The Medley sisters arrived at their destination through the travel tubes that would teleport people all over the city, breaking their bodies into small molecules that would zip through the tubes and reform at their destinations. They used the same excuse as before, and Calista had prepared secret outfit blueprints to validate the alibi in case her mother asked for confirmation.

  The AU Projector building was a simple, one-floor facility with no interior. There were about ten oval doors on each side, where each user would enter and use the installed Projector to virtually arrive at their destination for whatever appointment they needed. It was much more formal and more sophisticated than holo-calls from one’s room.

  While holo-calls still retained a digital quality in displaying callers’ holograms, the AU Projector made the experience so real that people might as well be at their destination in person. It was leagues cheaper than buying a teleportation ticket, but it was limited, having only so many spots and so many periods of time for usage.

  Calista’s stomach dropped to her feet. Two sides of the building were reserved for the Fistborn applicants, and holy glitch, it was packed.

  People waited in hovering shelves with comfy seats on them, connecting their Pets to the system so they could remain entertained during the wait. The Medley girls proceeded to one of the shelves with available seats. Calista checked her Mask over and over again, once again playing the role of Paesmartian Holly Jhast.

  Calista squinted, her purple eyes scanning the crowd. There were all sorts of people; different colors, different sizes, different features. One thing she noticed, however, was that there were barely any other Earthians.

  It was well-known that Benson Kalley was an advocate for giving all species a chance, in particular, species that didn’t have special abilities. He had become controversial after suggesting that the Versus admins add more personal interviews to the PR campaign— many accused him of siding with Socializers, even though he’d clearly stated he didn’t support them at all. He merely wanted a more personal connection between fans and fighters, as well as providing a chance for the weaker species to represent themselves.

  Earthians, Paeseoans, and Seeyastians were the three species that were considered ‘weakest’ in terms of raw power, Earthians being the weakest of those three. Maybe Benson had requested her just to further the movement.

  If that was the case, she had to prove she was worth it, that she deserved to be there, and that she had earned her place because of her merit, not because she appealed to some big name.

  Both girls had convinced their mother that Calista needed a full week’s ‘beauty seclusion’. Many Socializers would isolate themselves from their broadcasts when they felt too overwhelmed, and Calista was taking less melatonin in order to stay awake at night and develop bags under her eyes. With the seclusion shutting off the micro-cameras in her room, she was free to train, at least a little, for her practical exam.

  The girls had snuck out of the house after their mother had left for a conference in NYWS, probably taking advantage of her time there to talk her daughter up to the admissions board. Katelyn was able to hack the AIDA to not detect their departure or return.

  The past few days were absolutely grinding, mostly on her limbs and abdomen. Under the guide of the free pre-training module Fistborn offered, she’d done push-ups, sit-ups, jogs, and basic fighting exercises to prepare her body for the test.

  She definitely wasn’t used to so much physical exertion anymore, having collapsed after only ten push-ups the first time. Her arms still felt sore and jelly-like after the mod damage. If it hadn’t been for Katelyn pushing her so hard, she never would’ve made it to twenty-five. And the sweat… ugh! It was revolting. She was too accustomed to constantly being prim and proper, with no drop of sweat or tears on her fair skin.

  “Calling Calista Medley,” the building AIDA said.

  She closed her eyes, wincing. She hoped no one here gave a byte about Socializers. Her name wouldn’t alert this kind of crowd, surely.

  She took a breath and summoned her self-confidence, strutting into the projector. Once she entered the portal, she took off her Mask. At first, it was pitch-black. She stopped, apprehension keeping her from walking into pure darkness.

  “Please stand in the middle of the AU circle.” Footprint indicators glowed in the center. When she placed her feet on them, the darkness vanished, gradually brightening until she was surrounded by sea green.

  “Projecting to: Hall of Affairs, Versus Wing, Fistborn Academy, #1 North, Versus Grounds. Code VERSUSEARTHUSA-1001.” The light softly gave way to the Fistborn examination room.

  Calista’s green eyes wandered around curiously, wide with wonder and amazement. She craned her neck and turned slowly to take in the details of the room. The pale sky-blue walls rose up to a large, triangular skylight. Large windows yawned across the lower walls to let in natural sunlight. In the middle, where Calista stood, was a flat, gray mat that covered nearly the entirety of the space.

  At the far end was a white table shaped like a short, wide hourglass with five people, the Fistborn Academy crest hovering behind them; a blue circle with white trim and red letters reading ‘FBA’ diagonally.

  Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

  Among the judges, Calista recognized one face: Lisa White.

  Anyone would recognize those cat-like amber eyes and dirty blond hair. The only difference was the slight aging in her face. Calista couldn’t believe she was staring at her childhood idol.

  Below her was a softly glowing sign identifying her:

  Ms. Lisa “Dark Horse” White

  Earthian American

  Versus Champion 2338

  Dean of the Fistborn Versus Fighting School

  Her tag displayed her name and Level— 2,015.

  The most recent Earthian to come close to Lisa’s level was the last Games’ fourth-placer: Harrison Smith. Despite him not reaching the top three places, there were too many controversies around him.

  In the middle of the panel was a familiar Emitonian woman that looked around sixty in Earth years, with the usual purple skin and silver hair tied into a tight bun. Her harsh demeanor and large, cold, calculating eyes gave Calista shivers, not to mention her large forehead sporting numerous wrinkles. Her eyes were colored a shimmering gold, as warm as the sun, but her scrutiny made them icy.

  Mrs. Josephine “Cruella” Chrisman

  Earth-raised Emitonian Pensan— England

  Versus Champion 2310

  President of Fistborn Academy

  Her Level was 4,587; the highest on the panel. She was Irenna Kalley’s rival in 2314, her loss humiliating after having won in the previous tournament. She was initially suspected in her murder, but was cleared of any wrongdoing, and had genuinely shown sympathy for her death despite her semi-hostile relationship with Irenna.

  Emitonians were very powerful, with telekinetic, telepathic, and advanced intelligence abilities. The only reason they weren’t considered the most powerful than the top three was because of their weakness being so obvious— their eyes. Even Calista was able to exploit it at the raid. One poke caused a cascade of pain they could barely tolerate.

  Still, they were not to be underestimated. Calista didn’t remember much Versus History, but she knew that Cruella lived up to her call sign.

  On Chrisman’s right, a kinder-looking Paeseoan man carefully observed her with a smile. He had green skin with intricate blue markings lining his muscular arms like veins, and yellow eyes that twinkled with curiosity. Thick blue hair sat on his head, parts of it glowing in the sun rays.

  Mr. Benson “Kind Killer” Kalley

  Kwantan-raised Paeseoan Silikan— Alik

  Versus Silver-winner 2334

  Vice President of Fistborn Academy

  His tag showed he had recently reached Level 2,006.

  Benson Kalley— Irenna Kalley’s younger brother. The man that requested Calista, and apparently visited hacked bars in masky space stations. He was notoriously kind to his opponents— hence, his call sign. Paeseoans in general were usually very kind, both from their birth planet and Kwantan.

  Kwantan was an interspecies planet; it housed many diverse species, but didn’t have an original species in and of itself. It was discovered by Paeseo, so they were the most predominant. While Earth had the stereotype of being lazy and mediocre, Paeseo and Kwantan had a reputation for being na?ve and gullible, too kind for their own good.

  On the vice president’s left was a man that looked as cruel as Mrs. Chrisman. He had icy blue, crystalline skin that sparkled with the sunlight and coal-black eyes. A Klausian on the panel didn’t give Calista any positive thoughts. They were very prejudiced against Earthians.

  Mr. Islen Estalen

  Klausian Bastan

  Combat Technique Professor

  Versus Fighting School Evaluator

  His Level was 3,943, but was indicated as ‘Academic’, separating him from the fighters alongside him. He would have followed a career focused entirely on theory and teaching rather than physically fighting.

  And finally, on Lisa’s left, occupying the last seat on the panel, was a Mearthian woman who resembled Lisa quite a bit. She sported a kind smile that curved her glassy, black eyes. She had pale, washed-out skin and long blonde locks that spilled over her shoulders.

  Ms. Gina “Gaslight” White

  Mearthian Yostan-American

  Versus Silver-winner 2346

  Dean of the Fistborn School of Combat

  Her Level was the lowest out of everyone’s, sitting at 928. For a recent graduate, it wasn’t low. Level 500 was the required graduating level.

  Calista remembered her; she was Lisa’s cousin. She wasn’t as famous as Lisa, but she was very successful. Born on Mars, she won second place in the previous Games and had just graduated from Jostif Combat School. Because of her, the second stage of the current year’s Versus would be hosted by Mars.

  She was half-Earthian, and yet, she was much less controversial than her cousin or Harrison Smith. People weren’t too bothered by the fact that a mixed Earthian had gotten to second place.