The test continued with Ken being called up next. Ken walked up and stood in the center of the field and waited for the test to start. He then turned his head and shot a quick glance at Quinn and the others and smiled before turning his gaze away and focusing on Jane, "I'll show you the power of the Talen's." Ken said with a confident smile on his face. Jane looked back at Ken with a neutral expression on her face. "Let's see then, your test will begin now." As soon as Jane finished talking, five random targets appeared across the wasteland. Ken immediately started to focus all of his energy into his left leg, then launched himself forward toward the targets at an incredible speed kicking up dust behind him. He quickly started taking down each target with his fist.
As Ken took down the last target Jane was quite impressed at Ken's speed. She tapped her earpiece and spoke into it, "Can you please check the corresponding file on Ken Talen. We might need to keep tabs on him." Jane asked, speaking into her earpiece. "I'll start checking his corresponding file," the mysterious man on the other side said. As the man hung up, he immediately got up off his seat and began to check the corresponding file. "Ah, Ken Talen…such a strong name but it's sad that he couldn't learn his family's original ability." As the man continued to check the file he noticed that Quinn seems to share the same last name as Ken. He thought of it as just a coincidence but what if it was not a coincidence…what if they were related, but that wouldn't explain why Quinn has no ability.
The man continued to read Ken's file until he reached the final page which contains the information on Ken's ability. "The ability to control his own energy…" the man said as he finished reading Ken's file. He walked back to his desk and sat down on his chair with a mischievous grin on his face. "A disappointment to his family…but he has his own original ability. Maybe we do need to keep tabs on his power growth. Let's see how strong you can become Ken Talen."
*****
On the Strength test, Ken walked up to the huge drum-like machine and stood in front of it. "So, I just need to hit this as hard as I can right?" he asked looking back at Jane, Jane nodded her head in approval. Ken turned his attention right back at the drum. "It's time I give it my all," Ken focused his energy, drawing it into his fist. Light flared along his arm as power surged through him, wrapping his hand in a subtle glowing aura. Ken pulled back his fist and with a sharp exhale, he slammed it right into the drum. A deep boomed echoed as the device shook – its display flickering before stopping at 49.7.
Jane stood nearby, tablet in hand, eyes fixed onto the machine. As the numbers locked in at 49.7, she tapped the screen with practiced ease, entering the score. "Forty-nine point seven," she said calmly, her tone unreadable as her fingers danced across the tablet. The next and final test was the Agility test. As the countdown began, Ken focused on the energy within him. His ability was still unrefined, and he could only enhance one part of his body with energy at the moment, but he had managed to make some progress. Without warning, the first holographic spike shot out toward him. It moved quickly, but Ken was faster. He narrowed his focus on his left leg, channeling all the energy he had learned to harness into it. His muscles burned with power, but it was worth it. With a single leap, Ken soared high, narrowly avoiding the spike.
The machine, sensing that Ken was adapting, whirred to life again, it started shooting more spikes from various openings. The speed of the machine increased, the spikes launching faster and in rapid succession. Ken gritted his teeth, maintaining focus as his enhanced left leg powered him to avoid another barrage. Sweat began to form on his brow-– he had only managed to enhance one part of his body at a time, but his energy was still too limited to boost both his speed and agility, so he had to rely solely on his leg. The machine raised its intensity, now launching a flurry of holographic spikes at Ken from multiple angles. His eyes darted, calculating each movement as he danced around the field. He dodged, ducked, and leaped, each time narrowly escaping a spike that threatened to hit him.
"Look at him go!!" Vorden praised. Eventually the machine had gotten too fast and Ken ended up getting hit. "Impressive! That was the best result so far. Now then you're the first, first-year student with a power level of 4.9." Jane said, impressed at his performance. Ken slowly got up off the ground after getting hit by the holographic spike. He was drenched in sweat, breathing heavily from the exertion of his ability. He slowly walked back towards the group with a faint smile on his face. He stopped right in front of Quinn. "This…is the power of the Talen's."
In response to this Quinn narrowed his eyes, watching Ken with a mix of suspicion and curiosity. The last name "Talen" echoed in his mind like a puzzle waiting to be solved. He took a step forward. "You said this is the power of the Talens…Are we related somehow? I've never heard of another Talen until now." Ken's smile lingered, but his eyes held something guarded. "Maybe. Or maybe it's just a coincidence that we share the same last name." Ken said as he turned away before Quinn could press further, the conversation ending as quickly as it began. Quinn frowned, unsettled by the vague answer. He knows something, he thought. Something he's not saying.
Quinn made a silent note to himself. After everyone is done with this test… I'm going to get my answers.