The moment Ashton stepped through the teleportation portal, a strange sensation washed over him—like being momentarily weightless before suddenly being pulled forward.
In the blink of an eye, he and the other students appeared in the true academy grounds.
A massive, high-tech field stretched out before them, easily twice the size of two football stadiums. The entire area was filled with cutting-edge technology—floating drones hovered in the sky, scanning students; advanced holographic screens displayed information; and various combat training facilities could be seen in the distance.
Around 500 students stood in the teleportation zone, looking around in awe, curiosity, or nervousness.
At the front of the field, in an elevated high-tech cabin, several important figures were present.
The Dean of Xerth Academy, an older yet imposing man, stood with his hands behind his back, overseeing the new batch of students.
Instructors, wearing dark academy uniforms, stood by his side, prepared to monitor the upcoming test.
Multiple holographic screens lined the cabin, allowing the higher-ups to observe every student in real time.
To the right of the cabin, a separate VIP section held the Student Council.
These were the top students of the upper years, responsible for maintaining order and assessing potential talents among first-years.
Sitting in the center of the group was the Student Council President, an elite warrior chosen from the strongest third-years. His sharp gaze scanned the crowd, clearly judging the new students.
The murmurs among the students quickly died down when an instructor stepped forward.
The instructor's voice rang out, amplified by technology:
"Welcome to Xerth Academy. Your first challenge begins now. This test will determine your initial rankings and resource allocation for the semester."
A tense silence spread among the students.
"Out of the 500 students here, only the top 25 will enter the Elite Class, receiving the best training, facilities, and resources. The rest of you will be ranked accordingly into different divisions based on performance."
The atmosphere shifted. Students exchanged glances—some nervous, others determined.
"Your rankings will be based on combat ability, adaptability, and overall potential. The test begins in 10 minutes. Prepare yourselves."
The moment those words were spoken, the reality sank in—this was their first battle for survival in Xerth Academy.
And only the strongest would rise to the top.