Morning came differently on Earth-10 now.
It wasn't quiet anymore.
It wasn't soft.
It vibrated.
Energy pulsed through the air like a second heartbeat—mana, aura, divine residue… whatever name people gave it, one thing was certain:
Earth had changed.
And so had its people.
The sky above the capital shimmered faintly, like reality itself had a thin layer stretched over it. Airships hovered in the distance. Hunters moved across rooftops. Portals flickered open and shut far beyond the horizon where elite teams handled them before they could spill into civilization.
And standing at the center of all of it—
Was Star Martial Academy.
A massive structure built from black-gold stone, its walls etched with ancient runes and modern inscriptions alike. Towers stretched high into the sky, each radiating a different frequency of power.
This wasn't just a school.
It was where monsters were refined into legends.
At the front gates, thousands had already gathered.
Young fighters.
Awakeners.
Prodigies.
Survivors.
Each one carried ambition in their eyes—and power in their bones.
Luciferus Deynar Bellet stepped forward through the crowd, hands casually in his pockets.
His white hair moved slightly with the wind. Crimson eyes scanned everything—not nervously, not cautiously…
But curiously.
Beside him, Serenity walked with a lighter step, her silver hair catching the sunlight, her mismatched eyes quietly observing the surroundings.
She looked calm.
Too calm.
Luciferus smirked slightly.
"…This is it?"
Serenity tilted her head.
"You expected more?"
He shrugged.
"I mean… I thought I'd feel something. Pressure. Danger. You know… something exciting."
Serenity smiled faintly.
"You're bored already?"
Luciferus chuckled.
"Not yet… but I might be."
A voice cut through the air.
"ALL PARTICIPANTS—LINE UP!"
The crowd shifted instantly.
Discipline.
Fear.
Excitement.
All mixed into one movement.
At the front stood a tall man in a long black coat, his presence heavy—controlled.
Instructor Kael Varion.
A former Imperial-ranked Conqueror.
His eyes swept across the crowd.
Sharp.
Judging.
Calculating.
"Welcome to Star Martial Academy."
His voice carried without effort.
"You are here because you believe you are strong."
A pause.
Then—
"Today, we will determine if that belief is truth… or delusion."
A faint ripple of tension spread.
Luciferus leaned slightly toward Serenity.
"…I like him."
Serenity nodded.
"He doesn't waste words."
Kael raised a hand.
Behind him—
The ground shifted.
A massive formation activated.
Three colossal gates rose from the earth.
Each one radiating a different energy.
"Your entrance exam consists of three phases."
He pointed.
"Phase One: Power Assessment."
The first gate glowed.
"Phase Two: Combat Evaluation."
The second gate pulsed.
"Phase Three: Survival Domain."
The third gate… remained still.
But something about it felt—
wrong.
Kael's gaze hardened.
"Fail any phase—you are eliminated."
"Survive all three… and you earn your place."
A boy stepped forward from the crowd.
Tall.
Dark hair.
Lightning crackling faintly around his fingers.
"My name is Riven Volten."
He smirked confidently.
"Let's not waste time."
Luciferus' eyes lit up slightly.
"…Now that's interesting."
Serenity glanced at Riven.
"Lightning affinity… unstable, but strong."
Another stepped forward.
A boy with short crimson hair, his hands in his pockets.
A faint heat radiated from him.
"Daxen Vox."
He raised a hand.
A burst of fire ignited from his palm—clean, controlled, intense.
"I hope this place doesn't bore me."
Luciferus laughed quietly.
"Okay… I like him."
More stepped forward.
A tall swordsman with calm eyes.
"Zayfer Kain."
A muscular boy with stone-like skin.
"Borin Hale."
A quiet girl with frost trailing behind her.
"Camry Vance."
A boy with golden eyes and a calm aura.
"Cyrus Arden."
And many more.
Each one… strong.
Each one… dangerous.
Kael watched them all.
Then—
He smiled faintly.
"Good."
"Let's begin."
Phase One: Power Assessment
One by one, participants stepped forward.
A massive crystal stood in the center.
"Place your hand on the core."
Kael instructed.
"Release your energy."
Riven stepped first.
Lightning exploded outward as he touched it.
The crystal surged.
Rating: MASTER-tier potential.
The crowd reacted instantly.
Daxen stepped up next.
He placed his hand down—
Fire erupted, surging through the crystal with overwhelming heat.
Rating: MASTER-tier potential (Flame Dominance).
Zayfer—
Calm.
Precise.
Rating: HIGH MASTER-tier.
Borin—
Raw strength.
Rating: MASTER-tier (Physical Dominance).
Camry—
Cold… overwhelming.
Rating: HIGH MASTER-tier (Elemental Purity).
One by one…
Geniuses revealed themselves.
Then—
Kael looked up.
"You two."
Luciferus and Serenity stepped forward.
The crowd quieted.
Something felt—
Different.
Luciferus went first.
He placed his hand on the crystal.
"…Don't break it," Serenity muttered.
Luciferus grinned.
"No promises."
He released—
Just a little.
Black light flickered.
Heavy.
The crystal trembled.
Then—
It cracked.
Then—
It stabilized.
Rating: ???
Silence.
Kael's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Interesting."
Serenity stepped forward.
Her energy flowed differently.
Balanced.
The crystal pulsed—
Then stabilized.
Rating: ???
The crowd murmured.
Luciferus stretched slightly.
"Guess we passed."
Serenity nodded.
"Seems like it."
The arena opened.
Massive.
Circular.
Reinforced with layered barriers.
"Combat will be randomized."
Kael announced.
"No killing."
"…Unless you can't help it."
Matchups formed.
Luciferus vs—
A tall boy stepped forward.
Silver hair.
Calm eyes.
"Mystic."
Luciferus grinned.
"Nice to meet you."
Mystic nodded.
"Same."
The match began.
Mystic moved first.
Fast.
Clean.
Martial precision.
Luciferus blocked effortlessly.
"Not bad."
Mystic didn't respond.
He pressed harder.
Luciferus smiled.
Then—
He stepped forward.
One movement.
Mystic froze.
Luciferus' hand hovered near his chest.
"…You lose."
Silence.
Mystic exhaled.
"…Yeah."
No anger.
Just understanding.
"…You're strong."
Luciferus shrugged.
"You're not weak."
Serenity's match—
Was worse.
Her opponent rushed her.
He never reached her.
He collapsed.
Serenity tilted her head.
"…You should stop."
The match ended.
The crowd was starting to understand.
"These two…"
"…They're monsters."
The third gate opened.
Darkness.
"Survive for one hour."
Luciferus smiled.
"…Now this is fun."
Serenity exhaled softly.
"…Let's not destroy it."
They stepped in.
And the world changed.
Monsters.
Endless.
Stronger than anything before.
The exam—
Had truly begun.
Luciferus looked around.
Then smiled.
"…Now this is fun."
Serenity's eyes sharpened.
"…Let's make a name for ourselves."