The Power Assessment Test, one of Star City High's grandest annual events, was typically held on the Monday of the second week after the freshman year began. Its purpose was to evaluate the new students' aptitude for the Martial Studies and to gauge their mastery over their Beast Totems within that first week.
For the newly enrolled freshmen, this was the first major hurdle on their martial path.
The school would use the test results to classify the students' talents into different tiers, after which they would be assigned to different classes for stratified education.
In other words, for students with exceptional talent, the school would pour in more resources and assign better teachers to aid their growth.
As for the students with mediocre talent, the resources they could obtain were extremely limited. Consequently, their future growth was predictably capped.
One could say that the results of this Power Assessment Test would determine a freshman's rate of growth for a considerable period to come. How could it not be taken with the utmost seriousness by every new student?
Of course, in previous years, there had been cases of freshmen who performed poorly on the test, were assigned to an ordinary class, and then suddenly had a breakthrough in their martial understanding or stumbled upon some great opportunity. They would then fight their way back into a key class, once again earning the school's focused resources.
But such students were, after all, a tiny minority.
The vast majority, after being placed in an ordinary class, would lose their motivation, their progress in the Martial Studies stagnating without any further remarkable achievements. This was, of course, also related to their ordinary talent.
But this was the modern era, an age of science. Even if a warrior's aptitude was mediocre, as long as they had sufficient resourcesâfor instance, by consuming a massive amount of enhancement potionsâtheir strength could still be cultivated to a respectable level.
Many young masters from wealthy families or heirs of major clans, despite their average aptitude, had managed to literally "consume" their way into becoming powerful warriors, propped up by their immense family fortunes.
For ordinary people without such deep pockets, who still wished to advance quickly on the martial path, it was almost inevitable that they would start to entertain some less-than-honorable ideas.
But that was a story for another time.
...
On the day of the Power Assessment Test, Fly followed the massive stream of freshmen to the sports field.
The field was enormous, the size of four football fields combined, and by the time Fly arrived, it was already a sea of people.
Not only were the freshmen present, but many upperclassmen had also come to watch. There were even media reporters from television stations.
Well, Star City High was the number one academy in the entire city. For a major event like the Power Assessment Test, the media would naturally want to get the latest scoop and see what kind of new genius "monsters" had been born in this year's class.
As Fly walked, he saw eager, determined expressions on the faces of most freshmen. Only a small fraction of students shuffled along in the crowd, their faces downcast, their eyes filled with a palpable fear of the test.
It's only been a week, Fly thought. Not everyone can successfully absorb and adapt to the power of their Beast Totem.
In every cohort of students, there were always some who were expelled from the school because they were unable to absorb their Totem Beast's power and become a Beast Warrior.
In this world where warriors were revered, one could still survive by taking on an ordinary job, but the psychological gap between what one was and what one could have been was a difficult pill to swallow.
After all, the most painful thing in the world isn't "I can't," but "I could have."
As Fly mused to himself, he scanned the area for his class's assembly point, simultaneously taking a look at the top-ranked freshmenâhis potential rivals.
He was especially looking for "Emperor" Valerius and Genevieve, the second and third-ranked students in their year.
Although Fly wasn't as high-profile as Jett, he still paid close attention to these top-tier individuals. Deep down, he too harbored the ambition to become stronger.
However, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't find any detailed information about the prodigy ranked first. All he knew was that his name was "Silas Thorne," and that he had a mysterious background and power far beyond that of an ordinary freshman.
Whatever, if I can't find anything, so be it. He's just another freshman. I'll see him at the test anyway, right? Fly thought.
It didn't take long for him to find his class's designated spot.
"Fly's here!" The moment his homeroom teacher, Mr. Carter, saw him, he rushed over in a few long strides. An unknowing bystander might have thought he was greeting a superior.
Hearing Mr. Carter's voice, the homeroom teacher of Class Three next to them, Mr. Drake, cast a curious glance in their direction.
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News of the battle between Fly and Jett, as well as the duel between Mr. Carter and Mr. Ironside for the right to be Fly's teacher, had long since spread throughout the campus. It had been a long time since such an exciting student had appeared. Every teacher was curious to see what kind of surprises this genius, who had stirred up a storm on his very first day, would bring to the Power Assessment Test.
"Fly, how are your preparations for the test coming along?"
When speaking to Fly, Mr. Carter deliberately raised his voice, as if he were showing off a precious treasure.
"So that's Fly? He certainly looks different," Ms. Reed, the teacher of Class One, and Mr. Drake of Class Three, both looked over.
They saw a young man with bright, sharp eyes and handsome features. He was tall and slender, and his every movement carried a scholarly grace. But it was the calm confidence in his brow that was truly enviable.
"Damn it, why didn't a promising seedling like him get assigned to my Class Three?" The more Mr. Drake thought about it, the more annoyed he became.
Mr. Carter's deliberately loud voice was, to him, a blatant act of showing off. It couldn't help but fan the flames of his jealousy.
Hmph! The nerve of him, acting all smug after getting so lucky! Ms. Reed also found herself silently cursing Mr. Carter, even feeling an urge to go over and smack him.
It wasn't just the teachers. The students from the neighboring classes, Class One and Class Three, also turned to look at Fly with curious eyes.
Some of the girls were instantly captivated.
In contrast, some of the boys crossed their arms, wearing expressions of disdain, as if they felt Fly was stealing their thunder in front of the girls.
In reality, within Mr. Carter's own Class Two, many students had already tried to befriend Fly. Some of the female students would often surround him in the classroom, asking for his contact information.
In this world where strength was everything, building a good relationship with a talented young warrior meant connecting with a future powerhouse. Everyone understood the stakes involved.
However, aside from training, Fly wasn't interested in much else, and he certainly had no intention of wasting his time on romance.
Whenever a girl approached him, Fly would simply meet her gaze with his own bright, cold eyes.
It was a silent rejection.
After a few repeated attempts, the students in his class gradually began to keep their distance, concluding that Fly was aloof and unapproachable. It was as if he had been ostracized.
But there was nothing to be done about it.
Fly wasn't a real high school freshman. Having lived two lives, his mental maturity was far beyond that of his peers, making it naturally difficult for him to fit in with their games.
"Things didn't go exactly as planned. There were some minor changes," Fly replied to Mr. Carter in a calm, understated tone.
Hearing this, the students who already disliked him immediately started whispering amongst themselves.
"Isn't this Fly guy supposed to be a genius? He's having problems too?"
"What genius? He just got lucky and beat Jett on the first day. And it wasn't even a direct victory; he just used the terrain to his advantage."
"Exactly. So what if he was ranked seventh? High school academics are all about book smarts. Being good at studying doesn't mean you're good at the Martial Studies."
...
Hearing his prized student being gossiped about, Mr. Carter shot a fierce glare at the murmuring students. He then pulled Fly aside and asked in a low voice, "Fly, what happened? You can tell me anything!"
Mr. Carter's concern wasn't just for Fly's well-being; he had his own selfish reasons.
Just the day before, Dean Sterling had held a meeting with the homeroom teachers and announced that for this year's test, the teacher whose class achieved the highest overall score would become the homeroom teacher of the new Rocket Class.
And Fly was the ace of his class.
If something was wrong with his ace, how could he not be worried?
Fly didn't answer. Instead, he slowly raised his right hand.
Upon his palm, arcs of golden electricity danced and leaped.
This... this is... a Mythical Species!
The shock that hit Mr. Carter was immense.
The ability to manipulate natural elements was something typically reserved for Grandmaster-level Beast Warriors of level 6 or higher. Fly had only had his Totem Beast for a week. No matter how much of a genius he was, it was impossible for him to have reached level 6 already.
That left only one explanationâFly's Beast Totem was a Mythical Species!
Mr. Carter had been a teacher for at least a decade, on top of his own years as a student. He considered himself to be extremely familiar with the cultivation path of a Beast Warrior.
Until...
Until he met Fly.
First, it was his incredible tactical adaptability. Then, it was the Perfect Affinity. And now, his ordinary cockroach totem had transformed into a Mythical Species!
This series of shocking events could no longer be described as merely incredible.
It was... terrifying.
Monster-level terrifying.
And all of these unbelievable feats had happened to a freshman who had just enrolled.
And he was the homeroom teacher of this monster.
It's in the bag! It's in the bag!
If he weren't in such a public place, Mr. Carter would have started dancing with joy.
With Fly alone, he was practically guaranteed the position of Rocket Class teacher!
Other classes might have geniuses, but those were the "mass-produced" kind that you could find a few of every year.
Fly's talent was one-of-a-kind, completely unique and irreplaceable.
At this thought, Mr. Carter clapped Fly firmly on the shoulder. "Fly, you just focus on your training. I'll take care of everything else from now on. With me around, you have nothing to worry about!"
Fly smiled and nodded.
Just then, he felt a bone-chilling coldness emanating from his right.
He whipped his head around.
A tall, handsome young man was staring at him coldly.
The boy wore a crimson jacket, his skin was fair, his hair naturally curly. He had a high-bridged nose and a pair of azure eyes as deep as the ocean. His entire being exuded an aura of aristocratic grace.
The moment their eyes met, Fly felt a wave of indifference, of arrogance, of scrutiny, of hostility...
His gaze was like a bolt of lightning, scanning every inch of Fly's body.
Mr. Carter noticed the shift in atmosphere and quickly grabbed Fly's hand, whispering, "That's 'Emperor' Valerius, the second son of the Tarantino family. He was ranked second in the entrance exams. He's another genius-level figure and will likely be a formidable rival for you. However..."
Mr. Carter let out a soft laugh, a hint of pride on his face, "...he's a 'Twin-souled' warrior. In my opinion, he's nowhere near your level."
"So that's 'Emperor' Valerius?" Fly looked again, only to find that the other boy had already averted his gaze. "He seems like a dangerous person."
After a moment of thought, Fly suddenly asked, "By the way, Mr. Carter, you said he's a 'Twin-souled' warrior. What does that mean?"
"A 'Twin-souled' warrior is someone who absorbs the power of two different Totem Beasts and cultivates them simultaneously."
Mr. Carter paused, then continued, "They might look impressive, but most of them are all flash and no substance. Think about it, most warriors already find it difficult to cultivate the power of a single Totem Beast, let alone two. You should understand the principle of not biting off more than you can chew. That's why I don't think Valerius is anything to be afraid of. You can definitely beat him."
"Oh..." Fly nodded thoughtfully, but in his heart, he was already treating Valerius with the utmost seriousness.
Could such a calm and terrifying individual, the second son of the Tarantino family, really be as simple as his teacher made him out to be?
Just then, Dean Sterling strode onto the main stage and announced in a loud, clear voice that the Power Assessment Test had officially begun.
The test was finally here.