The arena fell silent as the instructor stepped back.
All eyes turned upward.
High above the field, Aeris Vallen stood calmly on the stone platform overlooking the students. His presence alone made the crowd quiet.
He studied them for a moment.
Hundreds of young fighters.
Different elements. Different weapons. Different ambitions.
Then Aeris spoke.
"Strength is not enough to enter this academy."
His voice carried across the entire field.
"You must also prove your discipline… your endurance… and your will."
He raised one hand slightly.
"The first trial begins now."
The instructors moved quickly across the arena, setting up large stone pillars, weighted training blocks, and long running tracks around the field.
One instructor shouted the rules.
"Trial one — endurance training!"
A loud groan spread across the crowd.
"You will run ten laps around the arena carrying a weight stone. After that, you will complete combat drills and weapon control exercises."
Some students looked confident.
Others already looked nervous.
Large gray stones were placed in front of each student.
Koi stared at the one placed in front of him.
It was heavy.
Very heavy.
Aqua picked hers up with water flowing around it to lighten the weight.
Rin lifted his easily, blood energy wrapping around his arms.
Daichi barely reacted. The earth around his feet helped support the stone.
Koi bent down.
He grabbed the stone.
"…Alright."
He lifted it.
His arms shook slightly.
The horn sounded.
"Begin!"
Students started running around the arena.
Water users pushed themselves forward with waves.
Wind users sped across the track.
Teleport users blinked short distances ahead.
Koi ran normally.
Step.
Step.
Step.
The stone felt heavier with every lap.
By the third lap, sweat was already running down his face.
Students started passing him.
By the fifth lap, his breathing became rough.
Aqua ran past him but slowed down slightly.
"You okay?"
Koi forced a small smile.
"Yeah… just… enjoying the view."
She laughed before running ahead again.
By the seventh lap, his arms were burning.
Some students had already finished.
Others had dropped out completely.
But Koi kept moving.
Step by step.
No powers.
No tricks.
Just effort.
High above the arena, Aeris Vallen watched silently.
An instructor beside him spoke.
"That boy has no element."
Aeris nodded slightly.
"I can see that."
"He's falling behind."
Aeris continued watching Koi carefully.
The boy stumbled slightly during the eighth lap.
But he didn't stop.
He adjusted his grip on the heavy stone and kept running.
The instructor frowned.
"Why continue when he clearly can't compete with the others?"
Aeris answered quietly.
"Because he refuses to quit."
Below them, Koi finally reached the final lap.
His legs felt like they would collapse.
But he pushed forward.
Step.
Step.
Step.
Then he crossed the line.
The stone dropped from his hands with a heavy thud.
He bent over, breathing heavily.
But he had finished.
Aeris' eyes narrowed slightly.
"That boy…"
For a moment, something about Koi felt different.
Not his power.
Not his speed.
Something else.
A will that refused to break.
Aeris smiled faintly.
"That one is interesting."
And the trials had only just begun.