Jordan, Joey, Nico, and Luka didn't really know what they were talking about. They didn't really watch TV growing up—there was never time. Most kids, after turning fifteen, or even younger than that, would start working to help their parents.
Some of the shows that Fiction Evolvers were based on had aired almost fifteen decades before their time, so they were interested in what they were going to learn from this experience.
⸻
"Nagato, huh?" Harkel chuckled.
"Yes," Emmett replied quickly. "We're both very powerful, and we would become a very good asset to you. But… is it true?" Emmett questioned.
"Is what true?" Jordan asked.
"Yes," Harkel smiled at Jordan. "It is all true."
"No way! Look, me and Naggy could be a very cute asset to you if we were accepted and—"
Harkel raised his hand, palm out, stopping the boy.
"Sorry, but I already have my party selected, at least for now. But I will be adding more later down the line, and you could be one of them."
"A selected party?" Emmett asked, confused.
"Yeah, a selected party. And this guy is part of it."
Harkel pointed at Leo, who simply waved back.
"Oh, um… who is that?" Emmett asked.
"No one of your concern," Harkel confirmed.
⸻
"Okay, but Harkel, how exactly did you make your own party?" Emmett asked. "Did they pick it for you?"
"No, we have to pick it ourselves."
Harkel's smile grew wider.
"You see, another version of myself came to me in a dream. It was dark all over, and all I could see was a version of me who looked older."
Harkel saying this caused both Jordan and Joey's ears to perk up.
"No…" Jordan whispered.
"This version of myself mentioned names. Leo Dayton—mind you, I'd only met him a few times."
"Oh really?" Emmett questioned, looking at Leo. "He does look familiar."
"But they also mentioned more names," Harkel continued. "Jordan Harlow. Riven Harlow. Joey Cross."
Harkel locked eyes with Jordan.
"All the names were mentioned by my future self. Names I never knew."
⸻
"Hey," Nico whispered, "do you know this guy?"
"No," Jordan said, staring directly at Harkel.
Jordan began to walk past him, but before he did, he whispered in the boy's ear.
"We'll talk later. Number four."
That gave Harkel a clear perspective.
"So it is true," he thought. "They've gone through the same thing as well."
At first, he thought it was his imagination—until he met Leo and heard the same story.
Now this confirmed it.
"Jordan, Joey, and Riven will be the key to making me king."
"Five," Harkel whispered back as he walked away.
When Jordan turned, he saw Harkel pointing his thumb toward Leo. Jordan gave him a nod of understanding.
⸻
"So wait… does this mean—" Joey whispered.
"Yeah," Jordan said quietly. "So now that makes five. Shit."
Jordan's head was filled with questions.
What does this mean?
What does it lead to?
Why is this happening to all of us?
He needed answers—hopefully from Leo and Harkel.
⸻
Riven and Naggy circled each other, trying to get a feel for what the other would do next.
"Dang it," Naggy cursed. "Thanks to the loudmouths over there, you now know my entire ability."
"Not really," Riven replied. "I know you're a Fiction Evolver now, but I still don't know what your character can do."
"What?" Naggy was confused.
Then he noticed Riven's uniform—how different it was from his own.
"You're Wallborn," Naggy realized. That meant Riven likely had limited knowledge of Fiction Evolvers.
Good.
Naggy threw a black rod toward Riven's head.
Riven dodged and returned fire with lightning.
[-7 Energy]
"Seven?" Riven shouted by accident.
"All I have is fourteen energy now. I can't use my ability carelessly."
Suddenly, he felt a familiar sensation—his body being pulled toward Naggy.
He tried to stop himself, but couldn't.
Another black rod appeared in Naggy's hand.
Riven realized he could still move his legs. When he got close, he stomped hard on the sand, striking Naggy in the eye and breaking free.
"I know he can pull me in, but why doesn't he spam it? This fight would've been over already. Is it an energy issue… or something else?"
Riven glanced around and noticed another student with a lightning evolution—but unlike him, the lightning was wrapped around the boy's body instead of firing outward.
And he was fast.
"If he can do it…"
Riven closed his eyes.
⸻
"Oh," Damien chuckled from above.
Lightning began forming around Riven's body. Some of his energy had returned.
[-6 Energy]
[+5 Energy]
"It worked!" Riven yelled, catching Naggy off guard.
"Now that's impressive," Fevner whistled. "He copied the other kid's way of using lightning."
"Yes," Damien said. "And he did it quickly without letting the lightning reach his brain."
"But," Fevner added, "it also shows he lacks originality."
⸻
[system: New skill unlocked electric body this will take a great amount of the users energy, and they would receive some energy back this will increase the speed by 20+ but every minute this skill is on it will take one energy away from the user so use it wisely
Skill Evolvable]
⸻
Riven moved.
Fast.
Faster than the student he copied.
"So that confirms it," Fevner said. "His proficiency is higher."
"Let's see what he does with it."
Riven dropped into a claw-like stance and immediately charged.
Naggy tried to defend himself, but it was too late. Riven was already inside, slashing at his torso.
He didn't coat his clothes in lightning—too much energy.
The wounds were shallow, but constant.
Naggy couldn't react.
Riven darted in and out until he slowed.
Naggy raised his palm.
"Almighty push!"
Riven was blasted backward.
"My energy's out… no time to waste."
Riven rushed again. Naggy didn't use the push.
Riven tore through his guard, finishing with an uppercut that sent Naggy flying and crashing headfirst into the ground.
Naggy didn't get back up.
"Alright!" Riven yelled, jumping into the air—
Too careless.
Lightning crept upward.
A spark reached his brain.
Everything went dark.
⸻
[system: Quest completed]
[system: user is now reaching the threshold to evolve
New quest received Reach level 10 for your first evolution]
⸻
Riven never saw the prompt.
He was already unconscious.
So was Naggy.
"Fool," Damien said coldly as he looked down at Riven. "You got too careless. The electricity you were forming in your body reached your brain."
In the next instant, the man appeared in front of the two unconscious boys. He lifted them effortlessly, one under each arm, and vanished right out of existence.
⸻
"Really, Riven… this is not the time for you to be gone. We need to talk," Jordan muttered, holding his head.
Joey scratched his chin and chuckled lightly. "Guess we're gonna have to talk about it later, huh?"
"Yeah… I guess."
⸻
With the sheer number of students present—and the fact that only eight were allowed to fight at a time—the combat portion of the exam took nearly three hours to complete. Luckily, many of the matches ended quickly.
One match in particular left a lasting impression on everyone.
Leo.
Everyone knew the boy was a mutated-type evolver, meaning his entire body—down to his DNA—had been altered. Mutated evolvers were capable of transforming into animals or even entirely different species.
Leo had said he was a wolf-type mutation.
Yet during his match, he never used a single wolf-like feature.
No claws.
No fangs.
No transformation.
He stayed in his human form the entire time—and still completely overwhelmed his opponents. His speed was overwhelming, his strength crushing. He outpaced and overpowered everyone who stood against him.
Joey and Jordan also drew attention. The two showed promise, but it was clear to everyone that their abilities had flaws. Much like Riven, they had received quests—but unlike him, they hadn't earned any item rewards. Only experience points.
⸻
When Riven finally woke up, he found himself in what looked like a pseudo-hospital room.
As he sat up, he noticed a red-haired boy in the bed beside him—Naggy—who was also awake.
"Hey, man… you alright?" Riven asked.
Naggy scoffed. "No. I'm not alright."
He swung his legs over the bed and stood up.
"I was planning on getting a good score on this exam," Naggy continued bitterly. "But you just had to ruin it."
"Hey, I'm sorry, I just—"
"Save it," Naggy snapped, cutting him off. "I wanted to make my dad proud. Now I just look like a disappointment."
With that, the boy stormed out of the room.
"Sorry," Riven whispered quietly. "But I really needed those rewards… hopefully I can make it up to you one day."
⸻
[System: Quest complete. Would you like to receive your reward?]
[Yes / Not Now]
Riven tapped Yes.
[System: Error. Error.]
Riven froze.
"Error…?"
This was the first time the system had ever done something like this. It reminded him—uncomfortably—that the system did originate from a game.
[System: An unprecedented outcome has occurred.]
[The system cannot apply the evolver's ability to the user.]
[Reason: Both the system and the user possess no information regarding this ability.]
[Options Available:]
1. Discover the ability and receive an item reward
2. Convert the item into EXP
3. Receive a different item compatible with your abilities
Riven stared at the prompt, stunned.
He hadn't expected the system to give him choices.
But his attention drifted to something else.
"At level ten… I evolve?" he muttered. "What does that even mean?"
The way the system described evolution felt different from Forced Evolution or Natural Evolution. It sounded… deeper. Like something else entirely.
What would Jordan do? Riven thought.
Jordan had always been the smarter twin. Thinking like him came naturally.
He'd probably wait and see what item comes from Naggy's ability…
Riven exhaled. I'll ask him. Or maybe one of his friends. Worst case, I figure out what fictional ability it's based on and work from there.
"I'll find out when we get there."
⸻
Riven stepped out of the room. Around him, other students were beginning to wake up as well.
When he exited the building, he realized they were standing in a vast grassy field. All the first-years were gathered there—Damien and Fevner standing atop a raised platform at the front.
As Riven walked through the crowd, searching for his brothers, whispers followed him.
"Hey, look—it's the idiot who overloaded his brain."
A group of students laughed.
"Isn't that the guy who tried to copy you?"
"Yeah, it is," a girl with dark purple hair replied coldly.
Riven turned—and met Wren's eyes.
The vice principal's daughter didn't even hesitate. She flipped him off.
What a bunch of assholes, Riven thought as he finally spotted Jordan and Joey.
"Hey, guys—"
Jordan shot him a look and gestured for him to be quiet as Damien stepped forward.
⸻
"Now," Damien announced, his voice carrying across the field, "you'll notice your wristwatches now display your current ranking among the first years."
Riven looked down.
A sleek watch was strapped to his wrist.
They must've put this on while I was out, he thought.
A single number glowed on the screen.
[708]
"…My rank's 708," Riven muttered. "What about you guys?"
Jordan and Joey held up their wrists.
Joey: 700
Jordan: 705
None of them looked pleased.
"Those in the single digits are at the top," Damien continued. "Double digits follow. Triple digits are the lowest. Most of you fall into that category due to losing your matches and underperforming."
No one argued.
Fevner stepped forward.
"Now—"
Sheets of paper suddenly appeared in the air, raining down over the crowd.
"These are your dorm room numbers," Fevner said. "Unless you possess special government or academy privileges, you'll have six people per room. Including yourself."
"Six?!"
"There's no privacy!"
"Does that mean I have to share a bathroom with a Wallborn?!"
The complaints piled up until—
"SHUT UP!"
Fevner's roar shook the air.
"You need this," he snarled. "Those five people will be your lifelines. Every outing. Every assessment. Your dorm group is your party. Treat them with respect—or they might leave you to die."
A chill ran through the crowd.
Damien nodded. "Get your people. Go to your rooms. Your bags will be delivered upon arrival. Classes begin tomorrow."
And just like that—they vanished.
⸻
Riven, Jordan, and Joey compared room numbers.
They were all different.
"Man, that sucks," Joey muttered.
Students began shouting room numbers, trading places to stay together.
"Hey!" Jordan said. "What's yours?"
"B90," Riven replied.
"Alright," Jordan nodded. "Me and Joey will try to find someone to swap. You go ahead—we'll meet you there."
Riven gave a thumbs-up. "Got it."
And with that, he headed toward the dorms.