A commanding presence stepped forward—one of the Supreme Generals. The hall fell into silence as he ascended the podium, his movements precise and powerful.
His name was Kael Vox, a man with a broad, muscular frame, a bald head, and piercing eyes that held a perpetual seriousness. His very presence exuded authority. He was clad in the Supreme General's uniform, a sleek, high-tech ensemble crafted from adaptive nanofiber.
The long black cloak he wore bore intricate silver and blue embroidery, embedded with circuitry patterns that pulsed faintly with energy. A high collar framed his sharp features, adding to his imposing aura.
His uniform also included a flexible metallic tunic, tailored trousers, and knee-high armored boots, all designed for both form and function.
Clearing his throat, he addressed the audience via an earpiece, his deep voice echoing through the vast hall.
"Good morning, students of the Imperial Academies." He paused, letting his gaze sweep across the room. "This year's annual selection is not only special for you but for the entire world. For the first time in history, a sixteen-year-old has been nominated for the Platinum rank."
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. Shock, curiosity, and jealousy flickered across the faces of the students as they exchanged glances. But most already knew who it was.
Most eyes turned toward Maji Leray.
"Maji Leray, step forward, please," Kael Vox commanded.
Maji exhaled slowly, straightening his black, form-fitting tunic and tailored fitting trousers before stepping away from the ranks.
The dim glow of the hall's energy lights reflected subtly off his uniform. Emphasizing on its design, were glowing green circuitry stripes fitted randomly on it. ( The circuitry lines act as shields, creating a force field that help reducing the damage of an attack on the body of the wearer.)
Without hesitation, Maji jogged up the steps, his every movement radiating quiet confidence.
Upon reaching the podium, he stood beside Kael Vox. Next to the Supreme general, a woman stood with an air of composed elegance—his assistant.
Maji's gaze flicked to her briefly. She had long, flowing blonde hair and piercing red eyes that held a sharp sense of intelligence.
Her uniform was a white short dress layered with sleek, reinforced trousers, paired with high-heeled knee boots that gave her an air of both sophistication and combat readiness.
Her presence was striking, but Maji had no time to dwell on it.
She held a black cloak adorned with intricate crimson designs, its fabric rich and regal. A platinum emblem was embroidered on the back, shimmering under the dim light. With measured grace, she stepped forward and draped the cloak around Maji's shoulders before retreating to her standing position beside the general.
Maji smirked, running his fingers over the front edges of the cloak, feeling the weight of his newfound status.
The Supreme General placed a firm hand on Maji's shoulder, his voice carrying through the hall with authority.
"This boy has stunned the world—myself included. At sixteen, he has accomplished what even I and the Emperor only achieved at nineteen. A true blessing to the Elves… someone who is destined for greatness."
A murmur rippled through the gathered elites as the Supreme General gestured for Maji to take his place among the other platinums. Eleven Platinums stood waiting, their presence commanding. The eldest, a man in his late twenties, watched him with quiet approval, while the youngest before Maji had once been twenty—until now.
The hall remained silent, every eye locked on him. The weight of the moment pressed down on his shoulders.
The Platinum nomination was no ordinary title. It was an honor, a challenge, and perhaps... a death sentence.
Maji took a steady breath and stepped forward, his boots echoing against the polished floor. He moved to stand beside the last Platinum—a girl. She had joined the ranks only the previous year.
Their eyes met for a fleeting moment.
"It's a pity that Hakili didn't make it to the Platinum rank," a girl's voice whispered among the gathered elites. "He was so close—almost there. If anything happens to Maji… something that forces him out of duty..." The speaker's voice lowered, tinged with dark amusement. "Then that would be Hakili's chance to step up as Platinum."
Hakili heard every word.
His jaw tightened, and his fists clenched so hard that his nails dug into his palm, leaving crescents of pain behind.
Maji, at only sixteen, had shattered that record of being the youngest, the current emperor was once the youngest at nineteen and a half, forty years ago. Then the Supreme general broke it by being nineteen and thirty days, twenty one years ago.
Among the platinums, only three were women, each bearing the same platinum emblem that signified their elite rank. The rest were men, all Elves. No humans, no other species. The entire room was a sea of Elven supremacy.
Only the Supreme General stood as an exception—a human. His origins remained a mystery, his strength an enigma. No one knew how he had risen to such power, but he had become so formidable that even the Emperor had once placed him as his right hand.
Yet, he had cast aside the comfort of political influence, choosing instead the thrill of the battlefield. Boredom, he had claimed, was suffocating within the inner walls.
Meanwhile, the general continued, his voice unwavering. He listed the nominated candidates for the Royal Squad, his words carrying a weight that few could ignore. Then, without another glance at the crowd, he turned and stepped down from the podium.
His assistant took his place, her sharp gaze sweeping over the assembly before announcing the candidates for the Special Elite Squad.
To Hakili, the rest of the ceremony passed in a blur. His ears rang, but his mind was clear—crystal clear with rage.
He had been nominated for the Royal Elite Squad, a prestigious honor. But it meant nothing to him.
He was still beneath his younger half-brother.
The ceremony ended in a flash.
The crowd broke apart, some walking in groups, others alone, lost in thought. Excitement, jealousy, and hushed conversations filled the hall as the students departed.
Beside Maji, the girl who had stood near him throughout the event turned slightly, her brown eyes gleaming with curiosity.
"Hey, I'm Elline, by the way," she said, offering a small smile. Then, with a tilt of her head, she asked, "If I may ask... what's your power level?"
Her gaze instinctively flickered to Maji's left arm.
There, a wristband gleamed under the artificial lights, a device worn by every humanoid species. It displayed the level of power, energy pool, and health status of its wearer.
Power levels ranged from one to ten a measure of the capabilities ones power had out of ten. The energy pool, however, had no fixed limit. It was a wellspring that could grow, expand, and strengthen over time.
Some had been recorded to reach a thousand, though such numbers were legendary, almost mythical.
The highest energy pool ever recorded in history... was said to belong to a being no one had ever seen. It was recorded in historical books, a man known as Havy Wapi, he is said to achieve tens of thousands EtherWatts, his power level was said to be above ten, unreadable.
Though he disappeared without a trace.
Elline waited for Maji's answer, her curiosity evident.
Maji stretched out his left arm, his movements calm and deliberate. The faint blue glow of the wristband's screen flickered to life, displaying his stats in crisp, hovering text:
Power Level: 6.
Health Status: Excellent.
Energy Pool: 556 Etherwatts (Ew).
Affinity: fire.
Skill level: Elite.
Elline's eyes widened. A sharp gasp escaped her lips before she could stop it.
"Five hundred and fifty-six? And you're a level six!" she whispered, barely able to contain her shock. Her gaze snapped back to Maji's face, searching for any sign that this was some kind of mistake.
That number wasn't just impressive—it was unreal. Most elite trainees barely reached 300 Ew or level 5, at sixteen.
And yet, Maji stood there, unfazed, as if this was nothing out of the ordinary.
Elline swallowed, trying to regain her composure. "That's... insane," she admitted, her voice tinged with awe. "You're basically a monster in the making."
Maji smirked slightly but said nothing. He simply retracted his arm, letting the screen fade back into dormancy.
Elline exhaled slowly, still processing what she had just seen.