The roaring excitement of the entrance exam slowly faded as the applicants were escorted away from the arena because the place wasn't suitable again for the applicants combat assessment. Technicians began sweeping up the glittering remains of the Titan-10 while drones hovered overhead, scanning and taking records of the destruction for data.
But the whispers hadn't stopped.
They followed two names like shadows. Both rich, both powerful and both good looking. It was like they were a perfect chemistry.
Alexander Chase.
Isabella von Kessler.
The two monsters of the entrance exam.
The S-Class Dormitory Tower
Unlike the crowded residential blocks where ordinary students lived, the S-Class Dormitory stood alone at the far end of the academy grounds.
A towering skyscraper of black glass and white steel rose into the evening sky, its architecture sleek and intimidating. Lines of blue energy ran along its exterior like glowing veins, forming a defensive barrier that shimmered faintly with power.
This wasn't just a dormitory.
It was a fortress.
Only the elite were allowed inside.
And this year…
There were only two residents.
Alexander stepped through the entrance doors, hands in his pockets, scanning the luxurious interior.
Marble floors. Floating holographic directories. Personal combat simulators built into the walls.
A ceiling that projected a realistic night sky.
"Not bad," Alexander muttered.
The System chimed softly.
[WELCOME TO S-CLASS RESIDENCE
AUTHORIZED RESIDENTS: 2
ROOMS AVAILABLE: 12]
He raised an eyebrow.
"Twelve rooms?"
Before he could think further, another voice spoke behind him.
"Well… this is disappointing."
Alexander didn't need to turn around to know who it was.
Isabella walked past him, her silver ponytail swaying as she inspected the lobby like a queen evaluating a palace.
"I expected something… bigger."
She tapped one of the marble pillars with her knuckle.
The sound echoed cleanly.
"Rune-reinforced titanium. Acceptable."
Alexander chuckled.
"Most people would say thank you for a luxury penthouse."
Isabella glanced at him sideways.
"Most people aren't me."
She approached the floating directory and waved her hand through the hologram.
The display changed instantly.
S-CLASS RESIDENT ASSIGNMENTS
ROOM 1 – Alexander Chase
ROOM 2 – Isabella von Kessler
A small silence followed. Isabella blinked once. Then slowly turned toward Alexander.
"You're joking."
Alexander walked closer and read the screen. Then he burst out laughing.
"Oh this is perfect."
Isabella narrowed her eyes.
"Perfect?"
Alexander pointed toward the elevator hall.
Two doors.
Side by side.
ROOM 1.
ROOM 2.
Neighbors.
Isabella folded her arms.
"Director Valis must have a death wish."
Alexander smirked.
"Or a sense of humor."
She turned sharply toward him.
"Don't misunderstand something, hospital boy."
Alexander raised an eyebrow.
"You living next door doesn't mean we're friends."
"Oh?" Alexander leaned casually against the wall. "Good. I was worried you might start baking cookies or something."
Her violet eyes flashed.
"You're very confident for someone who needed brute force to win."
Alexander grinned.
"And you're very proud for someone who beat a machine that was already half frozen before the fight."
Isabella's eyebrow twitched.
A faint crack of frost formed beneath her boots.
Alexander's golden eyes glowed faintly.
The temperature in the lobby dropped five degrees.
The System chimed.
[WARNING: HOSTILE ENERGY BUILDUP DETECTED
SUGGESTION: AVOID PROPERTY DAMAGE]
For a moment the two prodigies stared at each other like predators measuring distance.
Then,
DING.
The elevator doors opened.
A small service robot rolled out.
It looked up at them.
"Welcome S-Class residents. Please refrain from destroying academy property."
The robot paused.
Then added in a worried voice.
"…again."
Alexander burst out laughing.
Even Isabella looked mildly embarrassed.
The robot rolled toward the hallway and projected a holographic map.
"Your rooms are located on the top floor. Each suite includes private training facilities, simulation chambers, and AI assistants."
Alexander whistled.
"Nice."
They stepped into the elevator together.
The ride up was silent.
Mostly.
Isabella kept glancing sideways at him.
Alexander pretended not to notice.
Finally she spoke.
"You know…"
He looked at her.
She sighed slightly.
"You were faster than I expected." She said it as if she was being forced to say so.
Alexander smirked.
"Careful. That almost sounded like a compliment." He said.
Her eyes sharpened instantly.
"Don't get used to it."
The elevator stopped. The doors slid open. A luxurious hallway stretched ahead with only two doors at the far end.
Room 1.
Room 2.
Alexander walked forward and placed his hand on the scanner.
The door opened instantly.
Inside was a massive penthouse suite with a panoramic view of the entire academy city.
A private training arena sat in the center of the living room.
Alexander nodded in approval.
"Yeah… I could get used to this."
Next door, Isabella opened her suite.
Her room was identical.
She stepped inside…
Then paused.
Because the wall separating their training arenas was made of transparent reinforced crystal.
They could see directly into each other's training room.
Alexander noticed at the same moment.
He slowly turned.
She slowly turned.
They locked eyes through the glass wall.
Alexander grinned and waved her
"Neighbor."
Isabella's eye twitched.
"Director Valis is definitely insane."
The System chimed again in Alexander's mind.
[NEW SYSTEM EVENT
DUAL CULTIVATION POSSIBILITY DETECTED
COMPATIBILITY: EXTREMELY HIGH]
Alexander nearly choked.
"Wait—what?!"
Across the glass wall, Isabella suddenly sneezed.
A blast of freezing air erupted across her training room.
She narrowed her eyes suspiciously at Alexander.
"Why are you staring?"
Alexander coughed.
"Nothing."
Inside his mind, the System flashed again.
[NEW SECRET MISSION UPDATE
OBJECTIVE 1: SURVIVE LIVING NEXT TO THE FROST QUEEN
PROGRESS: 0%]
Alexander sighed.
"This academy is going to be trouble."