Chapter 3: I Choose Saitama, the C-Class Hero!

The school field was packed.

Every senior student in the school had gathered, easily numbering in the hundreds.

With so many people, chatter buzzed like static. The entire field hummed with noise.

Every student's face showed a blend of excitement, anxiety, and anticipation.

Because what came next... could change their lives forever.

"Silence!"

A low shout echoed across the field.

The voice sounded as if it had been delivered straight into every student's ear, making their eardrums ring and their heads spin.

Immediately, the crowd fell silent, eyes snapping toward the podium in surprise.

A middle-aged man had somehow appeared up there without anyone noticing.

"Whoa... the principal's Lion's Roar has gotten even sharper."

"I wonder if I'll pass the first round. If I do, I might go down the martial artist path."

"If you're going the martial route, then your best bet is to try for Silver Fang or Atomic Samurai."

"Yeah, right. Don't try to trick me. I'm not even dreaming of an S-Class hero. The success rate is too low. I'll go for an A-Class hero—maybe one of Atomic Samurai's disciples…"

Vincent Fox overheard a pair of students whispering behind him.

Just then, the principal's voice boomed from the stage.

"Students, today is your college entrance exam! Whether you soar or sink depends on your performance today. Representatives from major universities are already waiting inside the Hero's Sanctuary—including Godslayer Academy. They've brought special admission slots. As long as you perform well, you can enter the top schools. Do you understand?"

"YES!"

Hundreds of students shouted in unison, their voices roaring with passion.

Many of them visibly lit up at the mention of "Godslayer Academy."

It was the best university in the entire country.

"Excellent."

The principal nodded with satisfaction, then pointed toward a row of buses waiting outside the school gate.

"All students, follow your homeroom teacher onto your assigned bus. We're heading to the Hero's Sanctuary!"

Every city had its own branch of the One Punch Man-inspired testing grounds.

Twenty minutes later.

The buses pulled up next to a massive structure on the outskirts of town.

"Students, we've arrived. Line up and follow me. Don't wander off!"

Their homeroom teacher shouted as he led the way off the bus.

Vincent followed his classmates, lining up and stepping down into the bustling parking lot, already filled with teachers and students from every school in the city.

Today was test day. It was clear the entire senior student body of the city had gathered here.

But what truly caught Vincent's eye wasn't the crowd. It was the building before them.

A pyramid-shaped structure roughly twenty meters tall, with entrances on all four sides.

This was the legendary Hero's Sanctuary.

Every student looked toward it with a mix of awe and yearning.

Their homeroom teacher gathered them and raised his voice again. "Stick together and follow me inside."

The group, faces filled with excitement and nerves, entered the Sanctuary.

Inside was a massive hall with long lines of students queuing.

In the very center of the hall stood a glowing portal. One by one, students were guided into it by instructors and emerged a few minutes later.

Some came out beaming with joy.

But most wore disappointed faces.

Clearly, successful compatibility with a hero wasn't easy.

"Purple? That's an A-Class hero!"

"Someone succeeded with an A-Class hero!"

Vincent perked up as gasps and murmurs rippled through the hall. Even the teachers looked thrilled.

He turned his eyes toward the portal.

At that moment, the glowing doorway radiated a brilliant violet light.

A cold, elegant girl stepped out from it.

Instantly, a group of teachers rushed toward her, surrounding her with eager questions.

'So… violet light means successful A-Class compatibility. That must mean green is for B-Class, right?'

'I heard S-Class compatibility triggers red light.'

'Then what about C-Class? What color would that be?'

As Vincent pondered, he noticed many students looking toward the girl, their eyes full of envy.

Half an hour later…

It was finally his class's turn.

In that time, a few more students had succeeded with A-Class heroes—but they were all from other schools, leaving the local teachers silently stewing in frustration.

"Don't be nervous. Just focus on the hero you want to bond with. I believe in you. Benjamin Tanner, you're up first!"

Benjamin Tanner was the class monitor. He had always performed well in school and was known for his steady willpower.

The teacher clearly hoped Benjamin's success would lift everyone's morale.

Benjamin stepped forward and entered the portal.

But bonding with a hero didn't rely on willpower alone.

Luck played a huge role too…

Moments later, Benjamin emerged, his face full of disappointment.

The portal didn't react at all.

A clear failure.

The teacher's face fell. His plan had failed.

"Faye Shaw, you're next!"

The teacher didn't dwell on the setback and quickly called the next name.

But Faye Shaw also came back empty-handed.

Two straight failures. The students' morale began to crumble, and even the teacher looked disheartened.

"Alright… the rest of you, just line up."

One by one, students stepped into the portal.

One by one, they failed.

Soon, it was Vincent's turn…

(To be continued)