Mass release In honour to the support {19/10}
Axel sat stiffly in his chair, his gaze locked on Headmaster Marion, who stood at the front of the grand hall. The old man had the same smug grin plastered on his face, the one that Axel had come to despise. That grin had fooled so many, including himself, once upon a time.
It was the kind of expression that promised power, glory, and greatness to the unassuming masses, and like a snake, it slithered into the hearts of those too naive to see the venom behind it.
Marion's reputation preceded him—a figure of both reverence and fear at the academy. To those who knew him for what he truly was, he was a manipulative leader, someone who preyed on the weak and discarded them without a second thought. Axel had learned that hard lesson only after stepping into the shoes of those forsaken by the system. Marion's kindness was reserved for the strong, and the weak...
well, they were left to rot.
As Marion finished his conversation with the board members, Axel's lips twisted in distaste. The man walked back to the podium, a showman preparing to address his audience. Silence fell across the room as hundreds of students, brimming with youthful excitement and expectation, looked up at him with wide, hopeful eyes. Axel, however, leaned back in his chair, his expression cold and detached.
Headmaster Marion began his speech with grand gestures and an exaggerated tone. "You are the future! The hope of humanity! The power you hold within you is greater than anything that has ever existed! You, my children, will rise above all others, and it will be your strength that leads us into a new age!"
The hall erupted with applause and cheers, the students soaking up every word. Axel clenched his fists under the table, the words tasting bitter in his mouth. It was the same speech Marion had given every year, a facade that fed the students' egos, making them believe they were invincible, that their powers made them gods. And once upon a time, Axel had believed him too.
The promises of being a "man above all others," the idea that his awakening would put him on a pedestal—he had fallen for it, just like the others.
But now, he knew better.
His gaze drifted to Williams and Sarah, two students seated nearby, their eyes sparkling with awe. They were drinking in every word, their faces filled with admiration for the man standing before them. Marion's words had hit them like a shot of adrenaline, fueling their pride and ambitions. Axel chuckled darkly to himself.
It reminded him of the time back in college, in his former life, when a man had come into class, selling books about how to get a perfect GPA and land million-dollar jobs. "If you're making millions," Axel had thought years later, "why the hell would you be hawking books?"
"Now," Marion's voice rang through the hall, his grin widening as he gestured toward the stage. "Shall we begin the testing of the double binding?"
The room fell into an uneasy silence, a sharp contrast to the earlier cheers. The air thickened with anticipation, and the six double binding candidates shifted nervously in their seats. Axel watched them closely, noting the way their expressions hardened. Despite the tension, there was no fear in their eyes. If anything, they seemed eager. Confident.
This was the moment they had trained for, the moment they would prove their worth.
"Rave Zurk," Marion called, "please step forward to the power crystal."
A boy with a striking mix of dark and yellow hair stood up, his green tracksuit rustling as he confidently made his way to the front. Rave Zurk walked with the swagger of someone who knew he was already at the top. His every step oozed with arrogance, the kind that only came from a life of constant praise.
A flash of green and purple erupted from her palm, lighting up the entire room. The crystal hummed louder than before, vibrating with raw energy. The audience shifted in their seats, murmurs rippling through the crowd as the crystal struggled to process the power flowing into it.
Axel's eyes widened. This was different. This was beyond anything he had seen today.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the crystal displayed her stats. Artemis stepped back, her eyes locked on the glowing letters. Her lips parted slightly, her breath coming in short gasps as she read the result.
Headmaster Marion's voice cracked as he spoke. "A... SS-rank ability!"
The room erupted into chaos. Gasps, shouts, whispers—everyone was reacting at once. Commander Asher, seated with the board members, nodded in approval, a rare smile gracing his otherwise stoic face. The S-rank candidates exchanged uneasy glances, their earlier confidence shattered by this unexpected turn.
Axel's expression remained unreadable, but inside, a storm brewed. This girl... she was dangerous.
But it wasn't over yet.
The crystal, which had shown her ranking, had not yet displayed her ability. The room grew tense once more as the screen flickered, struggling to show the image. It was blurred, distorted, as if the crystal itself couldn't comprehend what it was revealing.
Axel's heart pounded. The last time something like this had happened, it had been with him.
Finally, the image sharpened.
And the entire room fell into stunned silence.
"Your ability is..." Marion's voice trailed off.
"Affinity to Nature."
The reaction was immediate. No one had to say anything twice. The murmurs started low, then grew louder, spreading like wildfire through the crowd.
Nature affinity. A power so basic, so... useless.
Axel's lips curled into a grim smile.
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The room had just crowned its queen—and immediately cast her aside.