The Imperial Combat Academy towered over the city of Washington DC like a monument to power.
Its obsidian gates stretched nearly fifty meters high, engraved with ancient martial symbols that pulsed faintly with great energy. Thousands of applicants crowded the massive plaza outside, each one hoping to enter the legendary institution that trained the world's most powerful warriors.
Most would fail.
Only a handful would ever reach S-Class.
Alexander stepped out of the black hover Lincoln limousine he had summoned from the System's luxury transport service which would cost 4.5 Million USD to have. The polished vehicle glided away silently, leaving him standing at the base of the academy steps.
Heads immediately turned.
The perfectly tailored nano-fiber executive suit, the calm confidence in his posture, and the almost unnatural aura of composure surrounding him made him stand out among the nervous applicants who wanted to enter the legendary institution.
He looked less like a student.
And more like the man who owned the academy.
The System flickered in his vision.
[QUEST PROGRESS: THE ACADEMY ENTRANCE
LOCATION REACHED: Imperial Combat Academy
NEXT OBJECTIVE: Pass the S-Class Entrance Trial]
A loudspeaker suddenly echoed across the plaza where the applicants were.
"Attention all applicants!"
The crowd fell silent.
A tall woman in a white military uniform stepped onto the platform overlooking the arena. Her presence alone radiated authority strong enough to silence thousands with even battling an eye.
"Welcome to the Imperial Combat Academy Entrance Examination for this season's admission."
Her voice carried across the plaza with effortless power.
"My name is Director Serena Valis."
"Today, over three thousand applicants will compete for enrollment."
She paused.
"Only twenty will enter the S-Class stream."
A wave of tension rippled through the crowd.
Twenty.
Out of three thousand.
Someone swallowed loudly.
Director Valis raised a hand.
"The first test is simple."
Behind her, the massive steel gates slowly opened.
Beyond them stood a colossal combat arena.
The ground was reinforced titanium alloy that was almost impossible to break. Towering walls surrounded the battlefield.
At the center stood a massive armored machine nearly ten meters tall.
The crowd gasped.
Alexander's System immediately scanned it.
[TARGET IDENTIFIED
TYPE: Combat Suppression Mech
MODEL: Titan-9 Training Unit
POWER LEVEL: Peak Mortal +]
Director Valis smiled slightly.
"You will have five minutes."
"To land a single effective strike on the Titan-9."
"If you cannot damage it… you are eliminated."
The crowd exploded into panic.
"That thing is military grade!"
"It's impossible!"
"Even professional fighters can't break Titan armor!"
Alexander simply watched.
Unimpressed.
The System chimed again.
[OPTIONAL BONUS OBJECTIVE DETECTED
Defeat Titan-9 within 60 seconds
BONUS REWARD: Dragon-Slaying
Manual Fragment + Advanced Combat Module]
Alexander's lips curved slightly.
Now that sounded interesting.
The first applicants rushed forward.
A muscular fighter charged first, roaring as he punched the mech with all the strength within his whole being.
CLANG.
The impact echoed across the arena.
The mech didn't even move.
The fighter screamed as the recoil shattered his wrist.
Another competitor launched a spinning kick at the Titan-9.
The result was the same.
Nothing changed.
Within minutes, dozens of hopeful students were dragged out of the arena by medical drones to the health centre for an immediate treatment.
The sad thing was that, the Titan-9 hadn't even activated its weapons.
Alexander finally stepped forward.
Someone behind him scoffed.
"Another rich kid trying to show off."
"Watch him get flattened." They couldn't hide their jealousy after seeing the grand entrance Alexander made a while ago.
Alexander ignored them.
He stepped into the arena.
The massive mech turned its glowing red sensors toward him.
COMBAT MODE ACTIVATED
The ground trembled as the Titan-9 took a single step forward.
The entire crowd held their breath.
Director Valis folded her arms curiously.
It was rare for the Titan-9 to make a move during combat test. What shocked them more was that it was the one that made the first move.
It meant that, Alexander was a threat.
Alexander stood calmly in the center of the arena without doing anything.
The mech raised a massive arm.
Then it swung. The blow was powerful enough to crush a car.
Alexander disappeared.
Gasps erupted across the arena.
He reappeared mid-air, standing casually on the mech's arm.
Director Valis' eyes narrowed.
Fast.
The System activated automatically.
ACTIVE SKILL: TIME-DILATION FIELD
To Alexander, the world slowed again.
He could see every hydraulic movement inside the mech's arm.
Every weak point in the armor.
Every exposed power conduit.
The System highlighted them in red.
Alexander sighed.
"Military engineering really hasn't improved." Alexander sneered.
He jumped.
The leap carried him nearly fifteen meters into the air.
The Titan-9 attempted to track him.
Too slow.
Alexander twisted in mid-air.
His fist glowed faintly with blue energy.
SKILL ACTIVATED: GRAVITY STRIKE
He punched downward.
The impact hit the mech's chest.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then the entire machine collapsed inward.
The reinforced armor of the Titan-9 which was impossible to break with normal means crumpled like aluminum foil.
Shockwaves ripped across the arena floor. A thunderous explosion followed.
The Titan-9 crashed onto the ground in a cloud of smoke and sparks.
Total silence fell over the whole academy plaza. Three thousand applicants stared at the scene in disbelief.
Someone whispered.
"He… destroyed it." What just happened was beyond what they could imagine or comprehend.
Director Valis slowly checked the timer.
17 seconds.
Her expression shifted for the first time.
Interest. She had already taken a liking of Alexander.
Alexander landed lightly on the arena floor.
The System chimed again.
[BONUS OBJECTIVE COMPLETED
Titan-9 defeated in 17 seconds
REWARD UNLOCKED:
• Dragon-Slaying Manual Fragment (1/3)
• Advanced Combat Prediction Module]
The System installed the upgrade instantly after the mission was completed.
Alexander felt new combat algorithms integrating into his mind at a fast pace.
He looked up at the stunned crowd of three thousand.
Then he brushed imaginary dust from his sleeve.
Director Valis stepped forward slowly.
"Applicant…"
She studied him carefully.
"…state your name."
Alexander met her gaze calmly.
"Alexander Chase."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"And I believe I'm here for the S-Class orientation." He added with a captivating smile on his handsome face.