Shinji followed the lines of Auntie Maya's map, navigating through winding streets and rows of stone houses nestled deep within the heart of Heavenfield. As he approached his destination, the quiet neighborhood gave way to a roar of activity. The air grew thick with tension, a palpable weight reflected in the grim, determined faces of the people around him.
Finally, he reached the registration grounds.
A line so long it made his head spin stretched out before him. The candidates stood shoulder to shoulder—towering, rugged men and women who carried the unmistakable aura of seasoned veterans.
Then there was Shinji.
Small, thin-shouldered, and frail, he seemed to vanish into the crowd. Though no one spoke to him, he could feel the weight of their judgmental stares, measuring his worth and finding him lacking.
Nearby, at a small roadside stall, two figures watched the spectacle in silence. Ares sat leaned back in his chair, his gaze calm yet piercing as he scanned the crowd. He spoke to Argos, who sat beside him.
"The candidates have all arrived, Mr. Argos."
Umi stepped out from the stall, carrying two cups of coffee. He placed one in front of Ares, kept the other for himself, and took a seat.
"This batch has real potential,"
Umi remarked.
"I'd say this is the most promising generation of warriors we've seen since your time."
Ares didn't offer a verbal reply, merely letting a faint, knowing smile play on his lips.
Within the crowd, the standout contenders were beginning to draw attention. There was Ragna, a titan of a man clad in heavy plate with massive, reinforced gauntlets. Macaw, a strange youth wearing headphones who stood far apart from the others as if in his own world. Akidou, a martial artist whose brow was tied with a headband of fierce resolve. And finally, the giants: Alba and Vdolky, both standing over three meters tall. Alba's body was encased in jagged plates that looked like hardened bone, while Vdolky wore a heavy mask that completely obscured his mouth.
As the three judges watched these monsters among men, a spark of excitement flickered in their eyes. The coming battles would be legendary.
A moment later, the judges rose in unison. Umi drained his coffee, and the three of them vanished into the dense throng of people.
The registration line slowly shortened until, at last, it was Shinji's turn.
He stepped into a small stone chamber. Inside, a young woman sat behind a wooden desk, pen and parchment in hand. When she saw Shinji, she gestured for him to sit.
What struck Shinji immediately were her ears—long, soft, and woolly, like those of a sheep. They twitched slightly with every movement she made. She looked up and spoke in a steady, professional tone.
"Your name?"
"I… I'm Shinji, miss."
The girl offered a small, kind smile.
"Alright, Shinji. Your entrant number is 72."
She scribbled a few notes, tore off a slip of paper, and handed it to him.
"Head outside to Tent Number 3. And please, I'm only seventeen—don't call me 'miss.'"
Shinji took the paper, bowed his head in a flurry of embarrassed thanks, and hurried out.
However, as soon as he crossed the threshold, he froze.
Leaning against the stone wall directly in front of him was a mountain of a man. He was massive, his muscles rippling under his skin, and his eyes were as cold and sharp as a blade. A jagged, lightning-shaped scar tore across his right eye, trailing down to his cheek.
The sheer killing intent radiating from the man made the hair on Shinji's neck stand on end. His stomach did a cold flip.
Not daring to linger, Shinji kept his head down and bolted toward the cluster of tents where the first phase of the exam would take place.
Three massive tents loomed ahead. Shinji took a deep, shaky breath and stepped into Tent Number 3.
Behind him, the girl from the registration desk stepped out. Seeing the scarred man still lingering there, she crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes.
"Raiden! Are you standing here scaring the applicants again?"
The terrifying aura vanished instantly. The giant of a man spun around, scratching the back of his head with a bashful, awkward grin.
"Ah… I just worried you might run into some bad types, Yuruha. I was just keeping watch."
Yuruha sighed, shaking her head.
"Honestly. You're a Commander, yet you act like such a child."
The two walked off together. Yuruha barely reached Raiden's chest, yet her stride was filled with confidence.
Inside the tent, Shinji took a single step forward and felt his heart stop.
In the center of the room, sitting atop a high-backed chair with his arms crossed, was a man whose presence filled the entire space. His eyes, calm and knowing, locked onto Shinji's.
Shinji gasped, the name escaping his lips in a breathless whisper.
"Ares…?!"
The examiner for the first trial was none other than the Grand Commander of Heavenfield himself, Ares.