It was obvious to Yukon that Vince wasn't here for a fight, he was here for a show. Every word, every puffed chest, was angled toward the students watching. Especially toward Hannah.
Well then, I'm gonna farm the aura right out of you, Yukon thought, a hot little thrill running through his chest.
"You don't want me to make an example out of you…" Vince growled.
Yukon's smile widened. "Actually… I do."
The crowd rippled with laughter and murmurs. A few sneers. Vince's jaw tightened. When his eyes darted toward Hannah, and saw her lips curve in a smile, that was the spark that lit the powder. His pride cracked and his fury quadrupled.
With a snarl, Vince lunged. His fist shot forward in what he thought was lightning speed. The onlookers gasped.
But to Yukon, it was molasses. The punch crawled toward him like it was fighting through water. I could jog a hundred meters, grab a coffee, and still be back in time, he thought, grinning.
He shifted one step to the side, smooth as a breeze. His hand snapped up, caught Vince's wrist mid-flight, and twisted hard.
"AHHH....!" Vince howled, his knees nearly buckling. The crowd's shock turned into shouts and gasps, half in disbelief, half in delight.
Yukon leaned close, his voice calm, almost kind. "This the example you wanted me to make?"
Vince twisted, veins bulging as he tried to rip free from Yukon's grip. But Yukon's hand was iron.
He bent closer, voice low and calm in his ear. "I want you to apologize to Micah."
"Fuck you!" Vince spat, straining harder.
Yukon gave his wrist another sharp twist. A cry tore out of Vince's throat. "Aahhh! Let me go, freak!"
Yukon's grin widened. "Arrogant, are we?" He leaned in even closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "I could tear this arm right off your body, you know…"
The crowd hushed. No more laughter, no more sneers, just the raw sound of Vince's scream echoing off the walls.
Then a new voice cut through the air, firm and commanding. "That's enough. Let him go."
The authority in the tone made everyone stiffen. Yukon looked up. A tall, older man had stepped forward, glasses perched on his nose, his posture radiating control.
"You'll have plenty of time for that kind of aggression in the dungeons," the man said, ignoring Vince's whimpers."That's if you can pass the trials that is."
Yukon smiled and released his grip. Vince staggered back, cradling his wrist.
"My name is Mr. Douglas," the man continued. "I will be overseeing your trials today. Now....follow me inside."
One by one, the students shuffled in, their chatter buzzing low. Some stole glances at Yukon, others at Vince, but the fight was over, for now.
Micah slipped into step beside Yukon, still looking shaken. "Thanks again for saving my ass out there."
Yukon shrugged. "No need to thank me."
Micah frowned, his curiosity bubbling over. "But seriously… how were you able to move like that? It was incredible."
Yukon smirked without missing a beat. "I have a lot of sex."
Micah laughed, shaking his head. "You're unbelievable." He didn't realize Yukon wasn't joking.
The trial hall was massive, more like a cathedral to strength than a gym. Rows of gleaming machinery stretched across the polished floor, heavy weights and rune-powered training rigs humming faintly with energy. Yukon had only ever seen equipment like this on television, never up close.
High above, banners of past champions hung from the rafters, each one immortalizing names that had reshaped the world. At the far end of the hall loomed a colossal portrait of Theodore Griffith. His steely gaze seemed to follow them, reminding every student just how high the ceiling truly was.
Beneath the portrait, enormous holo-screens flickered to life, cycling between ads of legendary hunters, world-renowned figures slaying monsters, signing endorsements, their fame nearly as valuable as their strength.
Then the feed changed. Bold golden letters appeared:
[Theodore Griffith Academy — Current Top 10 Students]
A hush fell across the hall. Everyone's eyes snapped to the list. These weren't just names. They were legends-in-the-making. To appear on this board meant you were destined for greatness.
10. Gilroy Tarr — Rank C
9. Biro Grunt — Rank C
8. Elizabeth Soros — Rank C
7. Helena Veyra — Rank C+
6. Zane Holloway — Rank B
5. Iris Moonfall — Rank B
4. Raul Drexler — Rank B
3. Victor Ashen — Rank B+
2. Kael Dominion — Rank A
1. Seraphina Duskveil — Rank A
The students whispered among themselves, half in awe, half in envy. Every name on that board was already a rising star. Hunters destined to shape history.
Yukon's eyes lingered on Helena Veyra's name. He smirked. So she really was top ten. That made things interesting.
Yukon caught Vince staring at him with cold, burning eyes. The look said it all, he'd just made himself a bitter enemy. Yukon only smirked and turned away. Not worth his energy.
Mr. Douglas stepped forward, holding up a sleek black tablet. His voice carried the weight of decades of experience, silencing the chatter in the hall.
"Listen carefully," he said. "Every hunter's physical power is measured using Impact Force Units - IFU for short. One clean strike against the Power Meter will register your value. That number will determine your starting rank, and more importantly, whether you pass this trial at all."
The big screen above flickered to life, displaying neat categories:
Normal Humans (Unawakened)
Average Adult: 80–120 IFU
Peak Athlete: 150–200 IFU (Olympic-level strength)
Absolute Human Limit: ~250 IFU (exceptional, without enhancements)
Awakened Hunters
F-Rank: 300–499 IFU
E-Rank: 500–899 IFU
D-Rank: 900–1,499 IFU
C-Rank: 1,500–2,999 IFU
B-Rank: 3,000–5,999 IFU
A-Rank: 6,000–11,999 IFU
S-Rank: 12,000+ IFU (world-class hunters, exceedingly rare)
The hall rippled with murmurs. Students leaned toward one another, whispering questions.
"Wait, no SS or SSS?" one girl blurted.
Douglas glanced at her over his glasses, unimpressed. "That's fantasy guild propaganda. Hunters who surpass S-Rank can be counted on one hand in all of human history. Until one of you children proves otherwise, S-Rank is the ceiling. Don't get ahead of yourselves."
The room fell quiet again.
"The minimum to pass this phase is 300 IFU. Strike below that, and you fail immediately. Simple as that."
Yukon's lips twitched upward. Three hundred? With his upgrades, he was certain he could hit far higher. This was going to be fun.
Do I play it safe… or do I make history right here?