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.""He's a threat."
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—everyonewas watching.