The sun blazed down on the training grounds of New Heights Academy. Johnson was already sweating from light exercise when the commanding voice of their instructor echoed across the field.
"Alright everyone, come together. Today we are going to learn how to convert your inert energy and use it to enhance your strength."
"Yes ma'am!" the class replied in unison.
The teacher lifted a massive iron sphere in her hands. Energy pulsed from her palms, glowing faintly, before she launched the ball into the air. It soared high above the field and landed far in the distance with a heavy thud that shook the ground.
"Now we will conduct a physical strength test. If you fail this test…" Her voice hardened, "you will be expelled."
Gasps spread through the class.
"Expelled?" Priscilla's voice cracked in disbelief. "After we worked so hard to get here?"
"I can't get expelled. I will work hard no matter what," Brock said with clenched fists.
"This doesn't make any sense, does it Priscilla?" Bella whispered.
"It surely doesn't," Priscilla answered bitterly. "We fought for our place in this class. How can we be expelled so easily?"
Henry folded his arms, glaring at the others with disdain. "Weaklings. Always complaining about an easy test."
Johnson frowned. "I don't think that's fair. Everyone is just confused..."
The rest of his words were cut off as Henry slapped him across the face. "You don't deserve to speak to me."
Johnson lowered his gaze, his tone quiet yet firm. "You're right. I don't deserve to talk to you. I am worthless. But don't talk down on others when you know nothing about them, fraud."
The class gasped, gathering around to watch the confrontation.
Henry scoffed, stepping closer. "You think you're clever? Just because you can run fast?" He shoved Johnson hard. "You are a loser. A coward. Your abilities are pathetic. You exist only to run away."
Johnson's face fell. His usual sharpness dulled, replaced with a look of sadness.
"What's wrong, coward?" Henry taunted. "Cat got your tongue?"
Johnson inhaled slowly and spoke without raising his eyes. "No. I won't say anything. Because I already see myself as lower than what you call me. But I promise you this. I will score higher than you in this test."
"Oh really?" Henry sneered before punching him in the stomach. He rained blows on Johnson, his golden braces flashing with each strike. "You think you can run your mouth and get away with it?"
"Enough!" the teacher barked. "Both of you, stop. Ben, step forward."
Ben hesitated but nodded, jogging to the front.
"Pick up the ball and throw with all your strength," the teacher ordered while raising a glowing measuring device.
Ben gritted his teeth and hurled the heavy sphere as far as he could. It barely made it across the field.
The teacher checked the device. "Two point five percent. You can do better next time." She patted his head encouragingly.
Bella smirked. "Next is Henry Hart. There is no way anyone will beat his score."
Henry cracked his neck and thought to himself, I am the strongest. That fight with Max was nothing but a fluke. I have trained harder since then.
He picked up the ball with ease.
"How heavy is this?" he asked casually.
"About fifteen tons," the teacher replied. "That shouldn't be an issue for you."
Nearby, Tony whispered to Ben. "I think that white haired boy might be stronger than Henry."
Ben shook his head. "No way. Remember when he lost his match to that weakling?"
"Yeah, he got beaten badly," Tony muttered.
Henry overheard them. Annoyance flared in his eyes. He poured energy into the ball until it glowed and hurled it across the field with a loud crack. It landed far, leaving a small crater behind.
The teacher checked the reading. "Seventy five point five percent. Impressive. You nearly surpassed my own score. No wonder you are called the strongest."
Henry smirked with pride. "Of course. There is no way that brat will ever get higher than me."
But the teacher's expression suddenly changed. The device beeped wildly before displaying an impossible number. She froze.
"One hundred point five percent?!" Her voice shook. "Who are you? How is a human child able to achieve this?!"
Everyone turned. Johnson stood calmly, munching on peanuts. "Sorry. I think our ball landed in Russia. Might have hit some Nazis."
The class was speechless.
Henry's face darkened with rage. He stormed forward, grabbing Johnson by the collar. "You cheated. You bastard, how did you do it?!"
Johnson blinked, genuinely confused.
A moment earlier, when he had taken his turn, Johnson had whispered within. "Inner voice, can you hear me?"
"Yes," the mysterious Voice of the Will replied.
"I want to throw this ball in a way no one has ever done. Unlock one percent of my sealed power."
"Understood. Releasing power to one percent… process complete."
Johnson had lifted the fifteen ton sphere with three fingers as if it were light as air. With a deep breath, he flung it skyward. The ball tore through the clouds and vanished into the horizon. He exhaled. "I might be in trouble."
Back in the present, Henry shook him violently. "Answer me, coward!"
"Um… inner voice? Is this what one percent feels like?" Johnson asked in his mind.
"Not exactly," the voice replied. "You only reached zero point eight nine percent. And remember… you can only use up to five percent of your full power."
"I see…" Johnson murmured softly.
Before Henry could strike again, a hand clamped down on his wrist. A cold, dark voice echoed. "Is there something you need to say to me?"
It was Jerry. His purple eyes glowed like voids as his aura poured into the air.
Henry froze, sweat dripping down his face. "What do you want?"
Jerry's tone grew darker, colder. "You have some nerve. Insulting and assaulting my friend in class. Do you think that makes you strong?" His grip tightened.
Henry's knees buckled. "I… I am sorry… I am sorry sir…" His voice cracked, fear dripping from every word.
Bella frowned. "What's going on?"
Priscilla leaned closer, smiling faintly. "Looks like they are going to fight."
Henry trembled, his eyes wide in horror. "What… what do you want from me?"
"Nothing much," Jerry whispered, his aura thickening. "I just think you deserve a taste of your own medicine. You bully others because of your own insecurities. Isn't that right? Answer me."
"Yes… yes…" Henry stammered. He released Johnson's collar. "Please let me go."
Jerry tilted his head. "Why should I? How about I rip off your arm and make you crawl for the rest of your life?"
"Jerry, stop." Johnson placed his hand on his friend's arm, calming him. "It doesn't matter if someone insults me. Let him go."
The inner voice murmured again. "User has reached four percent of full power."
Jerry narrowed his eyes but sighed, releasing Henry. "You let words hurt you, Johnson. I was only trying to teach him a lesson."
Henry stumbled away, humiliated and trembling.
Johnson looked at Jerry. "You scared him. That isn't fair. It's not your fight. But… thank you."
Jerry smiled faintly and bumped his fist against Johnson's. "No big deal. Are you training with me later?"
"Not today. I need to visit someone at the hospital. I'll train with you another time."
"Fair enough." Jerry turned to the teacher. "Hey, catch." From his shadow space he pulled out another iron ball and tossed it.
The teacher caught it, her hands glowing with energy. "Thanks."
Bella whispered, "What exactly just happened?"
Priscilla replied, "Johnson scored over one hundred percent. That is higher than the teacher's own score. It should be impossible unless he was an elite gold rank. But he was placed in class A as rank ZF."
The teacher's voice cut through the murmurs. "Alright, everyone. Line up. Continue the test."
One by one, the students resumed throwing their balls. The field fell into silence, broken only by the heavy thuds of iron striking the earth, as the light slowly faded over New Heights.