Oscar woke before the sun had fully risen.

  For a moment, he lay still, staring at the ceiling.

  Every fiber in his body hurt.

  His shoulders throbbed. His stomach ached. Even his legs didn’t want to move.

  Damn. That old man really didn’t hold back.

  Oscar slowly rolled himself out of bed and stretched. Pain shot through his arms.

  Frickin’ lovely.

  The fight replayed constantly in his mind.

  Haruto’s shockwaves.

  His own teleportation.

  The massive gap between them.

  Oscar clenched his fist.

  So that’s the level of a Guardian.

  He exhaled slowly.

  My ass has a long way to go.

  But he didn’t have a choice.

  The academy exam was today.

  If he failed…

  No one would help him stabilize his core.

  And Baron would still be trapped in that facility.

  Oscar stood up.

  His core pulsed faintly inside him.

  Still unstable.

  What a complete mess.

  But at least it wasn’t tearing him apart anymore.

  He stepped outside his room.

  Haruto was already awake.

  Of course he was.

  The man sat in a chair, casually eating breakfast.

  Oscar stared at him.

  “You’re eating?”

  Haruto looked up.

  “Nah. I’m admiring the food.”

  Oscar chuckled.

  “You can keep the snarky comments to yourself.”

  He leaned against the doorway.

  “Do people actually get seriously injured in this exam?”

  Haruto shrugged.

  “Some do. Some even die.”

  Oscar blinked.

  “That’s supposed to be reassuring?”

  Haruto took another bite of cereal.

  “You’ll survive… probably.”

  Oscar sighed.

  “Your confidence in me is overwhelming.”

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  Haruto pointed toward the milk and cereal on the counter.

  “Eat,” Haruto said.“You’ll need the energy.”

  Oscar looked at the cereal.

  “You didn’t expect some giant breakfast, did you?” Haruto grinned.“Haruto’s café only serves food that isn’t hard to make.”

  But that wasn’t what Oscar was thinking.

  Real food.

  He took a bite.

  “…It’s incredible.”

  Haruto’s smile slowly faded.

  “You really did grow up in that lab.”

  Oscar didn’t respond.

  He was too busy enjoying the taste of normal food.

  After a few minutes, Haruto stood.

  “You ready, kid?”

  Oscar finished the last bite of cereal.

  “As ready as I can be.”

  Haruto started walking.

  Oscar followed.

  The path through the forest was quiet at first.

  But as they approached the city, more and more people appeared.

  Heads turned when they saw Haruto.

  “That’s Haruto!” someone shouted.

  “Give me your autograph!”

  Haruto laughed.

  “I’d love to, but I must be on my way.”

  The crowd looked disappointed but understood.

  Oscar glanced at him.

  “I don’t know what people see in you, old man.”

  Haruto chuckled.

  “It has to be my incredible looks.”

  “Hell no.”

  Haruto could tell Oscar was nervous.

  “Everything will be okay,” Haruto said.

  “I know I was hard on you yesterday, but I believe you can do this.”

  Oscar wasn’t so sure.

  As they approached the exam grounds, he saw the other applicants.

  Some looked confident.

  Others looked terrified.

  Oscar noticed something immediately.

  Everyone had a core.

  He could feel the energy.

  Different types.

  Different strengths.

  Some strong.

  Some terrifying.

  Oscar frowned slightly.

  So these are the other applicants.

  Haruto noticed his expression.

  “You scared?”

  Oscar didn’t answer right away.

  “…A little.”

  Haruto patted his back.

  “Good. Use that fear and turn it into determination.”

  Oscar nodded.

  “I’ll try.”

  “Don’t try,” Haruto said.“Just do.”

  They continued walking.

  Soon they reached a massive staircase.

  Oscar looked up.

  It stretched higher than he expected.

  They climbed slowly.

  With every step Oscar felt it.

  More and more cores.

  Hundreds of applicants.

  Are there really this many people trying to get in?

  Then they reached the top.

  Haruto stopped.

  Oscar stepped beside him.

  And froze.

  The prestigious academy stood before them.

  Massive stone walls surrounded an enormous campus. The gates alone were taller than any building Oscar had ever seen.

  Thousands of people filled the entrance plaza.

  Applicants.

  Guardians.

  Scouts.

  Instructors.

  Core energy pulsed everywhere.

  Some of it was so powerful Oscar could feel it in his bones.

  But the strongest presences…

  Were the ones he couldn’t sense at all.

  He swallowed.

  “…This is the academy.”

  Haruto nodded.

  “Aegis Academy.”

  Oscar stared.

  This place is huge.

  “How the hell does someone even build something like this?”

  Haruto laughed.

  “Glad you can still make jokes.”

  He pointed toward the academy.

  “To answer your question, not all cores are meant for combat.”

  “You’ll learn more if you pass the exam, but in short… a few people with special cores helped build this entire place.”

  Oscar looked around again.

  Some applicants looked calm.

  Others radiated confidence.

  A few gave off power that made Oscar’s instincts tense instantly.

  For the first time since escaping the lab…

  Oscar felt nervous.

  Haruto glanced at him.

  “Don’t piss your pants, kid.”

  Oscar stared at him.

  “I won’t.”

  His eyes sharpened.

  “I have too much at stake to lose here.”

  Haruto grinned.

  “That’s the spirit.”

  Oscar looked at the academy again.

  If this place can help me control my power…

  His fists clenched.

  Then I can get stronger.

  And if I get stronger…

  I can go back.

  And this time…

  He wouldn’t leave Baron behind.

  Haruto started walking.

  “Come on.”

  Oscar followed.

  The gates of Aegis Academy loomed ahead.

  And somewhere beyond them…

  The entrance exam was waiting.