The academy was unnaturally quiet.
Out of the 10,000 students who had taken part in the entrance exam, 95% were injured. 10% were critically injured. The place now echoed like a haunted corridor — even the classrooms felt like ghost rooms.
In the Dean's Office
"Ughhh, man... that was so tiring."Messala — a sharp-eyed, brown-haired, blue-skinned woman — slumped back in her chair with an exhausted sigh.
From the couch came a rhythmic, exaggerated snore."Pshhhh… pshhhhhh…"
Gill was napping like he'd run the course himself. He was even giggling in his sleep.
Messala grabbed a pen and chucked it straight at his face.
Thwack.
"AGHH—! What? I didn't do it! Huh—?!"Gill bolted upright, rubbing his forehead. "What was that for, woman?! I was having such a nice dream!"
She stood up, her coat swinging slightly over her sleek uniform. "You injured almost all of my candidates and now you're napping like a baby? Aren't you even a little ashamed?"
Gill stretched and yawned. "Oh, come on, you asked me to run the test. Besides—"He paused when he saw Messala narrow her eyes."—I tried not to injure them... too badly."
She didn't blink.
"Ahem. I mean, very badly."
Gill raised a sheepish thumbs-up.
Messala groaned. "You absolute moron. Do you even know who you injured?"
He shrugged. "Just one kid that stood out, right?"
"One kid?" she snapped. "You half-evolved baboon, that 'kid' was Aria's son! Do you realize what kind of galactic mess we'd be in if he died?!"
She shoved a glowing tablet into his lap.
"This is the student list. Mark the ones you like and discard the others. I'm going for coffee before I throw you into orbit."
She turned to leave.
Gill scratched his beard. "Xarks... right?"
Messala paused at the door. "Yup. That's the name."
Gill's tone shifted. "What's your read on him?"
She tilted her head, curious. "Why?"
"You're a 4th-level Spatial Explorer, yeah?" he asked, standing now.
She nodded.
"Then you know how dangerous real space can be. What's the most useful tool out there?"
"Well being strong? Abilitie---" Messala said this and then noticed Gill's eyes, she swallowed hard forgetting they couldn't say that... "Warships. Weapons. Shields," she said confidently after.
Gill shook his head. "No, it's determination, if your determination falters it doesn't matter what kind of weapons or warships you have, you lose... that is the reason why only 5th level Spatial Explorers can be leaders when wartime happens... it is because we, to become 5th level, needed to go through hell, that made our determination unbreakable... as for this kid... oh man, I will be gladly willing..." Gill pulled a check on Xarks's name.
He checked the box beside Xarks' name.
He smiled, but Messala had already left.
"Oh no—wait, I didn't mean—" He slumped back down. "Ugh, I'm such an idiot."
Grumbling, he reached into his drawer, pulled out some snacks, and got to work.
Later – Cafeteria
The massive cafeteria was nearly empty. Hundreds of seats stood abandoned.
Xarks sat alone, poking at a tray of food with half-interest. His wounds had healed at a ridiculous speed — even the doctors had been surprised. He'd visited Markus earlier, but the guy was still out cold.
"This place feels like a tomb," Xarks muttered. "Guess that many people really did get wrecked…"
Creak.
The door opened, and he sighed.
"Oh no… this dumbass."
He resumed eating as the familiar voice echoed across the hall.
"Hahahaha, you are really great, Alia. Now, since we are one of the few that are guaranteed to become Space Explorers, would you wish to go on a date?" A burly man in a leather jacket was bothering a girl with blue eyes and blond hair.
Kalgan and Alia.
Both of them had passed the pressure portion of the exam — freaks among freaks.
"Not interested Kalgan, get away from me, you smell disgusting." Alia with a nonchalant face said this and went to order her food.
"Ohh come on now, you're being so mean to me..." Kalgan said this with a cat's voice.
Xarks snorted. He glanced down at his tray—
"Hey, Xarks, right?" Alia's voice cut through the silence.
She walked over and casually plopped down next to him.
Kalgan stopped mid-sip and glared.
Xarks sighed internally. This bitch is trying to get me killed.
"Yes, I'm Xarks. Could you… sit a little further away? You're kinda crushing my backpack."
He reached down and pulled it out from under her.
"Oh! Sorry," Alia said, scooting aside. "I just wanted to say… you were insane during the test. You literally pulled yourself through the Agarias X543 engine's gravity tunnel. Most professors were shouting to make you stop."
Xarks froze.
He turned to her, wide-eyed. "Wait—you recognized the X543? That model is—"
"Based on the Kalian fusion core system, I know!" she beamed. "My brother's obsessed with warships."
"OH MY GODS! You actually know this stuff? It has triple-layered repulsors and a—"
The two launched into a full-blown nerd-off. For the first time, Xarks wasn't alone — someone actually got it.
Meanwhile, Kalgan sat across from them, silently fuming and crushing his cup in his fist.
After a long, joyful rant, Xarks rubbed his neck awkwardly.
"Sorry, I kinda nerded out there."
Alia shook her head. "Not at all. Thanks, Xarks. That was... fun." She gave him a warm smile. "See you around!"
She stood and walked off. Kalgan, grumbling, followed a few moments later.
Xarks stared at his phone.Did that just happen?Did he just talk warships with a cute girl and not crash and burn?
He chuckled."What a wild day."
--
[Mission Alert!]
Kalgan is planning revenge.
Objective: Defeat Kalgan. Make him so angry he steams from the ears!
Reward: Physical Stats Upgrade
Penalty: None
Time Limit: None
--
"Huh?" Xarks loudly exclaimed. this wasn't something he was expecting to see, but it was a welcome surprise, and he knew exactly who it was that was planning so-called 'Revenge'
"Damn, maybe I shouldn't have gotten that excited for a girl that knew my nerdy stuff..." He looked back and grunted looks like this would be some trouble.