Test of Pottential

After arriving at their respective dormitories, Adam and Eve were informed of the plan that Astra had for them the next morning. Adam was a little unsure of the idea of meeting a Pure in her personal training room, he was afraid that she may harbour ill intent towards them.

But there was nothing he could do about that, they were military cadets now and she was a class instructor, her commands and orders were absolute.

After he had eaten his dinner, Adam sat in the dormitory, staring at the holographic interface of his system visible only to himself.

Ever since his awakening, the Primordial Beast System had been an enigma, offering him power but withholding its secrets. Today, however, a new notification appeared in front of him during the combat practice, a mission reward that was unknown.

He opened the windows he had dismissed earlier to see what message they have.

Congratulations! You have unlocked the passive skill: Inspection Eye.

Ability type: Passive.

This ability allows the user to obtain information about items, people, and creatures within sight. The accuracy of the information depends on the target's strength relative to the user's level.

A rush of exhilaration filled Adam. He had finally obtained something incredible.

This skill could be a game-changer, a way to navigate the dangers of Arc Aegis without always being in the dark. He thought.

Curious, he turned his gaze toward his roommate, Kade, An Ascendant who had ignored Adam just like the rest of the roommates. At the moment, he was busy polishing his combat boots. The moment Adam focused his eyes on him, a translucent window appeared before him with information.

Kade Renshaw.

Class: Ascendant.

Ability: Enhanced Reflexes

Ability Rank: B4.

Weakness: Struggles against sensory overload attacks.

Adam blinked in astonishment.

So this is how it works! He realized as he tried it again, looking at random objects in the room.

Standard Military-Issue Combat Boots.

Durability: 85%.

Material: Synthetic Nytherite Fiber.

Description: Designed for high-mobility combat, reinforced for impact resistance.

This is incredible! Adam thought.

He could now analyze weapons, gear, and even enemies.

This ability wasn't just useful, it was invaluable.

With that, he decided to sleep and continue his test the next day.

The next morning, they dressed in their standard combat gear and made their way toward Commander Astra's personal training room, an area reserved only for the highest-ranking individuals in the academy.

Unlike the public training centers, where students sparred in large groups, Astra's training room was fitted with advanced technology, reinforced metallic walls and a blue shielf, allowing her to test abilities at their full potential.

When they arrived at the entrance, the doors slid open with a soft hiss, revealing a massive chamber.

The room was stark white with smooth metallic walls embedded with glowing blue veins of energy. It was a futuristic, almost clinical environment, but the atmosphere was thick with intensity. In the center of the room, Commander Astra stood waiting.

Astra was a woman of sharp presence. Her short white hair barely reached her shoulders, and her piercing blue eyes carried an unwavering focus. She wore a fitted black bodysuit, but the most striking thing about her was the thin, almost invisible threads of energy floating around her fingers.

"You're here, good." She said, her voice smooth but commanding.

She walked forward, stopping just a few feet away from them. Looking at them so intently that Eve had to avoid meeting her eyes, she asked.

"Do you two know any twins aside from yourselves?"

Adam and Eve turned to look at each other, confused at the question but turned around and shook their heads.

"No!" They answered in a chorus.

Pacing in front of them, she continued.

"That is only natural. The arcs stopped seeing twins a long time ago, since the time of the second Supreme Emperor. The emperor himself, and his brother were the last recorded twins before you two. Naturally, everyone will be drawn to the two of you. But you were born low as outcasts on Inferna." She said.

Adam was still confused, he understood the part about how unique they were, no one has had twins in over a 100 years, but what has this got to do with the emperor? He wondered in his thoughts.

"What do you mean by that?" Eve finally spoke out.

"The last emperor had a twin brother. It was around 50 years ago when he died, the current emperor took over after his twin. Anyway, this is old information. What I was trying to tell you is that I suspect that the two of you share a destiny together, I can feel it." Astra said.

She turned to Adam.

"You possess a new power that the grand computer called the Primordial Light, a power that by my calculations should not exist, it is energy in it's raw form. It is both creation and destruction. If you master it, you will be the most versatile soldier in the world. But if you fail, it will consume you." She said.

Adam felt the weight of her words, remaining silent to thing about it properly.

Astra lifted a hand, and suddenly, the thin strands around her fingers extended like whips. They lashed forward, stopping just before touching Adam's skin.

"These are my strings," she explained. "I can weave them into anything I can imagine, cutting, binding, reinforcing, even reinforcing my armor. They are an extension of my will."

Then, with a flick of her wrist, the strings lashed toward Adam. Instinctively, he summoned his Primordial Light, and a golden barrier flared to life around him. The strings struck the light, it didn't penetrate at first, but suddenly, the barriers broke.

"Good," Astra said, nodding. "You are fast with your reaction time, now, let's see if you can shape it."

Adam clenched his fists, focusing on his energy. The light around him pulsed and changed, forming a sturdy structure around him. It was like a glowing exoskeleton, an armor of pure energy.

Astra's eyes gleamed with approval.

"Not bad for instinctive control," she said. "Now, try to push it a little further." She said.

She raised her hand again, and the strings multiplied, forming a web around Adam. Suddenly, they tightened, attempting to restrict his movement. Adam felt the pressure, but rather than struggling, he focused inward.

He figured out that he could not resist the pressure for long, he needed to break free.

His light flared, shifting into a sharp, blade-like shape around his arms. With a swift motion, he slashed the threads, and for the first time, Astra's strings snapped.

She smirked. "Interesting. You're already adapting." She said.

She paced around him.

"The Primordial Light is reactive. Unlike elemental abilities, which have fixed properties, your power is like a freshly heated metal bar, you can mold it into whatever you need. Offense, defense, support. If you refine your control, you could be a very formidable fighter, even nullify other's abilities." She said.

Adam's mind raced. Nullify abilities? What does she mean by that?.

Astra let her strings retract. "That's enough for now. Your ability has limitless potential, but it requires precise control and a large reserve of stamina and energy. Keep training, and you'll understand it eventually."

She then turned to Eve.

"Your awakening seems incomplete according to the data from your file," Astra stated bluntly.

Eve stiffened. She had suspected as much, but hearing it confirmed by Astra made her heart sink.

Since her awakening, she had gained a very high ranked ability that other outcasts cannot awaken, but even with her explosive powers, when she practiced, and when she was fighting during training, she felt like she was fighting with one arm tied up, like there was something tugging at the back of her mind.

"I'll run another test," Astra continued. "Step forward."

Eve obeyed, standing in front of Astra. The older woman raised a single finger, and a thin thread extended from her fingertip. It hovered in the air before touching Eve's forehead. Immediately, a strange sensation coursed through Eve's body. It was as if something deep inside her was stirring.

Commander Astra closed her eyes in concentration. Then, after a moment, she pulled her string back and sighed.

"As I thought," she said. "Your body isn't strong enough yet. The full potential of your ability is locked away somewhere deep within you. However, there is a way to complete it."

Eve's hands clenched. "How?" she asked with determination in her tone.

Astra's gaze was firm. "In your second year, when your body has adapted more to the ability, you will have the option to take another awakening serum. This will trigger a second awakening, allowing your true power to manifest."

Eve was confused. "A second awakening?" she asked.

"Yes," Astra confirmed. "And if it succeeds, you might even become a Pure."

Adam's eyes widened. Pures were the pinnacle of human evolution, beings with overwhelming power, feared and revered in equal measure. If Eve reached that level, she would stand among the strongest humans in existence.

But Astra's expression darkened slightly.

"However, this comes with a grave risk. Taking the serum more than one time is extremely dangerous. Normally, the body can only handle one awakening. Those who attempt a second often transform into something else, humanoid extremovores."

Eve shivered at the word. Extremovores, creatures without minds, creatures that lost all instinct become blood thirsty violent beasts.

Astra continued, "Only a rare few survive a second awakening with their minds intact. If you choose this path, there is no guarantee of success."

Silence filled the room. Eve's mind was spinning.

The chance to unlock her full power and possibly become a Pure was a dream beyond anything she had imagined. But the risk of losing herself was terrifying.

Adam looked at his sister, seeing the turmoil in her eyes.

"Eve!" he called.

She turned to him, and for the first time in a long while, he saw hesitation in her gaze.

Astra crossed her arms.

"You don't have to decide now. You have time. But when the moment comes, you must be absolutely certain of your choice." She added.

Eve swallowed hard. "I understand." Responded.

Astra studied her for a moment before nodding. "That concludes today's tests.

"Eve, you can go back to your dorm. As for you Adam, stay here and keep practicing for another five hours." She said

With that, Astra turned away, signaling the end of their session. Adam and Eve exchanged glances, after Astra left the training room.

Eve turned to Adam.

"Adam, if you were in my shoes, what would you do?" She asked.