The Genius

It was finally time for Alexandre, Marlon, and William to head down to the academy's main courtyard, where once again, the entire cohort of first-year students had gathered. Anxiety hung thickly in the chilly morning air; faces pale with exhaustion and nervousness were everywhere. They had struggled desperately throughout the night, repeatedly tracing Jack Blade's precise movements in a bid to successfully link their weapons to their hunter's energy, yet the vast majority knew they had failed.

As Alexandre scanned the crowd, he noticed something striking. Whereas on the first day at least half of the students had brand-new, high-quality gear, today the scene was radically different. Practically all of Alexandre's class—over 1,100 students—stood equipped with second or even third-hand items. Most belonged to middle-class or working-class backgrounds, lacking the financial means to purchase anything better. They had refused to plunge themselves into debt, and consequently had settled for worn-out, battered gear.

Thus, as the clock ticked relentlessly toward the fateful hour of 6 a.m., a palpable wave of dread swept through the assembled crowd. Each of them fully understood the impossibility of mastering Hunter energy within a mere twenty-four hours. Alexandre himself recalled vividly how it had taken him months after his release to fully control and manifest his powers. The thought of anyone successfully achieving such a feat overnight was simply absurd.

Yet, punctual as always, Jack Blade appeared exactly on time, his cold gaze sweeping the silent assembly. Without hesitation, he began his announcement:

"Good morning, everyone! As promised, today you'll take your first official test to determine if you've managed to link your weapon successfully. Afterward, we'll proceed to a brief swimming exercise. Now, please step forward, one by one, in front of the drone equipped with the camera, and perform the 'Spatial Storage' technique I demonstrated yesterday. Your points will then be credited accordingly."

An uncomfortable silence descended. The students exchanged uneasy glances, none daring to step forward and risk humiliating themselves publicly.

Breaking the heavy silence decisively, Alexandre stepped forward first, positioning himself confidently before one of the floating drones. Ignoring the hundreds of eyes fixed upon him, he calmly raised his hand and traced his pentagram with practiced ease. Immediately, a small shimmering portal about thirty centimeters in diameter materialized before him. Without hesitation, Alexandre plunged his hand into the opening and drew out his pair of familiar black-steel gauntlets. Instantly, a mechanical voice announced clearly from the drone:

"Student: Alexandre Hautville, First Year. Test successfully validated. 10 points awarded. Total points: 110."

As soon as the name "Alexandre Hautville" echoed across the courtyard, murmurs erupted instantly:

"What? Him again?""Hautville… Isn't that some wealthy family?""Did he cheat or something? I've spent the whole night trying without success!"

Completely indifferent to the hostile whispers and jealous gazes, Alexandre calmly returned to stand alongside William and Marlon, maintaining his usual stoic expression.

However, Alexandre's composure faltered slightly when another student, someone unfamiliar, stepped confidently forward toward the drone. The newcomer was a striking figure—a young man with a muscular build, unusually pale skin, and vividly dyed crimson-red hair. The most distinctive feature, however, was an intricately detailed dragon tattoo winding dramatically around his muscular arm. Without a hint of hesitation, this student methodically traced his own pentagram in the air—this one forming a precise rectangular shape. Moments later, a similar shimmering portal appeared, into which he deftly inserted his weapon.

The mechanical voice resonated once more:

"Student: Drak Wilhelm, First Year. Test successfully validated. 10 points awarded. Total points: 20."

Alexandre stood momentarily stunned, his calm demeanor disturbed by astonishment. Mastering the complex Hunter energy within such a short time was virtually unprecedented. Drak Wilhelm had performed the ritual with such casual expertise, as if he had already been training intensively for years. In that instant, Alexandre recognized that Drak Wilhelm was not merely skilled—he was a genuine prodigy, potentially a formidable rival.

Just as Alexandre was digesting this realization, William stepped forward confidently, offering a quick grin toward Alexandre and Marlon:

"Sorry brothers, but it's my turn!" he announced boldly, breaking away from their group under Marlon and Alexandre's astonished gazes.

Approaching the drone with determination, William drew his pentagram carefully, the air rippling gently around his fingers. He then reached calmly into the resulting portal and withdrew a long, thin metal rod resembling a welding implement. Demonstrating his mastery with clear confidence, William reinserted the rod smoothly into the portal, instantly closing it behind him.