The outer-ring slums were always shrouded in a gray haze.
Today, though, a sliver of sunlight broke through.
It slanted down, hitting the rusted metal sign at the alley mouth.
Kay did push-ups in the open space.
Elbows bent, straightening—each move heavy with resolve.
Sweat dripped from his chin.
It landed on the dust, leaving tiny dark splotches.
"Thirty-seven… thirty-eight…"
He counted softly, arms shaking.
After the ruins incident, he'd doubled his training.
Every night, the crystal hidden under his mattress hummed faint warmth.
Like it was prodding him not to slack off.
Ella trotted over.
She hugged a rusty metal box, its contents clanging.
She stopped beside Kay, wiping sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand.
"Found something in Old Man Leo's scrap yard."
Kay paused, propping up on one hand to gasp.
He looked at the box.
"What is it?"
Ella flipped the box open with a clatter.
Inside, a set of worn detection tools.
"A basic battle energy tester!" she said.
"I fixed it last night. It can gauge your Interstellar Battle Energy level."
Her eyes sparkled—like she'd unearthed a treasure.
A thrill flickered in Kay's chest.
In the slums, gear like this was rarer than a starship.
He'd never known his own strength for sure.
"Does it actually work?"
"Try it!" Ella pulled a palm-sized detector from the box.
She wiped dust off its surface, flipped the switch.
A faint green light flickered on.
"Put your hand on it."
Kay drew a deep breath.
He set his palm on the cold metal, concentrating.
He tried to summon the faint battle energy in his body—energy only stirred by days of brutal training.
The detector beeped softly.
Green light flickered, then settled dim.
A number glowed on the screen: 0.3.
Ella's smile froze.
"That's… only just above Primary Warrior threshold."
Her voice wavered.
"Karl's must be at least 0.8, right?"
Kay's fingers tightened, then relaxed.
He forced a smile.
"It's fine. At least I have something."
"In a month, I'll boost it for sure."
Ella opened her mouth to comfort him.
A sharp voice cut through.
"What are two losers doing here?"
Karl swaggered over, flanked by two cronies.
His boots crushed a can—shrill crunch.
He glanced at Ella's detector.
His lip curled into a sneer.
"A broken toy? Let me guess—this trash's battle energy doesn't even hit 0.5?"
Kay stood, sliding Ella behind him.
"What do you want?"
"What do I want?" Karl stepped forward.
His aristocratic uniform spotless, a stark contrast to Kay's rags.
"Heard you've been racing around the slums like a mad dog—training?"
He laughed loud, the sound bouncing off the walls.
"Think you can actually get into Federal Star Military Academy?"
One crony jumped in.
"Karl's dad already lined up a recommendation. He's a shoo-in!"
"Unlike some people—just wasting their lives."
Kay's jaw hardened.
Recommendations were nobles' shortcuts.
A privilege slum kids like him never dared dream of.
But he wouldn't admit defeat.
"Even without a recommendation, I'll pass the entrance exam."
"Entrance exam?" Karl raised an eyebrow.
Like he'd heard the funniest thing ever.
"Do you know how many apply each year? And how many spots for commoners?"
He leaned in, voice dropping.
"Academy resources are for people like me, not gutter rats."
Ella snapped.
"Karl, you've gone too far!"
Karl ignored her, eyes locked on Kay.
"How about a deal?"
"I'll give you a chance."
"If you can take one punch from me, I'll admit you're not totally worthless."
"If you can't… crawl in front of me and bark like a dog."
His eyes glinted with malice.
He knew Kay's strength was a fraction of his.
This was just an excuse to humiliate.
Kay's hands shook with rage.
Battle energy surged in his veins.
But he also knew taking that punch head-on would break him.
If he backed down, though—all his work, all his pride—would crumble.
"Kay, don't!" Ella grabbed his arm, panic in her voice.
Kay drew a deep breath, gently prying her hand loose.
He met Karl's gaze, voice steady.
"I'll take your punch."
"But if I stand, you apologize for calling us gutter rats."
Karl stared, then laughed harder.
"Deal!"
"I don't think you'll live to hear it."
He stepped back, raising his right fist.
Faint red battle energy coiled around his knuckles.
Not full strength—but enough to floor a 0.3 fighter.
Onlookers in the alley held their breath.
Some worried; others eager for a show.
Kay tensed every muscle.
In that instant, he thought of the crystal under his bed.
Strange warmth flowed from his chest to his limbs.
His spatial talent stirred, faint but responsive.
"Here I come!" Karl roared, throwing his fist.
The wind of the blow ruffled Kay's hair.
Time slowed.
Kay didn't dodge.
Instead, he locked onto the spatial ripples around him.
He tried to shift his body an inch at the last moment—the trick he'd practiced a hundred times in the alleys.
Bang!
The fist landed—but not on his chest.
It grazed his shoulder, sending him staggering back.
He hit the wall, gritting his teeth to hold back a groan.
Shoulder numb with pain, but he didn't fall.
Karl's eyes widened in disbelief.
"How did you…?"
Kay straightened, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth.
"I'm still standing. Apologize."
Karl's face flushed with rage and embarrassment.
"You… you cheated!"
"I didn't," Kay said flat.
"You just missed."
His cronies tried to move forward.
Karl waved them off.
He stared at Kay, voice venomous.
"This isn't over."
"Entrance exam is in three months. I'll be there—watching you fail."
He spun away, striding off.
Cronies hurried after him.
The alley erupted in whispers.
Some now looked at Kay with new respect.
Ella rushed over, checking his shoulder.
"You're crazy! That was too dangerous!"
Kay smiled, though his face was pale.
"I'm fine."
"And I proved it—we're not gutter rats."
As the crowd drifted away, Kay looked up.
Sunlight brighter now.
He knew this was a small win.
The real challenge—the entrance exam—lay ahead.
That night, he held the crystal in his hand.
Its warmth seemed to strengthen.
A faint voice seemed to echo in his mind—like the crystal was trying to tell him something.
What secret did it hold?
And would it help him survive the exam?
He clutched the crystal tight.
His heart a mix of hope and unease.