A Dud?

After Miss Emerald informed the class about ability testing, all the students were led to another section of the academy—a massive green field.

Thanks to its vastness, the Hero Academy boasted not only academic buildings and training facilities but also several open fields that could be used for both training and other activities.

In one of these fields, Miss Emerald addressed the students while sitting on a chair, a tablet held in her hand.

"Okay, now that we are all here, I want each one of you to step forward and activate your abilities, and I'll be taking note," Emerald spoke while scrolling through the tablet.

One after the other, students started to step forward and activate their abilities. Nyx, who was watching to see if any students could pose a threat to him, was left unimpressed.

All the abilities he had seen so far were mediocre at best. The only person who caught his interest a little was Yiran. The muscular student confidently stepped forward and activated his ability.

Thick chains made purely out of water started to appear around Yiran's muscular arms, all ending with an intimidating hook.

"My ability allows me to manipulate water into anything I think about!" As he said that, the chain of water transformed into weapons—katanas, a pair of daggers, and even a gigantic sword that seemed as if it could split the moon into two.

'Impressive, his ability is just like his twin brother,' Emerald noted as she typed into the tablet in her hand. 'The Brolly brothers could have been quite the duo, so unfortunate to run into Ikor. Either way, I know a talent like him could easily get into another academy.'

'Hmm, Manipulation type ability, huh? If he wasn't such a jerk, I'd have considered making him my pawn.' Nyx thought. Just like Emerald, he too was a bit impressed.

Manipulation type abilities were one of the most dangerous ability types in the world because with one creative thought, they could be a true menace in the battlefield. Like Yiran said, people who wielded this type of ability could easily create anything by just thinking about it.

If Yiran reached higher ranks, which was impossible because of his low talent, he could even control the natural water found in his opponents, making them do things against their will.

Simply put, in the hands of the right person who could utilize the full potential of Manipulation type Ability, it'd be very difficult for them to be defeated in a battle.

This was one of the reasons Nyx was willing to do anything to get Violet, who also possessed a Manipulation type ability. Unlike Yiran, who could only reach Tier 3 Superhuman, Violet was capable of reaching Tier 1 just like her grandfather.

"Next!" Emerald called forward, and by coincidence, the person that stepped forward was Violet. After displaying her ability, the pink-haired girl walked back, leaving the crowd stunned.

Violet's control over her shadows was even more impeccable. Talent also determined the level of control one could achieve, something Yiran lacked and was also the reason his ability, despite being similar to Violet's, was just a rank 4 ability.

Abilities were mainly ranked by their destructive and effectiveness in battle. The level of talent posed by superhuman also plays a crucial role as higher talent enhances their control over abilities.

Essentially, the higher the talent, the more smoothly and precisely superhumans can use their abilities.

'If Yiran was green grade, maybe his water manipulation would have been a rank five ability.' Nyx noted.

The next person was Ikor, but for some reason, before he could step forward, Emerald signaled at him to return to his position. Nyx was one of the few who noticed the two interactions. He figured it had to do with Ikor's background and the type of ability he wielded.

'Maybe this so-called Dalton Daze doesn't want to reveal much about his son's ability. If my guess is right, this boy is his hidden trump card.' Nyx analyzed.

Most of the students were too occupied with coming up with cool ways to use their abilities before the beautiful Emerald, so they failed to notice that the strongest student among the first year was excluded.

"Wish me luck." Nyx was jolted out of his thoughts by Apollo, who was now running ahead of him to activate his abilities.

Being the same dorm mate, naturally, the red-haired boy was curious to see what Apollo was capable of.

Arriving before Emerald, Apollo spoke. "I have a beast transformation type ability; it enables me to turn any of my body parts into any beast I think about, and in return, I receive the strength of that creature!"

The black-haired boy then proceeded to morph both his arms and legs into those of a white furry creature. With a closer look, the students could see that it was actually a white ape. Apollo then tightened the muscles on his leg area as he decided to take a jump and impress everyone here, especially Violet.

However, that dream was cut short when Emerald spoke.

"Okay, next!"

"But I haven't even done anything yet!" Apollo wanted to complain but could only walk back to Nyx.

"What rank is your ability again?" Nyx asked Apollo.

"Ah, it's just rank 3. You didn't find that display impressive, did you?"

"No, your display was very bad." Nyx spoke bluntly, causing Apollo to frown.

"But it's a pretty powerful ability, if you know how to use it, that is." Nyx added, and the frown disappeared from the black-haired boy's face.

"You think so too? My mom was the only one that has told me this; it's the first time I'm hearing it from someone else. When others see me use this ability, they always feel disgust and don't want to associate themselves with me, but you—"

"That's because they are all fools." Nyx interrupted Apollo's emotional moment. He didn't really care about the latter's feelings.

"How about this. I teach you how to use the full potential of this ability; I'm very knowledgeable when it comes to abilities." Nyx offered.

This was the red-haired way of making Apollo his pawn. The first step, Nyx wanted to make Apollo dependent on him, then gradually he'll become a full-fledged pawn.

Apollo, who always wanted to use the full potential of his ability and make his first friend, didn't hesitate as he said, "Of course, I accept your offer." And jokingly added, "I look forward to learning from you, Sensei."

Just at that moment, Nyx heard a loud ding voice in his head, and a holographic blue screen appeared in his retina.

Quest: [ Make Apollo Your Pawn ]

Quest description: [ Manipulate Apollo and make him your pawn ]

Reward: [ +100XP/ +20 Infamy Points/ and one random Super Item]

'What the heck is this?' Nyx was at first confused but then his eyes shone with realization. 'This is the same screen that popped out in the bathroom. Am I going to lose consciousness again?'

"You with the red hair, step forward; we don't have all day," Emerald called out to Nyx, snapping him out of his trance, and the screen also disappeared obligingly.

Nyx knew better than wasting these people's time here, so he decided to say what he wanted to say from the very beginning, but first, he looked at a building roof where a pair of eyes were watching him before returning to Miss Emerald.

"I don't have any ability… I'm a dud." Nyx said with an unbothered expression on his emotionless face.