Alexia immediately retracted her threads, and the sudden loss of support sent Paul tumbling to the pavement. "From here on out, I cannot help you," she said, her voice tight with strain. "If I do not take this seriously, I might lose my life on the spot. I cannot believe they pushed this test so far."
Marcus looked down at Paul, offering a grim sort of reassurance. "Do not worry. You made it this far, and that is already a great accomplishment. You will score well. But for those of us from a strong and reputable background, failure is not an option." Though Marcus and Alexia had not spoken much, they recognized the weight of each other's legacies perfectly.
Alexia stepped into the absolute, blackish fog, looking as if she might crack at any moment. Paul watched them, a flare of frustration rising in his chest. "I will not give up here," he muttered to himself. "Not after making it this far. Please, legs, stand up!"
He was so close, yet the distance felt infinite. Only ten meters remained to reach the gate. He knew that reaching it and securing a high rank would change everything. Even as a late admission filling a vacant seat, a top-tier result would build the reputation he needed to survive in this institution.
Seeing him struggle, Alexia yelled back from the gloom, "Why are you not using your powers yet!"
"It is not suited for this situation," Paul replied with a subtle lie. He finally managed to force himself upright, but that was his limit. He could stand, but he could not move an inch forward.
Marcus turned to Alexia with a desperate proposal. "How about we work together?" Alexia was in no position to refuse help. "Okay. Do you have a plan in mind?"
Marcus decided to gamble it all. "My mental barrier. Your indestructible threads. In one go."
"That is suicidal," Alexia whispered.
"Yes, but do we have a choice? If we go all out without faltering and stay concentrated, it is possible. You can propulse our bodies while I protect both our minds with all my power." Marcus knew the success was based solely on his capacity to shield them at the exact moment of impact. "If it is only for an instant, I am sure I can protect us to the fullest, but I will be too concentrated on the mental shield to move my own body."
Under the crushing pressure, Alexia thought for a beat. "Alright, let us do it." She enrolled both of their bodies in her threads and anchored a line toward the gate, ready to pull.
"I am ready."
"Three…..two..one.ZERO!"
She pulled the thread with all her strength. In an instant, she was swimming deep in a sea of nightmares. It was no longer a state of mere illusions, it felt more real than anything she had ever known. A sickening, unpleasant feeling washed over her. "What a terrifying thing," she murmured. "Absolute fear. It is more than what the rumors said." In the next blink, her mind cleared and she looked around. They had reached the gate.
Beside her, Marcus was on his knees, drenched in sweat. "What happened, Marcus?"
"Do not ask what I lived through," he wheezed. "That... that was far more terrifying than yours."
Alexia did not find the courage to ask more. They had reached the goal, but their first instinct was not to open the gate. Instead, they both looked back at the struggling boy they had left behind.
Marcus stood up, his voice heavy. "Do not go any further, Paul. I am serious." Hearing those words, Paul felt his will begin to abandon him. He thought to himself that he had done enough. "Alright, I will stop here..."
Suddenly, a shove from behind sent him reeling. He lost his balance as another student pushed him forward. "Hehe, you should have kept your guard up, idiot!" Even in a place like this, the competition was ruthless, and eliminating a rival was a shortcut to a higher rank.
"PAUL!" Marcus and Alexia screamed in unison.
Paul thought he was done for as he fell toward the dark zone. He landed on his hands and closed his eyes, bracing for an almighty punishment that would shatter his mind. He waited. Then, he opened his eyes. Marcus and Alexia were staring at him, frozen in shock. Paul looked down at the ground, then back at them.
"Is that all?"
He stood up, feeling lighter than he ever had as if he were wandering through a quiet forest after days of climbing a mountain. He looked back at the student who had pushed him. The boy was in awe, assuming the danger had vanished since Paul looked so well and healthy. He tried to take a single step forward, but his eyes rolled back and he collapsed head first into the ground, unconscious.
"That is ridiculous," Marcus stammered. "Paul, maybe you are on the only safe spot there is! Do not move an inch!"
But Paul did not heed the warning. He took a step forward, then another. He looked at Marcus and lifted his arms in a sign of total liberty. "Nothing. I feel nothing. Were you both playing a role just now?"
Alexia was speechless. The situation was too ridiculous for words. Paul walked casually until he reached the gate. Marcus, eyes and mouth wide open, began to laugh with pure nervousness. "HAHA! I knew you were something special!"
"How did you do it?" Alexia began her interrogation immediately. "What family are you from?"
"Uhm, I actually did nothing special," Paul responded. "My family name is Novastar."
"Novastar? That is a completely unknown name," Marcus intervened. "What about your mother? Is she famous?"
"I take my name from my mother, but she is a nobody in society," Paul replied. "And my father died on a military mission before I was born. I never knew him."
"Okay, one last question," Marcus said, his eyes narrowing. "In passing those last meters... did your powers play any role in that?"
"Yes," Paul answered simply.
Marcus seemed satisfied for now and told them to open the gate before the time ran out. Once inside, they were immediately welcomed by an examinator. "Congratulations. You three passed the test. Follow me, I will accompany you to the opening ceremony hall."
When they reached the hall, three students were already sitting there waiting. They were instructed to wait until ten in the morning. When the hour struck, the test stopped, the gates were locked, only seven students reached the school gates. About half an hour later all students were permitted in to start the opening ceremony.
A powerful, charismatic figure walked onto the stage and adjusted the microphone with two fingers.
"Ahem. My name is Modeus, and I am this year's director."