The arena still smelled like iron and ash.
Cracked stone.
Burn marks.
Blood not yet dried.
"Phase Two… complete."
The instructor stepped forward.
"…Now, your worth will be decided."
⭐ Rankings Revealed
A massive crystal pillar rose from the ground.
Glowing with Astral energy.
Names burned into its surface.
#1 – Mia (Aquarius)
#2 – Smoke Virex (Scorpio)
#3 – Momo (Gemini)
#4 – Koko (Gemini)
#5 – Trey (Aries)
#6 – Roach (Taurus)
#7 – Lucien Vale (Libra)
#8 – Kael Strix (Sagittarius)
#9 – Darius Stone (Capricorn)
#10 – Alric Voss (Leo)
The arena erupted.
"ARIES IN TOP FIVE?!"
"No way—"
Trey scratched his head.
"…Fifth? I'll take it."
Roach grinned.
"…We really made it."
Smoke said nothing.
Just watched.
Mia stayed calm—
But her eyes shifted slightly toward Trey.
The instructor raised his hand.
"You will not survive alone."
Massive magic circles spread across the arena.
"Squads will now be formed."
"Seven members."
Murmurs spread instantly.
Light burst—
Trey blinked—
The light faded.
Roach stood beside him.
"…Ay we locked in."
Smoke stood across from them.
"…Tch."
Trey sighed.
"…Yeah this already annoying."
Momo and Koko dropped in from above.
"…Oh, it's him again."
"…We're definitely staying."
Trey rubbed his face.
"…Why me…"
Lucien stepped forward next.
Bandaged.
Calm.
"…Looks like we're teammates."
Trey groaned.
"…I JUST fought you…"
Then—
A final glow appeared.
Soft.
Cold.
Mia stepped into the circle.
Silence.
Roach slowly grinned.
"…Ohhhhh yeah this squad crazy."
Momo leaned toward Koko.
"…This just got interesting."
Koko nodded.
"…Very interesting."
Trey blinked.
Caught off guard.
"…Oh. You're here too."
Mia looked at him.
"…Seems that way."
A pause.
Trey smirked.
"…Guess I won't lose then."
Mia turned slightly.
"…You were going to?"
Roach laughed loudly.
"…Nah this team wild."
Smoke looked at all of them.
"…If any of you slow me down—"
Trey cut him off.
"…Yeah yeah, we heard you."
Lucien crossed his arms.
"…This team lacks balance."
Trey grinned.
"…Nah."
He looked around at everyone.
"…We got everything."
Night fell over the academy.
Massive towers lit up under the stars.
Each squad was assigned split dorms.
Boys and girls separated.
🛏️ Boys Dorm
Trey walked in with Roach, Smoke, and Lucien.
Four beds.
Wide room.
"…This feel a little more normal," Trey said.
Roach immediately flopped onto a bed.
"…Yeah I'm not moving."
Lucien chose a far corner.
Quiet.
Smoke stood near the window.
Watching.
Trey dropped his bag.
"…So this is home now, huh?"
Roach grinned.
"…Yeah. Try not to burn it down."
Trey smirked.
"…No promises."
Smoke spoke without turning.
"…You better not."
Across the hall—
Mia stepped into the girls' dorm.
Momo and Koko were already inside.
"…Oh we got her," Momo said.
"…Perfect," Koko added.
Mia looked around.
Three beds.
Clean.
Quiet.
"…You two always this loud?"
They smiled.
"…Yes."
"…Always."
Mia sighed softly.
"…This will be… interesting."
But she didn't leave.
Hours passed.
The academy went quiet.
Roach snored loudly.
Lucien rested lightly.
Smoke stood by the window longer than anyone.
Then finally—
He sat.
Trey lay on his bed.
"…Man…"
"…This place crazy."
Eventually—
He fell asleep.
Momo and Koko whispered until they fell asleep.
Mia lay quietly.
Eyes closed.
Calm.
Deep into the night.
Silence.
Then—
🔥
A spark.
From Trey's hand.
But wrong.
Not red.
Not orange.
Black.
The flame spread slowly.
Silent.
Twisting.
Forming something unnatural.
A shape.
Watching.
The room didn't react.
Roach kept snoring.
Lucien didn't move.
Smoke didn't wake.
It was like the power didn't exist in their world.
Darkness.
Then—
A voice.
"You carry what should not exist."
Trey stood there.
"…Who are you?"
The presence moved closer.
"Power denied…"
"Power buried…"
The black flame wrapped around him.
Not burning—
Claiming.
Trey clenched his fists.
"…Get off me."
The flame surged—
A massive shadow formed behind him—
A broken constellation.
Wrong.
The voice whispered—
"You are not Aries."
Silence.
"…You are more."
Everything vanished.
Trey jolted awake.
Breathing hard.
"…What…"
He looked at his hand.
Normal.
The room—
Still.
Everyone asleep.
Nothing changed.
Trey looked around slowly.
"…Nah…"
"…I'm not normal."
Far beneath the world—
Shadowed figures stood before a broken constellation.
"…He's begun."
"…And no one knows."
A pause.
"…Perfect."