Light shifted uncomfortably, glancing around at the others gathered in the room. Riya stood off to the side, checking the settings on her sleek dual laser guns, her black widow-esque attire hugging her lithe form. Her emerald eyes were sharp, ever alert. Mark, on the other hand, leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, his grin cocky but his eyes betraying his excitement.

Lyra stood at the head of the group, her violet gaze calm and piercing. The high-ranking officer of the Astral Association exuded confidence, her long blue hair tied into a loose braid.

“Before we proceed further,” Lyra began, her voice firm yet steady, “you’ll need to be properly evaluated. This team will officially represent Apex under my jurisdiction. Your abilities, strengths, and weaknesses must be documented. It’s non-negotiable.”

Mark snorted. “Great. Another test. Can’t we just skip to the good part where we’re the stars of the show?”

Lyra’s glare silenced him. “And another thing,” she continued, motioning to the man beside her, “this is Lucas, one of our most reliable agents here at Apex.”

Lucas stepped forward. At 20 years old, he carried himself with a calm confidence. His dark brown hair was neatly combed, and his striking amber eyes scanned the group with measured precision. At his side was a saber that seemed to hum faintly, emitting a fiery glow.

Light raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the new figure.

Lucas nodded curtly. “I’ll be facilitating your evaluation and assigning your initial field tasks. Let’s not waste any time.”

The trio stood before the glowing orb, its light casting faint shadows across the sterile evaluation chamber.

Riya was the first to step forward. Placing her hand on the crystal, she felt a gentle warmth pulse through her palm. Memories of her stealthy maneuvers and pinpoint precision flickered before her eyes. The orb's glow shifted to a steady green.

“C-Rank,” Lyra announced. “Your precision and stealth are excellent, but your power's full potential has yet to emerge.”

Riya stepped back, her face neutral but betraying a trace of disappointment. She had expected more.

Mark was next. As his hand touched the orb, a burst of energy surged through it, causing the crystal to glow erratically before settling on yellow.

“C-Rank,” Lyra said with a nod. “Solid potential and raw power, but you rely too much on brute force. Mastering finesse will be your next step.”

Mark scratched the back of his head, smirking. “Guess I’ve got something to prove.”

Light stepped forward, his heart pounding. He pressed his hand against the orb, and the room was flooded with fluctuating colors—teal, gold, silver—before finally stabilizing at a brilliant blue.

“B-Rank,” Lyra declared, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Your abilities are highly adaptable and brimming with potential. But until you master them, that power will remain volatile.”

Light stepped back, processing the weight of her words. He felt a mix of pride and apprehension.

Swen approached the orb with her usual nonchalance, her silver-white hair catching the faint glow of the crystal. The orb glowed green briefly before transitioning to yellow.

“C-Rank,” Lyra stated. “Your gravity manipulation shows promise, but you hold back too much. Learn to unleash it fully.”

Swen nodded slightly, showing no outward reaction.

Zane followed, his fiery aura flaring faintly as he placed his hand on the orb. The crystal pulsed orange before settling on a bold yellow.

“C-Rank,” Lyra said, eyeing him critically. “Your fire-based Etherea is potent, but your recklessness is holding you back. Control and strategy will be your greatest challenges.”

Finally, Ace approached the orb with a confident grin, his dual short swords clinking faintly at his side. As his hand touched the crystal, the orb flickered weakly before glowing a soft green.

“D-Rank,” Lyra announced, her tone even. “Your potential is unique but heavily reliant on chance. To rise through the ranks, you’ll need to refine your technique and strategy.”

Ace shrugged, the grin never leaving his face. “Guess I’ll just have to get lucky.”

With the evaluations complete, the team gathered in a semicircle as Lyra addressed them. “Remember, your rank is not a reflection of your future. It’s a starting point. Hard work and experience can elevate you far beyond what this orb says today.”

Mark glanced at Ace, smirking. “D-Rank, huh? Looks like I’ve got one person to boss around already.”

Ace pulled out a deck of cards, shuffling them deftly. “Careful, or my luck might turn you into a joker, big guy.”

The room filled with a faint tension, but Lyra’s sharp gaze silenced the playful banter. “Let’s move on. There’s work to be done.”