As the hijack incident was resolved with no casualties among passengers, and thorough checks were done by the police, a couple of hours later, the train began to move.
Arceus returned to his cabin, where Xerx and others were waiting for him. Ayush and the elven princess had something to say to him, but Arceus didn't give them that chance, and put ear buds into his ears and took a nap.
Having no other choice, the others could only ignore him until the train brakes screamed to a full stop. Outside the windows, dawn stretched its pale light across the horizon, illuminating the distant silhouette of the Arcane Valor Academy, also known as the Heavenly Academy—a sprawling fortress of towering spires and floating citadels. Even from afar, the academy radiated an aura that made it seem like it was an academy for elites.
Inside the carriage, the atmosphere was a volatile mix of anxiety and restless ambition.
Some students sat stone-still, eyes closed, as they steadied their breathing. They were still out of the memory of the hijack, where their lives were being threatened. Others whispered in awe, clutching their weapons.
And then, the intercom crackled overhead with sudden static, drawing every eye upward.
"Welcome to Arcane Valor Academy, candidates," the mechanical voice announced, cold and precise in all the cabins. "Freshmen, please step off the train and wait on the platform for further instructions. Your luggage will be taken care of at the next station. No need to worry about losing your belongings."
The announcement was called three times in a row.
Ayush rose first in their cabin, adjusting the strap of what seemed like a backpack with deliberate care. Arceus stood without a word, sliding his daggers back into place beneath his coat. Elysia also nervously followed them, leaving her elder sister behind. Xerx followed a moment later, expression unchanged.
None of them expected what waited outside.
The moment the first-year students stepped off the train, a line of armored vehicles greeted them—not the smiling instructors or ceremonial processions they had imagined.
Soldiers in reinforced uniforms stood in rigid formation beside the transports, their helmets reflecting cold morning light.
There was no warmth, no applause, not even a welcome banner—only militaristic efficiency that felt out of place for an academy.
The students were separated into groups and herded into the back of the armored transports. Whispered questions filled the air, but the staff gave no answers. The mood, once buzzing with excitement, soured into uneasy silence. Some who had connections in the academy, however, whispered to their companions of what was going to happen.
A loudspeaker mounted on one of the vehicles finally blared to life.
"Welcome to Arcane Valor Academy," an instructor's voice declared this time. "Be advised: your orientation will not follow standard procedure. Your first evaluation begins immediately."
Some students blinked in confusion, others stiffened. Ayush glanced toward the nearest staff member, trying to gauge their tone. Arceus merely clicked his tongue and leaned back against the metal frame of the vehicle. Xerx, separated from those two, sat quietly, observing the tension drawing tighter across the faces around him. Elysia sat with Xerx, fidgeting with her fingers in nervousness.
The convoy began to move, but instead of heading toward the grand academy gates, the vehicles turned sharply away. The terrain grew harsher as they advanced—the grass thinned into scrubland, and scrubland gave way to dust and stone.
Without warning, the convoy stopped before an enormous barrier—colossal metal walls encircling what looked like the ruins of a once-thriving town. Cracked streets, collapsed buildings, rusted husks of cars, and scorched rubble stretched as far as the eye could see.
An instructor's voice from the loudspeaker spoke again. "You will be dropped inside. Survive, and your rank will be determined."
Gasps filled the vehicle. Someone shouted in panic. Another tried to ask questions, only for their voice to be silenced by the hiss of hydraulic doors opening.
One by one, the candidates were shoved out of the transports and forced into the ruined city. Dust billowed beneath their feet. The gates slammed shut behind them, sealing them inside like prisoners entering an arena.
Xerx's eyes narrowed as he listened to the faint, guttural growls in the distance.
*
Soon, a shadow crossed the sunlight. Then a massive holographic projection flickered to life above the city, portraying the stern face of a silver-haired man, who clearly had the face of someone with authority.
"Attention, examinees," he began in a stoic tone. "I am Instructor Alric Voss. You are currently standing in the testing grounds for your class division exam."
He gestured behind him, where monstrous silhouettes moved at the edge of the projection.
"This ruined city is populated with demonic entities known as Skarns. They are fast, ruthless, and highly territorial. You will be hunted ten minutes after this transmission ends. So, you might well think you only have ten minutes to form teams or prepare your strategies."
Students looked around in dread as distant growls echoed louder.
"Your objective is simple," Alric continued. "Survive for six hours—or eliminate as many Skarns as you can. Points will be awarded for kills, rescuing fellow candidates, cooperation, and strategic decision-making. It is up to you whether you fight alone or form alliances."
His lips curved into a faint, unsettling smile.
"Let the strongest rise."
As soon as those words were over, a sharp chime rang inside Xerx's head, and a holographic screen materialized before his eyes, which is, of course, invisible to others.
*Ding! You received a new quest. Hunt down Skarns. Reward: 100 credits per Skarn.
Xerx's eyes flashed as he read the notification. His fingers curled into a fist, and his face stiffened as he thought. "100 credits per Skarn. This is a good quest to earn as many credits as I can."
Right then, he felt a tug behind. Someone is tugging his clothes. As he glanced behind, he saw Elysia. She quietly said, "Should we partner up?"
Xerx's eyes darted from left to right as he thought. Remembering that there will be points allotted for cooperating with others, too, he nodded in silence. Elysia's face instantly beamed, and she shook his hand over and over, "That's good. Let's go to the side and discuss strategy."
Just as she was dragging him away, a familiar voice was heard from the side. "C'mon, guys, Xerx, Elysia… both of you are forgetting me?"
Both of them turned and saw that it was Ayush who was standing nearby, with his hands on his waist and staring at them with a dramatic expression. Elysia awkwardly smiled, "Ayush..."
Xerx raised his hand, writing in the air. "Sorry, too many people around. Couldn't spot you."
Ayush grinned, not taking to heart, and approached them, and even acted overly friendly, putting his arm over Xerx's shoulder, "We just went through life and death, brother. We ought to stick with one another." As if he remembered something, he paused and looked around, "By the way, have you seen Arceus?"
Elysia shook her head while Xerx wrote the writing using word magic. "He won't join us, anyway. Forget about him."
Ayush, at that, became silent for a moment. Grabbing his chin, he stayed silent and gazed at the ground as if he was thinking deeply. Ayush eventually nodded. "I guess so. Anyway, let's discuss."
After they moved together to separate themselves into a group, Ayush spoke, "I am mainly an archer, but I'm also a close combat fighter too."
The silver-haired elf, Elysia, then said, "I'm a sorceror, basically a Geomancer. But for now, I can create a Stone golem, about 8 feet big. Large-scale spells are too difficult for me to control."
Ayush nodded with a smile, "That's good. Your Golem and Xerx's summon can work together in close combat, while I shoot them from far away while keeping you safe." He looked at him and said, "You okay with that, bro?"
Xerx looked left and right again before giving a nod.
*
Meanwhile, inside the academy's Command Room, rows of instructors watched the screens before them—hundreds of camera feeds displaying candidates scattered across the ruined district.
Instructor Mira Elenor, a woman with lilac eyes and a calm temperament, folded her arms as she observed the chaos beginning to unfold. "Let's see which of them has the makings of an Astron Warrior (Hunter)."
Professor Drax, older and with cybernetic arms that hissed faintly as he moved, scoffed at her optimism. "Most of them were just fledglings, probably never faced monsters in their lives."
Mira did not look away from her screen. "Well, that is what this trial is for."
Below them, the gates rattled, Skarns shrieked, and students braced themselves for survival.
The trial had begun.
And only the strong would emerge.