Justin and Braxton move through the shattered city side by side, working like they've done this a hundred times before. Simulated assailants swarm the streets while civilians scream and scatter, trapped under rubble or cornered by collapsing structures. The two of them split their focus cleanly, saving people just as fast as they take down threats.
They're both taking the test seriously, at least as seriously as they know how. Braxton barrels through danger with raw power and unwavering focus, pulling civilians free and shielding them without hesitation. Justin complements him perfectly, moving faster than most eyes can track and clearing paths with precise, controlled force.
Compared to the other testees, it's obvious they stand out. Many struggle to balance rescue work with combat, but Justin and Braxton make it look natural. Every move feels intentional, efficient, and practiced.
Even with the pressure mounting, Justin can't help being himself. He zips through the air with a grin, tossing out a ridiculous pun as he sends a robot spinning into a crater. Braxton hears it and groans loudly, rolling his eyes as he slams another enemy into the pavement.
"Come on, Tiger Bud," Justin shouts, laughing as he punches through metal plating. "Don't hate on the puns. They're one of the best parts of being a superhero. I'm sure you can come up with some."
"First of all, call me Tiger Eye, not Tiger Bud, jackass," Braxton snaps back. "Second, I know I'm not the smartest or most mature guy around, but I'd never be caught dead saying one of your corny-ass puns. How you say that dumb stuff with a straight face is beyond me."
Justin chuckles, hovering in place. "That's just part of my charm."
"Oh yeah? Well, Mr. Charming, you might wanna keep your eye on the ball," Braxton adds, pointing behind him.
Justin turns just in time to see a massive mutated octopus swing a tentacle straight into him. The impact sends him flying through the air and crashing into the side of a building. Dust and debris rain down as his body skids to a stop.
It's the first hit he's taken since the simulation started. His bracelet begins to beep, and he glances down to see the indicator drop from one hundred percent to seventy-two. That number suddenly feels very real.
He pushes himself upright and looks around the battlefield. All across the city, beams of light mark where other applicants have already been pulled from the exam. Nearly half the field is gone, and the clock shows they're only halfway through.
Justin's grin fades just a little as he cracks his neck and takes off again. This just got a lot more serious.
He swoops back in, launching himself at the massive mutated octopus with a grin, and cracks it with a powerful strike that sends the beast flying into a crumbling building. He spins midair, casting a slightly annoyed glare toward Braxton, who just shrugs casually.
"What? I told you to keep your eye on the ball," Braxton says, smirking despite the chaos around them.
Justin shakes his head, but there's a hint of amusement in his expression. "Yeah, yeah, Tiger Eye. Keep your eye on the ball," he mutters, then rockets forward again, both of them doubling down on the fight.
The pair moves with a newfound intensity, attacking enemies and rescuing civilians with twice the precision and speed. The city around them is a blur of collapsing buildings, scattered rubble, and flashes of light as they take out threats. Their coordination is seamless, like they've been training together their whole lives, which, in a way, they have.
From above, the blue-winged girl swoops into the fray, and it's immediately clear she's no ordinary test-taker. With a series of lightning-fast dives and kicks, boosted by the power of her wings, she takes down enemies with surgical precision. Justin and Braxton barely notice the kills she snags for herself until she flies past them, calling out, "Hey, boys. Maybe save some enemies for everyone else. You're making this warzone feel pretty small!"
She winks at Justin before disappearing into the smoke and debris of the simulation as they both watch her fly off.
Turning their attention to the city and towards her words, they survey the damage they've wrought. Over a hundred enemies lie strewn across the streets, nearly half of the simulation's threats neutralized by the two of them alone. Realizing they've done more than enough, they shift focus entirely to saving civilians, leaving room for other examinees to demonstrate their abilities for the judges.
As they dart through the urban wasteland, pulling trapped civilians from rubble and leading them to safety, the friendly bickering begins.
"No way, Tiger Breath. I totally got more test dummies than you," Justin shouts midair, flipping a falling enemy out of the way.
"In your dreams, Fly Boy! You were too busy goofing off and cracking puns while I focused on kicking way more ass than you," Braxton retorts, dragging a trapped civilian to safety.
The verbal sparring doesn't stop. They argue over kills, tactics, and who's faster, all while moving like a single coordinated unit through the chaos. Despite the simulation's intensity, their teamwork never falters, and their combined efficiency keeps civilians alive and enemies down.
For the remainder of the test, the two friends continue their playful rivalry, proving that even in a world of danger and destruction, their bond, and a little healthy competition, makes them stronger.
The time limit on the practical exam finally rang out, echoing through the holographic city before fading into silence. One by one, the examinees were escorted out, leaving behind only the faint smells of smoke and dust from the simulation. Justin and Braxton followed the crowd back into a waiting room, chairs lined against the walls, where everyone was now sitting, fidgeting, or talking quietly about their experiences. Each person was called individually to receive their results, and as time stretched on, the room gradually emptied.
Eventually, only Justin, Braxton, and the usually chatty blue-winged girl remained. She'd been unusually quiet since returning from the testing grounds, her bright energy subdued for the first time. Braxton, for his part, was sweating like a faucet, nerves fraying at the edges as he kept glancing at the doors, waiting for their turn. Justin, though calm on the surface, could feel the tension in the room, his gaze flicking between his friend and the girl with a quietly calculating eye.
Before anyone could call them, the door opened and someone entered with a commanding presence. Not just anyone, this was a top-tier hero in the flesh. Talya Zentry, known worldwide as the hero Evermend, strode in confidently. Her reputation preceded her: a hero famous for an almost supernatural self-healing ability and a no-nonsense attitude. Her costume was a tight black-and-white leotard, dotted with sleek, high-tech gadgets, each humming with purpose. Her eyes scanned the room before settling on the blue-winged girl, pointing and beckoning her forward.
"Are these the two you mentioned in the report?" Evermend asked, voice powerful and serious, carrying authority in every syllable.
"Yup. These are the two," the blue-winged girl said, voice cheerful but measured. "They're certainly characters, but I see potential. Big potential."
Braxton frowned, trying to follow the conversation, while Justin's eyes narrowed, a sudden realization flashing across his face. "I see how it is," he muttered. "You were already a hero, Miss Blue Wings. Scouting for her agency, I take it?"
Justin had hit the nail on the head. These application trials only occurred twice a year, and sometimes major superhero agencies would send representatives to scope out promising new talent before the competition could. This was one of those moments, an early scout to claim the next generation of heroes.
"You caught me, Emerald Atlas," Liza said, crossing her arms with a sly smile. "Smart for someone who's usually a total cornball. It's… cute, honestly."
Evermend glanced at Justin and Braxton, her expression shifting from neutral to intrigued. "This is my newbie, Liza, hero name Jay-Jay. Talented, smart, and a bit of a prodigy. If she tells me she sees potential in someone, I listen. And she found not one, but two. You boys intrigue me. Congrats, you've passed."
Before they could respond, Evermend reached into a pouch at her side and tossed two contracts toward them. Alongside the contracts were their results and official licenses. Justin and Braxton had not only passed, but their exceptional performance in the practical exam had earned them a rare starting rank of C-Rank instead of the usual D-Rank. They exchanged high-fives, faces lighting up with excitement.
Justin collected himself with a quick, exaggerated cough, putting on his sternest face. "While the offer is flattering, I'm not for sale. I want to make a name for myself first and get the hang of this superhero thing before signing with any agency. Thank you, but no thank you." Braxton nodded along, following Justin's lead.
Liza's voice came soft and sly from behind them. "The signing bonus is twenty thousand dollars, by the way."
Justin froze mid-step, eyes widening. In a flash, he spun around, snatching the contract from Evermend's hand with a broad grin. "Where do I sign?"