The Aethelgard Academy was not a single building, but a constellation of floating structures connected by light-bridges. The entrance trial grounds were a vast arena dotted with obstacle courses, simulation chambers, and dueling platforms.
Hundreds of beings from dozens of worlds gathered, grouped into teams of three. The atmosphere was tense — a mix of excitement, fear, and competitive glare.
A tall figure in silver-and-blue armor, a Trialmaster, addressed the crowd via amplified thought-projection.
"Welcome, aspirants. The First Test is simple: survive the Simulated Corrupted Invasion. You will be placed in a virtual reality battlefield. Your goal is to hold a position for thirty minutes against waves of Corrupted drones. You are graded on survival, kills, teamwork, and adaptability. Your wrist-bands will record everything. Begin."
The world dissolved into light.
They materialized in a ruined cityscape under a bleeding red sky. Screeches echoed in the distance. From the twisted alleys, creatures emerged — not the advanced Scout from before, but basic Corrupted drones: skeletal, fast, with claws that leaked decay.
"Hold this building!" Echo commanded, pointing to a half-collapsed tower.
They fell into formation. Leyla became a silver blur at the entrance, cutting down drones with her moon-claws. Mira used her spatial sense to predict spawn points, redirecting enemies into chokeholds. Echo fought with a borrowed blade, his Error-Sight highlighting weak points — glowing nodules on the drones' spines.
He could have used his anomaly-energy to wipe them out. He didn't. He fought clean, efficiently, but not exceptionally. He let Leyla take the highlight kills. He let Mira shine with her tactical foresight.
The waves grew harder. Larger drones appeared, spraying corrosive mist. Leyla took a hit to the shoulder, hissing in pain. Mira's spatial senses overloaded — she staggered.
Echo made a choice. Not to reveal his power, but to coordinate it through the bond. He pushed a pulse of focus to Leyla, speeding her reflexes. He sent a wave of calm to Mira, stabilizing her senses.
It wasn't awakening — it was harmonizing.
The drones broke against their synced defense.
When the simulation faded, they stood breathless back in the arena. Their wrist-bands flashed scores:
Leyla: 87/100 – Combat Excellence
Mira: 85/100 – Tactical Superiority
Echo: 78/100 – Solid Support
Average. Unremarkable. Perfect.
The Trialmaster's voice echoed. "First Test complete. Top performers will be scanned for special assignment. The rest will proceed to the Second Test: System Affinity."
Echo exchanged a look with Leyla and Mira. They'd passed the first hurdle without drawing the wrong kind of attention.
But the System Affinity test… that would be harder to hide.