My Special Ability is Growing Muscles

One week later…

The week since the Demon ambush had been a blur.

The city of Arcanum Nexus still carried scars; broken towers sealed with quick-forges, smoke lingering over neighborhoods where burning wreckage had fallen, and guild scouts still holding quiet funerals.

But life in the human domain never stopped, and neither did Nexus Academy. Afterall, if there was one thing that humanity was extremely good at, it was moving on fast from disaster.

The Great Nexus Hall, a towering cathedral of spellsteel and glass, pulsed with mana light as the orientation banners unfurled.

Hundreds of students filled the massive chamber, the air thrumming with chatter, tension, and excitement.

One hundred and sixty four new Freshers stood assembled, the very best talent of the new generation.

150 nobles, glittering in silk uniforms and enchanted jewelry, heirs of influence, wealth, and polished prestige.

And 14 survivors, standing apart like ghosts, their faces still pale from the coliseum massacre, their bodies still recovering from wounds, their names whispered like forbidden legends.

Of the 14 survivors, some of them were nobles, but there were different calibers of nobles.

The fact that they joined the slumrats in fighting for the scholarship slots through the entrance examination showed how inferior they were compared to the true noble children of humanity.

And among the 14, Kairo stood with arms folded, ignoring the countless stares burning into his back. He could literally feel their whispers.

"That's him, right?"

"The slumrat who survived the Demons."

"They say he ate raw meat like an animal… what a savage".

"I heard he was a Barbarian. I thought he'd be bigger than this, yet look at him, he looks no different from us. I guess the stories were exaggerated afterall".

"What did you expect? I'm pretty sure he survived by luck, there's no way a slumrat would have done all those against an army of Demons".

Kairo's jaw tightened. He said nothing; he didn't need to.

The chatter soon turned quite though as the mana crystals above the hall dimmed, making the hall fall silent.

It was time.

Today was orientation day.

From a balcony of white-gold stone, Principal Aelthar stepped forward, robes flowing, golden runes pulsing faintly with power. His mere presence silenced the entire chamber; calm, ancient, and unyielding.

"You are no longer children," his voice carried, deep and measured. "From this day, you are warriors in training, humanity's shield, its spear."

The room vibrated with his words.

"The Demon ambush last week reminded us of one truth… peace is an illusion. Safety is an illusion. The world does not care for your titles, your bloodlines, or your excuses. Only strength will decide if you live or die."

Dozens of noble freshers fidgeted uncomfortably under these words but Aelthar pressed on, unrelenting.

"For three years, this Academy will break you, crush you, and if you endure, it will remake you into something greater."

Then his gaze shifted, and locked on the 14 survivors.

"You," he said, voice echoing. "The 14 who survived the coliseum massacre. You were not meant to endure such a baptism of fire… but you did. And so, you will bear the heaviest expectations of your generation."

The hall erupted in murmurs as jealousy flared like wildfire in noble eyes.

The whispers grew louder as three figures stepped into the forefront. The air itself seemed to part for them, making it clear that they were different from the others.

The Monster Trio of the 150 intakes who entered Nexus Academy without relying on the entrance examination or a scholarship.

The first was Adrian Cross… golden-haired, eyes clear as the sky. He was calm and unshakable, radiating a quiet authority as around him, whispers spread like wildfire.

"It's him!" They whispered.

"Two God-tier abilities… Celestial Dominion and Chrono-Shift."

Adrain Cross was not just any fresher. With 2 God grade abilities, he was touted as the best of the new generation and he was already being called the future Hero of Humanity.

Then Valek Drakar… tall, dark-haired, crimson eyes smoldering like embers. His smirk dripped venom.

Just like Adrain, he had a God grade ability, Blood Tyrant pulsing faintly in his aura, laced with the serpentine menace of his Unique grade ability, Obsidian Serpent. Every inch of him screamed arrogant predator.

Then there is Selene Duskbane… silver-haired. She had an ethereal beauty to her, but her expression was always aloof and untouchable.

She carried herself like the hall was beneath her. She had 2 Unique grade abilities; Moonveil Sorcery and Phantom Mirage shimmered faintly around her like invisible veils.

"The Monster Trio," the nobles whispered. "No one will match them this year."

And yet, Valek's gaze drifted… straight towards Kairo.

Kairo felt the eyes before he even looked up. And when he did, crimson eyes met black, and a smirk met a clenched jaw.

Valek pushed through the murmuring crowd until he stood directly in front of Kairo. For a moment, silence blanketed the hall, every fresher straining to hear.

He leaned forward slightly, voice low but dripping with disdain. "So this is the famous slumrat? The beast who gnawed raw meat to survive? Tell me, Kairo Vale… do you plan on fighting Demons with scraps and filth?"

Gasps rippled across the chamber.

Kairo's eyes sharpened; his voice was steady and cold. "…Better to be a beast than a coward who hides behind family wealth."

The hall froze.

The whispers quickly turned into shocked exclamations.

Valek's smirk vanished as a vein pulsed in his temple.

"You dare…!" he snarled, voice breaking into a growl. "Watch yourself, gutter trash. Your kind doesn't belong here."

Kairo took a step closer, his frame still slightly shriveled from weeks of overuse, but his eyes burning with defiance.

"I don't belong here? Then pray you never meet me in the ring, because I'll show you just how much I belong."

Mira and two other survivors quickly pulled Kairo back before fists flew, but the damage was already done.

The hall buzzed like a hive set on fire.

Adrian Cross had watched the exchange quietly. His lips quirked, not in mockery, but in interest, almost respect. Selene, by contrast, didn't so much as blink, already turning away like none of this mattered.

But Valek's smirk returned, sharper than before, dripping with promise.

"This isn't over, slumrat".

Principal Aelthar raised a hand and instantly, silence fell again.

"From this day, Nexus Academy is your crucible. You will bleed, you will break, and those who rise… will define humanity's future."

The students bowed as the runes flared overhead, sealing the orientation.

But Kairo did not bow. He stood straight, fists clenched, glaring at the path ahead. His voice echoed only in his mind.

'Geniuses or not… monsters or not… I'll carve my place with my fists!'