Two weeks had passed. The days blurred together, filled with written tests, oral exams, practical assessments — all designed to highlight strengths... and expose weaknesses.
No special exams yet. No drama. Just the constant pressure of a system that judged you even while you breathed.
In the cafeteria, Luca ate in silence, focused on his tray. Kai was talking — a lot. Alexei, meanwhile, was blissfully absorbed in a mille-feuille, savoring each bite like it was a rare treasure.
"I'm telling you, this pastry chef is a god in disguise," Alexei whispered, eyes half-closed, a trace of cream still on his lower lip.
"You're going to be diabetic before midterms," Luca muttered without looking up.
"A sweet death," Alexei replied, entirely serious.
Kai laughed. "He's not kidding. I saw him turn down steak for flan yesterday."
They were interrupted by a soft, overly sweet voice.
"Hey, Luca… Got a minute?"
Ashley Smith. One of the school's social media stars. Long ash-blonde hair, flawless light makeup, and a smile trained for the camera.
Luca barely looked up. "What do you want?"
Ashley gave a pouty, pleading look. "I saw your average is 80… You're one of the best in class. Could you help me study? Please…?"
Kai immediately leaned toward Luca, whispering dramatically,
"Dude. She's in the top 3 prettiest girls on campus. You cannot say no. That would be a crime against humanity."
Luca raised an eyebrow. "I thought you liked the ones who throw compasses during tests."
"I like all girls. Except the ones who hit me with trays," Kai grumbled, clearly traumatized.
Luca turned back to Ashley. "Why not ask Alexei? He's been pulling 100s non-stop."
Ashley looked over at Alexei, who was currently dipping his finger into the cream of his mille-feuille, licking it with sinful joy.
He glanced at her — coldly, blankly — and then returned to his dessert without saying a word.
"...Okay," Ashley mumbled, slightly thrown off.
"He doesn't like being interrupted mid-dessert," Kai said, as if it was sacred law.
Luca crossed his arms. "And why now? You've been doing okay so far. You only need 30% to pass the tests."
Ashley grimaced. "Not this time. We just got the notice. For the upcoming special exam, anyone below 70%... fails."
Luca stayed silent.
"Please… just an hour after class? You pick the subject. I just don't want to get kicked out."
He sighed. "Fine."
She lit up instantly. "Thank you! You're a lifesaver. And with a score like yours, you must've already done one of those Starclass-level exams, right?"
Luca shook his head. "Exams are the same for everyone."
Ashley stared at him, stunned. "But… you and Alexei are geniuses, aren't you? Isn't it weird that you're stuck in F Class?"
Kai leaned back in his chair. "Welcome to Genesis. Here, versatility is king. You can be a god at math, but if you run like a turtle and talk like a rock, straight to the lower classes you go."
Ashley blinked. "So… it's not just about talent?"
"Not just," Kai said. "It's also about balance. The classes from B to F rarely change. Above that, A, S, and Starclass? Whole different world. The higher you go, the more 'complete' you have to be. But up there, the gap's so narrow, ranks stop meaning much."
She turned back to Alexei. "But he's good at everything. Why is he in F Class?"
Alexei finally paused his eating. Slowly turned his head to Luca… then pinched his arm.
"Ow!"
Alexei smiled innocently, fingers still sticky with cream.
"He didn't take the full entrance exam," Luca muttered, exasperated. "Just art and classic studies."
Ashley raised her eyebrows, then chuckled. "You three are such a weird group… But I like it. See you later, Luca."
She walked off, giving him a bright, almost flirty smile.
Luca sighed. Kai patted him on the shoulder.
"Bro. You just scored bonus points in the most brutal game at Genesis: social survival."
"I'll stick to multiple-choice," Luca grumbled.
Location: Sublevel -1, service courtyard, out of camera range
The halls of Genesis were quiet — that heavy, loaded silence that came at the end of the day. No witnesses. No cameras. Just the dull, muffled sounds of something that didn't belong.
A student from Class F, Noah Brooks, stood trembling, back against the wall, eyes wide. He didn't understand. He hadn't done anything. Nothing wrong.
But deep down, he knew exactly why they were here.
In front of him stood five students in Class B uniforms. Their presence was cold, deliberate. No hesitation.
At the center was Zion Kael Drayden. Tall, dreadlocks pulled back, posture calm but eyes burning with something… unhinged. He didn't strike. He didn't need to.
He commanded.
"You spoke today, Noah. In strategy class. Answered a question you weren't meant to understand."
His voice was low, almost soft — but with an edge like broken glass.
"The professor said you made a good point. Said your name. You looked proud."
Noah's mouth opened. "I… I just wanted—"
A blow cut him off. Precise. Brutal. Not to the face — to the side. A controlled hit. Noah gasped, knees buckling.
Zion raised a hand. The boy who hit him stepped back immediately.
"I know. You just wanted," Zion said, crouching in front of him. His tone dropped to a near whisper.
"That's the problem. Wanting."
Behind him, Lya Winzler was quietly tapping notes into her tablet.
Adriana Velázquez stood off to the side, arms folded, expression unreadable.
Loïc Deneuve gave a soft laugh. "Ambition's dangerous. Especially when it starts growing in the dirt."
Zion smiled — and there was no warmth in it.
"Genesis runs on balance. And when someone from the bottom starts making noise, it threatens the system. You think it's just a good grade? It's a ripple. A tiny tremor in the structure. And if we don't fix it…"
He snapped his fingers.
"…it becomes a collapse."
Another hit. Lower this time, behind the knee. Noah crumpled to the ground.
Zion stood slowly, brushing invisible dust from his jacket.
"No hatred here, Noah. No anger. Just correction."
He leaned down again, lips close to the boy's ear.
"Tell the rest of F Class: visibility comes with consequences."
They turned to leave, steps calm, rehearsed. No panic. No rush. Just silence in their wake.
Noah didn't scream. He just lay there, shivering. Processing. Remembering every word.
A warning, delivered with precision.
And not a single witness.
Meet the characters revealed so far.
[GENESIS INSTITUTE - STUDENT FILE #F-083]
Name: Ashley Smith
Age: 14
Height: 1m58
Weight: 49 kg
Eyes: Light blue, expressive and calculating when needed
Hair: Ash-blonde, long and often styled perfectly
Class: F Class
Nationality: American
Type of Student: Social Influencer / Image Tactician
Hobbies: Fashion coordination, content creation, trend forecasting
Dislikes: Being ignored, academic failure, losing control of her image
Notable Traits: Known for her large online following before Genesis; excellent at navigating social circles; more perceptive than she appears; often underestimated due to her influencer background but capable of strategic thinking when it benefits her
Quote: "Looks can open doors—but knowing when to walk through them is the real skill."
[GENESIS INSTITUTE - STUDENT FILE #B-002]
Name: Zion Kael Drayden
Age: 15
Height: 1m83
Weight: 74 kg
Eyes: Dark brown, sharp with a hint of instability
Hair: Long dreadlocks, always tied back
Class: B Class
Nationality: American
Type of Student: Strategic Tyrant / Psychological Controller
Hobbies: Studying military history, poker, breaking rules with precision
Dislikes: Disorder, defiance, being ignored
Notable Traits: Charismatic and unpredictable; doesn't lift a hand but commands complete loyalty; known for orchestrating situations rather than reacting to them; whispers and rumors follow him like shadows
Quote: "Systems break when people like you start believing they matter."
---
[GENESIS INSTITUTE - STUDENT FILE #B-019]
Name: Lya Winzler
Age: 14
Height: 1m52
Weight: 43 kg
Eyes: Pale gray, expressionless
Hair: White-blonde, blunt cut
Class: B Class
Nationality: Swiss
Type of Student: Analytical Recorder / Silent Strategist
Hobbies: Chess variants, behavioral analysis, writing encrypted journals
Dislikes: Emotional noise, unpredictability, wasted effort
Notable Traits: Speaks only when necessary; documents everything; often underestimated due to her size, but sharp as a scalpel when it comes to patterns and weaknesses
Quote: "Everything speaks. Most people just don't know how to listen."
---
[GENESIS INSTITUTE - STUDENT FILE #B-014]
Name: Adriana Velázquez
Age: 15
Height: 1m75
Weight: 58 kg
Eyes: Golden brown
Hair: Long black hair, always sleek and smooth
Class: B Class
Nationality: Colombian
Type of Student: Social Architect / Controlled Charisma
Hobbies: Image consulting, manipulation theory, studying fashion psychology
Dislikes: Loud behavior, losing her composure, meaningless compliments
Notable Traits: Commands attention without trying; rarely speaks in group settings but her presence influences decisions; often called the "quiet queen" of Class B
Quote: "You don't need to speak to shift the room. Presence is enough."
---
[GENESIS INSTITUTE - STUDENT FILE #B-021]
Name: Esteban Cruz
Age: 14
Height: 1m78
Weight: 70 kg
Eyes: Dark green
Hair: Black, short cropped
Class: B Class
Nationality: Mexican
Type of Student: Physical Enforcer / Loyal Executioner
Hobbies: Martial arts, weight training, cleaning his boots
Dislikes: Disobedience, weakness, wasting time
Notable Traits: Zion's most direct enforcer; doesn't question orders; hits hard, but always with control; values efficiency over brutality
Quote: "When someone talks too loud, I help them shut up. That's all."
[GENESIS INSTITUTE - STUDENT FILE #F-108]
Name: Noah Brooks
Age: 14
Height: 1m67
Weight: 56 kg
Eyes: Soft green, often darting nervously
Hair: Sandy blonde, slightly messy
Class: F Class
Nationality: American
Type of Student: Passive Thinker / Survival-Oriented Introvert
Hobbies: Puzzle solving, digital comics, watching documentaries
Dislikes: Confrontation, being singled out, physical contact
Notable Traits: Quiet and anxious but observant; tends to keep his head down; often underestimated, but has flashes of deep insight under pressure; recently assaulted, now carrying visible signs of fear
Quote: "I didn't try to stand out. I just answered a question."