The air inside the Gravity Training Hall was thick with tension. Rows of students lined the observation decks, murmuring amongst themselves as each contender stepped into the chamber, their chosen gravity level dictating their bravery—or recklessness. This was more than just a test; it was a declaration of status, a glimpse into who would rise in the Academy's ranks and who would crumble under pressure.
Jihu stood at the back of the line, arms crossed, half-listening to the ongoing results. His three roommates—Lucian, the golden-haired prince of perfection, and the mischievous Vinteris twins, Kael and Rael—stood nearby, idly placing bets on the performance of various students.
"Five times gravity? Bah, child's play," Kael scoffed, tossing a ration bar into his mouth.
"Ten times and above is where things get interesting," Rael added, nudging Lucian. "Wouldn't you agree, oh illustrious heir?"
Lucian sighed, rubbing his temples. "You two should take this more seriously. The point system here isn't just for show. If we want resources for later projects, we'll need those points."
Jihu smirked. "You mean you need those points. I, on the other hand, am here for entertainment."
Kael and Rael grinned. "That's the spirit."
Meanwhile, students continued stepping up to the test. A silver-ranked girl screamed as she collapsed under thirty times gravity. A diamond-ranked student barely managed to stand at seventy. The murmurs grew as the numbers climbed, until the final contender before Jihu—a well-built, bronze-ranked first-year—tapped the control panel and selected 100x gravity. The room went silent.
Even the instructors raised an eyebrow.
The machine whirred, and the chamber trembled. The moment 100x engaged, the student's knees buckled, veins straining against his skin. He barely lasted ten seconds before crumpling, unconscious.
Gasps filled the hall.
"Impressive," Lucian admitted. "Not many first-years can endure that much."
Then the professor overseeing the test stepped forward—the same professor Jihu had casually insulted during orientation. Professor Valtren. His voice carried across the chamber with thinly veiled amusement.
"And now, our last contestant... Jihu Kang, heir to the 5th ruling family. Surely, an heir of such esteemed bloodline should go beyond a mere 100 times gravity."
The crowd erupted into whispers.
Jihu's eyes narrowed. He could practically hear the mockery hidden behind Valtren's words. Next to him, Kael and Rael exchanged concerned glances, while Lucian sighed in exasperation.
"You're being provoked," Lucian muttered. "Don't take the bait."
Jihu rolled his shoulders, stepping forward. "Oh, I'll take the bait. I just won't choke on it."
His finger hovered over the gravity settings. The crowd hushed as they watched his choice.
1000x.
The hall exploded into chaos.
"Is he insane?!"
"That's the maximum limit! Even instructors don't attempt that!"
"Does he have a death wish?!"
Lucian pinched the bridge of his nose. "Unbelievable."
Kael and Rael, however, burst into laughter. "Oh, this is going to be fun."
The moment Jihu pressed confirm, the chamber locked, and the system roared to life.
At first, nothing happened.
Then the weight slammed into him.
A soundless scream ripped through Jihu's body as every muscle fiber screamed in agony. His vision blurred instantly, blood vessels bursting in his eyes, crimson leaking from his nose and ears. His bones felt like they were moments away from snapping.
His mind screamed at him to shut the system down.
Pride refused.
Valtren watched with feigned curiosity, but Jihu could see the amusement in his eyes. He was waiting for him to beg. To submit.
Not happening.
Grinding his teeth, Jihu tapped into the nanobots within his bloodstream, forcing them to accelerate regeneration. The AI within them protested—the strain was too much—but he forced them anyway. His body stitched itself together at a barely manageable rate, barely keeping up with the damage being done.
Seconds felt like hours.
Then suddenly—
"Enough! Shut it down!"
Kael's voice rang through the hall, filled with genuine alarm. Rael stood beside him, fists clenched. "You've made your point! Stop it!"
Valtren smirked. "If he wishes to stop, he may say so himself."
Before the twins could respond, Lucian sighed, stepping forward. His voice was firm, filled with the authority of someone who had never been refused in his life.
"End the test."
Valtren hesitated. Lucian's eyes locked onto him like a predator staring down prey.
"Now."
A single gesture, and the system powered down. The immense gravity lifted, and Jihu collapsed onto all fours, gasping for air.
The hall was dead silent.
Jihu wiped the blood from his face, slowly standing. His legs felt like jelly, his body like shattered glass held together by sheer will. But he smirked, locking eyes with Valtren.
"Not bad," he croaked. "But I expected more of a challenge."
The crowd erupted again, half in disbelief, half in pure madness.
Lucian covered his face with his hands. "Why do I even bother?"
Kael and Rael howled with laughter, slapping Jihu on the back (which, in his current state, nearly knocked him over). "That was insane! Absolutely legendary!"
Jihu grinned, glancing back at Valtren. "Well, Professor? Satisfied?"
Valtren's smile was thin. "Of course. I simply look forward to seeing how long you last at this Academy."
Jihu gave him a lazy salute. "Oh, don't worry, Professor. I plan on staying for a long, long time."
As he stumbled out of the chamber, propped up by the twins, Lucian sighed again. "I hate you all."
Jihu chuckled, still tasting blood. "Love you too, roommate."
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