Chapter 206: Chapter 206: SHU Evaluation Day (Part 3)

Don and Donald found themselves seated outside the Moonbucks café on campus. The morning sun had risen just high enough to give everything a warm glow, and the tables around them were filled with students and parents alike, all enjoying their drinks and food in the fresh air.Don sat opposite Donald, casually sipping on a smaller coffee while a plate of muffins rested on the table beside him. Donald, on the other hand, was gripping a huge coffee cup, still looking like he'd just stumbled out of a long night shift, his eyes heavy and still showing signs of great exhaustion.

At first, Don had been focused on his phone, scrolling through a summarized explanation about how powers were classified.

———

D-Class: Minor Abilities

- **Definition**: The weakest level of a power, D-Class abilities are considered low-impact and often have little effect in combat or other high-intensity scenarios.

- **Example**:

- **Speed**: A person can run slightly faster than a peak human athlete but is still within human limitations (around 20-30 mph).

- **Strength**: Capable of lifting around 200-500 pounds, which is impressive but still within the realm of human achievement.

- **Utility**: These powers might provide a minor edge in specific situations but are generally not significant enough to turn the tide of major conflicts.

C-Class: Enhanced Human Abilities

- **Definition**: C-Class abilities are those that surpass human potential, making them useful but not overwhelmingly powerful.

- **Example**:

- **Speed**: The person can run at speeds comparable to a high-speed vehicle (60-120 mph).

- **Strength**: Can lift up to a ton, allowing for feats like flipping cars or breaking through reinforced doors.

- **Utility**: Useful in day-to-day tasks or small skirmishes, but these powers will struggle against highly powered foes.

B-Class: Superhuman Abilities

- **Definition**: These abilities begin to push the boundaries of human limitations, falling firmly in the realm of what one might call "superhuman."

- **Example**:

- **Speed**: Capable of moving at Mach 1 (the speed of sound), allowing the person to cover vast distances quickly.

- **Strength**: Can lift several tons, capable of destroying large structures or significantly altering the environment (e.g., smashing through concrete walls).

- **Utility**: B-Class abilities are formidable in most combat situations and provide a clear advantage over ordinary or enhanced human opponents.

A-Class: High-Level Superhuman Abilities

- **Definition**: A-Class powers represent mastery and extreme potency in a given field. These abilities can dominate most combat scenarios and exert significant influence over the environment or opponents.

- **Example**:

- **Speed**: Can run at hypersonic speeds, capable of easily outrunning missiles or traveling across a country in minutes.

- **Strength**: Can lift buildings or punch through military-grade materials (e.g., tanks, steel reinforcements).

- **Utility**: Often considered elite, these powers can drastically alter the balance in any given confrontation. S~eaʀᴄh the Nôvel(F)ire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

S-Class: Near-Godlike Abilities

- **Definition**: S-Class abilities are world-shaking, with few limitations. These powers often define the top tier of most superhuman rankings, reserved for those who can stand against armies or cause mass destruction with ease.

- **Example**:

- **Speed**: Can move at near-light speeds, making the person nearly impossible to detect or track by normal means.

- **Strength**: Can lift mountains or perform feats that alter landscapes (e.g., triggering earthquakes with a punch).

- **Utility**: S-Class abilities are typically feared and respected, as they can decide the fate of cities or even nations in moments.

SS-Class: Beyond the Limits of Reality

- **Definition**: SS-Class powers are essentially god-tier abilities, often bending or breaking the natural laws of the universe. These powers can have universal or even multiversal effects, making them extraordinarily rare.

- **Example**:

- **Speed**: Capable of instantaneous travel, breaking time and space barriers, and existing in multiple places at once.

- **Strength**: Can lift celestial bodies or affect entire planets with their physical power, reshaping reality itself.

- **Utility**: SS-Class abilities are capable of catastrophic feats, often leading to world-ending scenarios or cosmic-level events.

Class Ranking Requirements

Each power has its own unique set of requirements for ranking, which varies depending on the nation or institution. For example:

- **Speed** might focus on the ability to break certain velocity thresholds, such as breaking the sound barrier for B-Class or reaching light-speed for SS-Class.

- **Strength** might require lifting certain weights or demonstrating a level of impact (e.g., breaking concrete, destroying armored vehicles).

- **Energy Projection** could be ranked based on the destructive force (e.g., the ability to blow up a car for C-Class, or a building for A-Class).

———

His eyes moved across the screen as he mentally filed the information away. It was all pretty straightforward—powers were ranked from Class D to SS, with each power being classified individually.

As he read, he couldn't help but wonder where his new BeastShift abilities would place him, though given the descriptions of the powers he'd gain, he was sure it was no less than B at least.

Just as he was about to dive deeper into it, his superhuman hearing picked up on the conversations of the people around them. Nearly every group was talking about the same thing: the upcoming evaluation. One name, in particular, kept coming up again and again—Starboy.

Curious, Don glanced up from his phone and casually asked Donald, "Can you tell me about Starboy?"

Donald, who was taking a long sip of his coffee, blinked, looking like he was coming out of a daze. "Huh? Oh, yeah, sure... but how do you not know about that guy?" Donald sounded genuinely surprised. "He's one of the few in the Elite Hero Program actually taking part in today's evaluation."

"I joined late," Don explained with a shrug. "I haven't met any of the other members yet."

Donald nodded in understanding. "Oh, I see. Well, there's not much I can tell you that you won't find plastered all over his damn website, fan page, or Utube channel." Donald's tone shifted, becoming noticeably more irritated as he spoke about the guy.

"Like seriously, I know I don't like stuck-up privileged guys in general, but that guy is really something. He's the son of Starman, but he's got twice the ego of his old man. And unfortunately, he's got the powers to back it up."

Don leaned in slightly, intrigued despite himself. "What's he got?"

Donald took another sip of his coffee before continuing. "Speed, Class C. Strength, Class B. Durability, also Class B, but almost A at night when the skies are clear. Oh, and he can fly. Basically, he's the perfect stereotypical vanguard hero, like someone out of a comic book.

Think Redstar, but weaker and without the discipline or the proper training. He's our so-called 'city treasure,' but if you ask me he's an ass and for all I care, he can kiss m—"

Before Donald could finish his rant, excited screams erupted from further down the campus street they were on.

Both Don and Donald turned their heads to see what was causing the commotion. A group of women—and even a few guys—were running toward a young man guarded by several bodyguards dressed in bright white suits.

The crowd was trying to get close, phones in hand, as they snapped pictures and yelled his name.

"Eeeeee! Starboy!!"

"Starboy, can I get an autograph!?"

"Oh my god! It's really him!!"

Donald frowned, his face immediately souring. "Speak of the devil."

Don raised an eyebrow, still looking in the direction of the commotion. "Is that him?"

"Yup," Donald replied, his voice full of annoyance. "In the flashy flesh."

Don's eyes focused on the scene ahead of them, and he could see what Donald meant. If the eight matching bodyguards in their white suits and sunglasses weren't enough of a spectacle, the main attraction at the center of it all certainly was.

Starboy stood out like a beacon. His costume was a flashy, skin-tight gold suit with star-like patterns scattered across the cape and a large star emblem emblazoned on his chest. His long blonde hair flowed almost theatrically, and he wore sleek silver visors that completed the look.

The whole outfit had a familiar, iconic design—like something out of a heroic comic book, but turned up to eleven. He waved to the crowd, his smile perfect, as if he knew he was the star of the show.

"Thank you! Thank you all for coming!" Starboy called out in a condescending tone, his voice carrying a tone of self-importance. "Your support means the world to me."

As he passed by the café, people whipped out their phones, frantically snapping photos of him. Donald just scoffed, folding his arms as he watched the scene unfold. "I don't get why people go crazy over him. Sure, he's got talent, but if you ask me, he's nothing special."

No sooner had Donald finished speaking than Starboy suddenly stopped. The bodyguards halted in sync, as if they'd rehearsed the move a thousand times.

Starboy then hovered a few feet above the ground, rising effortlessly into the air, his cape billowing dramatically behind him. He took off his silver visors, revealing bright, glowing eyes with star-shaped pupils that seemed to radiate energy.

His voice boomed out, deeper and more intense than before. "Who said that?"

Don raised an eyebrow, his fingers tightening slightly around the handle of his coffee cup. 'Really? He's got super hearing too?' he thought, bemused. Meanwhile, Donald shifted uncomfortably in his seat, glancing nervously at the hovering figure above them.

The crowd fell silent, their attention now fully focused on Starboy as he scanned the area. His star-shaped pupils narrowed as if searching for the source of the comment. There was an eerie stillness in the air, the playful excitement of moments ago replaced by a tense, uncomfortable silence.

Don didn't flinch, remaining calm as he casually reached for a muffin from his plate. 'Let's see where this goes.'