Inside the Exam Head Office, the atmosphere was thick with frantic energy. Following the public announcement, supervisors scrambled to finalize the venue. They moved between consoles, recalibrating gadgets to minimum power for the preliminary tests, checking weapon safety locks, and ensuring every camera feed was crystal clear. Everything was moving according to a strict protocol.
The heavy doors suddenly hissed open.
The room went silent as the Elite Warriors (Ranked 2 through 10) marched into the office. The supervisors froze, their initial startle turning into pure, unadulterated shock. Realizing who was standing in their workspace, the staff instinctively bowed in unison.
"Oh... what a pleasant surprise!" the Leader of the Exam Committee (L.E.C.) stammered, trying to maintain his composure despite the overwhelming pressure radiating from the group. "I didn't know you were coming, or we would have prepared. Is there... a problem?"
On the outside, the L.E.C. was professional, but his mind was racing. What the hell are these guys doing here? he thought. I hope they aren't here to cause trouble. Everywhere they go, chaos follows.
The Elites didn't seem to care about the tension. They filtered into the room, spreading out like they owned the place. Some leaned casually against the walls; others claimed chairs or simply stood in intimidating silence.
Kuro adjusted his glasses, his calm voice cutting through the silence. "No, nothing is wrong. We would have notified you of our arrival, but you might say it was a last-minute decision."
The supervisors remained huddled behind their leader, paralyzed by indecision. Akatsume Shido (#10) noticed their stiff postures and gave a dismissive wave.
"Oh, don't let us stop you," Shido said. He leaned back against a shelf, resting his arm on the tech-crossbow he carried. "You guys can go."
The supervisors didn't need to be told twice. They hurried toward the exit in quiet fear, but Raizen reached out and snagged one by the arm.
"Umm, do you guys happen to have any clean water? No drinks?" Raizen asked.
The caught supervisor just nodded quickly, his eyes wide. Raizen stared at him, confused by the silence. "Say words."
"I-I'm on my way with your order! I'll be back soon!" the man blurted out.
Raizen politely let go, but before the man could flee, he was grabbed forcefully by Mikane Tatsuro (#3). The supervisor looked up at the metallic, high-tech gauntlets gripping his shirt and began to sweat profusely.
"And bring me a can of cola," Tatsuro growled, his voice low and dangerous. "If it isn't cold, I'll shove the can deep down your throat."
He tossed the man aside. The L.E.C. let out a quiet, weary sigh; he had known this was coming. As the terrified supervisor scrambled out of the office, Kuro caught the leader's pained expression and turned to his teammates.
"Hey, can you guys just... not do anything at all?" Kuro snapped. "You're scaring everyone. All I want you to do is stay quiet."
He turned back to the committee leader, his tone softening. "Again, we are sorry about them. We are only here because we came to watch Mr. Ayumu's sister perform. He has high hopes for her and wants her to take his place one day, so he wants to oversee her in action."
The L.E.C. relaxed slightly, a look of understanding crossing his face. "Oh, well, we don't mind—as long as you guys don't break anything," he said with a small, hopeful smile.
Right on cue, Seishin Yoruma (#7), who had been wandering aimlessly around the office while staring at the ceiling, accidentally caught a glass vase with the tech-staff strapped to his back. The vase hit the floor and shattered into a thousand pieces.
Yoruma pressed a button on his staff, watching it shrink down before tucking it into his hoodie pocket. He noticed Kuro's murderous glare and shrugged. "Sorry. My bad."
Kuro sighed heavily, rubbing the bridge of his nose. Before he could apologize again, the L.E.C. spoke up first. "No, it's okay. When I said something... I meant someone. We'll just call someone to clean it up." He looked around the group of legendary warriors. "So... where is Mr. Ayumu?"
Kuro hesitated for a moment, shifting his weight. "He's, um... he's busy."
Tatsuro didn't hold back, snorting loudly. "Bullshit. He's late—that's what he is." He began marching toward Kuro, his metallic gauntlets gleaming under the office lights.
Kuro's brow furrowed, his calm demeanor cracking into a frown. "Sit back down, Mr. Tatsu—"
"No!" Tatsuro barked, stepping directly into Kuro's personal space. The L.E.C. instinctively backed away, desperate to avoid the inevitable crossfire. "You told me to look neat and tidy! Like hell, I even wore a tuxedo for Mr. Number One's big day. You warned me not to be late, but look around—where is he? Nowhere to be found!"
Kuro exhaled sharply, trying to maintain some semblance of authority. "Mr. Ayumu gets here when he wants to. I have no say in that, okay? There's nothing you or I can do about it!"
Tatsuro's frown deepened. "So let me get this straight: if I'm late, I apologize. If he's late, we apologize? That's garbage."
"Tatsuro."
The name was spoken calmly from the back of the room. The entire office fell into a deafening silence. Not a single soul had noticed when Ayumu, the Rank #1 Elite, had entered the office. Tatsuro's eyes squinted in immediate regret. He turned around slowly to find Ayumu standing there, radiating a quiet, terrifying power.
"Sir," Tatsuro muttered, his bravado vanishing instantly.
Ayumu offered a slight, respectful bow to the room. "I am sorry for being late. An escaped psychic beast was roaming the streets on my way here; I thought it best to eliminate it before arriving. I believe it was an S-Tier threat, though I cannot be certain as I am not a Guild Master. It was... exceptionally strong."
Ayumu raised his head, his gaze fixing on Tatsuro. The bigger man's anger was replaced by visible fear, his eyes darting away to avoid eye contact.
"Mr. Tatsuro," Ayumu said softly. "If you have a problem with me, we can always settle it through a challenge. You name the terms; I am free to listen."
Kuro quickly stepped between them, playing the peacemaker. "Sir, there is no need to explain yourself. The exam is actually about to start in just a few seconds, so you're perfectly on time. Isn't that right, Tatsuro?"
Tatsuro sighed, his shoulders slumping. "Yeah. Sorry for going out of line." He retreated to his spot by the wall.
In the corner, Kaoru (#4) hissed under his breath, "Well, that was awkward."
Suddenly, Raizen stood up, his eyes gleaming with a mischievous idea. "Mr. Ayumu? Your sister is taking the exam today, right? You want to see her potential tested at its absolute limit, don't you? We're all here to watch, and you wouldn't want the show to be boring, would you?"
Ayumu looked intrigued. "I suppose not. Why?"
Raizen grinned. "Why don't we host this exam? Not as spectators or supervisors, but as the architects. I have an event in mind that no one has ever seen. These days, people pass far too easily. Not today. While I'm here, I'll make it tougher, harder, and much more fun. We'll show the world exactly how good your sister really is. So... can we do it?"
Ayumu smiled back, a rare spark of excitement in his eyes. "That actually sounds like fun. I like it. Let Raizen plan it."
The L.E.C. checked his watch frantically. "Well, we only have three seconds before the gates open... but why not? I'll delay the start by five minutes. Go crazy."
Raizen's smile grew wide and predatory. "Good. But first... prepare a lot of Death Waivers."
Meanwhile, back at the gate...
The food vendor was checking his watch, his patience worn thin. "Oh great, the exam is starting. That kid kept my hopes up for nothing. What a bastard," he grumbled, reaching for the latch to close his stall.
Suddenly, Ren appeared directly in front of him. The vendor jumped back, nearly tripping over a crate. Once he realized it was Ren, he let out a heavy, frustrated breath. "What the hell is wrong with you, you filthy—!"
He caught himself, his expression shifting instantly into a fake, sugary-sweet smile. "I mean... what took you so long, dear customer?"
Ren forced a smile of his own. "Sorry, I was still looking for the money. But I have your one hundred Zeths right here." He held out his hand, revealing the coin.
The vendor reached for it greedily, but Ren snapped his palm shut.
"Wait, not yet," Ren said firmly. "The potatoes first."
The vendor sighed. "Of course. Wait right here."
While the vendor turned his back, Aiko was busy behind the truck. She unzipped her long bag and began expertly strapping makeshift rocket boosters to the van's chassis, giggling to herself. "This is crazy," she whispered, unable to stop her hands from moving with practiced speed.
The vendor returned, handing a plate of mashed potatoes and rich sauce to Ren. Ren took a deep sniff. "Wow, it smells even better up close." He took a large bite, his eyes widening. "And the taste is wonderful!"
The vendor rolled his eyes. "Yeah, sure. Now, the money."
Ren's expression went cold as he stared the man in the eye. "Oh, you're not getting this money, you scamming piece of shit. But you are getting a trip to the sun."
"What are you talking about, you filth?! Give me my—"
Before the vendor could finish, Ren grabbed the heavy awning door and slammed it shut with violent force. It caught the vendor square on the nose, sending him tumbling backward into the depths of the van.
"Now, Aiko!" Ren shouted.
Aiko pulled out a remote and flipped the switch. The rockets under the van ignited with a deafening roar, spewing brilliant orange flames. Inside, the terrified vendor could only scream as his entire shop was launched into the sky like a clumsy satellite.
The hundreds of nearby examinees—already nervous about the upcoming trials—watched in stunned confusion as Ren and Aiko stood there laughing together, having just blasted a man out of the atmosphere.
"How did you do that?" Ren asked, grinning.
"I specialize in quick-building," Aiko giggled, patting her bag. "I can update, attach, or disable simple weapons. This bag is where I keep all my tools."
"So that's what it's for!" Ren said, impressed.
"So," Aiko asked, "were the potatoes worth it?"
Before Ren could answer, the overhead speakers crackled to life.
"Attention, examinees. This is the Exam Head Office. We apologize for the delay; we were meant to start five minutes ago, but there has been a slight change in plans due to some... important arrivals. Your SHIELD membership and your road to being a hero starts now. Without further ado—let the gates be opened!"
The massive steel gates groaned and began to swing wide. The crowd surged forward. Amidst the sea of people, Zen walked in with a calm, focused stride.
Ren looked at Aiko, both of them taking a final, deep breath.
"The mashed potatoes tastes great," Ren said, setting the plate on the ground. "But I think I just lost my appetite."
Aiko smiled, her eyes sharp with determination. "Don't worry. We got this."
"Sure," Ren replied, his confidence returning. "Let's go get that license."
Together, they stepped across the threshold and into the unknown.