Chapter 35 Power Assessment Test (1)

A set of dummies set sprawled out across the gymnasium. Icarus stood off to the side between both bleachers and watched as students went at the dummies. The noises of punches, kicks and screams echoed throughout the gym. Icarus held his hands behind his back and staring at a floating screen in front of him.

"Hmm, these readings should be better." Icarus mumbled. The doors behind him opened and he turned to look. Lee Seng and Dr. Valentin entered the gym and Icarus smiled. "Well, if it isn't Dr. Valentin. To what do I owe the pleasure?" Dr. Valentin and Icarus shook hands.

"I was making my rounds and wanted to check up on Chang." Dr. Valentin said. His arm wrapped around Lee Seng and shook him. Icarus looked over at Lee Seng and nodded.

"Are you doing better?"

"Oh, yes, sir." Lee Seng stuttered. "I'm fine. Thank you for asking." He bowed a bit as Dr. Valentin chuckled and patted him on the back.

"Chang will be fine to continue to the tests. I see you have already moved onto the second portion of the Power Assessment test." Dr. Valentin observed. Icarus nodded and turned back to look at the students. Lee Seng spotted a huge student who winded his arms and then let out a quick punch. His eyes could faintly see the air distort around him. Bright red, orange and yellows caught his attention off to the right. He saw Jason and Jae standing near each other and punching at the dummies.

"There is great potential with some of these examinees. There are a few third years transffering, so it's harder to judge their potential with the last two years at the Academy, but I think some will do better than others." Icarus motioned over at the Kang twins. "Take those two. They both awakened with a fire ability. Fire among the four elements has the edge and they managed to manifest as Fighters. I can only imagine how their powers will change over time."

"And if you look over there," Icarus pointed at the middle. "The one with weapons. She can manifest weapons that are attached to her soul. A unique power for a 2nd year transfer examinee, don't you think?" Icarus looked towards Dr. Valentin who was nodding.

"I see you still have an eagle's eye when it comes to potential, Mobius." Dr. Valentin complimented. Icarus turned his focus towards Lee Seng.

"Chang, was it?" He asked. Lee Seng nodded.

"Yes, sir?" Lee Seng responded. Icarus tapped at his chin for awhile and then nodded.

"It says on your file you're a Specialist. Fighter and a Glass, right?"

Lee Seng nodded. Dr. Valentin was looking at Lee Seng as well now. The two were studying Lee Seng and Dr. Valentin seemed to not say much. He was observing, again. Lee Seng glanced at Icarus who was still studying him, slowly nodding.

"I saw in your PR report that it's unfinished. Is this correct?" Icarus asked.

"Y-yes, sir. I, uh, shattered the Orb around the 50% mark."

"50% mark? Dr. Valentin is that correct?" Icarus looked at Dr. Valentin in surprise.

"Yes, that's correct. My daughter, Zoe, handled the test. The orb at the laboratory shattered. I believe Lee Seng was told by Zoe and the Classification Doctor to retake the PR at a bigger facility?" Dr. Valentin glanced at Lee Seng. Lee Seng began nodding.

"I was told to retake the PR. It would benefit me to understand my full potential. I've heard around that knowing your full potential could help train you more efficiently. Dr. Valentin said the school has one that's used to double-check PRs?"

"Correct." Icarus nodded. "All of the Fighters have already done theirs. If you want, I can have Miss Vanessa Cathers, my aide, take you." Icarus turned and glanced around. "Vanessa, Chang has awakened. Could you take him to the PR room?" Lee Seng glanced around and noticed a woman was starting to make her way towards them from the other side of the gymnasium. She cut down the middle of the gym, passing by students. Vanessa Cathers made her way towards the three of them. She noticed Dr. Valentin and greeted him.

"Ah, Dr. Valentin, it's a pleasure to see you again. How are you?" Cathers beamed. She had a warm energy. She was pale and had raven colored hair in a pony tail. Her outfit reminded Lee Seng of a gym teacher he had in middle school. Lee Seng found himself staring at her eyes. She had blood-colored eyes that seemed to glisten.

"Vanessa, I'm doing well." Dr. Valentin chuckled. He reached out for a handshake and Cathers took it and shook his hand. "I hope Mobius is taking good care of you. You were a bright student, so I'm glad you've decided to come teach at the Academy under Mobius."

"Oh, Icarus has been teaching me lots. I respect him for that." She answered. The both chuckled and they both pulled their hands back. She turned to look at Lee Seng and stared at him for awhile. "You aren't glowing anymore, that's good." She made her way towards Lee Seng and stuck her hand out. "I don't know if you remember me, but I'm Vanessa Cathers. I'm Mr. Icarus' aide and a 3rd Year teacher." Lee Seng shook her hand and nodded.

"Lee Seng Chang. Thank you for your help. I don't remember anything after looking at my hands when they were... Glowing." Lee Seng chuckled. Cathers smiled and the both of them let go of their handshake.

"Well, introductions outta the way, we can head to the PR room. Follow me."

Vanessa led Lee Seng out of the gym and turned right. They reached the four-way intersection where the mural was and turned right. They passed the mural and followed the hall all the way to the end. Vanessa pushed huge door in front of them. The room was huge. Vanessa flicked the lights on and a huge glass Orb sat in the middle of the room. It was about 3 feet tall and 5 feet wide. A single metal pole connected in the middle of the orb on top and led to the ceiling.

"Stand near the Orb. Give me a moment to input some information into the machine." Vanessa said. Lee Seng walked over to the orb. The room was fairly blank.

'So you're figuring out your PR?' A familiar voice asked. The voice was deeper and more mature. 'Ah, don't think you can't recognize me, Lee.'

'Keng? Why's your voice so... low?'

'You finished the pact with my Father, so of course it's done.'

'I... still don't understand anything that happened so if you could explain that to me, that'd be great.'

'It was a test of sorts. A rushed test, but a test nonetheless. I thought Father would answer some questions but I guess I was right. Get more souls and let's continue getting closer.'

'I have no choice but to trust you. I just... hoped you would've told me about it beforehand.'

'Father ordered it. Don't take it to heart, Lee. I didn't want to keep it from you.'

'I guess I'm more worried about what he said. Don't trust the Creator... What connection does he have with the Creator then...?'

"Chang?" Vanessa's voice spoke loudly. Lee Seng snapped out of his thoughts and looked up. He noticed Vanessa was standing next to him with a floating screen.

"Huh, yeah?"

"You good?" She looked at him closely. "You spaced out there."

"Oh, yeah, I'm good. I was, uh, thinking."

"Don't worry too much. This one won't shatter like the small ones. These ones actually have to be reinforced and connected with Electro-metals. It'll draw upon the Electro-metals and if there is any draw backs, the system has a way to output extra energy drawn from you." Vanessa explained. "So, whenever you're ready, put your hand on the Orb."

Lee Seng sighed and lifted his left hand. He held it in-between the Orb and himself for awhile before pressing it on the glass. The familiar plasma energy within started to shoot out and connect with his hand. It started to glow and the Orb started to be filled with white energy. Lee Seng watched as the white energy danced around the Orb and slowly fill up. Minutes passed and the Orb started to make the familiar rumble noise.

The white energy started to swirl and gray energy started to appear. Lee Seng watched, entranced, as the energy swirled. The Orb shook louder and the white energy started to dissipate through the bottom. Ten minutes later, the Orb came to a halt and Vanessa nodded.

"Alright, everything seems--" Vanessa looked closely at her screen and then looked at Lee Seng. "When did you awaken?"

"A couple weeks ago. Why?" Lee Seng asked. Vanessa tapped her foot and shook her head. She walked over and moved the screen over towards Lee Seng. Lee Seng glanced at it and his mouth widened. "That's... That isn't a joke, right?" He looked at Vanessa. Vanessa shook her head.

"No, that's correct. Chang you have an SS-rank potential and you're currently a B."