The grand training hall filled with the sounds of the heirs as they lined up. The hall was breathtakingly spacious, its glossy black floor made of an energy-resistant material, and its walls adorned with family crests.
Eren's master entered with a resolute stride, followed by Director Regan, and the noise instantly dissipated. Eren stood in the center of the hall, his booming voice echoing between the walls: "Heirs! Today you will learn a special skill, the Astrazine skill, one of the most powerful skills in both attack and defense. Are you ready to learn it?"
A brief silence fell over the hall, then whispers and excitement began to spread among everyone. The heirs exchanged glances, some smiling confidently, others clenching their fists in preparation for the challenge.
Just as the master and director were about to demonstrate the skill before the heirs, four massive auras clashed, surging like opposing waves, almost tearing through the air. Everyone turned to look behind them. Those were the auras of Saruto, Lucien, Rhyn, and Kyle. The energy clashed, emitting sparks of pure power, and the hall floor began to crack beneath their feet.
"What are these fools doing?" Eren's master shouted. "They're going to blow this place up!"
Five minutes before the clash of energies, the four stood to the side, in a corner away from the others. The conversation began calmly, then gradually turned into a heated argument.
"You don't understand anything," Rhyn said with pride and arrogance, placing a hand on his chest. "The fifth founder of my family, Arcanus the Crimson Dragon, is the strongest of all the founders. His power alone was enough to extinguish the Shadow War."
Kyle laughed derisively, waving his hand. "Oh, don't start with the old legends. The second founder of my family, Rhaegar the Immortal Storm, crushed one of your founders and a general in a single battle. Your strength is no match for his!"
Lucien raised an eyebrow, a defiant smile playing on his lips. "Ha, you two seem to be forgetting something… The seventh founder of my family, Seraph, single-handedly united the northern regions! Even if your two founders joined forces against him, they couldn't defeat him!"
Saruto remained silent for a moment, then looked up at them all, his voice calm yet heavy with a weight that silenced the others.
"All your founders… were powerful, yes. But before the first founder of my family… they're mere scum."
The three men's eyes widened, and a sudden surge of energy surrounded them.
"You dare say that?!" Ryan retorted, his anger barely contained.
"Are you trying to provoke us?!" Kyle added.
Lucien simply smiled. "Then let's see who's truly the strongest. Words won't get us anywhere."
In an instant, all four auras erupted simultaneously!
Brian's dragon energy, Kyle's storm winds, Lucien's ice, and Saruto's darkness collided, creating a colossal energy vortex in the center of the hall.
Back to the present, Aren's teacher was yelling, "Stop what you idiots are doing!"
He and Principal Regan rushed forward with incredible speed, appearing before the four of them in an instant. The Principal raised his hand, forming a transparent barrier of energy that stopped the clashing forces. The air slowly returned to normal, but the hall was in chaos: cracked walls, scorched floor, and the princesses were bewildered.
"Have you lost your minds?!" the Principal roared in a voice he'd never heard before. "Fighting around in the middle of class?! Is this what it means to be heirs to the families?!"
The four lowered their heads in silence. Even Lucien, who was rarely quiet, didn't say a word. Arin's teacher stepped forward and said sternly, "Headmaster… I believe punishment is necessary to prevent them from repeating their actions."
The headmaster closed his eyes for a moment, then said in a deep, calm voice, "You're right, Arin's teacher. The four of you… will face a special test."
All four raised their heads simultaneously, a mixture of anxiety and curiosity filling their faces. "A test?" Ryan asked sharply. "What kind of test?"
The headmaster smiled enigmatically, his eyes gleaming with an unfamiliar light. "You'll soon find out… a test befitting a true heir to his family."
Silence fell over the hall, and the four exchanged fiery glances, a mixture of anger and excitement, pride and a desire to prove themselves.
And so… the countdown began for the test that would be a turning point in the future of the four heirs.