Night had fallen. The first-year students of Imperium Hero Academy had completed their preparations for the "Trial of Fate." Max and his friends, assigned to the academy's special dormitories, had settled into their rooms, trying to focus on the tournament ahead. But for Max, sleep would not come easily.
Lying on his bed, he stared at the ceiling. There was a restlessness inside him. Was it excitement? Or tension? He wasn't sure. But one thing was certain: this trial wasn't just a test—it was his chance to prove himself. Yet Lucy's words lingered in his mind. She had warned him about Aria, about how much of a threat she could be.
"Hey, Max. Are you going to sleep, or are you planning to stare at the ceiling until morning?" Rex asked, sitting on the adjacent bed, stretching his wrists.
Max smirked. "Just thinking. Wondering what'll happen once I step onto that battlefield."
"Don't worry, man. We're all in the same boat. We'll carve our own path—it's gonna be a big moment." Gale sat at the edge of his bed, his athletic frame relaxed but alert. His long blue hair cascaded over his shoulders. A faint tension filled the room, but beneath it, a shared anticipation burned in them all.
Nova stood by the window, gazing at the night sky. His short blond hair gleamed under the moonlight. "Tomorrow is a big day. Everyone wants to prove themselves. But true heroes emerge in battle."
Max took a deep breath and closed his eyes. To himself, he whispered, "Tomorrow's a big day. One step closer to becoming a hero…"
And so, the night passed. While everyone else tried to rest, Max's mind was already in the arena. By morning, they would all learn what fate had in store for them.
Despite his restless night, Max finally managed to get some sleep. He hadn't slept much, but that wouldn't stop him. He was ready for the tournament.
The students emerged from their rooms and slowly walked down a long corridor. At the far end, a bright light shone.
They walked.
And walked.
Until finally, they stepped out into the grand arena. A vast battlefield of sand stretched before them, surrounded by towering stands packed with spectators. The moment the students entered, a deafening roar erupted from the crowd.
Max scanned the audience and spotted them—his parents. Stella and Mike watched their son with pride, their eyes shining. The boy who had dreamed of heroism for years was now standing on the grandest stage of his life.
The students took their places, and the matchups were drawn. Max reached into the box and pulled the final token. The matchups were as follows:
Aria vs. Seraphina
Elysia vs. Gale
Max vs. Nova
Rex vs. Liora
Lucy vs. Aurora
Max barely knew anyone in his class, nor did he have any idea what their abilities were. The only thing he knew was that this class held far more than it seemed.
Everyone took their seats, leaving only Aria and Seraphina in the arena. The first match was about to begin.
Seraphina stood like a fearless leader. Her long crimson hair was tied in a high ponytail, her sharp gaze brimming with confidence. At first glance, it seemed that Aria would be crushed under such an overwhelming presence. Then, the fight began.
Seraphina propelled herself forward, her hands twisting to accelerate her movement as she rocketed toward Aria. The wind around Aria intensified, lifting the sand beneath her feet into a spiraling vortex. As she ascended, her long hair whipped through the air like a tempest.
Seraphina combined her arms and gathered energy before launching a massive wave of flames upward.
"You can't win by running away, little girl!" Seraphina's voice burned with battle lust. "STAND AND FIGHT!"
"A classic fire-based ability, huh?" Aria's voice lacked enthusiasm. "Useful… but far too predictable."
The words struck Seraphina's pride like a dagger. "Then let me show you just how 'predictable' this is! FLAME BARRAGE!"
Her hands moved like a minigun, unleashing rapid bursts of fireballs. Each one burned like a miniature sun, turning the arena into a crimson storm. Aria's surroundings wavered in the heat, the temperature rising so high that even the sand beneath them began to melt.
"Nice attack. So, you're not just about throwing fireballs." Aria remained untouched, dodging effortlessly.
Through the hail of fire, something else came—Seraphina herself, riding the blaze.
"BURNING FIST!"
Aria was struck down, crashing into the ground with a violent impact. For a moment, she didn't move.
"Is that all, little girl? That smug attitude of yours is gone. I expected more."
People in the audience began murmuring. Had Aria lost?
Slowly, Aria rose.
"How… dare you hurt me?"
Her voice was barely a whisper, yet it echoed across the arena. Her eyes were distant, lost in a memory. In that moment, she wasn't here—she was somewhere else.
"You must face your punishment."
It wasn't her voice. It was something ancient, something deep-seated. A different time. A different place. A child… trembling in the dim glow of a flickering candle… the shadow of her enraged father looming over her… Every strike. Every blow. And the same words, over and over:
"You must face your punishment, Aria."
Now, those words weren't for her. They were for Seraphina.
Seraphina's body was suddenly hurled backward by an invisible force, slamming into the arena wall. Her lungs emptied as though all the air had been stolen from her. Her chest tightened, her muscles refused to obey. It was as if the very air around her was crushing her, pressing down with an inescapable grip. The oxygen was vanishing. Breathing became impossible. Aria's suffocating aura had sealed her in place.
"Stop… what are you doing? Are you… going to kill me?" Seraphina barely managed to choke out the words.
Aria's gaze had shifted. She no longer looked like a small girl—she looked like a killer. Getting hit had shattered her pride. Slowly, she stepped toward Seraphina, tiny wind blades slicing into her skin with every movement. Aria had already won. But it wasn't enough. She wanted more. She wanted to break Seraphina completely.
The audience erupted, demanding that the fight be stopped. The outcry grew louder. But Aria did not stop. She kept walking, methodically cutting Seraphina, making her suffer.
"You must face your punishment… You must face your punishment… You've been a bad girl today, Seraphina… YOU MUST FACE YOUR PUNISHMENT!"
Aria's hands trembled in the air, the winds raging in a violent cyclone. Her eyes locked onto Seraphina's pale face. For a brief moment, she didn't see her opponent—she saw her father. Slowly, she raised her hand, wind blades twisting into a guillotine-like executioner's blade.
"You must face your punishment."
And then, in a flash of light and fire, a figure tore through the chaos, descending like a meteor. A shadow passed through the scorching heat, cloaked in flames… an overwhelming presence radiated from his chest…
Professor Ardent.
"Enough." His voice—
Aria's reckless and uncontrollable reactions left the audience in a state of unease. Some were worried about the fact that such out-of-control individuals were meant to be the heroes protecting humanity in the future, while others were thrilled to witness such a brutal battle.
Aria and Seraphina were taken out of the arena. Seraphina was sent to intensive care, while Aria was taken to the school's administrative authorities.
"YES! THE UNDISPUTED WINNER OF THIS MATCH IS ARIA!" The announcement was made with a deafening roar, followed by thunderous applause. Some people stood frozen in shock. Max couldn't comprehend the situation—how could people enjoy watching a young girl suffer, teetering on the edge of death?
A red-haired individual with a strange tattoo on their forehead stepped into the arena, using their superpower to smooth out the sand. Shortly after, a new announcement was made.
"THE NEXT MATCH WILL BE BETWEEN ELYSIA AND GALE! GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE!"
The next battle was about to begin. After this match, it would be Max's turn. Tension filled the air—winning wasn't the only challenge in this tournament; surviving was just as crucial.