The second major assessment took place the next day—the Agility Test.
Unlike the strength exam, agility measured two things:
Speed — how fast a student could move.Endurance — how far they could keep going before collapsing.
Students with movement-type Nexas were practically born for this event.
The test was held on Lionel Academy's massive circular ground track, wide enough for aerial and ground movement. The stands were filled—students from other departments had come just to watch the Hero Class perform.
Astra Noire — The Untouchable Sky
Astra stepped onto the track with the same quiet composure she always had.She didn't boast, didn't smirk—she simply breathed in, and the wind seemed to calm around her.
As the whistle blew—
FWSSHH—
She lifted off the ground with effortless grace. Not flapping, not boosting—gliding, like someone who didn't even need gravity's permission.
The entire track watched her with awe.
"Yeah… she's definitely taking first." "No contest." "She's not even trying!"
Astra drifted across the field as if the world itself moved for her.
Zack Kreiger — Flames Without a Master
Next, Zack tried to imitate flight using fire bursts beneath his feet.
BOOM—BOOM—
He shot forward in chaotic hops, hair singed, eyebrows nearly gone.
"GAH—hot, HOT, HOT—!"
But still… he pushed through, managing a respectable distance before falling flat on his face, coughing smoke.
"Not bad.""Better control than last week.""Dude almost cooked himself though."
He wouldn't reach the top, but he earned respect.
The Running Students
Those without movement Nexas did what they could.
They ran.
Some sprinted too hard and burned out.Some jogged until their legs gave out.Some simply walked until they couldn't breathe.
But all of them reached their limit eventually.
All except one.
Raze Arcwell — The Running Shadow
When the whistle blew for Raze, he didn't fly.He didn't ignite flames.He didn't boost his speed.
He simply… ran.
A steady pace.Controlled breathing.Feet tapping the ground like a drumbeat.
Time passed.
Others slowed.Others collapsed.Others surrendered.
But Raze kept running.
Thirty minutes passed.One hour.Two hours.
Even Astra, finished with her lap long ago, glanced down at him midair with raised brows.
"…How long is he planning to keep going?"
Students murmured.
"Is that guy human?" "No Nexas and he's still going!? " "This is a stamina monster!"
By the time the test concluded, Raze had run 45 kilometers. Not fast—but relentless.
He placed 7th overall—because the test prioritized speed, not stamina.
But everyone knew the real story:
A powerless boy outlasted almost the entire department.
Even instructors exchanged impressed looks.
Roger whistled."Bro… you're insane. And I say that with love."
Raze only wiped his sweat and answered:
"One step at a time."
Roger Castellan — A Speed Trick No One Expected
The shock of the day wasn't just Raze.
It was Roger.
Roger stepped to the start line grinning like he already won something.
The whistle blew—
FWOOOSH—
He locked in his Momentum Shift, maintaining his initial sprint speed perfectly.Not accelerating.Not slowing.
Just pure, stable velocity.
He covered 10 kilometers in 30 minutes, never losing rhythm, never stumbling.
Second place.
Second only to the flying monster in the sky.
Upperclassmen watching from the bleachers murmured:
"…That kid's ability is dangerous in the right hands." "He used gravity to speed-boost? That's genius."
Roger bowed dramatically to the crowd.
"You may now shower me with admiration."
Raze elbowed him."Shut up."
A Week of Tests
Over the next few days, the assessments continued:
Vertical jump.Reflex wall.Balance beam.Strength endurance.Grip force.Combat flexibility.
Raze placed top 10 in every single one.
No Nexas.No advantages.Just discipline.
By the end of the week, whispers had turned into full-blown rumors:
"That kid's stamina is inhuman.""Did he train in a volcano or something?""He's ranked this high without a Nexas!?"
Even Astra, normally uninterested in others, gave him a quiet nod one morning.
"…You're interesting."
Raze blinked."Was that a compliment?"
"No," she replied, flying away.
(It was.)
Final Test Approaches
And then—
The loudspeakers crackled.
"Final assessment incoming — Combat Exam.Hero Class students, report to Arena Field 7."
Two towering humanoid combat robots marched into the stadium, metal bodies groaning, glowing eyes flickering ominously.
Everyone stiffened.
This was the test that separated ordinary cadets…from real hero candidates.
The robots radiated killing intent despite being machines.
Combat instinct, Adaptability, Strategy, Fear control, Survival ability.
Everything would be judged.
Raze stepped forward, eyes narrowing.
The powerless boy…
…was about to fight machines designed to crush ability-users.
And this time—everyone was watching.
****************
The strength test had taken place on the first day of Evaluation Week.The agility test on the next.Then reflex.Then endurance.Then power control.
One trial after another…one chance after another for students to prove their worth.
And now—on the final day—only one test remained.
The Combat Examination.
A stillness settled over the arena as instructors stepped forward, their voices echoing across the steel walls.
"Each student will face two humanoid combat robots," the lead examiner announced."Height: Five meters. Reinforced frame. Adaptive attack algorithms."
A murmur spread through the students.
These weren't training toys.These were the same robots used to test second and third-year heroes.
"They may use any handheld weapon suited to them," another instructor continued."However—No explosives.No heavy artillery.No long-range destructive Nexas."
The rules were clear—and terrifying.
"Your goal is simple:Defeat both robots… or survive for thirty minutes."
Everyone swallowed hard.
These weren't ordinary machines.Their armor could withstand high-caliber artillery.Many pro heroes in active duty had struggled to destroy a single one.
And today, first-years had to face two.
Astra Noire — The Effortless Monster
Because she had ranked first in every test except theory, Astra Noire was called first.
The moment her name echoed, whispers rose:
"She's going first?""This'll be good…""Is she even trying this week?"
Astra stepped forward silently.Golden hair glowing faintly in the arena lights.Expression calm—almost serene.
The timer buzzed.
Then she vanished.
No—she flew.
A blur of gold and white wind pressure blasted downward as she shot toward the first robot.
CRUNCH—!!
The robot's torso caved inward as though struck by a falling star.Gasps erupted through the stands.
"She broke it in one hit—!""She didn't even charge the blow!""How strong is she!?"
Astra didn't pause.
She turned midair with elegant precision, letting the second robot swing at her.
She tilted her head slightly.The punch missed by a hair.
She caught its massive arm—and tore it off like it was paper.
BAM!
The robot toppled.
Time taken: Less than ten seconds.
Astra dusted her hands and exited the stage quietly, as if bored.
Bam Relic — Power vs Speed
Next was Bam Relic.
He cracked his knuckles, rolling his shoulders, trying to look confident—but his legs shook slightly.
"Let's do this…" he muttered.
The moment the test began—
BOOM!!
Both robots charged him at once.
"Fast—!!"
He barely raised his arms in time.One steel fist slammed into his guard, the other kicking him sideways.
But Bam didn't fall.His feet dug into the ground, cracks forming beneath him.
"I'm not losing to machines!"
He grabbed one robot by the leg—SLAM!SLAM!SLAM!!
Until the core snapped.
The second robot was faster, more adaptive.It took longer, and Bam's breathing grew ragged—but he endured and finally crushed it too.
He dropped to one knee.
"Holy crap… that was harder than I thought…"
But he had won.
The cheers shook the arena.
Zack Kreiger — Flames of Chaos
Zack strode up next, fire already flickering in his palms.
"Let's heat things up."
The moment the signal rang—
FOOOOM!!!
A fiery tsunami engulfed both robots.
Metal glowed red.Circuits popped.Heat shimmer distorted the air.
But their armor didn't melt.Only softened.
Zack growled, frustration leaking through.
"C'mon… just burn already!"
It took everything he had—dozens of blasts, multiple dodges—but eventually the robots sparked violently and collapsed.
Zack fell backward, gasping.
"Ugh… I really need more control."
But the crowd roared for him anyway.
Roger Castellan — The Trickster of Momentum
Roger cracked his neck, slipping on his reinforced gloves.
"Alright. Time to dance," he grinned.
The signal rang.
He sprinted—
FWSSH!!
Momentum Shift activated.
But instead of charging straight—
he veered left, then right, then up the robot's arm like a parkour master.
He leapt off its shoulder, letting gravity pull him.
In midair—
Momentum Shift: Reapply.
He redirected the falling speed sideways—turning himself into a human bullet.
BAM!!
His fist dented the robot's head.
The crowd exploded.
"He's using gravity as acceleration!?""That's genius!""He's insane!"
For thirty minutes, Roger danced between the robots, untouched.
Not a single blow landed on him.
When the timer beeped, he collapsed in sweat and laughter.
"Whew… that was fun."
Raze Arcwell — The Powerless Challenger
Finally, only one name remained.
The arena fell silent.
Even the robots seemed to loom taller… as if curious.
Raze Arcwell stepped forward.
No aura.No glowing Nexas.Nothing.
Just two short swords at his waist.
Whispers rippled:
"He's really going in with just that?""Is he serious?""Does he want to die?"
Raze inhaled deeply.
He touched the hilts of his blades—steady, calm.
His eyes hardened.
(This is everything I've trained for. Every bruise… every night. This moment.)
The signal buzzed.
Raze charged.
Straight at two monsters designed to crush ability-users.
The arena held its breath.
And the real fight began.