The next world.

"It's time," the director announced, his voice steady but laced with an edge of urgency. "You'll all be taking the entrance exam today."

We were a mix of nervous and excited, standing in the courtyard of the academy. It wasn't just any entrance exam—it was for one of the most prestigious high schools in the entire world. Getting in meant earning a place among the best, but the pressure was undeniable.

The director had spent the last two months training us, though he admitted that two months wasn't enough to figure out what our full Meta abilities were. "I didn't have time to run full tests," he told us. "But you've all got potential, and you've got Chi."

Chi was the foundation of everything we learned—a way to channel our inner strength. It wasn't just physical power; it was focus, energy, and determination wrapped into one. Sure, we weren't masters at it, but we had the basics down. It wasn't enough to match kids who'd been training their whole lives for this, but it gave us a fighting chance. And for now, that was enough.

Fast-forward to exam day.

The director handed each of us fake transcripts and IDs. They were impressively detailed, complete with our real names and birthdays. "As far as anyone knows," he said, "you've been students here all along. Blend in. Do your best."

The first exam was written.

I was seated far from my friends, which was disappointing, but there wasn't time to dwell on it. The test started, and I stared at the paper in front of me, feeling a wave of dread. My education only went up to the seventh grade, and I hadn't even finished junior high. Some of the questions might as well have been written in a foreign language.

Still, I'd spent the last two months studying like my life depended on it—because, in a way, it did. I tackled the questions I understood first, then took my best guesses at the ones I didn't. Was I confident in my answers? Not really. But I knew I hadn't completely bombed it, and that gave me some hope.

Next up was the interview.

The interviewer was polite and professional, sitting across from me in a small, minimalist room. The questions were straightforward at first. "What kind of person are you?" "What do you like to do for fun?" "What's your biggest strength?"

I answered honestly, trying to show my personality while keeping calm. It wasn't too hard—I'd practiced this kind of thing in our training.

Just as I thought the interview was over, the interviewer leaned forward, eyes sharp. "One last question," they said, their tone shifting slightly. "Is it true you were seen with [Popstar's Name] recently?"

That caught me off guard. How did they know about that?

For a moment, I considered lying, but something about their gaze told me they'd know if I did. So, I nodded. "Yes, that's true."

They didn't say anything more about it, just made a note on their clipboard and dismissed me.

The first two parts of the exam were done, and I couldn't help but feel a mix of relief and anxiety. The written test had been a challenge, but the interview felt like a curveball. Still, there was no time to overthink—I had to focus on what was coming next.

As I walked into the massive auditorium, I was immediately handed a small ticket by one of the staff. On it was the number 42, which I quickly figured out was my assigned seat. The rows of chairs were neatly arranged in a semicircle, all facing the grand stage at the front. The tension in the room was palpable as more students trickled in, some chatting nervously, others keeping to themselves.

I found seat 42 and sat down, placing my elbows on the desk to frame my face. I adjusted my tracksuit, silently glad I'd chosen something practical for what was obviously going to be a physical challenge next. My thoughts were interrupted when the person assigned to seat 43, right beside me, sat down.

He caught my attention immediately: white hair, one green eye, and the other a striking auburn, partially hidden by the nasty scar that ran from his cheek all the way to his nose. It was the kind of face that looked like it had been through a lot.

I decided to break the silence. "Hello. I'm Sulemoranis, but you can call me by my first name, Kaerith," I said, offering a friendly smile.

He scratched the back of his neck, looking a little nervous. "Um, hey. Yeah, cool. I'm Hayashi Kuya."

He didn't even make eye contact, and it was clear he wasn't the chatty type. I debated leaving him alone, but before I could decide, the person assigned to seat 41 arrived.

I turned to see a girl with vivid red hair that cascaded down her shoulders. Her white eyelashes framed the clearest blue eyes I'd ever seen—like the sky on the brightest day. She exuded confidence and instantly broke the ice.

"Oh, you're that new famous guy! I think your name is Soleth?" she said with a teasing grin.

I smiled back, keeping my tone light. "Well, my name is Sulemoranis Kaerith, but you can call me whatever you know me as."

She turned to Hayashi next. "And you? I'm Aoi Isla, by the way."

Hayashi hesitated but finally spoke, his voice soft. "I'm Hayashi Kuya."

The three of us started talking, and to my surprise, we managed to pull Hayashi out of his shell. By the time the auditorium had filled with students, we were chatting like old friends. It felt good to have some camaraderie before the next challenge.

The room quieted as an instructor walked onto the stage. She was tall, with an air of authority that immediately silenced everyone. Her voice was sharp, cutting through the tension like a blade.

"I don't care how influential you are. How popular you are. How famous you are. I don't care who your family is, how much money they make, or how privileged your life has been. None of that matters here," she began, her eyes sweeping over the room.

"In this academy, the only thing that matters is you. Your actions. Your determination. Your performance. If you can't handle that, you don't belong here."

Her words hit hard, leaving no room for misunderstanding. She went on to explain the academy's values and expectations, but I found myself tuning out until she got to the part we were all waiting for: the rules of the next exam.

"For this test," she said, "you'll be placed in a mock city. There will be robots, natural disaster effects, and simulated civilians in need of help. Your job is to work as a team to rescue as many people as possible, neutralize threats, and minimize damage. Your score will depend on your teamwork, the number of people you save, and how effectively you use your abilities."

She paused, letting that sink in before continuing. "The robots are your primary obstacles. Small robots are worth one point. Medium-sized robots are worth two points. Large robots are worth three points. And the most technologically advanced robots—the bosses—are worth five points.

"There will also be a massive robot, designed to destroy the entire city within an hour. That robot is worth nothing. Your priority is to stop the destruction and save as many lives as possible. Do not waste time on the massive robot."

As she spoke, the room's doors suddenly slid open with a hiss. The sound drew everyone's attention, and I instinctively looked back.

Standing in the doorway was someone I instantly recognized: Hiro.

"I'm here to take the exam!" Hiro announced, his voice brimming with excitement.

The reaction was immediate. The entire room erupted into cheers and whispers.

"It's really him!"

"Oh my gosh, it's Hiro!"

"I can't believe he's here!"

The energy in the room shifted completely, and even I couldn't help but feel a surge of curiosity and excitement. Hiro was clearly someone important—and his presence had just made this exam even more interesting.

The towering wall loomed over us, separating the exam participants from the mock city behind it. The tension was thick in the air as we waited for the signal to begin. I adjusted my tracksuit and exhaled slowly, trying to shake off the nervous energy.

Before I could zone out completely, I felt a light tap on my shoulder. Turning around, I saw Hayashi and Aoi standing there.

"Looks like we're in this together," Aoi said, her characteristic grin in place.

Hayashi gave a small nod. "Just stick with us, Kaerith. We'll get through this."

We exchanged a few quick words, trying to keep things light, but suddenly someone shoulder-checked me hard from behind.

"The hell, man?" a voice growled.

I turned to face a massive guy with purple hair tied back into a short ponytail. His eyes were sharp and filled with irritation as he glared at me.

"Can you stop?" he said, his voice dripping with venom. "I don't care who the fuck you are, you're annoying as hell, and you're getting on my nerves."

I blinked, completely confused. "What did I even do? I don't know you."

"You bumped into me, man."

I frowned. "And? What of it? What are you gonna do about it, huh, tough guy?"

He smirked, stepping closer. "I'll beat your motherfucking ass, you rich little punk."

The tension escalated fast. He grabbed the collar of my tracksuit, but I reacted instantly, grabbing his wrist and squeezing hard enough to make him wince.

Before it could go any further, Hayashi stepped in, his calm demeanor masking a surprising amount of authority.

"Hey! Both of you, cut it out. This isn't the time for this crap," Hayashi snapped, pulling us apart.

The examiner's voice boomed over the loudspeakers. "BEGIN!"

The wall before us opened, and chaos erupted as we all charged into the city.

The moment I stepped into the mock city, I felt out of my depth. I had no meta-abilities, no magic, and only basic chi training. Around me, everyone else moved with precision and power, putting their skills on full display.

The purple-haired guy from before—who looked at least seven feet tall—grabbed a medium-sized robot and ripped it in half with his bare hands.

Aoi was darting across the battlefield, creating shimmering portals to rescue "civilians" and move them to safety. She was quick, efficient, and effortlessly commanding.

Hayashi, on the other hand, was the glue holding everyone together. He didn't have offensive abilities, but he kept the group calm and coordinated, shepherding people to safety and bolstering morale.

And me? I was running around like an idiot, trying to fight the smaller robots. My punches and kicks, fueled by chi, were effective, but nowhere near as flashy or powerful as everyone else. I couldn't shake the feeling that I was dead weight.

That's when I saw it—the massive robot meant to destroy the entire city.

We still had 30 minutes left, but the robot was already active. Its colossal frame towered over the buildings, its glowing red eyes scanning the area. Something was wrong.

I looked around for an administrator, someone to confirm whether this was part of the test. But the staff, the ones playing victims, and even some examiners were panicking, yelling, and running for the exits.

The blood in my veins felt like fire. My heart pounded faster and faster as a surge of energy bubbled up from deep inside me. It was like a dam breaking, and I couldn't hold it back anymore.

Narrator's POV

Kaerith was experiencing his first Awakening, a phenomenon triggered by the extreme stress and danger of the situation. His chi, combined with his exposure to this world, was unleashing the dormant power within him—something feared by those who knew the truth about him. Without the presence of Turbo, the entity that usually regulated his transformation, Kaerith's full potential was emerging.

Hayashi's POV

I was sprinting toward the city's exit, ushering panicked people toward safety. Aoi was in front of me, still teleporting others to safety. She was doing everything she could, and I felt useless in comparison.

Then I heard it—a deep, guttural roar that shook the ground beneath me.

I turned back and froze.

Kaerith—the friendly, charming guy I'd just met—was changing. His body contorted unnaturally, growing larger by the second. His skin turned a dark gray, with red patches spreading like veins across his body. He sprouted three extra arms, and his eyes turned into glowing yellow orbs.

Before I could process what was happening, Kaerith leaped into the air, his sheer strength cracking the ground beneath him and creating a powerful shockwave that pushed everyone nearby forward.

With a single, devastating punch, he obliterated the massive robot.

The explosion was deafening, and the shockwave sent debris flying in every direction. The giant robot was completely annihilated, its remains scattered across the city.

As Kaerith came crashing down to the ground, the impact created a small crater. When the dust settled, I ran to him.

He was lying there, unconscious. The monstrous form was gone, and he looked like his regular self again.

But my heart raced as I stared at him.

"What the hell is his meta-ability?" I muttered, my mind reeling.