Chapter - 5 [ Grade Machine (GMs) ]
Boom!
A loud, explosive sound echoed through the gym. Before the punching bag stood Victor, clad only in his track pants.
Facing the bag, his figure seemed to flicker as a flurry of punches struck it, driving it into the air. The muscles in his back contracted and expanded with each precise movement of his arms.
It had been three years since he came to this world and lived as Victor Kal. With each passing year, his aura had grown stronger.
Now, even without using his aura, Victor's strength was formidable enough to overpower multiple civilians. His body far surpassed the average man in every way.
"Ahhh!"
With a roar, he tightened his right fist and pushed off with his legs, delivering a final, devastating punch to the bag.
This time, a faint layer of red aura enveloped his fist.
Boom!
As his punch connected, the bag exploded backward. A bright flash of light blinded him for a second before the bag hit the wall with a 'thud' and crashed to the floor.
Its contents spilled through a gaping hole, and scorch marks circled the torn fabric.
"These punching bags don't hold up when I use even a little aura," Victor muttered. "I need to start training with something tougher."
Stretching his arms and legs, he left the gym—a facility specially built for him in the past year within his family mansion.
---
At breakfast, Victor sat across from his parents at the dining table.
"Son, you've grown into such a handsome young man!" his mother declared. "But you'd better stay away from those girls, okay? They'll trick you into love and steal our property!"
Victor couldn't help but feel a sense of déjà vu, as if he'd returned to his childhood.
"Indeed, son," his father chimed in, but the stern glare from Victor's mother quickly silenced him.
"I get it. You don't need to remind me every day," Victor replied, his tone resigned.
"If you say so. Still, I can't help myself! My son is so noble and handsome; the number of girls chasing after you must be enormous!"
Victor's mother didn't stop there. She enthusiastically conjured up elaborate scenarios of girls vying for his attention, narrating them as if they were bound to happen.
"Bye."
Victor quickly finished his meal and bolted out of the dining room before the lecture could escalate.
In the garage, he found his car—a sleek black UGG-008, the Gazzilian equivalent of a Dodge Challenger Hellcat.
To its right sat the white luxury car that used to chauffeur him during middle school.
Sliding into the driver's seat, Victor tossed his bag onto the passenger side and gripped the wheel.
As he started the engine, the car roared to life, its power vibrating through the frame.
"Boring school," he chuckled, driving out of the estate and weaving effortlessly through traffic, leaving slower cars behind.
---
High school was a crucible of identity, where youth was shaped by friendships, rivalries, and the weight of ambition.
It was a fleeting, electric world of beginnings and endings, where every moment seemed to hold the potential to define the future.
But for a few individuals like Victor, it was simply a stepping stone—a waiting game until graduation.
Their focus wasn't on the present but on strengthening themselves for the future, quietly honing their aura.
Victor had revealed his aura to his parents earlier that year, and they'd celebrated the news. Now, he no longer had to hide his powers from his family, though he kept them a secret from the public.
The school hallway was alive with chatter as students walked to class in small groups.
Near the classroom door, two girls were deep in conversation when one of them noticed Victor approaching.
"Victor!"
The girl, Suzen, had long black hair tied into a ponytail, warm brown eyes, and a radiant smile. She shared a birthday with Victor.
"Did you write the essay?" she asked, while her friend stifled a giggle behind her hand.
"I finished it yesterday. Want to copy it?" Victor replied.
Suzen blinked, surprised he'd completed it so quickly.
"Oh, no. I was just asking. I thought you might not have done it, and I could lend you mine to copy."
"It's fine. Thanks for thinking of me." He smiled politely. "Now, if you ladies will excuse me."
Victor walked into the classroom, leaving Suzen looking dejected.
Her friend watched him go and sighed. "He can clearly see you like him, but he doesn't react at all. I don't think you stand a chance."
"Shut up! I haven't even tried yet!"
Suzen's face turned red as she pinched her friend for the comment.
"Ouch! You'll regret that!"
The two girls darted through the hallway, laughter and playful shrieks trailing behind them.
---
Victor returned home after lunch and began meditating again. Today, he had something new in mind.
"I've always wanted to do this. I hope I can pull it off. It's one of the most memorable dreams I had as a child," he thought.
Once his meditation session was over, he headed to the entertainment room to rest and let the exhaustion fade away.
"People of Gazzile, it's official! The grading machines will be introduced next year in every high school, just before the graduation ceremony!"
The voice of a lively anchor echoed from the television.
"Until now, we could only speculate about our Aura grades, using self-made rankings and various unofficial tests. But those results were rarely accurate.
Now, after years of research, the Bright Day Corporation has developed the Grade Chart! With data collected from the Dark Age to the present, this machine ensures error-free Aura grading for our young men and women!
This breakthrough has caused an uproar in every corner of the world. Stay tuned to Angel Wings for the latest updates on Aura and Aura users!"
Victor recognized the anchor as the same woman who had reported on the Princess of Waria. Strangely, she hadn't aged a day. It was as if time had no effect on her.
Switching through channels, Victor noticed that nearly all of them were featuring the grading machine.
Some programs also highlighted teenagers who had recently awakened their Aura.
"Next year is going to be full of surprises," he said, smiling as he turned off the television. By now, his fatigue had subsided, and his Aura had returned to its peak.
---
In the meditation room, Victor carefully positioned a wooden pillar in the center. Closing the windows and securing the door, he focused all his attention on it.
He stood about two meters away, his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze fixed firmly on the pillar.
In the dim light of the room, a red mist burst forth from Victor's body, spreading across the space in an instant.
Suddenly, the red mist began to glow intensely, like a blazing sun illuminating a dark void. The rest of the room faded into insignificance under its brilliant light.
With just a command from Victor's eyes, the red Aura condensed into a powerful beam and struck the wooden pillar.
But instead of immediately destroying it, the Aura seeped into the pillar, infiltrating its very core.
Victor raised his head, his focus unwavering. With a single thought, he willed the wooden pillar to explode from within.
Boom! Boom!
It wasn't just a single explosion. As the pillar shattered into fragments, each piece detonated further, continuing the chain reaction until all that remained was fine wood dust.
Victor stood still throughout the entire scene, never blinking, as if determined to witness every detail.
Only the dust reached him, brushing against his skin—a far cry from the powerful effect he had envisioned.
"Not enough power," he muttered, his tone laced with determination. "The Mayor can vaporize plants and trees into nothing. I need more practice."
He glanced toward the adjacent storage room, which held a supply of wooden pillars.
Without hesitation, he prepared for another round. He wouldn't stop until every single pillar was reduced to dust—or, better yet, to nothing.
---
Inside a spacious room, several individuals sat on a long circular couch, each exuding an air of authority and influence.
These were people of significance, hailing from prominent families or holding high-ranking positions. The focus of their discussion was the newly introduced grading machine.
Among them was Victor's father, Rusto Kal. As the head of one of the richest families in the city, his presence was expected at such gatherings.
"Mr. Charles, is it true that you've managed to acquire the grading machine (GM) already?"
A middle-aged man, also from one of the city's elite families, directed his question toward an elderly man seated at the center of the couch.
The old man, dressed in an elegant red and gold suit and leaning on a cane, responded with a knowing smile.
This was Charles Phoenix, the strongest Aura User in the city and a First Grade Aura User from the renowned Phoenix Family.
"Hahaha! Indeed, I have," Charles said, his voice filled with pride. "That's precisely why I've called you all here today. While the government's grading machines, provided by Bright Day Corporation, won't arrive for another year, who has the patience to wait that long?"
He paused for dramatic effect, observing the intrigued faces around him.
"So, I called in a few favors and managed to secure one of the machines early. In a month's time, I'll be hosting a private gathering exclusively for the city's elite.
Representatives of great families and high-ranking officials are invited, and you may bring your children to have their Auras graded. Of course, no media will be present."
The room buzzed with murmurs of approval as Charles laid out his plan.
The Mayor, Pablo, a man of calm authority, spoke next. "This is good news, Mr. Charles. But surely, hosting an event of such scale isn't just to grade young children's Auras, is it?"
His measured tone hinted that he was well aware there was more to Charles's plan than he had revealed.
"Hahaha! Of course, Mr. Mayor," Charles replied, a glint of mischief in his eyes.
"The grading is only the beginning. The real purpose of this event lies elsewhere, which I'll soon share."