The ground trembled beneath their feet.
The magical energy of the field activated the portals one by one, transforming them into passages toward different worlds: humid jungles, frozen plains, mist-covered swamps, ancient ruins. Each scenario was a precise recreation of a different Shinju's natural habitat.
One by one, the students crossed through their assigned portals.
And with each step, the tension mounted.
---
Kanzaki Haruto
Son of a prestigious family of magical artisans, Haruto walked with his chin high. Uniform perfectly pressed, posture impeccable, and a black steel pyramid hanging from his neck that radiated calculated coldness.
His magic — based on metal transmutation — allowed him to form a spear engraved with glowing runes. A weapon that vibrated with contained energy.
His enemy appeared: a Shinju in the form of a giant centipede, each leg gleaming like a blade.
The battle was tense but methodical. Every movement Haruto made was calculated, his spear tracing perfect lines in the air. Finally, the centipede fell, pierced by a clean thrust that reduced it to dust.
"As expected of the Kanzaki family heir," commented an instructor, noting something on his tablet.
---
Mina Tachibana
Next was Mina — the girl with brown ponytails that Alex had noticed earlier.
Her lavender uniform looked like a period dress, adorned with gold details. She walked trembling, hands hidden in her long sleeves, gaze fixed on the ground.
Her opponent emerged from shadows: a four-legged beast made of liquid shadow, without definite form, moving like spilled black water.
Mina barely managed to activate her pyramid. From it emerged small floating orbs of light — guide spheres that flickered weakly at first, as if reflecting her fear.
But then they began to spin. Slowly. Then faster.
They formed a shield of light around her just as the Shinju charged.
"Don't hurt me…! Go away!"
The spheres compressed suddenly and exploded in a wave of pure energy that disintegrated the monster instantly.
Mina fell to her knees, gasping, staring at her own hands as if they belonged to someone else.
Two instructors ran toward her.
"Interesting…" one murmured, observing the readings on his tablet. "Extremely strong emotional bond with her magical essence."
"We'll take note of that," the other responded.
---
Daichi Muramasa
Next was Daichi Muramasa — tall, confident smile, completely theatrical demeanor.
"Get ready, Shinju! This stage is mine!"
From his pyramid emerged a giant sword wrapped in blue flames that he swung with exaggerated force. His enemy, a Shinju in the form of a boar covered in metallic scales, roared and charged.
The battle was chaotic, noisy, and spectacular. Daichi ended up with several cuts on him — but also with a smile. When the Shinju fell in flames, he raised his sword to the air and shouted:
"And thus… the first act ends!"
Some students laughed. Others applauded.
In the observation booth, Mikagami didn't applaud. She only made a mental note and shifted her gaze to the next screen.
---
Alex
In the forest assigned to Alex, everything was silent.
Sunlight filtered through the tall trees, painting the ground with golden specks. A gentle breeze stirred the leaves. The atmosphere was too calm — almost expectant, as if the forest itself were holding its breath.
Alex walked with his hands in his pockets. Without hurry. Without fear. His eyes wandered lazily between the trunks as if he were strolling through a park on a Sunday afternoon.
"What a relaxing landscape," he murmured. "Too bad I have to ruin it."
From among the bushes, a creature emerged.
Category 1 Shinju. Form of an elongated reptile, black scales, orange eyes flashing with hunger. A low rumble ran through the entire forest.
Alex didn't look at it.
He didn't touch his pyramid. He didn't change his posture. He did absolutely nothing.
"You're not interesting," he said, sighing. "But I can't stay here all day either."
Then it happened.
Without Alex seeking it, without him controlling it — his tricolored hair began to glow softly. A crimson radiance emerged from his body, flowing like liquid fire beneath his skin. The air grew dense. The trees creaked. Leaves shot out in all directions.
And the Shinju, instinctively, took a step back.
Not from strategy. Not from calculation.
From fear.
Something in the depths of its ancestral instinct screamed that what stood before it was not prey. It was not an S-rank hunter. It was nothing that had a name in any human registry.
Alex took a step forward. Just one.
"Sleep."
An invisible wave of energy swept through the forest. The Shinju collapsed instantly, unconscious, without Alex having lifted a finger. The ground cracked beneath his feet, releasing a reddish smoke that slowly dissipated among the trees.
Silence.
Alex stood looking at the fallen creature for a moment. Then he crouched down — not to inspect it, but because something was moving among the leaves right beside it.
A small lizard watched him, wagging its tail in a completely erratic manner.
Alex tilted his head.
"You again."
The lizard wagged its tail in circles.
"You almost got it, little guy."
---
Observation Room
"Was that… spiritual release without channeling?" asked an instructor, his voice completely flat — the voice of someone who had just seen something for which they had no words.
Mikagami didn't respond immediately. She had her arms crossed and her eyes fixed on the monitor where Alex's image remained paused — kneeling in front of a lizard, oblivious to everything.
"No," she said finally. "That wasn't release. Wasn't technique. He didn't even activate his pyramid." She paused. "That Shinju recognized him as something superior. By instinct."
The other observers fell silent.
Only the hum of the screens filled the room.
Mikagami tilted her head, her golden eyes reflecting the image of the boy on the screen.
"The real question," she murmured, "is how long it will be before the others realize."
No one answered.
Because no one had an answer.