From the center of the podium, a mechanical device arose with a smooth, hydraulic hum. Its sides were curved in a graceful arc, and from its top and bottom, pedestal-like structures extended. At its heart, a glowing blue orb levitated into position, pulsing with a soft, rhythmic light as it hovered at the exact center of the structure.
Two officials stood ready on the podium: a woman holding a tablet, her gaze sharp and severe, and a man with a stoic, observant demeanor.
"Noah Zander, come up," the woman called, her voice cutting through the murmurs of the crowd. Her tone left no room for hesitation.
Climbing up the podium was a boy and walking towards the mechanical device and standing before the mechanical device as the blue orb hovered at the center gently and pulsing with energy.
"Place your hand on the orb," the male official instructed.
The boy obeyed. The moment his palm made contact, a strange, tingling energy flowed into him. The orb brightened, its glow shifting from blue to a fierce, luminous red. The air around the boy rippled with heat. The temperature spiked, and droplets of molten lava began to bubble into existence around him, hovering in the air like deadly, burning jewels.
But the surprising thing was that the male personal standing 2 meter's apart from him wasn't bordered by the increase in temperature around him.
The Mechanical device projected a huge holographic screen above it in the air with the boy's information.
[Name: Noah Zander]
[Age: 17 years old]
[Gender: Male]
[Talent: Silver]
[Ability: Heat wave (A-rank)]
[Ability class: (Universal)]
[Power rank: Energy absorption phase, rank 1]
[Bane energy absorption speed: 18.34%]
[Genetic Trait: mid core gene]
"Now that is eye-opening. The first assessment, and we already have an A-rank ability," remarked the middle-aged man with glasses from the stage, his interest clearly piqued.
"The very first person called, and he has an A-rank," Alex whispered to Levi, impressed.
"It gives him a significant edge," Levi replied quietly. "He's almost guaranteed to attract a personal instructor now."
"Heat Wave," Daniel murmured, adjusting his glasses instinctively. "An ability that grants control over ambient temperature, eventually allowing the user to generate and manipulate molten lava. The destructive potential scales directly with the user's power and control."
"Man, you really took time to study abilities" Zack said he was surprised by Daniels brief explanation of the ability.
"Well it's a good thing to know this kind of information especially when you are dealing with an opponent" Daniel said to Zack.
Then names after names were called as the scene was lively one as lights busted forth towards the sky as abilities were re-assessed and certain bright Gold Instructors claiming a student with good talent.
"Von Levi Aster!!" then Levi's name was called as the woman's voice was louder than before and when the students heard his name, the expression of surprise was written all over their faces as they recognized his family name as his family, Aster was a family of military might and strength.
"It's my turn, based on what we all agreed last night, that during the assessment then will get to know each other's abilities and now am the first" Levi smiled as he spoke and walked away as he made his way to the podium.
As of last night, as they were getting to know of each other, they had already agreed with each that they will not disclose their abilities and it would be during the assessment that they would know each other's abilities.
Levi made his way to the podium as he walked with his hands in his pocket and with a smiling smile face on and his walking stylish, not too fast or slow just paced and his scene of his made some many girls heart melt as they looked at him with admiration in their eyes as his handsomeness was sight they wanted to keep watch on forever.
"Look he belongs from the Aster family"
"I heard from my brother who is a second-year student here at bright gold academy and he told me that his brother is a beast among men" a boy told his friend beside him.
"I also heard that the Aster family are a family of military might and produces talented abilitans" a girl chimed in.
"Omg he is so handsome" a girl said as she and others looked at Levi with admiration.
Levi ascended the podium with a wide grin on his face and coming before the mechanical device with the floating orb and he placed his hand on the orb without the man telling him to place his hand on the orb.
"This should be the second son after the eldest of the Aster family" A young man with light red eyes and a black hair as he is haircut was a low fade cut and the Back of his hair braided, he had a brown skin and wearing a short sleeve black turtle neck which had red linens along it and his black eyebrows perfectly groomed with care, on his wrist was a black leather watch of high quality and around his neck he wore a necklace which had a red pendent at the center.
His jawline was well chiseled and his black beard surrounding his jawline and he had a mustache which wasn't over grown but rather groomed and having a small nose which complemented his face and an average muscular build
He wore a plain black trouser and shoes made of pure black leather as he was seated beside the right side of the middle aged on glasses while the woman with red curly hair sat by his left side.
"I heard his elder brother is a second-year student going to third year and a very talented one at that" the woman with red curly hair spoke.
"Not just that but his elder brother is a warrior and a fighter and I heard he single handedly brought down an Evo beast at the Energy fusion phase, rank 2 and having a gold talent with an SS-rank ability" the brown skinned man with red eyes said.
"Then I guess his younger brother wouldn't be an exception" the person who spoke this time was the middle-aged man on glasses.
Levi looked at the floating orb as he placed his hand on it as the unknown energy entered his body and circulating through his body.
"Show me what you can do" Levi said with a wide grin on his face.
The area around Levi changed as metals of all kinds grew from the ground like spikes and shards of metal floating around him as gold, iron, and copper could be seen, then in the blink of an eye some of the floating shards suddenly turned into bullets and arrows as a brownish gold energy covered the metals in the shape of bullets and arrow.
This even prompted the male personal to stay away from Levi as the projectiles flew around the area Levi stood.
And then with an insane speed the metals in form of bullets and arrows were moving in directions impossible to the eyes as they went in a round, spiral and zigzag manner around him and the floating orb begin to glow with a sliver light and brownish golden light and the lights shot upwards towards the sky as the mechanical device projected a holographic screen above as many had their jaws dropping when they saw his information on the holographic screen.
[Name: Von Levi Aster]
[Age: 17 years old]
[Gender: Male]
[Talent: Gold]
[Ability: Accuracy Manipulation (SS-rank), Metal manipulation (S-rank)]
[Ability class: Accuracy manipulation (Universal), Metal manipulation (Elemental)]
[Power rank: Energy absorption phase, Stage 1]
[Bane energy absorption speed: 20.99%]
[Genetic Trait: High core gene]
A wide smile curved on Levi's lips as he looked at the holographic projection and many students had a look of shock on their faces.
"He has a freaking Gold talent!!!" Alex said with shock written all over his face.
"Levi really got it in him" Zack said with an expression of acknowledgement.
""Accuracy Manipulation," Daniel breathed, his eyes gleaming behind his lenses. "An ability that controls the trajectory, speed, and movement of projectiles. In the old wars, a single Abilitan with this ability could turn the tides of war if it were to be the old era five hundreds ago" Daniel spoke as his eyes sparkled with profound knowledge.
"Man, how long did you go on studying about abilities?" Alex asked Daniel with surprise.
"Well about a year" Daniel answered.
-____-
Alex couldn't speak again as hell no he won't even give a damn ten minutes on his studying talk more of a whole year.
"I knew the younger brother would be no exception" the middle-aged man on glasses spoke with a light smile.
"His mine" the man with red eyes spoke sharply as on his lips was a grin as he looked at Levi who stood staring at his information and the man stood up and walked towards Levi at a fast pace and came before him.
"Hey kid what do say about becoming my disciple, huh" The man asked Levi who turned to look at him and when Levi saw him there was moment of shock in Levi's eyes.
*Those eyes, I can't be mistaken he is known as the flame iron beast a prodigy among his generation and he alone wiped an entire swarm of Stone emperor Red Ants and a talented genius of the Ambrite family and here he is asking me to be his disciple, of course hell yeah* this were Levi's thoughts as he looked at the man with red eyes something others feel intimidated by and uncomfortable but here was Levi who didn't give a hell about it.
"Yes of Course esteemed sir I would take on the opportunity of been your disciple" Levi accepted it with a grin and this greatly surprised the man and then a smirk curved on his lips.
"I like your way kid, I have already taken a liking to you, I guess you are not like the rest" the man said as if it were to be other people they would have been pondering over his offer by now just by looking at his red eyes but here was this kid who didn't even give a damn about that and just accepted to be his disciple.
Putting his hand into his pocket the man brought a token which he threw to Levi who caught it in a flash and looking at the token which had the symbol of flame star surrounded by five smaller stars and the token was black and gold in color.
"that's my token whenever you need me just follow the address on the token and also when you need something that's above your reach just use it to override the rule" the man said with a blink.
Levi was dumbstruck as he had been given a token straight out of the blue when he had not fulfilled the requirements or expectation of his master in order to earn the token.
"Well meet me later in the day today" the man told Levi as he walked back to his seat
Even the students in crowd had disbelief on their faces as they saw him been given a token just like that.
"My eyes aren't deceiving me right he was given a token, right?" a guy had to ask his friend to make sure he wasn't seeing things.
"Hell, yeah he was" his friend replied back to him.
"Wow Levi was taken as a disciple by him" Daniel was shocked as he felt like the kind not to be amused by anything.
"Who is he?" Alex asked as a huge question mark was written on his face
"Knowing you aren't from around here, for your information that man hails from the Ambrite family, an influential family in the city and known by their red eyes and brown skin, he is also known as the Flame iron beast who took down an entire swarm of Stone emperor red ants alone" Daniel explained to Alex.
"Wait you mean those giant ants whose power rank are always at the Core crystallization phase?" Zack asked with surprise on his face.
"Yes" Daniel affirmed and Zack widened his eyes in surprise as he looked at the man exiting the podium.
Then Levi left the podium as he kept staring at the token in his hand as he walked back towards his friends as students whispered among themselves.
"Levi, damn you are really lucky man" Zack told Levi as he approached them as Levi could not still be believe what had happened a minute ago.
"I guess luck is on your side Levi, to be given a token by your yet to be master" Daniel said to Levi as he patted him on the shoulder.
"Next, Daniel Ken Adrian"
Daniel was called next.
"I Guess am next" Daniel spoke as he took a step forward as he adjusted his glasses and his eyes set on the mechanical device with the floating orb.