While the spotlight often fell on Raze, Astra, Rain, Roger, Bam and Zack…
there were seven other candidates in the Hero Class.
Seven students who trained just as hard—
with their own dreams, their own burdens,
and their own place in the coming Dawnforge Tournament.
This is their chapter.
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Gray Howitzer — Rank 2
Nexas: Weightshift
Gray Howitzer… the quiet storm of Class 1-H.
A tall boy with ash-silver hair, calm grey eyes, and a composed posture that almost made him look like a noble—though he came from an ordinary family. He rarely smiled, but when he did, it was genuine.
His Nexas: Weightshift
He can increase or decrease the weight of any object he can physically lift—
from making a pebble weigh as much as a truck,
to making a giant steel slab light as a feather.
He doesn't bully, doesn't boast, and doesn't pick fights.
He is helpful, kind, and strangely humble for someone ranked second.
And yet—he trains harder than almost everyone.
In the academy training hall…
CRACK—!!
Gray lifted a massive boulder effortlessly, then instantly increased its weight to its maximum.
BOOM!
It smashed into the floor, cracking it.
Gray exhaled, wiping his brow.
"I need sharper control… Astra and Rain both are in different levels"
Despite being Rank 2, he never underestimated anyone.
Especially not the boy without a Nexas.
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Kaine Kaiser — Rank 5
Nexas: Material Assimilation
Kaine Kaiser was the mystery of the class.
Dark crimson hair, half-lidded eyes, always wearing gloves and a blank expression. His family was unknown—no records, no background, nothing.
His Nexas allowed him to absorb the properties of any material he touched.
Touch wood → his skin becomes bark.
Touch steel → his body turns metallic.
Touch stone → he becomes stone.
Inside the academy courtyard, he pressed his hand against a titanium plate.
His skin hardened, turning silver.
He punched the ground—
BAM!
A crater formed.
But Kaine just stared at his hand.
"…Still not enough."
He felt something deep inside—
as if his Nexas had not fully awakened yet.
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Selene Ward — Rank 7
Nexas: Electra Surge**
Selene was the girl from the neighboring kingdom.
Short silver hair, violet eyes, always carrying a dictionary in her pocket because she was still learning the language.
Despite her difficulty speaking, she was cheerful, friendly, and determined.
Her Nexas: Electric manipulation
Although powerful, it was still unstable.
In the practice chamber, lightning crackled around her fingertips.
"Ah… sto—stop—!"
BOOM!
Electricity exploded in a burst, knocking her backward.
She sat up, dazed.
"…Oww."
Then she smiled and got right back up.
Her determination shocked even the teachers.
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Alren Frost — Rank 8
Nexas: Frostfield
Alren had a calm, almost stoic presence.
dark blue hair tied back, pale eyes, always wearing thick gloves.
His family had produced several powerful ice-type heroes—
but Alren was considered the weakest.
All he could do was freeze water in a 15-meter radius.
Nothing more.
But he trained like a man possessed.
In the Frost Chamber, his breath turned into mist as he focused.
The moisture in the air crystallized—
forming small ice pillars around him.
His father's voice echoed in his head:
"You have more potential than you realize…"
He didn't know if it was true.
But he froze everything in the chamber again and again…
as if trying to prove himself wrong.
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Mira Goldhart — Rank 9
Nexas: Mimic Day**
Mira Goldhart was sunshine in human form.
Golden hair tied into two playful ponytails, bright green eyes, and a constant smile. She was niece of the country's No.1 hero—and proudly acted like the class president.
Her Nexas allowed her to copy another person's Nexas for one full day,
but only after five minutes of physical contact.
She trained by shaking hands, high-fiving mannequins, and chasing her classmates around.
"Selene! Give me your hand! Let me borrow lightning!"
"No! No! No!" Selene ran.
"Rain! Can I borrow your water powers later?"
Rain: "Mira… please don't chase me again."
She wasn't the strongest—
but she was the spirit of the class.
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Felix Cinder — Rank 10
Nexas: Sound Dominion
Felix was the quietest person in the class—ironically, considering his power.
Jet-black messy hair, tired eyes, and always wearing headphones.
He didn't speak much, always distancing himself.
His Nexas: Control over sound in a 100-meter radius.
He could:
amplify sound to explosive levels
silence an entire area
listen to whispers from floors away
disorient enemies with sonic waves
In the soundproof chamber, Felix stood still—eyes closed.
Then—
"—T H R U M—"
The air shook as a silent shockwave burst outward, shattering the floor tiles.
Felix opened his eyes slowly.
"…Still too loud."
His expression never changed.
But inside, he held a storm of power no one truly understood.
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Naomi crest — Rank 11
Nexas: Light Barrier
Lira, with pale pink hair and gentle amber eyes, was soft-spoken but incredibly hardworking.
She could produce solid barriers of light—domes, walls, and shields capable of blocking physical and elemental attacks.
In her backyard, she generated a barrier as thick as glass.
Roger punched it.
"Ow— ow— ow—! Okay, this is cheating!"
Lira smiled shyly.
"Sorry…"
She wasn't flashy, but her defensive power was top-tier.
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**Thirteen Candidates.
Thirteen Stories.
One Tournament.**
Each of them trained in their own world,
with their own reasons to stand tall.
Some trained out of pride.
Some out of fear.
Some out of desperation.
Some out of duty.
And some—like Raze—trained to change fate itself.
The Dawnforge Tournament wasn't just a battle.
It was the beginning of the future heroes of Vornis.
And soon…
their paths would collide.