field as though a lion's roar had swept through it.
Two students near Vincent whispered:
"The principal's roar is fiercer than ever."
"I wonder if I'll clear the first round. If I do, I'm aiming for the martial artist path."
"If you're a martial artist, try to resonate with Silver Fang or Atomic Samurai."
"Don't bait me. S-Class heroes are impossible odds. I'm going A-Class one of Atomic Samurai's disciples…"
Vincent let their chatter wash over him.
Then the principal's voice rose from the platform:
"Students, today is your entrance exam day. Whether you soar like a dragon or crawl like a worm depends entirely on your performance. Faculty from top universities are waiting inside the Heroic Sanctuary even War God Academy. They've brought special admission slots. Excel, and you could enter a prestigious school. Understood?"
"Understood!"
A roar of voices answered him. At the mention of War God Academy, many students' faces lit up that was the nation's top university.
"Excellent!"
The principal nodded and pointed toward the line of buses at the gate.
"All students, follow your homeroom teacher to board your assigned bus. We depart for the Heroic Sanctuary now!"
…
Every city hosts a branch of the One Punch Man Forbidden Zone.
Twenty minutes later, the buses pulled up to an immense, pyramid-shaped structure in the outskirts.
"Everyone, line up and follow me. Don't stray!" the homeroom teacher called.
Vincent Fox joined his classmates in neat rows as they disembarked. The lot was already lively with students and teachers from many schools.
But Vincent's gaze was fixed on the towering twenty-meter pyramid before them, its four grand entrances beckoning. This was the Heroic Sanctuary.
Almost every student stared at it with awe.
The homeroom teacher made one last headcount, then urged, "Keep together! Follow me!"
Inside, a vast hall teemed with lined-up students. In its center glowed a portal. One by one, under teacher guidance, students stepped through the light and returned minutes later.
Some emerged beaming those who had succeeded. Most returned crestfallen.
"Purple? An A-Class hero!"
"Someone bonded with an A-Class hero!"
Excited shouts broke out as teachers and students alike swiveled toward the portal, now shining bright purple. A cool, aloof girl walked out and was immediately swarmed by eager teachers.
So purple signified A-Class resonance. Vincent recalled that green meant B-Class and red meant S-Class. But what color would a C-Class match yield?
He scanned the crowd and saw envious glances cast at the lucky girl.
…
Half an hour passed. Finally, it was Vincent Fox's class's turn. Despite several more purple successes from other schools, none hailed from their own students, and the homeroom teacher's tight-lipped tension grew.
"Vincent Fox, go ahead," the teacher encouraged.
Vincent took a steadying breath and stepped into the glowing portal, ready to stake everything on his choice.