"I can't stop now," Ito told himself, breath ragged and uneven. "If I quit here, everything I've worked for means nothing. I have to keep pushing—no matter what."
He struck the boulder again.
And again.
But it didn't budge.
Time slipped through their hands like grains of sand.
Behind him, the other students stood frozen, watching in stunned silence.
Zayden frowned and stepped forward. "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—
Then, a deep voice echoed from the opposite side of the boulder.
Everyone turned.
Ito's eyes widened as the massive stone slowly lifted into the air—effortlessly—held by an old man cloaked in regal robes.
Behind him stood a squad of knights, their presence silent but overwhelming.
Shion and Sara stared, wide-eyed in shock.
Zayden's jaw dropped. "How is this even possible? Ito couldn't make a single crack… and that old man just lifted it like nothing?"
Even the quietest students gasped, murmurs rippling through the group.
Ito stood frozen, fists unclenching slowly. His ragged breath formed clouds in the cold air.
It wasn't just the strength he witnessed—it was the perfect timing.
The old man glowed faintly with a shimmering aura, visible only to those who could sense Zone power. 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 earth.
The old man's eyes locked onto his.
"What's your name, young boy?" he asked.
"Ito Tatsuki," Ito replied, voice tinged with nervousness.
"Huh. That's a name I haven't heard before…" The captain paused, glancing at Ito's bloodied hands. "Well, can't say I'm not impressed. You should get those treated—quickly."
Before stepping away, a single thought 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 have been the real failure. Right, old man?"
The captain let out a hearty laugh, gravelly and warm.
"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 the impossible become reality.
Slowly, they returned to their seats, the wooden carriages creaking beneath them.
Before climbing aboard, Ito turned back.
He bowed low, every movement radiating respect.
Behind the old man, the knights remained still—silent guardians as calm and unshakable as statues.
"Captain Boris, look!" one knight suddenly called out, pointing with wide eyes. "That boulder—it's cracked underneath!"
Another stepped closer, inspecting the stone's base.
"This is… impossible. I've been watching students take this test with Captain Boris for ten years. No one's ever managed to do this."
Boris crossed his arms, chuckling as the carriage rolled away.
"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 trembled slightly.
"You're always so reckless," she muttered, voice tight with worry.
Without waiting for a response, she opened his bag and pulled out a small first-aid kit. She tended his wounds with quiet precision—every motion filled with care.
"I'm alright, Sara. You don't have to worry so much," Ito said softly, watching her clean the blood from his knuckles.
Her hands never stopped moving, but her eyes told him everything she didn't say aloud.
"Still… it's hard to believe all that just happened," Shion said, leaning back with a deep breath.
"Yeah. That old man was way too strong for someone his age," Zayden added, tone serious as he glanced at Ito and Sara.
"That had to be Zone power," Shion muttered with a shrug. "I could see the crazy-strong aura around him. Right, Sara?"
Sara nodded. "Yeah. I think so."
A chorus of confused "Huh?!" burst from Ito and the others—as if their brains had short-circuited simultaneously.
"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 out his chest.
"Sara and I are last-year students—we've already been training for it."
Another collective "Huhh?!" echoed through the carriage—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—shops lined the roads, towering houses with elegant stonework, and winding paths led toward the city's heart.
At the center stood the royal palace—rising above the skyline like a crown forged of marble and gold.
"It looks like we're late," Shion said, scanning the packed plaza. "A lot of academy students are already here."
"Where do we go now?" Ito asked, scratching his head.
"You there!" a nearby knight called, striding toward them. "Judging from your uniforms, you're here for the tournament, right? Head straight to the palace—you'll find the knight officers handling registrations."
"Thanks, sir," Zayden replied with a nod.
"No need to thank me," the knight said, smiling faintly. "It's our duty to guide promising students like you."
"Alright, everyone! Let's go!" Ito said, eyes shining with fresh determination as he led the group onward.
"Talk about excitement. How's your hand?" Shion asked playfully, nudging Ito.
Ito grinned and stretched his arms. "Just as you can see—totally fine."
Not watching where he was going, he bumped into someone.
Three boys stood there, scowling.
Ito stumbled but recovered quickly, turning to face them 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. "Looks like you don't even know who we are."
Ito blinked, tilted his head. "Hmm… no, I just met you today. How am I supposed to know?"
"What could low-class humans like you possibly understand?" said one—a guy with an absurdly large forehead. "We're nobles of the Whales family. Got it?"
Ito turned to Sara, unfazed. "Who even is the Whales family? Know anything, Sara?"
She shook her head, expression unreadable. "Nope."
Big Forehead's face twisted in rage. "Enough! You low-class piece of trash! Get on your knees and bow to our feet—beg for forgiveness, or else!"
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's so big, it's got its own gravitational pull."
Zayden doubled over, snickering.
Even Sara's lips twitched, fighting back a smile.
"You bastards!" Big Forehead roared, face flushing red.
"No, boss," one whispered urgently. "If we do anything here, we could get disqualified."
"Yeah, you're right," Big Forehead muttered, clenching his fists.
Zayden turned to Ito, urgency in his voice. "We should hurry to registration!"
"Right," Ito said, waving a hand. "Almost forgot about the tournament. Let's go, everyone!"
They briskly walked away.
Big Forehead shouted after them, frustration thick in his voice.
"Hey, where are you running off to?"
"Bye-bye, Whale! See you at the tournament!" Ito called, lighthearted.
Turning a corner, Ito caught a fleeting glimpse of a figure—a person with short hair in a brown hoodie. So brief he wondered if it was just his imagination.
Shrugging it off, he focused on the path ahead.
"At last!" Shion exclaimed, panting.
"But so crowded," Sara said, glancing around. "What now?"
"No choice but to wait in line," Zayden said, eyeing the long queue.
Ito and Zayden squeezed into the boys' line, trying to look patient but itching to jump ahead.
Sara and Shion joined the girls' line, fidgeting nervously.
Hours dragged like a never-ending lecture.
Finally, their number was called.
They rushed forward like prisoners granted parole, faces lighting up with relief.
"Ito from Yonor, hmm…" the officer muttered, scanning parchment. His eyes narrowed as he looked up at Ito.
"You can't take part in the tournament."
"Huh? What?" Ito's voice cracked, disbelief flooding him.
His heart skipped.
The officer's expression was unreadable, cold, unwavering.
Around them, noise dimmed to an eerie silence.
Was this a joke? A mistake?