"I can't stop now," Ito told himself, breath ragged. "If I quit here, everything I've worked for means nothing. I have to keep pushing—no matter what."
He struck again.
And again.
But the boulder didn't budge.It was going nowhere—and time was slipping through their hands like sand.
Behind him, the other students stood frozen, watching in stunned silence.
Zayden stepped forward, a frown on his face."That's enough," he muttered. "If I don't stop him now… he'll break every bone in his body."
He raised a hand toward Ito, ready to act—
But then, a deep voice echoed from the opposite side of the boulder.
Everyone turned.
Ito's eyes widened in disbelief as the massive stone began to rise—slowly, effortlessly—lifted into the air by an old man cloaked in regal robes.Behind him stood a squad of knights, their presence silent but overwhelming.
Shion and Sara could only stare, eyes wide in shock.
Zayden's jaw dropped."How is this even possible? Ito couldn't make a single crack… and that old timer lifted it like nothing?"
Even the students who had barely spoken until now gasped, their murmurs filling the air.
Ito stood frozen, fists slowly unclenching, his ragged breath forming clouds in the cold air.He could only watch—the pain in his hands forgotten for a moment—not just stunned by the strength he'd witnessed, but the sheer timing of it.
The old man glowed with an aura visible only to Zone users.He wore the white uniform of a Knight Squad Captain.
"Congratulations…" he said, smirking."You all have passed the test."
His voice was deep, and heavy—like it could crush stone as easily as lift it.
Ito finally exhaled, a strange calm settling in his chest.Blood dripped steadily from his knuckles, staining the ground.
The old man's eyes locked onto his.
"What's your name, young boy?" he asked.
"Hmm… Ito Tatsuki," Ito replied, a hint of nervousness in his voice.
"Huh. That's a name I've never heard before…"He paused, glancing at Ito's bloodied hands.
"Well, can't say I'm not impressed. You should get those treated—fast."
Before stepping away, a single question echoed in Ito's mind.
"Old man… You said we passed. But I couldn't even break that rock. So how?"
"It was never just about the rock," Zayden said calmly, his gaze steady and thoughtful.
"It was about response—who steps up when the path is blocked. Ito chose to act, and we followed. If we'd done nothing, that would've been the real failure. Right, old man?"
The old man let out a hearty, gravelly laugh that echoed across the clearing.
"Ha-ha-ha! Well said, boy. These days, kids really are sharp."
With a smooth, almost casual motion, he shifted the massive boulder to the roadside, revealing the path ahead. The students stood speechless, watching with wide eyes as the impossible became reality.
Slowly, they returned to their seats, the wooden carriages creaking beneath them.
Before climbing aboard, Ito turned back.
He bowed low, posture straight, every movement radiating respect.
The other knights behind the old man remained still, their presence as calm and unshakable as statues—silent guardians watching the young students move forward.
"Captain Boris, look!" one of the knights suddenly called out, pointing with wide eyes. "That boulder—it's cracked from underneath!"
Another knight stepped closer, inspecting the bottom of the stone.
"This is… impossible. I've been watching students take this test with Captain Boris for ten years. No one's ever managed to do that before."
Boris crossed his arms and chuckled as he watched the carriage roll away into the distance.
"No, not quite impossible," he said with a knowing grin.
"Fifteen years ago… a boy did the same thing. He's the Chief Executive of the Imperial Nation now—Valles."
Inside the carriage, silence lingered for a moment. Then—
Sara reached out and gently took Ito's hand. Her grip was firm, but it trembled slightly.
"You're always so reckless," she muttered, her voice tight with worry.
Without waiting for him to respond, she pulled open his bag and dug out a small first-aid kit. She opened it and got to work, tending to his wounds with quiet precision—each motion filled with quiet care.
"I'm alright, Sara. You don't have to worry so much," Ito said softly, watching her gently clean the blood from his knuckles.
Her hands never stopped moving, but her eyes told him everything she didn't say out loud.
"Still, it's hard to believe all those things just happened," Shion said, leaning back in his seat and letting out a deep breath.
"Yeah… and that old man was way too strong for someone his age," Zayden added, his tone more serious than usual as he glanced toward Ito and Sara's seat.
"That had to be Zone power," Shion muttered with a shrug. "I could see this crazy-strong aura around him. Right, Sara?"
Sara nodded. "Yeah. I think so, too."
A chorus of confused "Huh?!" burst from Ito and the others—like synchronized brain cells all short-circuiting at once.
"Wait, wait… you both know about Zone Power?" Ito asked, blinking rapidly, like he'd just realized he'd missed several classes.
"Of course," Shion said proudly, puffing his chest out a little. "Sara and I are last-year students, remember? We've already been training for it."
Another collective "Huhh?!" echoed through the carriage, louder this time, like a second wave of realization crashing over them.
After a few minutes, the carriage creaked to a stop.
Ito and the others stepped out and were immediately greeted by the vibrant sights and sounds of Valles Nation. The streets buzzed with life—vibrant shops lined the roads, towering houses loomed with elegant stonework, and winding paths led toward the heart of the city.
At the center of it all stood the royal palace. It rose above the skyline like a crown forged of marble and gold, its presence both grand and imposing.
"I think we're late. It looks like a lot of academy students are already here," Shion said, scanning the packed plaza.
"Now… where are we supposed to go?" Ito asked, scratching his head as he looked around.
"You there!" a nearby knight called out, striding toward them. "Judging from your uniforms, you're here for the tournament, right? Head straight toward the palace—you'll find the knight officers there handling registrations."
"Thanks for your help, sir," Zayden replied with a respectful nod.
"No need for thanks," the knight said with a faint smile. "It's our duty to guide promising students like you." He turned back to his post.
"Alright then, let's go, everyone!" Ito said, eyes lighting up with fresh determination. He stepped forward, leading the group with bold excitement as they pressed onward toward their next trial.
"Talk about the excitement. How's your hand now?" Shion asked with a playful smirk, nudging Ito lightly on the arm.
Ito grinned and started walking backward, arms stretched. "Just as you can see, I'm totally fine."
He kept talking, not watching the path behind him. Then—bump! He collided with someone. Three boys stood there, now scowling at him. Ito stumbled slightly, then turned around casually.
"Sorry," he said offhandedly.
The trio hissed in unison. One stepped forward, sneering. "You really think that cheap, sorry is enough?"
Another cracked his knuckles, puffing his chest. "Looks like you don't even know who we are."
Ito blinked, tilted his head. "Hmm... no, I just met you today. So how am I supposed to know who you are?" he asked, scratching the back of his head.
"What could low-class humans like you possibly understand?" said one of them—a guy with an absurdly large forehead. "We're nobles of the Whales family. Got it now?"
Ito turned to Sara, completely unbothered. "Who even is this Whales family? You know anything about them, Sara?"
Sara nodded with a straight face. "Nope."
Big Forehead's face twisted in rage. "That's enough, you low-class piece of trash!" he snapped. "If you don't have a death wish, then get on your knees and bow to our feet—beg for forgiveness!"
A sudden chuckle broke the tension.
Sara tried to cover her mouth, but it was too late.
"What's so funny?!" Big Forehead snapped.
Shion burst out laughing. "Sorry—it's just... your forehead is so big, it's like it has its own gravitational pull."
Zayden couldn't hold it either. He doubled over, snickering.
Even Sara lowered her head, lips twitching as she fought back a smile.
"You bastards!" Big Forehead roared, his whole face flushing red as steam practically poured out of his ears.
"No... Boss," one of the three whispered urgently. "If we do anything here, we could get disqualified from the tournament."
"Yeah, you're right. I should only focus on the tournament for now," the big forehead guy muttered, his voice low as he clenched his fists in frustration.
Zayden turned to Ito, keeping his tone urgent. "We should hurry to the tournament registration!"
"Yeah, you're right," Ito said nonchalantly, waving a hand. "I almost forgot about the tournament. Let's get moving, everyone!" He grinned, clearly eager to leave the tension behind.
As the group briskly walked away, the big forehead guy shouted after them, voice laced with frustration. "Hey, where are you running off to?"
"Bye-bye, Whale! Let's meet again at the tournament!" Ito called over his shoulder, tone lighthearted as he quickened his pace.
They navigated through the crowd, but just as they turned a corner, Ito caught a fleeting glimpse of a figure—a person with short hair wearing a brown hoodie. It was so brief he couldn't be sure if it was real or just his imagination.
Shrugging it off, he focused back on the path ahead.
"At last!" Shion exclaimed, panting slightly. "We made it."
"But there's so much crowd," Sara said, glancing around. "What should we do now?"
"I think we have no choice but to wait in line for our turn," Zayden replied, eyeing the long queue ahead.
Ito and Zayden squeezed into the boys' line, trying to look patient but secretly wishing they could teleport to the front.
Sara and Shion joined the girls' line, both fidgeting a bit as they settled in.
The hours dragged on like a never-ending lecture. The line inched forward at a snail's pace while chatter and occasional sighs echoed around them.
By the time their number was finally called, it felt like they'd aged a few years.
The announcement snapped them out of their daze. They shot forward like prisoners granted parole, faces lighting up with relief.
"Ito from Yonor, hmm..." the officer muttered, scanning the parchment in front of him. His eyes narrowed as he looked up at Ito. "You can't take part in the tournament."
"Huh? What?" Ito's voice cracked, disbelief creeping into his tone. His heart skipped a beat as his eyes went wide, trying to process the words.
The officer's face was unreadable, cold, and unwavering as the bustling noise around them seemed to fade into an eerie silence.
Was this some kind of joke? Some mistake?