Shortly after we watched the news, I headed back to my room.

So a school for those who want to become a challenger... huh. I wonder if I will be a good fit in this new school.

"Your physique is great for fighting, your head is strong, you have great courage, you have a sense of duty." Flashback from when Daruma spoke...

See what I'm telling you? I'm just an extravagant guy.

That aside, I wonder when the schools will open... and who will I be calling friends and foes. ugh, for now let's just go to sleep, I still have class tomorrow.

*Alarm blares at 5:00 AM*

School starts at 8, let's go for my daily run.

While on my run, I see an elderly man and his wife walk down the road. They look lovely, I wonder if I'll ever get someone to love me even when I turn old.

I start to slow down and just watch them walk across the road. Then suddenly there was a car that had just done a sharp turn down the block... they aren't slowing down.

Now I don't know how I got myself into this situation, but now I'm running at full blast towards the elderly... Like there has to be someone controlling my body, I didn't even realize that I was halfway into the road.

I managed to push them out of the way, but my legs were the price of saving their life... I couldn't retract my legs fast enough and it got hit by that speeding car.

"Shit. That hurt," but to my surprise it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be... my legs are completely broken, but I don't feel that much pain, granted I don't think I can walk anymore.

The car was out of my view, looks like they weren't even going to stop if they hit the elderly... What a douche.

"Young man..." said the elderly man.

"Ah.. it's fine, I'm sure the doctors will be able to do something about this." I worriedly responded.

"No, they can't, your legs are completely broken, they can't do anything, perhaps we can though." said the elderly woman.

I wasn't too sure about what they meant... but what else could I lose? What they said did seem true, I couldn't feel anything in my legs.

Then out of nowhere, the elderly man grabbed my legs, he just yanked it back into place... I experienced great pain... enough to make a grown man cry...

But shortly after, there was this green glow coming out of his hands, the pain quickly left me, and it was rather very soothing.

"There you go young lad, this should do the trick!" said the elderly man.

"Thanks... You must be a challenger aren't you!" I spoke with excitement.

"Ho ho ho, not anymore young one, as you can see, I am quite old." said the old man.

All three of us were laughing, then my pants started buzzing. It was 7:50, class started in 10 minutes, and I was around 20 minutes away if I were to run at my normal pace.

"Oh Shoot! My class is in 10 minutes! I have to go! Thank you for fixing up my legs!" I said as I got up.

While I was running away, the old man said, "What is your name, young lad?".

I replied, "Stephen Wilson".

*At the school*

Panting my life away, I made it with 2 minutes to spare. Running at my max speed really saps away at my energy huh...

It seems though, since The President made that big announcement, people are too focused on that, and seemed to forget about me... Good, that's what I want. I didn't like the fact that people knew me only for that one bullshit.

As I entered the school, things were different, the principal and other faculty ushered people into the gym... why?

I entered the gym and found rows and rows of people lined up in front of a machine-- wait did they expand the gym? The principal went up on the bleachers to make an announcement.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I have gathered us all here in the gym because of the ongoing crisis our planet is fighting. We are here today because we must test your, "physique". Your physique is divided into 6 categories: "E" being the worst, "S" being the best of the best, it goes, E,D,C,B,A, and S. Now what these physiques mean is quite simple, it shows us how fast you can grow as a challenger, people who are an A type physique can grow at a faster rate than a B type and so on. When you are assigned a physique, it represents your talent, you cannot change your physique, but don't worry, your physique doesn't mean everything, it's your determination to grow, it's your will to become stronger that will allow you to keep pushing forward." proudly said the principle.

With that being said, everyone in the gym was loud... everyone was excited.

The first person in line put his hands on the machine. Everyone gave him stares so deep, it could cut through bedrock.

There was no reaction...

The principal released a big sigh.

"If there is no reaction, then it means you cannot awaken in this lifetime... I didn't expect the first person in line to do it, I'm sorry." the principle says.

The student looked like he was on the verge of tears, he ran through the backdoor of the gym...

The next student went up, there was a large display on top of the machine, it showed a, "C". Everyone started clapping.

This repeated for a while, no one got higher than a, "B"... Until June went up. She placed her hand on the machine and the letter, "A" popped up.

It was very distasteful looking at that letter and seeing her face pop up next to it.

She looked back and made eye contact with me, she had the most smug look on her face.

I wanted to do some very illegal things to her... But it would be illegal and I would go to jail for it... I wanted to kill her... What else did you think I wanted to do? You dirty bum.

After a couple more rounds of people going up, I was up next.

People once again knew about my existence, they all had a disgusted look on their face... I put my hands on the machine, then a memory flashed in my mind.

"Your physique is great for fighting," what Daruma said was repeated in my head hundreds of times.

I looked up and saw the machine glitching. It almost formulated an "S" but then it vomited an "A"... I wasn't mad, I was just conflicted. Why did the machine have such a reaction towards me?

I quickly scanned the room with my eyes. Everyone present was also conflicted, but I didn't care, I was looking for June... I wanted to give an even more smug look back to her, which I did. I'm proud of this achievement.

I guess Daruma was right, I got an "A" on the test, my physique is good for fighting…

After I got tested, only 3 more students got an "A" rating, nothing too eventful happened after that.

There were a great number of students who weren't able to get a physique, I guess it is true... Humans and Challengers must live in matrimony to continue to survive.

The principal was very happy because the number of "A" rated students was very high.

After we were all tested, we were then brought to the auditorium, here there was an even larger machine, even more intricate.

The principal again made another announcement, "Okay everyone! Since you all have now tested your physique, now it's time to test which element you have an affinity with! There are the 4 normal elements: Earth, Fire, Water, and Air, but those aren't the only elements. There are people who we call, "Deviants" these people have an element or power that's not the 4 basic, these include Healing, Ice, and much more!"

Huh... So that old man was a Deviant, that's so cool! I wonder what I'll be? I hope to be linked with the fire element.

"We will go by highest rating first," said the principal.

June goes up first, she has an affinity for Wind.

Another, "A" rank goes up, she has an affinity for Earth.

The same could be said for the next, he too has an affinity for Earth.

But the same couldn't be said for the next, "A" rank, she has an affinity for healing... I'm guessing healers are the most common of deviants?

The Principle was ecstatic, as he said, "An, "A" rank healer, oh how the world has been blessed!"

He was so happy... I'm now guessing, there aren't many high ranked healers.

And now it's the moment you and I have been waiting for... what I am qualified for.

Like last time I put my hand on the machine, but nothing happened for the first few seconds.

"Ha! He's not fit for anything!" June snickered.

But something was rising within me... There was a black mist coming out of my forearms... And again, the machine was glitching out, the screen this time was just out of control, it was spitting out every element known to man, and then a loud bang happened, on the screen it said in dark red colors, "DEATH".

A couple of seconds later, there was this sinister aura which I remember feeling when I was in front of Daruma, it brought everyone to their knees, even the guards who were sent from the military were kneeling.

After a couple of seconds which felt like years, the aura lifted, and everyone was able to get up once again.

Under the principal's breath, which no one heard, he said, "A Guardian has arisen."

Everyone was looking at me like I was a monster, the same look as what I gave to Daruma when I first met him.

The principal played it off by saying, "Great! We have 2 deviants, oh how blessed the world is!"

And then a message was transcribed into my head, "Come to my office later." It sounded just like the principle... telepathy is a thing? Good to know.

After everyone else has done their testing, some deviants became healers, some became electric powered, some became frost powered. Nothing really important happened after my whole ordeal.

I looked over to June and she wouldn't make eye contact with me... I guess I've won this war?

The principal made one last final announcement, "Splendid! My young challengers, are you ready to indulge into a new world, this is the start of something new for many of you, let's hope you are all prosperous... One last thing, in 2 days, many schools will open in New York for young adults such as you. There was a plan only for 1 school to open for now, but since so many people awakened, they had to construct more schools. The best of them all will be, "Central Capital". This is the best school in the whole country, and it's located here in New York. All the "A" ranks will have direct access to the school, unless you don't want to go there. The rest must pass an entrance exam."

As the principle finished, students were dismissed. I headed up the stairs to meet the principal at his office.

"Good Afternoon Mr. Blake." I said.

Mr. Blake was the principal.

"Good Afternoon Stephen." The principal replied

"I'm sure you know why I called you here. You are a deviant, and a powerful one at that. But I want to tell you something." The principle says.

"Yes Mr?" I replied.

The principal's words held a lot of weight, "Whose side are you on?"

Though his intimidation didn't work because he is nowhere near the level of Daruma's intimidation.

I replied calmly, "The side that is right."

I didn't say Humans or Ethereal because I wanted to keep him on his toes, I wanted to choose the side which was the best for me and the ones who I love.

For now though, I am ultimately fighting for the Humans, this may change in the future, let's hope not.

"I don't sense any malicious intent from you, I'll bite and think you are on our side for now, but if I think you are diverging, I'll personally bring you down. Don't take this as a threat, you are weak right now, but in the future you will be a peerless master among the rest, I just don't want you to be our enemy." said the principal.

"You don't have to worry about anything for now, but just keep in mind, if anything were to happen to my loved ones, and I find out it was the humans, you can guess the rest." I said with a condescending voice.

The principal chuckles, "You won't have to worry about that young man."

We end it off with a very firm handshake.

As I leave and shut the door, I hear the president calling someone.

The principal on the phone, "Sean, I found a potential Guardian, but to keep him we have to keep his family safe, I'll send you the address later, you must send agents to guard the family at all times in secrecy, we cannot lose this man."

So the Principle is a good man, he tries his best for his country.

I head back home after the whole ordeal...

"Death," that is my power? H-how does one use death...?

I hope that "Central Capital" can advise me on how to use... death.

As soon as I opened the door, I'm greeted by my mom and my sister.

Both saying at the same time, "So how did you do on the test?"

As I walked in and took a seat I explained to them, "I am an, "A" ranked deviant."

Shella looked very shocked, and a bit happy... Though the same couldn't be said about mom, she looked worried and quite sad.

Mom asks a question, "What did you awaken as?"

"Death" is all I replied with.

"Excuse me, what?" said my mom.

I was trying my best to hold in my laughter, "Yes mom, I don't know what this power is, but the principle said it's a very strong power."

Once again she looked concerned, but only said, "That's great sweetie, just be careful."

I don't know what she isn't telling me, but I didn't want to pry, I had no need to. It was weird though, she didn't even ask what school I got into.

Perhaps she's just happy that I awakened.

For all I know, my life is about to start. Will it be easy? No. Will it be worth it? Perhaps not. Will it be interesting? Definitely so.