The dust had barely settled from the lateral run, but the rivalry between Gustavo and Isadora had already reached a new peak.
"What's the matter? Weren't you the big shot?" Isadora taunted, a feline smile on her lips.
"SHUT UP!" Gustavo snarled, his face a mask of fury.
"End of the lateral test," the official announced. "Now, strength measurement."
The electronic scoreboard flickered, revealing that by a narrow margin, Gustavo had performed slightly better. The realization only deepened the despair of the other candidates.
"Man, I don't think we stand a chance," one whispered.
"Giving up already? Try being more positive."
"Oh, great, I'm amazing!" Bia celebrated her own result, completely ignoring the tension.
"Seriously?" Gustavo muttered, annoyed.
"Well, at least your little friend is good," Isadora jabbed.
"She's my sister, ponytail."
"Whatever," Isadora shrugged. "Someone as stressed as you must have their ego crushed losing to two girls. Haha."
Gustavo's face turned red, but the official interrupted them.
"Bring in the punching machine. You'll strike it to measure your power. This time, abilities are allowed."
"Looks like there were changes this year," Isadora commented.
"So last year you couldn't use abilities here?" Bia asked.
"Weren't you insulting me just now?" Isadora shot back.
"Oh, that's in the past. Don't hold grudges, okay?"
Now I'm sure Bia is bipolar, Gustavo thought.
"Alright, participants, begin."
It was Bia's turn. Her punch, purely physical, was considered weak.
"Looks like her strengths are just speed and agility," Isadora mocked.
She stepped forward, activated her enhancement ability, and delivered a punch that shoved the machine back with a metallic crash. She turned proudly—only to see Gustavo smirking.
What's his deal?
Gustavo stepped forward, grinning. His muscles swelled as he activated his ability, energy pulsing through his arms. He punched.
The impact wasn't a bang—it was an explosion.
The machine shattered into a rain of metal and sparks, leaving the room in stunned silence.
"He… destroyed the machine," the official said, astonished. "It's been a while since I've seen something like that."
Isadora froze. You've got to be kidding me. No… maybe my hit weakened it. That must be it.
"Damn, that guy's a beast!"
"I should start thinking about another career. Maybe gardening?"
"I should've brought a first aid kit…"
"We're not stopping," the official announced. "Next phase: running. Abilities are not allowed."
"Don't get cocky because of that punch," Isadora told Gustavo. "This time, I guarantee you'll eat dust."
"What? Nervous?"
At the signal, they took off. Gustavo and Isadora led, but soon Bia overtook them with insulting ease.
"Bye-bye, slowpokes!"
Damn it, if she wins, she'll never shut up. No way I'm letting that happen! Gustavo thought.
Bia crossed the finish line laughing. "Okay, uh-huh, uh-huh!"
Isadora came next, out of breath. "Hmm, fast girl. And just so you know—you only broke that machine because I hit it first." She walked off, acting superior.
Gustavo, finishing in fourth, ignored her. "Damn, I should've trained my legs more."
After the tests, the tension still lingered.
"Man, you're fast, Bia," Gustavo said, catching his breath.
"I know. But I'm curious—how do you think Zeki is doing?"
Isadora, overhearing, turned around. "Who's this Zeki?"
"And what's it to you, nosy girl?" Gustavo snapped.
"That kind of language is expected from someone nervous," she replied.
"What?"
"Don't make it complicated," Bia tried to calm things down.
"Whatever. But who is this Zeki?"
"Why do you want to know?" Bia asked, suspicious.
"Just curious. Is he some kind of rival?"
"Don't worry. You'll meet him when the exam ends."
That answer irritated Isadora. "Understood. See you at the end."
"Ugh, what a stuck-up girl," Bia muttered.
"You're not that different from her, if you think about it," Gustavo teased.
"Oh yeah? Take this!" Bia zapped him with small electric shocks.
"Okay, okay, stop!"
The official's voice echoed, announcing the end of the physical tests and directing everyone to the written exams.
In the written test room, Zeki became the center of attention. He finished before many had even started.
"Wait, he's already done? No way!"
"He must've cheated. There's no other explanation."
The examiner approached. "Silence! If he had cheated, I would have noticed." He picked up Zeki's test. "Impressive. Go to the ability room. End of the hallway, to the right."
After all tests, an announcement told candidates to go home and await results by mail. Zeki then went to find the siblings.
"Hey, Zeki! Over here!" Bia waved.
"So, Zeki, how was your test?" Gustavo asked.
"It went well."
"Zeki, you should've seen it! It was hilarious—Gustavo and a girl named Isadora wouldn't stop fighting," Bia laughed.
"She started it," Gustavo muttered.
"So, Zeki, did you manage to lift anything without your psychic powers?"
"Yes."
"How much?" Bia asked.
"Eight tons."
"Wow! I knew you were strong, but not that strong without powers!"
"Haha! Eight tons?" Gustavo laughed. "I knew I was stronger! I lifted eighteen tons!"
"Isadora lifted twenty," Bia added.
"Shut up, snitch!"
"Who's this Isadora?" Zeki asked.
At that moment, footsteps approached. "So you're Zeki, right?"
They turned. It was Isadora.
"Yes," Zeki replied.
"Get lost, girl! Nobody invited you!" Gustavo snapped.
"Calm down, Gustavo!"
"Pick a side!"
"Stop yelling, idiot!"
"So, Zeki," Isadora continued, ignoring them, "I noticed something peculiar about you."
"What would that be?"
"Why is your hair pink?"
Bia and Gustavo stopped arguing and stared at him.
"Wait, that's true! I forgot to ask!"
"Don't tell me your favorite color is pink!" Gustavo teased.
"My hair is light red," Zeki said.
"It's pink."
"It's light red."
"Looks pink to me."
"Forget it."
"Alright then, pink."
Bia smacked Gustavo's head. "Are you deaf? He said light red!"
Zeki turned to Isadora. "So, how can I help?"
"I just wanted to meet the third person from this test. So, Zeki, what's your ability?"
"I don't mind telling you if you tell me yours first."
"Fair enough. Mine is physical enhancement."
"I have psychic abilities."
Isadora looked surprised. "I see. And how was the test?"
"Extremely easy," Zeki replied, slightly dismissive.
"You seem different from these two. Why do you hang out with them?"
"Wait, are you calling us dead weight?" Gustavo snapped.
"You know what, Gustavo, go ahead and insult her," Bia encouraged.
But Zeki raised his hand. "The tests are over. I'm going home. See you."
"You're leaving already? Don't you want to come over?" Bia asked.
"Sorry, but no. Maybe we can talk later."
"Alright, but before you go—can you explain all the ranks?"
Zeki listed the eight ranks, from Z to G. After thanking him, Bia and Gustavo also decided to head home, while Isadora walked away in silence, leaving behind a trail of tension, rivalry, and unanswered questions.
If you want, I can also make a slightly more "professional/light novel polished" version or keep adding small stylistic tweaks (like dialogue flow or pacing).