Helios Genetic Academy did not look like a school. It resembled a weapon more than an educational institution. Massive alloy towers rose from solid bedrock, their surfaces traced with luminous energy lines and rotating shield systems, giving off a faint hum and the tang of hot metal. The combat arenas encircled the main campus, their floors scarred by years of sanctioned battles, where the air tasted of dust and echoes of past conflicts. Overhead, expansive observation platforms hovered, where instructors and overseers observed the students as if they were experimental subjects, the occasional whirring of machinery hinting at the ever-present surveillance. Beyond the academy, the barren wastelands stretched out, dotted with remnants of past conflicts and civilisations that never recovered, the heat haze wavering in the distance like a mirage. Occasionally, automated drones could be seen zipping across the horizon, reminders of a world still steeped in chaos and warfare, their metallic drone blending with the distant rumbles of thunder.
Kai stepped through the main gate with his hands in his pockets.
A long line of recruits stretched ahead of him. Anxious conversations wove through clusters of recruits, each group sharing rumours and measuring up to the others.
"Did you see the combat halls?"
"They say some people die during training."
"My cousin trained here. He lost an arm in the first year."
"Worth it."
Kai suppressed a quiet snort. These individuals genuinely believed suffering was a choice. Kai smirked inwardly. Choice ended when options died.
Here, survival ruled, and morality faded. Every action reflected that truth.
He scanned the crowd, noting how recruits instinctively clustered into social groups, defining boundaries and asserting influence. Corporate kids formed tight circles, distinguished by their tailored uniforms and polished boots, maintaining an air of superiority as they ignored outsiders. Privately tutored students stood apart, posture rigid with arrogance, speaking only with peers of their own kind and dismissing other groups entirely. Street-trained talents huddled in defensive clusters, their bravado increasing as they compared scars and stories, testing each other's loyalty within the group. Former military academy candidates gathered with tense camaraderie, their collective resentment palpable, unified more by shared disappointment than background.
Everyone here believed they deserved power. Kai, however, felt that power owed him. It had been drilled into him from a young age by his father, a decorated general who frequently reminded Kai of the family legacy. Winning countless battles and shaping the fate of entire regions, his father set a high standard that Kai was expected not only to meet but surpass. That difference mattered.
A rush of voices and shifting emotions followed as the recruits crossed the threshold.
The entrance hall was as big as a stadium, with white-alloy floors, floating holographic banners, and huge genetic reactors built into the walls. Thousands of students filled the stands above, watching the newcomers walk in. Indeed, the orientation was public. Entertainment.
A voice boomed across the hall. "Welcome to Helios Genetic Academy."
The speaker, an older man clad in black combat robes, possessed a presence that seemed to weigh upon the atmosphere. His voice was commanding, but his slight hand tremor on the microphone suggested an undercurrent of unease, a subtle indication that even he couldn't escape the academy's harsh realities.
"Here, you will abandon weakness."
"Here, you will abandon excuses."
"Here, you will learn how insignificant you truly are." He paused. His fingers, gripping the microphone, briefly faltered, as if burdened by the gravity of his own declarations.
"Those who fail will be removed. Those who break will be discarded. Those who die were never worthy to begin with."
A moment of silence followed.
"Now form ranking lines."
The floor split apart. Platforms rose. Hundreds of combat rings opened up across the floor. Tension spread among the recruits.
Kai grinned. Now, this becomes interesting.
A tall blond guy next to him cracked his neck. "Looks like we are expected to fight each other immediately."
Kai glanced at him. "Don't spit your drink if you lose."
The guy barked a laugh. "You got jokes, huh?"
"Only for those who appear confident but are defeated swiftly."
The blond blinked. "...What?"
Their platform stopped. Holographic text flared.
RING 73 — FREE DUEL
Objective: Incapacitate opponent
The blond rolled his shoulders. "Name's Riven."
"Kai."
Riven raised an eyebrow. "Just Kai?"
"Yeah."
"That's it?"
"Do I look like I need a barrier?"
A barrier swiftly rose around them. Then the countdown flashed.
3
Riven's genetic aura flared. He was at Genetic Awakening Rank 7, a level indicating enhanced physical attributes such as strengthened muscles, reinforced bone density, and accelerated reflexes. The ranking system assessed students' capabilities and combat potential, with higher numbers indicating greater genetic enhancements. This made Riven a formidable opponent. Enhanced muscles. Reinforced bone density. Accelerated reflexes.
Kai stayed still.
2
Riven shifted into a combat stance. Kai scratched his chin. His movements reflected formal military training, loaded forward. Fast. Clean. Military training.
His fist tore through the air, aimed straight at Kai's jaw.
Kai tilted his head slightly. The punch missed by centimetres.
Riven overextended. Kai stepped inside his guard and tapped two fingers on his collarbone. The strike was not forceful. It was precise. A burst of focused genetic energy hit the nerve cluster. Riven's entire arm went dead.
"What th—"
Kai's knee slammed into his stomach. Riven folded.
Kai hooked his ankle and twisted. Riven hit the floor. Before he could react, Kai's heel rested lightly against his throat. A moment of silence ensued.
THE MATCH COMPLETE
WINNER: KAI VOSS
The barrier dropped. Riven lay there blinking.
Kai crouched. "You good?"
Riven wheezed. "You… you held back."
"Yeah."
"Why?"
Kai shrugged. "Orientation. Not murder trials."
Riven laughed hoarsely. "You are truly unorthodox."
"Frequently."
Kai offered him a hand. Riven took it, shaking his head.
"Stick near me. You're entertaining."
Kai smirked.
All around him, the atmosphere shifted as chaos unfolded. Students hurled themselves across platforms, their movements frantic yet precise. Energy blasts arced through the air like streaks of lightning, leaving trails of crackling tension in their wake. The impacts of bodies crashing echoed with bone-shaking force. Some duels were over in the blink of an eye, fierce and unforgiving. In one ring, a girl methodically fractured her opponent's leg, pressing on relentlessly until he passed out from the pain. Nearby, two boys, caught in an intense struggle, pummeled each other into simultaneous unconsciousness. Despite the chaos, the academy staff remained passive observers, their eyes fixed on their recording devices.
Kai walked calmly off his ring.
A ranking tablet flickered on his wrist.
PROVISIONAL PLACEMENT: MID-TIER
"Mid-tier?" he muttered. "Impressive. I truly concealed my abilities."
Without pause, the arena's chaos faded—now, the scene shifted to a dormitory assignment.
Massive tower complexes, each housing thousands of students. Kai entered his assigned dormitory room. Disorder prevailed. Arguments. Territory. Groups carved territories with shouts and aggressive displays, claiming rooms. Threats. Posturing. One guy slammed another into a wall, and within seconds, three fights erupted.
Kai stopped in the doorway, thinking, This environment is utterly unrestrained.
A voice beside him muttered, "So it's basically a zoo."
Kai glanced sideways. A girl with cropped silver hair leaned against the wall, arms crossed, expression bored.
"Pretty wild," Kai offered with a small shrug.
"Looks that way." She smirked. "Name?"
"Kai."
"Nyx."
They watched a guy get thrown down a stairwell.
Nyx sighed. "I estimate that half of them will withdraw within three days."
"That is optimistic."
She glanced at him. "You fight?"
"Occasionally."
"Rank?"
"Mid-tier."
She raised an eyebrow. "Bullshit."
Kai shrugged. "Life is replete with disappointment."
Nyx snorted with laughter. It was a genuine laugh. Sharp.
"Yeah, you're gonna be in trouble."
"Probably."
With a silent agreement, they left the chaos of the foyer behind and headed deeper into the dorm.
Kai claimed a room. Minimal. Clean. Bed. Desk. Locker.
He dropped his bag, sat on the bed's edge, and let out a breath. Not despair. Not awe. Just acceptance. This place wasn't salvation. It was a crucible. Among the few sparse furnishings, a warped metal ward key lay on the dresser, its surface etched with scorch marks from past trials. This token from previous battles served as a constant reminder of the academy's unforgiving nature. He thrived in such environments.
A brisk knock on the door snapped him out of his thoughts, shifting the mood from solitary contemplation to imminent interaction.
He opened the door. Riven leaned there, bruised but smiling.
"Group orientation starts in ten. You coming?"
Kai glanced back at his room. Then, at the hall full of shouting, threats, and potential enemies. He smirked.
"Yeah."
Let us observe the true extent of this institution's dysfunction, Kai pondered as they stepped from his room into the chaotic hall. How many will still stand by nightfall? The thought sharpened the suspense as they moved into the academy's heart.