The next day, Kairo arrived early. In the restroom of the training gymnasium, Kairo was getting ready for his training session. His father had insisted that he get back in shape soon, before the new mission. But this wasn't the only reason Kairo was here.
The training gymnasium spanned several buildings combined, a massive dome-like structure with a ceiling made entirely of glass.
"You're awaited on the fifth level, Kairo. Good luck on your star test," the officer in charge said.
Kairo nodded and walked away. He had heard about this exam. Normally, to get a new star, officers could either achieve worthy deeds through dangerous missions or make significant contributions.
The exam was reserved for the more 'normal' way of earning a star. Many had made significant contributions without going into the field, but that didn't mean their combat abilities were neglected—the star test served this purpose.
After Kairo and Nyx defeated the Surgeon, their newcomer test was considered complete, and they were supposed to receive a new star.
"Why do I have to go through this test again? Haven't I proven my worth already?" Kairo was confused. According to what he knew, defeating the Surgeon alone should have already qualified him for a new star.
Just as Kairo was about to enter the training hall, he met Nyx on the way. Dressed in a black, swimsuit-like outfit, she was stretching, getting ready for something.
"Wait, what are you doing? You have to go through a star test too?" Kairo asked.
"Why ask? Not happy to see me?" Nyx said.
Kairo smiled awkwardly but said nothing. He was more worried about what all of this meant.
"I don't understand it either, but given how long we've been inactive, they think it'll be good to get us back in shape," she said.
Although she was trying to hide it, Kairo could easily read between the lines: They don't want our rise to feel too abrupt. They still think some might associate it with me being Magnus's so.
After barely a month here , Kairo had already accomplished more than many did in a year. There was no need—but Kairo would have to continue proving himself if he wanted to be fully accepted.
"Don't be too hard on yourself. Let's meet after the training session and catch up where we left off—unless your father doesn't agree," Nyx winked at him.
Kairo smiled and said, "Shut up. You know how he is. My father will disappear again and I can't be sure when he'll be back. I have to talk to him. See you later."
Nyx smiled, shaking her head as she moved away.
Kairo entered the training gym—a grand circular hall that stretched as far as his eyes could see. Quite a number of people were around, classified into small groups of officers with one taking the lead.
"Didn't expect to meet so many people here," Kairo said. Normally, the star exam was an individual test, and most of the time, the officers were way too busy with their missions to attend the event. But today was a little different.
Kairo soon found his way to a dedicated area, where Fabian and another group had already gathered. The irritated smile on the officer's face said enough about how long they had been waiting. With an apologetic look, Kairo took his place in the front line, like always.
"Finally here," Fabian said, clasping his hands to get everyone's attention.
"Today the boss has asked for a little change in how we do things. Unlike in the past, where everyone took their star exam at the end of the year, he specifically allowed anyone who feels capable enough to try and take the test now. You all know the rules, so I won't repeat them. We have an hour—past that time, I'm leaving and you'll have to wait until the end of the year for your next opportunity. You better seize it now," Fabian explained. With a bored smile, he took off his vest, unwilling to dirty it in the process.
Stepping to the front of the officers, he asked, "Who will be first?"
Despite his voice being nothing like his usual domineering one, none of the officers were daring enough to step forward. "This doesn't look right. Why would Father return and suddenly issue such a change in the rules? Could it be linked to the upcoming mission?" Kaior had his doubts.
Otherwise, there was no need for such an abrupt change. Normally, officers took their star assessment at the end of the year because they needed to be done by four-star officers and above. Because of how busy they were, the assessments were scheduled at the end of the year.
A simple example was the man Kairo met on his first day on the train. Despite all the time he had spent here, he had never seen him once. Actually, the only officers Kairo had met were the five-star captains and Danzan. Apart from that, there were no other four-star officers in the headquarters at any given time.
"No one moving up? Kaior, I came here specifically for you, and it wouldn't be a lie to assume this group isn't ready for the star exam. They're all here to get a look at who defeated the grade-three criminal, the Surgeon. Why keep us all waiting?" Fabian asked, his voice intentionally rising above all the chatter around. Even the groups that had not noticed Kaior at the start began paying attention.
Kairo left his rambling thoughts to get to action. "I guess being the boss's son has its own set of disadvantages," Kaior thought. As Magnus's son, he had grown up with this feeling of always having to prove himself. His father was the best—he had no choice but to excel to the same level.
Kaior stretched his body and walked to the center of the training hall. "Ready! Can you repeat the rules one last time?" he asked.
"The rules are simple. The assessment goes over your combat abilities and your decision-making in dangerous situations. If any of the criteria are met, you will be considered to have passed," Fabian started explaining, then pointed at the card box to their side. It was positioned just between Kairo and Fabian but to their left.
"Get the box, or manage to touch my chest—and you win. If you start chasing me, we consider I'm a criminal and I have five people hostage. If you can't touch my chest in three minutes, they all die, and you lose the test. If you start chasing the box, you have the same three minutes before the terrain crumbles and you all die with the criminal and the civilians. One final thing: the box can't be lifted by anyone other than you. Ready, Kaior?"
Kairo took a deep breath. "A simple test, huh? This isn't about strength but about decision-making," Kaior thought. Going for the box was risky, as it placed all the civilians in danger—but unlike Fabian, it couldn't move and was considerably easier to catch. If he went toward Fabian, there was no certainty he could touch him before the end of the countdown, sentencing the civilians to death again.
Meaning the test would begin the moment Kaior made his first move. The wrong one would ideally seal his chance of winning. A single mistake and it was gone. Kairo trembled inwardly. Although it was a hypothetical situation, he could feel the pressure.
Kaior ejected a card from his card launcher, activating Tactical Brilliance. The familiar white halo smoothly enveloped his body in water-like waves, making Kaior appear sharper and more imposing. His earlier confused expression was gone, replaced by the laser focus he used in action.
"I'll still advise you to go for the box, Kaior. Any sane person knows it's the best course of action," Fabian warned again, as if he could read Kaior's mind. But ignoring their expectations, Kairo cannonballed toward Fabian—a disturbing smile on his face.
One after the other, the spectators expressed their opinions.
"Way too arrogant. As they say, like father, like son. It's not out of pity Fabian advised the box. How could he dream of getting near a five-star officer?"
"This doesn't sound like him. I heard he was quite intelligent—not stupidly reckless."
Despite their words, Kaior had no intention of stopping. "Going for the box might actually be the riskiest," Kaior had in mind.
He believed going for Fabian was more complex since there was no rule forcing Fabian to stay in one spot. If Fabian was agile or smart enough, getting out of range was easy.
But that was not the case when it came to the box—taking the box made Kaior an easier target. The box didn't move, meaning Fabian had a clear line of sight to one-shot him. The box made him an easy target; he could lose the test in a matter of seconds.
Sliding forward at lightning speed, he stretched his arms to touch Fabian. An amused smile on his face, Fabian flipped his finger—a card in hand. "Divine Precision," he murmured. The circuitry of the void roared to his call. As if summoned by him, the dazzling halo of green hexagons colored the entire hall. It was like a star had appeared, with Fabian at the center.
Kairo closed in rapidly, inches away from Fabian, when he had a bad feeling. Without a second thought, Kairo stopped a few meters before reaching Fabian's range. A green laser beam shot toward him, ricocheting in the space inches before it touched him.
His plan had never been to touch Fabian on the first try, but just to force him to reveal his card. "One of the first things Father taught me was to never get too close to a card mage without knowing what card they have in reserve," he thought. And he was right. The divine card made him an easy target as long as he was within a circular range of Fabian, Kairo observed. The three-minute countdown had started, and Kaior needed to quickly find a solution