After the first five students heard their names being called, they were ordered to step forward and stand in front of Sgt. Damascus and Lt. Ashley Grey.
This first group included Mikeal, Hector, Alexia, and of course—Griffin Hart—who was actually someone all three were quite familiar with. That person was Flash Sticks, the same guy who had unfinished business with Mikeal. Both Mikeal and Hector were surprised to find out that Flash was actually named Griffin. After years of going to school together, they still didn't know his real name.
Mikeal stood there speechless—he couldn't believe his own two eyes.
Alexia, who knew about the tension between Griffin and Mikeal, decided to step in and prevent trouble. If the two stood next to each other, they'd likely start fighting. So, she made a smart move—she stood between them.
It was obvious these four were not the only ones in the group. There was another girl named Celine Gates. She appeared to be your average teenage girl, except for her snowy white hair, green eyes, and, like Hector, she also wore glasses—though hers were different in design.
Looking around at his group, Hector couldn't help but start biting his fingernails. He was sweating so much he could replace a waterfall. Noticing this, Mikeal tapped him gently on the shoulder and gave him a reassuring smile.
Being the smart guy he was, Hector understood the message Mikeal was trying to send just from that simple gesture. "Everything's going to be okay."
And Hector wasn't the only one who was nervous. All of them were, even if they didn't show it as openly. It wasn't because they doubted their own abilities—no, the reason was the serious, intimidating man staring right at them.
If they thought Lt. Ashley Grey was the one they should never cross, they were wrong. Sgt. Damascus gave off an aura that shifted the entire atmosphere. Anyone who stood near him could swear on their lives that the very air around them felt heavier.
Anxiously, they waited for their next order. Sgt. Damascus was busy discussing something with Lt. Ashley Grey while looking through files on the five candidates.
The tension was building. Mikeal could see it—Alexia was drying off her sweaty palms, Celine was quietly mumbling calculations to herself, and Griffin was clenching his fists. That last one was unsettling. Mikeal wasn't sure if Griffin was preparing for the test—or for him.
Mikeal wasn't at ease either. This time, though, it wasn't the system or its non-stop barrage of notifications. For the first time in a while, he actually felt normal. But something else was bothering him: his shoulder.
He didn't know what had happened to him. Understandably so—he couldn't even recall what occurred the day before. So, he tried stretching it out to relieve the discomfort.
Finally, the long and dreadful wait ended. Sgt. Damascus and Lt. Ashley Grey finished reviewing the files. Damascus handed them back to Grey, who then walked off, leaving them alone with him.
They were instructed to stand inside five red circles drawn specifically for them.
Griffin couldn't help himself. He moved closer to Celine, clearly taken in by her appearance. Without hesitation, he pushed Hector aside and took his spot beside her.
It was no secret that Celine usually brushed off anyone who approached her. Since she'd arrived at the academy, nearly every guy had tried to get her attention, but she ignored all of them.
"So… are you really going to blow me off just like that?" Griffin asked casually.
Everyone watching the scene was stunned.
"Who does this guy think he is? Does he really think a girl like her would fall for him?" Negative murmurs echoed from the back.
Griffin's confidence was evident. It almost felt like he wanted to provoke everyone.
"I'm sorry, let me try this again," he said, softening his tone. "Hi there, I'm Griffin. And if I may ask, what's your name?"
He held out his hand and added a charming smile.
Despite trying not to, Celine couldn't help but soften. After all, she had just seen him humble himself—and his smile was genuinely disarming.
"Hello… my name is Celine," she replied, shaking his hand.
Now jealousy was boiling in the crowd. Every guy hated Griffin. Every girl hated Celine.
Sgt. Damascus spoke into his earpiece.
"Okay, send them off."
The circles they were standing in lit up with a glowing blue hue and released a beautiful essence. Then, high-tech transportation platforms appeared beneath them.
Still mesmerized by the glow, the group didn't expect what came next.
"Woah, that's awesome," someone muttered.
"You better buckle up," Sgt. Damascus warned.
None of them really understood what he meant. They assumed it was just a warning that they were about to be transported.
But it wasn't that simple.
As they were beamed up, everyone screamed in pain—their bodies and flesh appeared to disintegrate in front of those left behind.
Within seconds, each of them appeared somewhere completely different.
The area was abandoned, a place that looked like no one had been there for decades. The buildings were destroyed and decaying, water splashed everywhere, and a foul, nauseating stench filled the air.
One by one, everyone—except Mikeal—began to vomit. Not from the smell, but from the after-effects of the transport.
Mikeal stood there, confused about why he wasn't affected. Suddenly, a notification popped up:
---
[Unknown substance detected]
[Substance cleared from body]
[User is now immune to toxic substances/elements]
[Immunity: 25%]
---
He barely finished reading when Lt. Ashley Grey appeared beside them.
The others were still throwing up.
"What's happening to us?" Griffin asked, groaning.
"Don't worry, what you're experiencing is normal. You've just traveled through time," Lt. Grey explained calmly.
"Please… make it stop," Hector begged.
"You'll be fine in just a moment," she assured them. Then she turned to Mikeal. "And what about you? Are you sure you're feeling okay?"
"Oh, yes. I feel fine," Mikeal smiled.
Lt. Grey examined him closely. She expected he might be pretending to be strong—but after studying his expression and condition, she realized he was telling the truth.
"Impressive," she muttered under her breath.
A few seconds later, the others recovered and joined them. Lt. Grey now held a device that resembled their smart ID cards—it was scanning their vitals.
"Okay, you all seem fine. Impressive, if I say so myself."
She collected their smart cards, then called out the first name.
"Hector House. Please step forward."
Still shaken, Hector took slow, cautious steps.
"Alright, now if you don't mind—please choose one weapon from here," Lt. Grey instructed.
A black shelf appeared, filled with weapons unlike any found in the ordinary world—clearly crafted by experts for the battlefield.
"Are you serious? You're really giving me a brand?" Hector asked in disbelief.
"More like lending it to you," Lt. Grey corrected him. "Let's see how you do on the test. If you pass, maybe you'll get one made just for you."