The plaza in front of Aegis Academy was overflowing with people.

  Applicants stood in groups across the massive courtyard. Some talked confidently with their friends while others were already strategizing, staring at the towering gate above them.

  Oscar stood slightly away from the crowd.

  His eyes scanned the area constantly.

  More importantly… his senses did.

  Core energy filled the air.

  Hundreds of different signatures overlapped around him.

  One boy nearby seemed to have a dual-core signature. Another applicant had a massive blade strapped across his back. A third was loudly boasting about his abilities to anyone who would listen.

  Oscar rubbed the back of his neck.

  I’ll assume that guy’s core is fire…

  It always is in stories.

  Then suddenly—

  The pressure in the plaza changed.

  A wave of energy spread through the courtyard.

  Not violent.

  Not overwhelming.

  Just… incredibly stable.

  Oscar’s head turned immediately.

  What the hell…?

  Several meters away stood a girl with long white hair that flowed down her back. Her posture was relaxed, almost bored, as she looked across the crowd.

  Her golden eyes slowly moved from applicant to applicant.

  Observing.

  Calculating.

  Oscar frowned slightly.

  Damn… that girl has it all.

  The crowd had noticed her too.

  Whispers spread quickly.

  Some people mocked her confidence.

  Others seemed genuinely uneasy.

  But one girl didn’t look intimidated at all.

  She suddenly pushed through the crowd and walked directly toward the white-haired girl.

  “Why are people so afraid of you?”

  The white-haired girl blinked in surprise.

  “My name is Lillie,” the girl continued cheerfully. “What’s yours?”

  “Elaina.”

  “That’s a great name!” Lillie said with a huge smile. “You seem pretty cool. Let’s be friends.”

  Elaina looked slightly confused.

  Then laughed.

  “No one has ever talked to me like this before.”

  Lillie grinned even wider.

  “Well, get used to it. That’s just who I am.”

  The two girls began walking forward together.

  Then suddenly—

  Elaina’s gaze shifted.

  Her golden eyes locked onto someone standing near the edge of the plaza.

  Oscar.

  For a brief moment, the golden glow in her eyes intensified.

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  It felt like a silent warning.

  Oscar stiffened slightly.

  What a terrifying glare.

  Yeah… I’m definitely staying clear of her.

  Before anything else could happen—

  A sudden pressure filled the courtyard.

  This time it was overwhelming.

  The entire crowd fell silent.

  Every applicant turned toward the academy gates.

  Oscar squinted upward.

  No way…

  Standing on a large stone platform above the massive gates was a familiar figure.

  Haruto.

  Their eyes locked.

  Haruto wore a smug grin.

  Oscar responded with a look of pure annoyance.

  Oh yeah…seeing Oscar’s reaction is priceless.

  Another instructor standing nearby leaned toward Haruto.

  “Haruto.”

  “What?”

  “Idiot. You’re the top Guardian here. The applicants are waiting for you to give them words of encouragement.”

  Haruto grinned widely.

  He stepped forward.

  “Applicants from all across Celestria!”

  His voice echoed through the courtyard.

  “I applaud your bravery for taking the first steps toward becoming true Guardians!”

  He raised his hand dramatically.

  “Let me be the first to say…”

  “Welcome to the Aegis Academy Entrance Trial!”

  A wave of excitement rippled through the plaza.

  Oscar snorted quietly.

  You are such a show-off, Haruto.

  Haruto glanced in Oscar’s direction.

  I bet that kid is thinking some smart-ass comment right now.

  Oscar could feel his heart beating faster.

  This was it.

  Another instructor stepped forward.

  “You all stand here today because you believe you have what it takes to become Guardians.”

  His gaze sharpened.

  “But belief alone means nothing in combat.”

  The man raised his hand.

  Behind him, a massive projection appeared showing the surrounding forest.

  “Your first trial begins now.”

  The image zoomed in on several regions inside the forest.

  Applicants began whispering immediately.

  Oscar recognized the environment instantly.

  Corrupted beasts.

  The instructor continued.

  “There is a location inside the forest that you must reach within the allotted time.”

  He paused.

  “But before you may leave the forest… you must complete a requirement.”

  The crowd grew quiet again.

  “Each corrupted beast in the forest possesses a jewel embedded in its neck.”

  “You must obtain one of these jewels before exiting.”

  The crowd erupted into noise.

  One applicant shouted nervously.

  “We have to fight corrupted beasts already?!”

  Another yelled,

  “Aren’t we supposed to learn how to fight them first?!”

  The instructor didn’t look impressed.

  The gates behind the applicants slowly began to open.

  “Anyone who is afraid of this first trial is free to leave.”

  His eyes hardened.

  “If this scares you… save us the trouble of dealing with your corpse later.”

  The courtyard went silent again.

  He continued.

  “There are only a limited number of beasts in the forest.”

  “If you do not act quickly… you will fail.”

  The instructor raised three fingers.

  “You have three hours to complete the trial.”

  “Anyone who takes longer — even if they possess a jewel — will fail.”

  Oscar cracked his knuckles.

  Three hours?

  That’s plenty of time.

  Then the instructor added one final sentence.

  “You are also permitted to steal jewels from other applicants.”

  The plaza exploded into chaos.

  Some applicants looked thrilled.

  Others suddenly looked terrified.

  Oscar grinned slightly.

  So it’s not just survival.

  It's a competition.

  There were hundreds of applicants here.

  Which meant…

  Most of them would fail.

  The instructor raised his hand again.

  “The trial begins in five minutes.”

  The massive gates opened fully.

  “Make your way to the starting point and wait for the signal.”

  Applicants began flooding through the gate.

  Oscar stepped forward.

  “Hey.”

  Oscar turned.

  Elaina stood behind him.

  Her golden eyes studied him carefully.

  “Something is strange about your core.”

  Oscar laughed.

  “Yeah… can’t really argue with that.”

  Her expression remained completely calm.

  “If you try anything.”

  Her voice was cold.

  “Just stay out of my way.”

  Oscar sighed.

  “Wow.”

  “Thanks for the words of encouragement.”

  Elaina simply turned and walked toward the forest.

  Oscar watched her for a moment.

  Then looked toward the dark forest beyond the gate.

  The corrupted woods waited.

  And the entrance trial…

  Had finally begun.