The First Ascendant

The next morning, a heavy silence hung over the students gathered outside the training room. No one spoke. No one smiled. They stood scattered, weighed down by fatigue and dread.

Leon and Isla stood together, exchanging glances with the others.

"On the first day, we had over 150 students," Leon muttered. "Now, we barely have 70."

Isla crossed her arms. Her face was calm, but her voice carried a sharp edge. "Not surprised. This training feels more like a nightmare than preparation."

Just then, Finn appeared beside them, his face pale and damp with sweat. His eyes shimmered with tears as he clutched Leon's arm tightly.

"I... I can't go through that again. Those bugs crawling all over me... I almost puked."

Leon frowned but didn't pull away. "I get it. I hate them too. But we don't have a choice. We either do this or drop out."

Before Finn could respond, the door creaked open with a long, ominous groan. Darius Sir stood in the doorway, wearing that same devilish smile that made everyone uneasy.

"Welcome back, students," he said brightly, ignoring their glares. "I see fewer faces today. Good. That means we're getting closer to finding out who really has the strength to compete."

The students entered slowly, as if walking into a trap. Darius waited for the last one to step in before shutting the door and setting the timer for thirty minutes.

"Your exam begins now. Good luck," he said, then stepped away to observe from above.

The students sat in rows, closed their eyes, and began to meditate. The room fell into silence. For the first five minutes, all was still.

Then it began.

A faint rustling. A soft tickle across the skin. Students shifted uneasily. Then, eyes snapped open in horror as bugs — centipedes, cockroaches, beetles — began crawling across their bodies. Some had lizards creeping up their backs, others had tiny snakes slithering past their ankles.

Panic spread like wildfire.

Students screamed and instinctively activated their powers. But the moment they did, thick roots burst from the floor and walls, wrapping around them and dragging them out.

Darius watched from the balcony, arms folded. His face betrayed nothing.

Fanny clenched her fists, trying to ignore the slimy insect on her neck. Her breathing was shallow, lips trembling. One bug crawled across her cheek, then into her ear.

She snapped.

Her eyes flew open, flames erupted from her palms, and the bugs scattered — but it was too late.

Roots snatched her and hauled her out.

Finn trembled violently, sweat pouring from his forehead. He sat frozen until a fat lizard crawled into his pants. His jaw tightened. He twitched.

Then the lizard wriggled further up.

A spark ignited.

"NOPE!" he yelled, unleashing an explosive burst of energy that blew his pants apart.

Darius waved his hand, and roots dragged Finn out before he could obliterate the door.

"You might want to find some new pants," Darius said dryly.

Finn ran off, covering himself with both hands, cheeks blazing with humiliation.

Now, only two students remained: Leon and Isla.

Darius leaned forward, watching.

Leon sat perfectly still, but inside, he was screaming. Bugs crawled over his arms, a snake slithered across his back, and then it coiled around his neck. His breath hitched. He tried to push it away with his mind — but forced himself to stop.

The snake moved toward his face, its tongue flicking near his eye. His muscles tensed, jaw clenched.

Then it coiled around his head.

His control broke. In one sharp motion, he flung it off with psychic energy.

Darius sighed. "I thought he might make it."

Roots emerged, gently lifting Leon up.

"You did well. Better than most. Don't give up," Darius said as Leon was pulled out.

Leon nodded weakly. "I won't."

Inside, Isla sat like stone. Her breathing was calm, her face serene. Bugs, lizards, snakes — they might as well have been air. Nothing disturbed her.

Leon, watching from outside, stared in disbelief. "She's... completely unfazed."

Darius's eyes narrowed. The timer still had five minutes left. Then, something unexpected happened — a soft yellow glow began to shimmer around Isla's body.

Darius stood up at once and halted the timer.

"Isla has passed the exam," he announced.

Gasps rang out.

"But she still had time left!"

"Maybe she passed early because she's from a noble family," someone whispered.

Leon stepped forward. "No. That aura... that only appears when someone reaches complete mental harmony. It means her control has evolved."

Eyes widened. Even Fanny and Finn were speechless.

Isla slowly opened her eyes. Her movements were graceful — almost regal — as she stood.

"How do you feel?" Darius asked.

She looked at her hands, her eyes thoughtful. "Stronger. Clearer. Like I've unlocked something."

Darius smiled and placed a hand on her shoulder. "You've done more than pass. You've reached a new threshold. You won't need to attend this training again. But if you wish, you can come to inspire your classmates. Just avoid joining the next level immediately."

"Why, Sir?"

"Because your body and mind need time to stabilize. Push too fast, and it could damage you. Also, the next training stage isn't quite ready. We didn't think anyone would reach it so quickly."

She nodded. "Understood. I'll come tomorrow to help others."

As she exited, Fanny ran and hugged her. "I knew you'd smash it! You're a beast, girl!"

Day 3 of Training

The students tried again — Leon, Finn, Fanny, and the rest. But one by one, they failed.

Only Isla succeeded.

Day 4 of Training

Same story.

One Week Later

Things began to shift.

The students no longer flinched at the touch of bugs. Lizards crawled across their legs, snakes wrapped around their shoulders — but they held their focus.

Leon sat silently as a snake slithered across his chest.

Then, a deep purple aura emerged around him.

Darius rose slowly from his seat. A smile touched his lips, then faded. The energy around Leon was powerful... but unstable.

Inside Leon's mind, a voice whispered — low, oily, dark.

Why fight it? Use it. Show them your strength. Burn them.

Leon's fingers twitched.

But then — he inhaled deeply. And the voice vanished.

Nearby, Finn glowed with a vibrant orange aura. Fanny radiated a crimson red.

Darius beamed. "Yes. They're finally breaking through."

Across the room, other students began to glow — blue, pink, green.

By the time the timer rang, thirty students had passed.

Darius turned to them. "You've done well. You're ready for the next phase."

"Is Isla already there?" someone asked.

"Yes. She's waiting. You may rest if needed — or head straight to your next challenge."

Leon, Finn, Fanny, and the rest chose to move forward.

As they neared the next training room, Finn whispered, "Please let it be someone nice this time. Maybe Edric Sir. He's chill."

Leon chuckled. "Let's hope."

Then, someone shouted.

"Wait — is that Isla?!"

They ran ahead.

Isla lay unconscious, pinned beneath a massive boulder.

Leon's eyes widened in horror. "Who the hell dropped that on her?!