As the exam concluded, only one team had failed completely—Team 2, the sole group that hadn't even managed to leave the first event.
The scoring system was straightforward: First place earned 10 points, second through fourth received 5, fifth place got 3, and sixth place took 1 point.
The final rankings blazed across the arena's massive display:
Team 3 (17 points) Team 1 (14 points) Team 6 (13 points) Team 9 (12 points) Team 4 (9 points) Team 5 (7 points)
When Arthur regrouped with his teammates, Sonic Burst suddenly materialized behind him, his voice a low growl in Arthur's ear.
"Random question—what the hell did you do to that kid? Because if he's actually dead, you're getting arrested."
Arthur blinked, he'd completely forgotten the speedster was still trapped in his Death Door illusion. Immediately, he deactivated his power.
The speedster's eyes snapped open—but he wasn't the same. His body was rigid, his expression hollow, as if his soul had been hollowed, leaving a shell of a man behind.
Sonic Burst and Team 2 rushed to check on him.
"Honeyyyy~" Gwin's voice sang out like a melody as she appeared behind Arthur, wrapping her arms around him in a tight, exuberant squeeze that lifted him slightly off the ground.
Miles let out a relieved sigh as he joined them, his shoulders slumping with exhaustion, "Thank God it's over. And we came first even!"
The team exchanged high-fives, their palms slapping together with a triumphant crack, basking in the glow of their victory. Around them, the other examinees chattered—some celebrating with raucous cheers, others grumbling over low scores with bitter mutters. The atmosphere crackled with tension but lacked outright hostility.
Until it didn't.
A sharp slap echoed through the room.
Silence fell, heavy and suffocating.
Arthur turned slowly to see Louis, a member of Team 2, glaring at him, her hand still raised, trembling with rage.
"You call yourself a hero?" she spat, "What you did wasn't heroic—it just proved why everyone still sees you as the Demon Child. None of you are fit to be heroes!"
Her tirade cut off abruptly when she met Arthur and Gwin's twin death glares.
Before things could escalate into a full-blown brawl, Sonic Burst stepped between them.
"Alright, break it up," he said firmly, "First off, miss, you're completely in the wrong. Arthur wasn't the only one who used his powers for personal gain. Every single person here exploited their abilities to disadvantage others—just in subtler ways. For example, Jackie used his powers to make the water unusable for a short period of time. Yet you're not complaining about that."
Louis opened her mouth to argue, but Sonic Burst didn't let her interrupt, raising a hand to silence her.
"Complaining because his ability was more effective than yours is pointless. If I recall, your power is invisibility—great for some tests, but not this one. Better luck next year."
Louis clenched her fists but said nothing. With a final scowl she turned and stormed off.
Sonic Burst addressed the remaining teams.
"You've got two days to rest. After that—the next event begins. And this time… it's a rescue mission."
After the intensity of the exam, Arthur and his team decided to unwind at the Hero Association's cafeteria, a sprawling hall alive with the hum of chatter and the irresistible scent of delicious food wafting through the air. The aroma of freshly cooked spicy curry, savory grilled meats sizzling on the grill, and sweet pastries fresh from the oven mingled into a mouthwatering symphony.
Miles stretched his arms behind his head with a satisfied sigh, his muscles relaxing, "Man, I could eat a whole buffet right now."
Gwin was already piling her plate high with desserts—cakes, tarts, and puddings stacked while grinning like a kid in a candy store, "Good thing the Association feeds us like royalty. Heroes in training need energy!"
Arthur smirked, sipping his coffee with a teasing glint in his eye, "I must say, a glutton such as yourself is full of surprises."
Gwin stuck her tongue out at him before stealing a sip from his cup where his lips had been, her eyes sparkling with mischief, "Our first indirect kiss. Can this day get any better?"
Arthur didn't really care much, too amused by his two new friends' company to mind the playful invasion.
As they ate, the conversation drifted to random topics—favorite foods sparking debates, hobbies revealing hidden talents, and places they dreamed of visiting one day igniting their imaginations.
Miles leaned in, suddenly curious, "Hey Arthur, since we're sharing info, I'm curious—what's your type of woman?"
Gwin's head snapped up so fast her ponytail whipped the air like a lash, "Ooooh, yes! Tell us!" Her eyes gleamed with way too much interest, practically glowing with anticipation.
Arthur rolled his eyes but humored them, leaning back with a thoughtful hum, "Hmm. Three types, I guess. First, plain and simple. I always enjoy someone who isn't too flashy and doesn't need beauty enhancements to get my attention. Simply being yourself, regardless of how boring it is, is oddly attractive."
Miles nodded, impressed, "Solid choice."
"Second," Arthur continued, a smirk tugging at his lips, "someone cheerful. The kind of person who's annoyingly positive no matter what. Who can balance our dynamic."
Gwin gasped, pointing at herself dramatically with a flourish, "That's me! I'm literally sunshine incarnate!"
Arthur ignored her theatrics, "And third… obsessive."
Dead silence descended.
Gwin's face turned nuclear red, cartoonish blood hearts appearing and bursting above her head in a comical explosion of emotion.
Miles blinked, stunned, "That's… specific."
Arthur shrugged, unfazed, "What can I say? Dedication is attractive."
Gwin buried her face in her hands, muffling a squeal that vibrated with excitement.
Arthur, thoroughly amused, turned the question back on them, "Alright, what about you two?"
Gwin immediately slammed her hands on the table, the plates rattling, "Easy! Tall, white-haired, lean but muscular, has heterochromia with blue and red eyes, has a bad reputation but is actually kind, Flamestar is his mentor—"
Arthur choked on his drink, coughing as coffee sprayed across the table.
Miles burst out laughing, clutching his sides, "Wow, that was… detailed."
Gwin grinned, unashamed, her confidence unshakable, "What? I know what I like."
Miles, still chuckling, gave his answer with a shy smile, "Me? Just… a nice girl, I guess. Someone kind."
Gwin fake-gagged, sticking out her tongue in mock disgust, "Boring!"
"Not all of us need our partners to be walking red flags," Miles shot back, his grin widening.
Arthur snorted, the sound breaking the tension.
As the teasing settled, the conversation shifted to their mentors—how they'd met, their grueling training experiences, and the quirks of the heroes who'd shaped them into who they were.
Gwin sighed dreamily, her voice softening, "Peter treated me more like a daughter than a sidekick. Which is kind of sweet, you know?"
Miles nodded, a faint smile tugging at his lips, "Mr. Perfect was a con artist in every way. But he was the first to say that my powers could be used for good."
Both turned to Arthur expectantly, their gazes curious.
He hesitated, then smirked, his voice lowering with sincerity, "Flamestar has my utmost loyalty. It's what I can give her at the moment for being the first person to believe in me. I won't say it to her face, but she's the mom I feel like I was missing in my life."
Gwin wiped the tears from her eyes, her voice trembling with emotion, "You softie."
Miles winced, half-laughing, "Wow, straight out of prison and you're living in a penthouse with three siblings, maids, and a badass driver."
Arthur shrugged, his tone light, "The perfect accommodation in my opinion."
Laughter filled the table, a warm wave that washed away the lingering tension from the exam, the sound bouncing off the cafeteria walls. Each one's situation had made a normal life seem impossible, but now, they were eating hearty food, sharing stupid stories, and pretending, just for a moment, that the weight of the exams didn't exist. Each had found friends they never thought they needed—anchors in a storm they hadn't expected to weather together.