Lost In Chaos

Chapter: The Entrance Exam

Kaz stood outside the metallic steel gate, his arms crossed as he took a slow, steady breath. He was ready.

A few hours ago, Ryuma had warned him that people tended to disappear at certain times throughout the year. Whether they left of their own accord or were taken, no one knew for sure. That was why most students here trained relentlessly—to ensure they wouldn't be next.

Kaz didn't need the warning. He already knew that strength was the only thing that mattered in this world. But that didn't mean he planned on flaunting it. No, he had a better strategy.

He was going to play weak.

When you were weak, people talked. They overlooked you. They dismissed you as unimportant. And in doing so, they revealed things they wouldn't dare say in front of a true threat. Weakness was the perfect cover. It allowed him to move in the shadows, gathering information while staying under the radar.

Kaz smirked to himself. Yeah, this will work just fine.

With a final deep breath, he stepped through the gate.

The moment his foot crossed the threshold, the world around him exploded into chaos.

Abilities flared across the massive hall, features and traits activating all around him like fireworks. The sheer energy in the air was suffocating. Everywhere he looked, students were either sparring, training, or talking in tight circles, their voices blending into an unceasing murmur.

Kaz glanced around, taking it all in. The hall wasn't just large—it was enormous, more of a gymnasium than a simple hallway. The polished floor gleamed beneath the artificial lights, and towering digital screens displayed rankings, upcoming matches, and important announcements.

The higher-ups really don't hold back, huh?

Kaz sighed, pulling up his map. It was digital and directly linked to his Sanctuary, accessible through the system watch Ryuma had given him back in the desert world. It was supposed to help him navigate the academy, but the interface was... infuriating.

He furrowed his brow, struggling to decipher the layout. The pathways overlapped, some sections blinked in and out, and—was that a dead end leading directly into another room? What kind of useless map is this?

Kaz was so focused on trying to understand it that he didn't notice the person in front of him.

He collided into them, and in an instant, books went flying everywhere.

"Ah, damn it—" Kaz muttered, finally looking up.

His gaze landed on a girl sitting on the floor across from him. Her olive skin contrasted against her pale blonde hair, which fell in loose waves around her shoulders. But what caught his attention most were her eyes—a stunning aquamarine, bright and piercing.

For a moment, they just stared at each other.

Kaz's thoughts ran wild. What if I just...

But before his mind could entertain any unnecessary thoughts, he bit his tongue, snapping himself back to reality. He quickly got up and extended a hand.

"Sorry," he said, a little awkwardly. "I wasn't paying attention. I was in my Sanctuary trying to figure out this damn map, and—"

The girl let out a sigh, cutting him off. "It's fine. I get it."

Kaz blinked. She didn't sound irritated—just completely uninterested.

"So... it's your first year?" she asked, already gathering her books.

Kaz nodded, feeling a bit embarrassed.

"No worries," she said flatly. "If you go straight ahead, you'll reach the auditorium. There's a scanner at the entrance—just put your finger on it, and it'll identify you." She glanced at him briefly before standing up. "See you later, uh..."

This time, Kaz cut in before she could finish. "It's Kaz."

She nodded. "Mira."

And just like that, she walked off, disappearing into the crowd without another word.

Kaz watched her go, slightly perplexed. Well, that was... underwhelming.

Shrugging, he put the girl in the back of his mind and continued toward the gym entrance. Just as Mira had instructed, he placed his finger on the scanner.

A robotic voice echoed through the system.

Name: Kaz Steel

True Name: Enemy of Order

Would you like to hide your true name?

Kaz immediately clicked 'Yes.' The last thing he needed was people getting ideas about his connection to chaos.

After confirming his registration, he entered the gym. Inside, the facility was even more advanced than he expected. Rows of combat dummies lined the walls, each designed to simulate real combat scenarios. Some students were testing their abilities against the AI-driven opponents, while others were using high-tech equipment to measure their power levels.

Kaz walked over to a nearby table where a set of watches was laid out. Each student was required to wear one—it displayed their trait rarity, rank, and overall strength score.

He picked one up and put it on. Immediately, the display activated, revealing his stats.

Kaz stared at the screen.

Then he blinked.

Then he cursed under his breath.

Trait Rarity: Demigod

Strength Rank: Initiate

Kaz's stomach dropped. This is bad.

Without wasting another second, he called Ryuma.

The call connected instantly. "What's up?" Ryuma's voice came through the line.

"We have a problem," Kaz muttered.

There was a pause. "…What kind of problem?"

Kaz glanced at his watch again. "My trait rarity is listed as Demigod."

The line went silent.

Then, Ryuma let out a slow whistle. "Oh. Yeah, that's not good."

"No kidding," Kaz snapped. "I was supposed to keep a low profile! Now every single person in this academy is going to see this and—"

"Relax," Ryuma interrupted. "Your strength rank is still showing as Initiate, right?"

Kaz checked again. Initiate—the weakest possible rank.

"Yeah, but—"

"Then you're fine," Ryuma said confidently. "Nobody cares about trait rarity if the person is weak. Most people won't even know what it means. They'll just assume you lucked out and got some special bloodline but that you suck at using it. As long as your strength rank stays at Initiate, you're just another nobody."

Kaz exhaled in relief. "Good. I was ready to smash this thing."

"Please don't. Those watches aren't cheap."

Kaz sighed, finally allowing himself to relax.

This was just the beginning. He had no idea what challenges awaited him at this academy, but one thing was certain—

If he wanted to survive, he had to play this game smart.

And that meant staying in the shadows for as long as possible.