Combat Assessment, From Normal Mode to Nightmare Difficulty.

Vastez arrived at the academy, he threw the box of cookies into a nearby trash can. The academy was lively as ever, the various students talked to one another while some were making a blog with their drone. he moved through the courtyard, he noticed a group of students gathered around a floating drone. They were streaming a live blog, their faces lit up by holographic screens.

"Alright, folks! Welcome back to Superior Blog Live! Today, we're talking about the Slaughterer! Is it a rogue superhuman? A failed government experiment? We'll discuss all the theories—"

Vastez scoffed, tuning out the voices. The Slaughterer again… Ever since he read about the massacre at Mikahra Academy, something about it had unsettled him. He shook his head. He had more immediate problems to deal with.

As he walked through the hallways, he could feel the eyes on him. Whispers spread like wildfire.

"Is that Vastez Klein?""

"No way. He was fat yesterday."

"Did he get surgery? Or is that his ability?"

"Look at his eyes… and those wings… kind of creepy."

Vastez ignored them. He was used to being talked about, but this was different. Before, it was ridicule. Now, it was uncertainty.

He entered his classroom and took his seat near the back, as always. The moment he sat down, a familiar voice rang out.

"It seems the pig became a chicken, how amusing" He wondered why this small girl always bullies him, though she has never physically hurt him.

Anakazi Kiri, she was a superhuman in the top 100 rankings, she was Rank No.3, yes she is one of the strongest in the all of superior city with, her ability Shockwave is a very terrifying ability, she could easily wipe out groups of hundreds within seconds. she had black hair fashioned into a pixie cut and brown eyes.

Vastez wondered why she even bullied him, now that he thinks about it ever since she started bullying him a few months ago, no one tried to physically harm him again.

Vastez tilted his head curiously and spoke "..Thanks...I guess"

Anakazi blinked, clearly caught off guard by his response. For a brief second, her smirk faltered, replaced by something unreadable. Then, she let out a short laugh.

"Oh? The chicken grew a brain too?" she teased, but there was less bite in her voice this time.

Vastez shrugged, leaning back in his chair. He didn't know what compelled him to respond like that, but he felt strangely… unbothered. Maybe it was his newfound confidence, or maybe something inside him had changed on a deeper level.

Before Anakazi could say anything else, the classroom door slid open, and their homeroom teacher, Mr. Luden, walked in. He adjusted his glasses and cleared his throat.

"Alright, settle down. Before we begin today's lesson, there's an important announcement."

A holographic screen flickered into view behind him, displaying a series of student rankings and assessment reports.

"As most of you already know, due to the recent attack on Mikahra Academy, all schools in Superior City are reinforcing security and re-evaluating student capabilities. Effective immediately, we will be conducting combat assessments this afternoon," Mr. Luden continued, his eyes scanning the room. "Participation is mandatory."

A ripple of murmurs spread through the class.

"Aw, come on! We just had evaluations last month!" someone groaned.

"Yeah, and those were only for ranking updates! This feels more serious."

"That's annoying" Vastez muttered under his breath, he had no fighting experience and he was the one who always gets beat up, he did not know how he would be able to deal with that.

Anakazi who was his desk mate had a smug grin on her cute face. "Are you afraid chicken"

Vastez turned to look at her for a moment, he then smiled innocently. "No but what about you, such a small and cute looking girl would probably try to hide behind a heroes cape"

Anakazi's smirk froze for a split second before her eye twitched. The nearby students, who had been half-listening, suddenly turned their full attention to the exchange.

A moment of silence.

Then—

BAM!

Anakazi slammed her hand on the desk, a faint ripple of energy vibrating through the surface. Though she hadn't used her ability, the sheer force sent a few loose papers flying.

Vastez didn't flinch. He just kept smiling.

"You got guts, I'll give you that," Anakazi muttered, her voice low, but there was a strange glint in her eyes. "But you better pray we don't get matched up in the assessment, chicken. Because if we do, I won't hold back."

"Come on, it was a joke and calling you cute was a compliment don't tell me the 3rd rank in all of superior city has no sense of humor" Vastez teased her with a smile, he wondered if the crow's playfulness is slowly corrupting his mind excluding the vengeance he felt towards a select group of students.

Anakazi narrowed her eyes, but Vastez could see the subtle twitch at the corner of her lips—almost like she was holding back a smile.

"You've got a sharp tongue all of a sudden," she muttered, crossing her arms. "Keep that up, and someone might just rip it out."

Vastez chuckled. "Not you, though. I bet deep down, you actually enjoy talking to me."

Anakazi opened her mouth to retort, but before she could, the intercom buzzed.

[Assessments has been issued. All students of Jules Academy. go to the Battle grounds]

The assessment arena was a massive dome, lined with energy barriers and reinforced steel. Holographic displays hovered above each battle stage, streaming live rankings and match updates. Around the perimeter, teachers and officials stood, clipboards in hand, evaluating every student's performance.

Vastez stood among the gathered students, trying to blend in. The air buzzed with excitement and tension. His classmates were either stretching, strategizing, or eyeing their potential opponents.

"Man, this sucks," one student groaned. "I hope I don't get matched up with one of the top ranks."

"Yeah, if I get someone like Anakazi, I might as well just surrender," another muttered.

Vastez kept quiet, pretending to be disinterested, but in reality, his mind was racing. I don't even know what my ability fully is… how am I supposed to fight?

A loud beep interrupted his thoughts.

MATCH 03: VASTEZ KLEIN VS. DAMIEN FARRIS

His heart dropped. Damien Farris. He wasn't in the top 100, but he was a well-known bully—one of the students who used to pick on Vastez before his transformation.

From across the arena, Damien cracked his knuckles and grinned. His ability allowed him to increase the kinetic force of his attacks every time he lands, it can reach up to10X kinetic output before the strain affects his body and mind.

Vastez stepped onto the metallic stage, his black wings were spread open and his eyes focused on Damien, he had to make a plan quickly.

Damien was a superhuman like him, superhumans are much more stronger than ordinary humans without using their abilities and Damien was a superhuman that was ranked 634 in all of superior city. His ability Kinetic load allows him to gather kinetic energy every 10 seconds and he is limited to 10x kinetic input, he had 50 seconds and if those fifty seconds passed, Damien could unleash an ability capable of destroying the forcefield and damage that can affect everything in front of him.

Vastez, he just awakened his ability yesterday absorbing the genetics of an old crow, considering his animalistic transformation his physical and cognitive abilities have increased by a lot, he could also try to fly and avoid the damage he could receive when the 50 seconds mark has elapsed and then he would attack him.

But that wouldn't work, he definitely cannot escape the shockwave so he would have to fight Damien head on, his final conclusion was made.

He would be relentlessly attacking Damien and not allow him to make a even single move, the moment the match starts he would have to be brutal.

The buzzer sounded, signaling the start of the match.

Vastez didn't hesitate.

BOOM!

He launched forward, his wings giving him an extra burst of speed. The crowd barely had time to react before he closed the distance between him and Damien in a blink.

Damien's eyes widened in shock. "What the—?"

THWACK!

Vastez's fist slammed into Damien's stomach, sending him skidding backward. He didn't let up. Using his enhanced reflexes, he followed up with a spinning kick, aiming for Damien's ribs.

Damien barely managed to block, but the force still sent him stumbling. He growled, his body tensing as he started charging kinetic energy.

"No way I'm letting you build that up."

Vastez spread his wings and leaped, closing the distance mid-air. He twisted his body and brought his knee down onto Damien's shoulder.

CRACK!

Damien grunted in pain, but his ability was already in motion. The more damage he took, the stronger his return strike would be.

Vastez knew this—and he was counting on it.

Damien smirked through the pain. "Idiot! You're just making me stronger!"

Vastez grinned. "I know."

Before Damien could react, Vastez grabbed him by the collar and flapped his wings hard, lifting them both off the ground.

The crowd gasped as they ascended into the air. Damien struggled, but Vastez was faster. Higher and higher they went—until Vastez suddenly let go.

WHOOSH!

Damien plummeted. His body crashed into the ground with a loud THUD, sending a cloud of dust into the air. The impact was brutal, but not enough to knock him out.

As the dust settled, Damien groaned and pushed himself up. His ability had reached 7x kinetic load—he was dangerous now.

But Vastez wasn't done.

He shot downward at full speed.

"Stay down!"

SLAM!

Vastez drove his foot into Damien's chest, pinning him to the ground. The force of the impact cracked the arena floor.

The referee's whistle blew.

[Match over! Winner: Vastez Klein!]

Silence filled the arena.

Then—cheers erupted.

Vastez stepped off Damien, breathing heavily. His wings folded behind him as he looked down at his opponent.

Damien coughed, glaring at him. "What the hell… happened to you?"

Vastez didn't answer nor did he turn to look back at him as he made his way off the stage, he felt something deep within him calm down, it was like his Vengeance was finally fulfilled.

He arrived back at his seat. The adrenaline in him calmed down, Anakazi smirked at him. "Wow, I never thought you would know how to fight that brutally, you really showed no mercy huh, maybe you are a hawk than a measly chicken"

Vastez sighed. "Yeah, can you not call me with the name of animals, I like my name Anakazi"

Anakazi suddenly pouted. "Hey I think animals are cute, so it's more of a compliment"

Vastez's eyes twitched irritably. "Did you just call me cute, you are much cuter than me"

Anakazi's eyes narrowed. "Did you just call me an animal chicken"

Vatez rolled his eyes and replied. "Why don't you hang out with me today, I may buy you some cheese little mouse"

Anakazi blinked, then let out a short laugh. "You've got some nerve, bird boy."

Vastez smirked. "I like to think of it as confidence."

She leaned back in her seat, studying him with those sharp brown eyes. "Fine. I'll humor you. But if we're getting cheese, it better be the good kind."

"Of course," Vastez said, stretching his arms. "I'd never disappoint a small and cute creature such as yourself."

Anakazi shot him a glare. "Keep talking like that, and you'll be the one getting hunted."

Before Vastez could reply, the intercom crackled again.

[Round Two of the Combat Assessments will now begin. Match 07: Vastez Klein vs. Anakazi Kiri.]

The classroom fell silent. Then, an uproar erupted.

"Vastez has to fight Rank 3?!"

"Oh, he's dead. Absolutely dead."

"I don't know, did you see how he fought Damien? Maybe he has a chance."

Vastez turned his head slowly to look at Anakazi, who was grinning like a predator that had just found a new plaything.

"Hey, that's just unfair and it is clearly bullying you despicable teachers!!" Vastez complained but his words were not heard.