In a vast underground tunnel gathered hundreds of hero applicants.

Some of the applicants were discussing and preparing for the exam, while others appeared nervous.

Suddenly, the sound of an arriving elevator buzzed, halting their discussions and capturing their attention.

Ding

The elevator doors opened, revealing five individuals inside.

Four girls, two regular human girls with superhero costumes that were purple and black, a horse girl in a jockey costume, and a bear girl wearing a hoodie top.

The girls were standing on one side grouped while another individual faced them.

This individual was a man who wore a black suit with a plain white skull mask.

But as soon as the group stepped off the elevator, everyone returned to what they were doing, paying no attention to the newcomers.

After they got off the elevator Rex glanced over to his sides and went over to an empty wall on the side.

The girls though were quite amazed at how vast the underground tunnel was.

“Wow look there are so many metas I wonder how strong they are?!” One of the twins exclaimed her voice attracting some unfriendly looks.

“Get a hold of yourself Duplicate don’t make us look amateurs.” Her sister Kanroki said in a panic not wanting to be embarrassed by her.

Superhero Name: Ghost (Kanroki)

Ability: Can face through walls or any objects

Has a fear of blood (Hemophobia)

Superhero Name: Duplicate (Kanrosa)

Ability: Can duplicate herself or objects

She is a cheerful person and likes to adventure.

“Hoo, got it got it but still this place is huge and there are so many.”

Hearing her say that again Kanroki’s face twitched in anger but went away quickly as she sighed.

“Alright you two get serious we are not here to play!” The horse girl named Samphina spoke out to the twins while also looking at the bear girl who nodded in agreement.

Superhero Name: XLR8 (Samphina)

Ability: Speedster

A person who heads in first without plans and likes to race.

Superhero Name: Monster Girl (Sasha)

Ability: Monsterfication

An emotional person with distrust and rage issues.

While the girls were chatting like everyone else there, Rex who was silent on the side appeared mysterious like some of the other applicants.

This was a moment where those with talent and strength gathered in one place to compete to become the chosen heroes.

There are always those who stand out and those who are just extras.

An example was a group of five individuals clad in cloaks they were huge and looked unapproachable exuding strong vibes.

Not too far away from them was a middle-aged man who was reading a book titled Fate Is A Choice, he wore an outfit that was comprised mainly of a classic Victorian fashion, a charcoal suit, leather riding boots, and a flamboyant, intricately knotted black cravat, covered by a full-length, black frock overcoat (similar to the duster coats often associated with cowboys) with a cape.

This middle-aged man also had that vibe about him but he gave the impression that he was friendly.

However, what truly made him unapproachable was what stood next to him.

It was a robot that seemed to be scanning through everything, it had dreadlocks made of wires and several blades equipped on its back.

Everything about the robot spoke killer bot as it was menacing.

Several feet away from where the girls were was a group that looked ruffian, or were ruffians since they were dressed like street thugs having purple tattoos all over them.

They weren’t the only ones though as many other individuals like them were hidden in the dark observing and waiting patiently and quietly.

These few could be said the most eye-catching but there were also those who hid in the dark and were similar in status, and amongst those was a tiger lady who was fiercely glaring at Rex.

She was like a predator in the dark hiding among the many applicants observing her prey and Rex happened to be one of those prey.

And Rex being observed like a prey had no idea even with his shadow that was good at detecting, more so since it was staying alert because of all the powerful individuals in its proximity.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Just like that while they waited and observed each other time passed making it obvious that something was wrong.

Rex included picked up on this but he shrugged it off thinking to himself that there was some time left or other applicants hadn’t arrived yet.

5 minutes… 7 minutes… 15 minutes… 25 minutes… 33 minutes…

But as time passed many started to feel unhappy their faces fuming red in anger.

Inside a restroom, a muscular man with long hair and a goatee stood in front of the mirror staring at his reflection.

He had bloodshot eyes and there was white powder smeared on his nose.

“Gahah… Gahaha!” With a weird cackle out of him, he wiped away the powder and splashed some water on his face leaving the restroom.

Creak…

With the sound of a door opening in the underground tunnel, where hundreds of people had gathered for the hero exam but were made to wait out for someone whose yet to arrive they were pissed off…

But that door sound suddenly made everyone quiet down.

The muscular man with the long hair and goatee came out, he was huge at seven feet tall with a tank top that said Sports For Life.

With a single sweep around him, the muscular man smiled.

“Hmph so you guys are this year's upstarts huh?” As he spoke all he got was angry stairs making him shrug to himself.

“Tough crowd but who cares anyway I’m your examiner and I go by Sports Guy but none of you are qualified to call me by that not yet at least.”

Hearing him just speak nonsense some of them had the thought of bashing his teeth but were intimidated by his size keeping it to themselves.

However, that wasn’t for everyone else.

“Who the heck does he think he is?” Sasha aka Monster Girl blurted out having everyone look at her.

“Now then follow me I will be taking you to the exam’s site.”

Not even waiting for any responses Sports guy the examiner passed by everyone going deeper into the tunnel.

“Do we just follow him I thought this was the place of the exam?” Some of the applicants started to discuss sounding confused while the knees who understood started to follow the examiner.

“No time for talking if you have the time to talk in this situation you should start moving otherwise you might be left behind.”

Everyone started to follow up sounding the beginning of this year's hero exam…

*

As I got off the elevator I could see the many people who came for the examination, there were all kinds of people ordinary people, lions, wolves, elephants, hawks, etc…

Most of the participants can be said to be animal people and that is so because unlike ordinary humans they have superhuman strength and speed, some of them even being able to lift a car.

I always wondered what it would be like to be among the ones partaking in the hero exam.

And being here right now all I could think of is that nothing seems what I expected.

All we saw on television was the results of the exam.

But now being here I can say I like what I see…

Walking into the side I observed my surroundings with a grimace I knew that many of the people gathered in here were going to become trashy inside.

I mean that is what it comes to when becoming heroes as the only side of them we see is their poker faces when on media or doing acts of heroism while behind the camera they are their true selves.

Of course, I wouldn’t show hostility or anything but it’s good to keep my distance since I don’t want to be like them.

Though I know it will be difficult, I am determined to find her.

And it’s bothering to know that my danger sense is giving me so many signals.

Just how many of these people are a city-level threat or is it just my premonition?

I know that metas are defined in different classes depending on their powers for example a meta with the powers to change forms into that of ordinary animals is given the class of d which is the lowest and a rank of 1 or 2 depending on how strong he is amongst that class.

It’s also important to point out that D-Class heroes are stronger than ten adult males and with their powers can match up to a hundred men.

D-Class: Alone without their powers they are stronger than a hundred adult males while with their powers they are stronger than up to 1,000.

C-Class: Alone without their powers they are stronger than one thousand adult males while with their powers they are stronger than 10,000 men.

B-Class: Alone without their powers they are stronger than five thousand adult males while with their powers they are stronger than 50,000 men.

A-Class: Alone without their powers they are stronger than ten thousand adult males while with their powers they are stronger than 100,000 men.

S-Class: Alone without their powers they are stronger than fifty thousand adult males while with their powers they can mow down millions - basically, they are strong enough to destroy a whole city.

That is except for those whose constitution had already changed like those whose powers need not activation, and it is because their powers are genetic based.

I can’t blame those who wish to be born like that or become like that as even I once wished that too…

But now all I can say is I’m just glad I have the power to level up and become strong like them and I even got something they don’t have which are my dinosaurs who will one day shake this earth.

Creak

While in my thoughts I could hear the sound of a door opening which brought me back to reality, is it the time for the exam is all I could think of now since everyone else had quieted down.

A tall muscular man with a shirt that said Sports For Life came out of the down.

I recognize this hero he was someone who used to compete in all kinds of sports before his powers manifested.

It was a controversy back then since he was found out during a match that he had his powers.

One thing for sure is that he isn't popular with the crowds like some of the other heroes.

More so there have been many allegations coming out since receiving his hero license which resulted in him having to give back all the metals he won during his sports days.

He is a hero who is walking on thin ice I don't they would allow someone like him to be an examiner.

Even the attitude he is giving is a giveaway that he doesn't wanna be here.

However, one thing I could say is that his arrogance is a given since he is a C-Class hero rank 4.

Hero Name: Sports Guy

Class: C-Class

Rank: 4

Super Power: Player

Power Description- Whatever sports equipment he touches becomes a super weapon including sports clothing.

*

Walking amongst the crowds Rex had a smile plastered on his face and soon it disappeared as so did the crowds who were causally talking and laughing that was because the ones at the front started to pick up the pace running like a pack of beasts were behind them.

“Hey, what’s going on?” Asked one of the participants sounding somewhat surprised.

“I don’t know what’s going on but the ones at the front started to speed up seems like the gut at the front leading us is moving fast.” Said another while running.

That’s weird is this part of the exam if so I mustn’t let my guard down.

Thinking like that, Rex and some of the observant ones started to notice something becoming serious all of a sudden.

Fin