9 A Bigger Trash

"Before we start the testing and sorting, I'd like to explain the mechanism of the appraisal stone," Camila said, gesturing to the crystal glass sphere object placed atop a table.

She spent the next 10 minutes explaining how the appraisal stone worked. From what Nyx could glean, there were three colors that determined one's talent: yellow represented low rank, green represented medium rank, and the highest was the red color.

Most students of the Elite Heroes Academy had low-ranked talent, which wasn't a bad thing because even with such terrible talents, they could still be well-respected superheroes and reach tier 4.

Green: students who awakened this talent were relatively rare and would graduate to become big-time celebrities, reaching tier 3. According to the vice-principal, the academy focused its resources on students who awakened a green talent.

As for red, those who awakened this talent were usually 1 in a million prodigies, graduating to become formidable Heroes revered and worshipped by the masses. The level of respect and value placed on them was comparable to the president of any country, as they were Heroes capable of becoming the fabled Tier 1 entity and perhaps even beyond.

"And that's all the explanation you need to know. For the testing method, all you have to do is to place your hand on the Stone. Now, who is first?" Camila spoke, sweeping her icy gaze around the students. Some of them gulped nervously, looking at the person closest to them to step forward.

'What if I step forward and awaken the lowest talent?' This was the thought running through most of the students' minds. However, looking at Camila's cold eyes reaching their limits, the students knew they'd to step out soon before White Frost lost her cool.

On the side, Nyx, unlike the rest, still maintained his cool demeanor. He hadn't stepped forward because he wanted to study the students, to know which ones would become his pawns and the ones he would have to off.

"Tsk, all of you are pussies, let me show you how it's done."

Just then, the students heard a rude voice from the crowd. Glancing in that direction, they could see Violet approaching the appraisal stone.

All the students watched Violet with a fixed gaze, eager to know which talent the granddaughter of Humanity's Strongest Hero possessed. Even Camila showed slight interest. The one showing the most interest was Nyx; he wanted to know if Violet was worth corrupting and turning into his pawn.

'Even if her talent isn't that impressive, her ability, shadow manipulation, is just too good to let go.' Nyx thought, but deep down inside him, he knew anyone with that righteous fool's blood was anything but ordinary.

"Place your han-" before Camila could complete her sentence, Violet had already placed her hands on the appraisal stone with a confident smirk on her face.

Soon, the entire hall was engulfed by a brilliant light, except for the vice-principal, Nyx, and a few students; everyone else was forced to cover their eyes due to the intensity of the light that felt as if it could leave them blind if they looked too much.

When the light finally came down, everyone stared at the appraisal stone, which was illuminated with a red light.

"Red talent!" The students sucked in a cold breath. They weren't too shocked; after all, the person in question was Torrin's daughter. Still, the glints of reverence and envy were very difficult to conceal.

The next person to step out was Ikor, and like Violet, he too awakened a red talent. With his signature amiable smile, he turned around and went to the place he was standing behind, leaving several students in awe of his awesomeness.

Staring at Ikor's back, Nyx couldn't help but think back to when Ikor had used his ability on him. 'What was that ability? I have never heard of anyone possessing such an ability before. Wasn't it too overpowered? Are the villains really allowing someone like this to live?'

If it was back in his days, Nyx was sure the villains would have eliminated the likes of Violet and Ikor, if Nightmare didn't hunt them first.

'Maybe this generation's villains are just too weak, or did that righteous fool get stronger?'

This was a question that Nyx was certain would remain unanswered for some time.

After Ikor and Violet, it was safe to say, no single student awakened a red talent again.

Most of the students awakened a yellow talent, while a small amount of them awakened the green color. Apollo was among the majority that awakened yellow talent, but the black-haired boy didn't seem affected even for an instance. If anything, he was all smiles and cheered for Nyx.

The red-haired boy walked towards the appraisal stone. His steps were leisurely and deliberate, as if he wasn't in a hurry, something that annoyed the students watching, especially the boys who saw Nyx as a rival. The girls, however, couldn't help but be drawn to his charming looks and started rooting for him to awaken a decent talent.

But they knew better than shouting in Camila's presence.

Placing his hands on the appraisal stone, Nyx sucked in a cold breath. In his past life, he'd always carried himself with pride and subconsciously put himself higher than everyone, but he knew that today he was below everyone here in terms of talent. After all, he didn't even have an ability to begin with.

"Place your hand, we don't have all day!" Camila spoke a bit irritated.

"My hand is already on it," Nyx spoke as he stared at the appraisal stone that didn't even have a flicker of light.

'How could this be?' Camilla thought in confusion. She was one of those who had watched Nyx's performance at the entrance exam, and she thought even if he wasn't a red talent, he should have possessed a green talent. To think he didn't even possess a single talent.

Similarly, all the students were also shocked as they watched Nyx walking back to his spot.

"Pfft! Loser," a student, who had been composed until now, couldn't hold back anymore.

"Now that I look at him, he isn't even that handsome."

"I thought I was unlucky, but bro doesn't even have a talent; how is he going to survive?"

"Tsk, someone without talent; I bet he must have used underhand tactics to pass the exam. Despicable."

Even Ikor and Violet exchanged a glance, their eyes reflecting confusion.

As Nyx stood back at his spot, most of the students started distancing themselves from him, something he'd expected, but surprisingly, one person was still beside him.

"You okay?" Apollo's voice held genuine concern as he looked at Nyx.

"I'm fine," Nyx managed a reassuring smile. "You don't have to worry about me. By the way, you're a nice person—almost too good for someone like me, so I'll advise you to stay away from me." Nyx said and started leaving the hall.

Just a second later, the students were also dismissed from the hall, and Camilla was alone staring at the Appraisal stone.

"How? Is the stone perhaps faulty?" She murmured to herself, finding it difficult to believe the red-haired boy would not possess any talent after his flawless performance at the exam.

In her thought , she soon heard a voice from the entrance. "Miss Vice principal, if you don't mind, I'd like to take the artifact back to the treasury."

It was Isaac; not only was he a tutor, but he was also in charge of safekeeping all the academy super items, the weak ones as the stronger important ones were kept in the museum and was protected by Master Khrome, a being that was a mystery to many.

"Have you been here since?" Camila asked as she threw a glare at Isaac. "You should know by now I value my privacy. I'll let you slide this time, but that won't be the case next time." She said and left, leaving Isaac alone on his own.

'Even she couldn't see me, and yet that little rascal saw me.' Isaac thought back to Nyx's intense stare at him when he was standing on the window. Someone like him should have been capable of awakening a red-grade talent–"

Isaac wasn't able to finish his words when he saw the topmost part of the appraisal stone emitting a faint black light, and his eyes widened.

[AN: Heroe ranking is Tier 5 to Tier 1]