The courtyard was still buzzing.
"That Aries beat a Royal…"
"No way…"
Trey stretched.
"…Man, I need a nap already."
BOOM.
A figure slammed into the ground.
Instructor.
Overwhelming presence.
"Your entrance exam begins now."
The ground shattered—
They dropped.
Into a massive forest.
Dark.
Alive.
Watching.
"Reach the tower."
"Everything else…"
"…is allowed."
Trey landed hard.
Rolled.
Got up.
"…Alright. That was disrespectful."
"Still talking, I see."
Trey turned.
A girl stood there.
Calm. Focused.
Water hovered faintly around her.
In her hand—a crystalline trident, cold energy pulsing from it.
Trey blinked.
"…Oh, it's you. Ice girl."
She frowned slightly.
"…Mia."
Trey nodded.
"Bet. I'm Trey."
Before anything else—
"Yooooo… anybody else almost die just now??"
Trey turned again.
A skinny dude stumbled out of the bushes.
Half-lidded eyes.
Grinning.
"…I swear I saw my whole life flash and it wasn't even that long."
Trey stared.
"…You good?"
The guy nodded.
"…Yeah. Name's Roach."
Pause.
"…Don't ask."
Trey smirked.
"…Wasn't planning to."
High above—
Two identical girls sat on a branch.
Watching.
Smiling.
Momo & Koko.
Each held curved mirror-blade daggers, energy reflecting between them.
"Look at them…"
Momo giggled.
"They're already grouping up."
Koko leaned forward.
"…The Aries is interesting."
They laughed together.
Far away—
A boy stood over three fallen students.
A long chain-sickle weapon dragged behind him.
Smoke.
One of the students tried to stand—
The chain snapped forward—
Wrapped around his leg—
YANK—
CRACK.
The boy screamed.
Smoke crouched.
"…Stay down."
Cold.
Uncaring.
"…You're making it worse."
⚔️ Back to Trey
A growl echoed.
Three creatures stepped out.
Trey sighed.
"…Already?"
A flame-forged blade formed in his hand—
Unstable.
Wild.
He rushed—
Cut through the first—
It burst—
Fragments slicing his arm.
"…Aight. Noted."
Mia moved—
Her trident spun—
Ice spears launched—
Piercing the second creature clean.
Roach stepped up—
His gauntlet hardened—
Rock forming over his arm—
He grabbed the last creature—
Slammed it into the ground—
Again.
Again.
Until it shattered.
Silence.
Trey blinked.
"…Okay yeah, you kinda scary."
Roach grinned.
"…I try not to think too much."
Leaves shifted.
"Found them."
Three students stepped out.
Scorpio.
Virgo.
Gemini.
Weapons ready.
"…You're the Aries," Scorpio said.
Trey sighed.
"…Man, I need a name tag or something."
Gemini rushed—
Two clones—
Twin blades flashing—
Trey dodged one—
Second sliced his cheek—
Blood.
"…Okay, that one was personal."
Scorpio attacked—
Poison daggers cutting through the air—
Trey blocked—
Flames burned through the poison—
But not completely—
"…Yeah that's toxic—literally."
Virgo raised her hand—
Needle blades fired—
Mia stepped in—
Ice shield—
Shattered—
Roach jumped—
Took a hit—
"…Aight nah."
He charged—
Ground cracked—
He grabbed Gemini—
Slammed both—
One vanished—
Real body exposed—
Trey stepped in—
Fire surged stronger—
He slipped past Scorpio—
Grabbed his arm—
Burned through the poison aura—
Scorpio dropped—
Screaming.
Virgo stepped back—
Panicking—
"Stay back—!"
Trey appeared in front of her.
"…You talk too much."
BOOM.
She dropped instantly.
Up in the tree—
Momo smiled.
"…Yeah. I like him."
Koko nodded.
"…He's fun."
🏁 The Tower
They reached the center.
Students stared.
Whispers spread.
Instructor appeared.
"Phase One complete."
Eyes locked onto Trey.
"…Interesting."
Magic circles lit up.
"Combat trials begin."
Smoke walked forward.
Chain dragging.
He stopped.
Looked at Trey.
"…You're the one."
Trey blinked.
"…I gotta stop being 'the one.'"
Smoke smirked slightly.
"…Don't get comfortable."
Above—
Something watched.
"…The forbidden one…"