The testing had finally ended. Axel's body was still aching from the fight, especially from when he got electrocuted by Nile. Luckily, Jean wasn't just a random coordinator for the training.
She was chosen because she possessed a particular skill set.
She possessed the ability to heal people.
One of the many abilities granted to humans by the Algos was the power to repair damaged tissue and cells in the body, a biological healing factor.
That was her ability.
One of the officers pressed a button on a glass terminal, and the scenery of the training grounds shifted back to that of the testing tube. The doors then opened, and the five students who had just completed their tests stepped out.
Nile, who was still salty about being defeated by Ares, quickened her pace. The more she saw his smug face, the more it stung. She wasn't used to losing, and this was in fact her first time losing a fight, ever.
"Ahh, yes. The taste of victory," Ares said with a satisfied smile.
"Technically… you did lose," Axel said with a shrug. And he had a point.
Ares shook his head. "Don't be such a buzzkill."
"So you really are that strong?" Axel asked, glancing at Ares's collar tag.
His test score glowed brightly across it: SP 3 Spectra 3. A freaking Spectra 3
That was the one of highest scores anyone had achieved , even higher than most of the previous top students who had reached the Spectra level.
Nile Reed ended up just behind Ares with a Spectra 2 score, Kinsey Kit scored Lumina 3, and so did Axel.
As for Rick, he received the lowest score possible ever, Lumina 1, but he didn't seem upset. It was as if he had already predicted it.
Sergeant Cross cleared his throat loudly, making sure everyone could hear him.
"Once you're done with your test, proceed to the Administration Office to get cleared. Don't wander off."
"I've got something to take care of, I'll catch you two later," Ares said before walking away.
That left only Rick and Axel. Together, they headed toward the Administration Office to get officially registered as students of Oval Academy.
But Axel still had two problems. One, he still needed to find his sister. Two, he needed to level up. So far, it didn't seem like there was anything else for him to do to gain soke Exps.
No new missions had appeared yet.
All he needed to level up was just 10 EXP.
[EXP: 90/100]
When Axel and Rick arrived at the building, they found a large crowd already waiting to get cleared.
This was definitely going to take a while before it got to their turn
The students there had also taken their tests earlier, and their scores flashed proudly across their collars, ranging from Lumina 4 all the way up to Spectra 5.
"Wow. You must be pretty strong if you're a Spectra." A tiny girly voice said. The person she spoke to was a boy who had a Spectra 2 level on his tag.
"Yes I am strong. How'd you think I got this?" The boy bragged pointing at his tag.
A few people with lower scores were all over him, all trying to get closer to him and Axel knew these type of people would become trouble.
With power came pride, and with pride came hierarchy, and with hierarchy came... Well, let's just say it didn't end well for people like Axel or Rick.
It was the same in his old school, and he expected nothing less here at Oval Academy.
At some point, Axel found himself wondering what life might have been like if he'd attended the Collectors Academy instead.
Eventually, after what felt like hours of waiting it was finally Axel's turn. Rick was long gone and Axel hadn't even noticed.
He stepped inside the building, made his way through the hallway, and stopped at an office where he knew he was supposed to be screened.
The room was. White walls, white floor, and a faint hum coming from the overhead lights. Axel squinted as he stepped forward. There were about six counters in total, each with a different officer attending to a line of students. Everything looked organized, mechanical even.
He stopped when a woman in a gray uniform waved him over.
"Next!"
Axel walked up to her counter. The name on her badge read 'Lynn'.
Lynn was a beauty, that part was already established in Axel's mind. Her red hair was tied to a ponytail. She had sharp grey eyes, and she gave the kind of stare that could make one confess a crime they hadn't even committed yet.
Axel looked at her wrist band and discovered that she was in fact a second year student.
"Name?" she asked flatly.
"Axel Vaelon," he replied.
"Colony?"
"Seaside Colony."
Seaside Colony was where Axel lived before coming to the academy. It was one of seven colonies there.
Lynn nodded and tapped something into her glass terminal.
"Alright, Mr. Vaelon. Let's get your screening done. Left arm. Roll up your sleeve."
Axel hesitated but eventually he stretched his left arm and rolled up his sleeve. Lynn reached for a small metallic device shaped like a pen and pressed it against his arm. There was a quick sting, then a small beep.
'She just took blood from me?' Axel wondered.
"Yes," she said, not looking up. "We need a genetic signature. It'll be stored in the Academy's system in case of emergencies or… other purposes."
'Bloody hell. She can hear my thoughts?'
That realization unsettled on Axel's mind in the worst possible way and he started reflecting back on whatever thought he had when he walked in.
"Yes, I can hear your thoughts, and yes, I know I'm pretty. Thank you."
Axel's face immediately turned red and he tried not to smile but he failed. Luckily, Lynn smiled back at him before continuing.
"Look at the lens in front of you."
A small spherical drone came to life in front of him, scanning his face from every angle before flashing once. The bright light even made him blink.
"Facial data and photo captured," Lynn said typing. "Now, your ID will be linked to your biological signature. Any attempt at tampering with your identity will flag the system. Understand?"
"Yeah, sure," Axel muttered. "Sounds… comforting."
Lynn chuckled, then she opened a drawer and pulled out a sleek black device that looked like a smaller, thinner version of the ancient smartphones people used before the war. She placed it on the desk and slid it toward him.
"This," she said, "is your personal digital handset. Don't lose it."
Axel picked it up. The surface lit up instantly, scanning his face before displaying his name:
[Axel Vaelon | Lumina 3 | Student ID: 01752]
It looked oddly futuristic but familiar at the same time.
"It works as your identification, schedule keeper, and payment unit," Lynn explained. "All your transactions in the Academy go through that. Meals, supplies, transport, room access, everything."
"Like a credit card?" he asked.
"Exactly. Except losing it means you lose access to your student funds, your dorm access, and your class data. You'd basically be a ghost until we reissue one, and that takes time."
"So basically, don't screw it up."
"Precisely."
She pointed to a blinking icon on the screen. "That's your student balance. You start with 5 CNT. The school will fund you everyday so you don't run out. Don't spend them all in one place."
Axel tapped the icon. A holographic window appeared with a credit bar reading:
[Balance: 5 CNT]
He couldn't help but chuckle. "5 CNTs. That's it?"
"You'll earn more through assignments, combat missions, or exceptional academic performance. You can make more by working like I do" Lynn said.
"You're cleared, Mr. Vaelon. Odd name by the way…"
Axel raised a brow at that last part. 'It's not my fault my last name sounds like a vampire lord from the 15th century.'
Lynn chuckled slightly, before she continued. "Welcome to the Oval Academy. Don't get yourself killed."
"Yeah," Axel said with a half-smile, turning toward the exit. "I'll try not to."
As he stepped out of the screening hall, he looked down at the sleek device again, the glowing numbers were almost mocking him with their simplicity.
Five CNTs.
It wasn't much, but it was a start. Maybe later on, he'll have to get more.
***