3 months later.

"Hey, where the hell are you? I'm at the gate!"

"It's a new building! You know how I am with directions!"

"Did you take notes at least?"

"Why would I? You're lousy at explaining things!"

"Fine! Take my notebook and revise. Meet me in the cafeteria."

Issac and Cale are taking the entrance exams to try to enter Starsnatch Academy. 

Starsnatch Academy is one of the top schools in the nation and is one of the only five schools to allow Monster Hunting as a class.

That's why the entrance exams are so hellish.

ENTRANCE EXAMS CONDITIONS AND GOALS:

• CANDIDATES WILL NOT EXIT UNTIL THE EXAM IS OVER.
• CANDIDATES WILL STAY IN THE FIELD FOR 45 MINUTES UNTIL EITHER GOAL IS MET, TIME RUNS OUT, AND THE CANDIDATE IS SEVERELY INJURED.
• CANDIDATES WILL CHOOSE A WEAPON FROM THE ARMOURY, AND ANY ENHANCEMENT CAST ON THEM WILL BE REMOVED. YOU WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A BLACKSMITH FOR ANY MODIFICATIONS.
• CANDIDATES WILL BE HEALED AFTER THE EXAM.
• ANY CHEATING ON THE EXAM WILL END UP WITH A RESTRAINING ORDER BY THE SCHOOL.
• CANDIDATES WILL BE GIVEN A BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE EXAM INSIDE THE BUILDING.
• ANY ADDITIONAL WEAPONS SHALL BE INSPECTED BY A MEMBER OF STAFF.

PLEASE ENJOY, BECAUSE WE SURE DID. - TEACHERS OF STARSNATCH.

"Please enjoy? What a joke." 

"I know, right? We might die and they're telling us-"

"CALE! THERE YOU ARE!" roared Issac,

"Eep! You know Issy, maybe you should lower your voice a tad,"

"ISSY? I told you to stop- ugh, did you study them?"

"Yeah, do you think I should go with a bow or a claymore? I excel in both, you know~"

"Bow. I've seen daggers in there, so we're good."

"MAY THE CANDIDATES PLEASE MAKE THEIR WAY TO THE ARMOURY TO SELECT THEIR WEAPONS."   the sound came from a set of pua, a group of plants that are mainly used for speakers. They can be used telepathically as long as the user and the plant have a bond.

"Go! Go! Go!"

"Alright, Issy I get it!"

The armoury was the size of a ballroom. The weapons were brand new. There also was a blacksmith to modify them to their liking.

A fairly attractive woman with long dirty blonde hair approached the other students, handing them weapons and a sickly rose elixir. She came across Issy and Cale.

"You two! Hmm, you-" she pointed at Issy, "Here's a dagger, and you-" she gestured towards Cale, "Take this elixir and these arrows."

As she started to head off, she analysed them one last time.

"That's- a peculiar mole." she gestured toward the symbols on their cheeks,

"Oh, these? We consider it more of a birthmark. I guess it means we're connected by fate." Cale chuckled,

"Ah, well, please head over to the hall over there." she indicated to the colossus, shiny, teal door.

"Thanks! We'll see you around!"

"How confident of those two." she giggled, "I can't believe you're related to one."

"Miss Arya, if you could refrain from talking about my relatives, that would be most appreciative." a long black-haired man pleaded, as he tugged at his snug, fancy suit.

"Welcome to the Starsnatch Academy entrance exams!"  called an energetic woman,

"Right, before we start, all of you have been assigned a number, correct?" called a brown-haired, smiling woman,

Positive murmurs arose from the audience.

"Issy, what is your number?"

"9, yours?"

"Aw, my number is 11034. Why is yours 9?"

"I applied early."

"Alright, please raise your weapons. I hope you have taken advantage of our blacksmith,"  called a calm man with dirty blue hair, "Good,"

"Please stand up, and make your way outside, be sure to spot your number! Your techniques matter." 

"What does she mean?"

"Be quick!"

All of a sudden, a blaring cry came from behind.

"Monsters! Go! Go! Go!"

"Monsters!?"

"Cale! Outside, now!"

He grabbed Cale by his hood, and they both ran out into a field. Others followed suit.

A holographic green clock popped above them, displaying "45".

The field was a soothing light green, with patches of pua and other luminescent flowers around the edges. There were benches and sports equipment with their respective courts and an arena in the back. Though there was a rickety water tower, you could say that this is quite a pleasant field.

“Do you have everything?” Issac asked,

“Yeah, I have my bow and arrows and the elixir,” Cale confirmed,

“Good,” he paused, “ Put the elixir in my rucksack. We need to go farther back, soon there won’t be enough space for all of us.”

BANG-

“They’re here,” said Cale,

BANG-

“O magne zelus, clavem tuam praebe mirabilibus tuis,” Issac chanted,

He had pulled out a small thatch bag from his rucksack.

"Magister Stoice, aliquando mihi essentiam risus tui praebeas,"

Miniature, blue, pyrokinetic orbs formed at his fingertips. He closed his eyes, trying to search for the right moment.

"Cale, cover me."

"Right."

BANG!

Issac dashed instantly, throwing the small bag in the air. He leapt high in the air and shot two orbs behind him, creating a robust boost to direct him toward the small bag. He clutched the dagger as he ripped the bag swiftly, then swung his arm backwards to release the final three orbs. As he sprinted toward Cale, the orbs made contact with the mixture of dust and created an immense explosion that obstructed the monsters' view.

"Cale, get ready to fire."

Without question, Cale drew back three arrows, focusing on the thick smoke. His breath hitched slightly while he quietly conjured a spell.

Issac clutched his dagger as he pulled out another bag.

rrOOOAAAAAAAAAR-

A luminous red glow slowly emerged within the smoke.

A thick, smothering stench filled the air.

"CALE! GET BACK!"

A bright, searing column pierced the smoke, obliterating everything in front of it.

The remnants of the floor were black and burnt. Cale and Issac were under a golden, damaged shield. It would've killed them.

"A dragon-?" Cale asked,

Multiple other columns pierced the smoke, the fire splitting and showering the field.

"A Hydra," a pink-haired girl cut in, "Miss Stoitch, essentiam Tuam mihi praebes denuo,"

A large, swirling ball of wind gradually materialised in her left hand,

"This stink is a real pest." 

She dug her feet into the ground and lunged her arm toward the smoke cloud with brutal force.

The orb loomed over the cloud, and the pink-haired girl jerked her hand downwards, bashing it into the cloud, exterminating it, and with the smoke, instantly.

What was revealed wasn't pretty.

Numerous creatures bombarded the other candidates, viciously attacking them, barely giving them a chance to attack. Candidates were pulled out left and right before even a scratch was on their enemy. What the hell's with this school?

Left standing in the smoke was something surreal, mythical, even.

While the hydra's violet scales glimmered in the light, its golden eyes pierced it. Its four heads darted around each other, examining the situation. As it shook off the grey soot, it exposed multiple burn marks with patches of scales slowing peeling off its body. Its growl pierced the air, making the sound incapable.

It began to elevate off the ground, its throat glowing a bright crimson.

"GO, YOU FLAMING THINGS!"

Cale let go, releasing the arrows. They honed in on the hydra and started to accelerate, faster and faster, gradually converting into small balls of fire.

The creature suppressed its attack. Was it...confident?

They got closer and closer, nearer and nearer. It's going to- pass right through?

rrOOOAAAAAAAAAR-

Right there and then, a green holographic number appeared over it.

'9'.

'be sure to spot your number!'

He had figured it out.

"ISSAC! TAKE THIS!"

He shot an arrow at Issac. Issac grabbed it confidently in his fist.

He knew what to do.

He drew back his arm as if he was holding a spear, breathe in, breathe out. "Magister Stoice, aliquando mihi essentiam risus tui praebeas,"

The orbs appeared at his fingertips.

He sprinted ahead. Leapt into the air, once again. Infusing the arrow with one of the orbs. He thrust his arm, freeing it. As it travelled towards one of its eyes, he used one more orb to get closer to his target.

Meanwhile, down below, Cale and the pink-haired girl were on guard. Multiple creatures were surrounding them, blocking all their exits.

Cale looked around.

Two monotone bow-wielding twins were dancing around their opponents in perfect sync and landing their hits gracefully.

A green-haired girl slithered around her enemy, gagging it before slicing one of its arms off.

A tall, attractive male jabbed at his foe, simultaneously casting multiple colourful attacks.

"You've figured it out, right?" Cale questioned,

"That everyone has an assigned creature and that they're WAY too powerful for us?" the pink girl answered,

"Yeah, nice summary, Princess Bubblegum."

They were waiting for one of their monsters to come to them.

"You were the one that cast that shield spell back then, right?" she asked, ignoring the nickname,

"Yes, I'll put it up." he inhaled, "Here, Corditio, potentiam Tuam immensam mihi praebes, ut quodcunque Volo Verum facias."

A small, golden ball emerged from his nape and hovered above them.

Several fragments split off. Those said fragments rapidly began to create golden, shining threads in the air, creating a web-like pattern. The remaining remnant had melted into a translucent, smooth, gold liquid. It swiftly coated the web, solidifying immediately. The result: A cool, warm, golden dome safe from most attacks.

SLASH! 

One-

SLASH!

Two-

SLASH!

Three!

Issac continued to bounce around the hydra, barely getting his hits in.

Burn marks were scattered all over his body. He had to limit his movement to stop his flesh from peeling. The air was intoxicating, a small capsule of air was covering his mouth and nose. It was taxing, both mentally and physically. All he could think was to attack. There was no time to think of a strategy. There was no time to pause. He needed to push past his limits. He needed the will to go on.

"WHERE THE HELL IS YOUR WEAK SPOT?" he yelled, enraged. Not a good time to lose your head.

His skin and throat panged with pain. The spell was disappearing, he tried his best not to move, but when he screamed, it became worse. 

Wait- burn marks? How could he have been so blind?

He pulled out three thatch bags from his rucksack and murmured a spell under his breath. 

"Your number, what is it?" Bubblegum asked,

"11034, yours?" Cale replied,

"10, you're quite late," 

"You're just too early."

THUMP-

"What-"

THUMP- THUMP-

"There-" Bubblegum said, her voice quivered,

Cale looked behind him.

A pale, white-haired man banged on the shield, and the dandelion in his hair looked sick and pale. The large, red claymore he held was intimidating. He pointed toward the number above his head. 

'11034' it read.

He gave them an innocent smile. 

Issac's breathing was irregular. His vision was getting blurrier by the minute.

He knows how to break through his limits. He just needed a chance.

His mouth always curves into a wide grin when he's in this type of situation.

It was exhilarating.

Issac threw a bag near a burn. He boosted himself up and threw another bag. He dashed down. Its scales were heating up. Issac gripped his dagger as he gouged a hole out of its neck. It shrieked violently. His flesh burned. He thrust the two bags into the hole. Multiple shadows loomed over him. 

He needed more power. He thrust more bags into the hole. 

"O potens Stochie, sim vas doloris tui."

Strands of green electricity danced around him. 

Thin needles of light pierced through his skin, enveloping his hands and feet, setting them aflame.

He put his hand inside the hole once more. 

It burns, it burns. 

He spread the fire across the walls of its flesh. The fumes from its blood fuelled it, and the beast cried once more.

A red ray loomed over him. He clenched his fist and ran. 

His flesh was peeling off. Inch by inch, the closer he was to Death’s door.

Issac dashed around the hydra, painting its once mesmerising violet scales a mucky maroon. 

He must do this.

One head jabbed at Issac, snapping its jaws persistently. Another blocked most exits with their flames, leaving Issac with no choice.

He dashed to his right, running up one of its necks. His breathing ragged, his body scarred, he leapt off its head, quickly pulling the metal arrow out of its eye. 

"Release!" he ordered.

Suddenly, the flames sunk into its flesh. The fire made contact with the bags. Monotone fireworks celebrated his victory.

The creature shrieked with pain as it took its final breath.

He soared.