The results of the second trial had left an undeniable impact.
Everywhere Bolt walked, eyes followed him.
Some were filled with curiosity, others with awe. But a few, like Ryzen's, burned with something closer to resentment.
"Hey, Bolt."
Aether caught up to him, hands in his pockets, his usual carefree smirk in place. "I think you just made a rival."
Bolt scoffed. "If he wants to compete, that's his problem."
Akane and Darian joined them as they moved through the academy grounds. They had a short break before the final trial, and the tension in the air was thick.
"I don't blame him," Akane said. "You came out of nowhere and dominated. People like Ryzen? They don't take that lightly."
Darian nodded. "Yeah… he looked pissed."
Bolt didn't care. If Ryzen wanted to see him as a threat, let him.
Before they could continue their conversation, a loudspeaker crackled to life.
"All candidates, report to the main stadium for the final trial. The entrance exam's last stage is about to begin."
The four exchanged glances.
"This is it," Aether said. "Let's see if you can shock them again, Bolt."
Bolt smirked. That was the plan.
The main stadium was massive. Thousands of seats surrounded the battlefield, towering above the candidates who had made it this far. The energy was electric, the anticipation almost suffocating. A huge digital board displayed the remaining candidates—only 150 were left out of the thousands who had applied.
Bolt scanned the faces around him. Some, like Ryzen, were glaring. Others, like Aether, simply looked eager for what was next. At the center of the arena, Instructor Veyna stood with her hands behind her back, waiting for silence.
When she spoke, her voice echoed across the stadium.
"Welcome to the final trial."
The crowd fell silent.
"The last test will push you beyond your limits. It will test not only your combat skills but also your ability to adapt, strategize, and survive. Only those who prove themselves will earn a place in the academy."
She gestured behind her, and the ground of the stadium shifted.
Platforms rose. Metal gates opened. A loud, inhuman roar shook the air.
Monsters.
Stronger than before. Feral. Deadly.
Bolt felt his heartbeat quicken.
"This trial is a battle for survival. You will be placed into random teams and thrown into an environment filled with creatures from the elemental rift. Your objective? Survive and eliminate threats. The more you defeat, the higher your score."
The tension in the stadium skyrocketed.
Bolt narrowed his eyes. This wasn't just a test—it was a battlefield.
And he was more than ready.
A screen above the arena flashed with names.
Bolt's team appeared:
Team 9:
Bolt
Ryzen Velcroft
Akane Hoshino
Darian Crest
Felix Drayden (Unknown)
Bolt raised an eyebrow. Ryzen again?
Aether's name wasn't there, meaning they were separated this time.
Akane clicked her tongue. "Well, this will be interesting."
Darian sighed. "I was hoping to stick with Aether."
As they walked toward their designated zone, Bolt heard footsteps behind him.
"You're on my team."
Ryzen's voice was cold.
Bolt didn't turn around. "And?"
Ryzen gritted his teeth. "Don't get in my way."
Bolt smirked. "That's funny—I was going to say the same to you."
Their gazes locked. Sparks of electricity crackled between them—not from powers, but from sheer hostility.
This was going to be a long trial.
A bright blue portal shimmered into existence before Team 9. It was unstable, shifting, as if leading into a chaotic battlefield.
"Team 9, enter your designated zone."
With a final glance at one another, they stepped through.
The moment they emerged—
They were in hell.
The landscape was warped. Jagged rocks pierced the ground. The sky was a storm of fire and lightning. Monstrous creatures roamed in the distance, eyes glowing with hunger.
A deep growl rumbled behind them.
The trial had begun.
And they were surrounded.