I could barely make out seven figures—silhouettes standing in a void. Their bodies

  flickered like mirages, shifting between presence and absence. I strained to see their faces, but a thick, unnatural haze clung to them like smoke that didn’t want to move.

  Did I know them?

  Pressure swelled in my chest—recognition mixed with something deeper. Something I couldn’t name. The figures didn’t move. They just stood there… waiting.

  Expecting.

  Then came the voice.

  “You must find them,” it whispered—distant, urgent, like it was being spoken across time itself.

  I spun, searching for the source, but the void stayed empty.

  “You started this… now it’s time… Find the Cosmic Kni—”

  BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

  The alarm tore me out of the dream. My body jolted upright, heart hammering so hard it felt like it was trying to punch through my ribs. My vision swam, then snapped into the dim glow of my room. I sucked in air, sweat clinging to my skin.

  “Same dream again,” I groaned.

  My eyes snapped to the clock.

  “Shit—10:00 AM already?!”

  I launched out of bed. My brain lagged behind the urgency for half a second, then caught up all at once.

  The CKA Tryouts.

  I wasn’t exactly thrilled about going, but being late wasn’t an option. Not with my father’s name attached to me. And Donadis was already there—probably playing the role of the perfect son.

  Still half-asleep, I yanked open my closet and threw on whatever was closest: a fitted athletic shirt, dark joggers, my best running shoes. Functional. No nonsense. I wasn’t trying to look cool—I just needed to show up, go through the motions, and prove my innate ability wasn’t useless. That alone would keep my father satisfied.

  Half dressed, I tore downstairs, the familiar creak of the old steps echoing through the quiet house.

  Then the smell hit me.

  Crispy bacon. Maple syrup. A warm blend of vanilla and cinnamon.

  It wrapped around my nerves like a blanket, calming me just enough to think straight. My mom always cooked like this before something important—like good food could balance out whatever weight was sitting on your chest.

  She stood at the stove, flipping pancakes onto a plate. Morning light poured through the kitchen window, catching her dark hair, the sun warming her brown skin until she almost glowed.

  “Your brother left with your father this morning,” she said, handing me a plate.

  Gentle voice. Sharp meaning.

  I barely acknowledged it. I shoveled food into my mouth like I’d been starving for days.

  She watched me with that mix of concern and tired exasperation only mothers mastered. “Just don’t be late, Dex. You know how much this means to your father.”

  Yeah. I knew.

  Too damn much.

  But my mind was drifting.

  You must find them…

  The voice from the dream clung to my thoughts like an echo that refused to die. It felt familiar, but wrong—like a memory that didn’t belong to me.

  “DEXADIS RAYCO HICKS!”

  I choked mid-bite. My mother’s voice snapped through my head like a cosmic blade. My ears rang from the force of it.

  “Yes, Mom, I heard you,” I said, swallowing hard. “Not like it was my idea to go anyway,” I mumbled.

  Her expression stayed sharp for a beat, then softened—just a little. “You can thank your brother for that. Now hurry up. I don’t want to tell you again.”

  I inhaled the rest of my breakfast and bolted upstairs.

  The uneasy feeling from the dream hadn’t faded, but I shoved it aside. Whatever it was, it could wait.

  Right now, I had to get to tryouts.

  Halfway to my room, I remembered something.

  Donadis already had my gear.

  Perfect. Saved me time.

  I could run there… or I could finally get some practice in and not waste the one thing I was actually good at.

  I stopped, breathed in, raised my right arm, and curled my fingers into a loose fist.

  Energy rippled through me—raw, potent. It didn’t live in my hand. It lived in me. It spread through my veins like liquid stardust, thickening the air around my body until space itself felt heavier.

  Then, in an instant—

  The world bent.

  An invisible force yanked me forward. Reality warped. Color streaked into lines. Wind screamed in my ears like something trying to peel my skin off.

  Then—solid ground.

  My vision snapped back.

  I was standing in the Cosmic Knight Academy registration building.

  …Which was honestly a bit much for a registration hall.

  The scale of it hit me like a meteor.

  Towering arched ceilings stretched impossibly high, painted with murals of past Cosmic Knights—each one rendered with haunting detail. Crystalline circuits ran through the walls like veins, glowing softly with stored cosmic energy. Massive pillars carved from pure Lythium held up the structure, their surfaces pulsing faintly… like the building was alive.

  And the people—

  Dozens of recruits packed the floor. Their energy buzzed in the air like an unstable reactor. Some wore battle-ready armor. Others showed up in casual athletic gear. But everyone carried the same look: nervous excitement barely held together.

  Across the room, Donadis stood with two other recruits. Before I could even say hi, he—true to form—jumped straight into nag mode.

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  “Dex, you can’t be using your powers yet! We still haven’t been authorized. If you ge—”

  “What, are you gonna tell Dad?” I cut in, rolling my eyes. “Honestly, you should both be happy I even showed up.”

  “It’s 10:42, and you’re already being a numbskull,” he shot back. “You could’ve just stayed home if you didn’t wanna be here.”

  Before our usual sibling war could turn into a full-on public spectacle, one of the recruits spoke up.

  “You might want to sign in if you plan on staying. I think sign-ups are about to close. The paperwork said 11 AM was the deadline.”

  I turned toward him, but the kid next to him exploded into the conversation like he was powered by pure caffeine.

  “Don’t you know who they are?!” he blurted, practically vibrating. “These guys are famous—the Golden Twins! Sons of the legendary Titanium Titan, Raycoen Hicks!” He looked like he might pass out from excitement. “I heard he’s going to be here today! I modeled my entire suit after his design. Do you think I’ll get to meet him?”

  He shoved out a hand. “My name’s Gaylen Smarts. It’s so nice to meet you!”

  Gaylen looked about seventeen—around 5’10”, short brown hair, bright blue eyes. Round jaw, slightly plump face that didn’t match his slim, almost lanky frame.

  The other kid beside him was built different—taller, broader, calm. At least six feet. Dark curls fell loose around his face, and his caramel-brown skin caught the light. He stood relaxed but solid, like he’d already mapped the entire room in his head the second he walked in.

  “Sorry. I’m not really looking to make friends right now,” I said, turning toward the booths.

  Even through the noise, I could still hear them talking behind me—just enough to irritate me.

  “Sorry about my brother,” Donadis said immediately. “He’s an actual idiot.” He sighed, then straightened. “If my father isn’t busy afterward, maybe you’ll meet him. And it’s nice to meet you, Gaylen. I didn’t catch your name?” He said as he turned toward the other recruit

  “Alexie. Alexie Otto.”

  I froze mid-step.

  Otto.

  That name hit my head like a brick.

  Why did it sound familiar?

  I barely had time to grab the thought before a voice cut through my focus like a well-placed gut punch.

  “Hey, jackass. Don’t tell me you’re getting cold feet already.”

  I turned.

  Makenzie stood behind me with Adonis at her side.

  She smirked, arms crossed over a skin-tight bodysuit. A cropped denim jacket hung off her shoulders like she wore it just to prove she could. Platinum-blonde hair framed her face, falling past her shoulders, and her sharp green eyes locked onto me like she was waiting for me to slip.

  “You know,” she said, bright and annoying, “it’s not too late to hand me my money now. A simple ‘you were right, Kenzie’ will do.”

  I scoffed. “And give up my chance to prove my innate ability is better than yours? No way.”

  Her smirk widened. “Just don’t get knocked out first, ‘Golden Child.’”

  I rolled my eyes and faced the registration booth again. I didn’t want to be here, but now I was too deep to back out.

  Makenzie stepped closer, still sizing up the room like she was shopping for victims.

  “So what’s the plan?” she asked.

  I blinked. “Plan?”

  She tilted her head, unimpressed. “The bet, idiot. Are you just gonna cruise through and hope you don’t get eliminated, or are you actually gonna try?”

  I smirked like I’d been thinking hard. “I was gonna do the bare minimum and let my overwhelming natural talent carry me through.”

  She sighed, shaking her head. “Figures. I expect nothing less from Mr.lazy.”

  A few feet ahead, Donadis turned back, clearly overhearing.

  “See That’s the difference between us,” he said, flashing that confident grin he practiced in mirrors. “You treat this like an obligation. I treat it like a step toward something bigger.”

  I stared at him. Flat. “Please enlighten me, oh wise and noble brother. What’s so big about joining a glorified military club?”

  His expression flickered—just for a moment—before he forced it back into place.

  “You wouldn’t understand,” he said, like that ended the conversation.

  I scoffed. “Try me.”

  Donadis exhaled and gestured toward the murals lining the hall—each had seven figures painted in cosmic light.

  “The Cosmic Knights are more than warriors, Dex. They’re the reason we still have peace. Without them, underground crime syndicates, rogue energy users, rebel factions—everything would tear itself apart. They’re the ones who stopped Dark Star’s invasion four years ago. Without them, the whole world would’ve collapsed.”

  My gaze drifted to one mural in particular.

  The previous Seven.

  Cosmic light.

  I recognized one instantly.

  My father.

  Rayco Hicks. The Titanium Titan.

  I hated admitting it, but Donadis wasn’t wrong. The last generation of Cosmic Knights were legends. When the world leaned too far toward chaos, they held the line.

  Four years ago, they led the battle against Dark Star—the strongest rogue entity recorded in history.

  And something happened that day.

  Something nobody liked to talk about.

  After the battle… five of them disappeared.

  No bodies. No records. No explanation.

  Just gone.

  The only ones who came back were my father… and one other survivor.

  Kendoshi Kia.

  I glanced at Donadis. The way he looked up at the mural—like it was sacred.

  He believed in this.

  He wanted to be a Knight for more than the title. He wanted to protect something.

  Me?

  I just wanted to get through tryouts without embarrassing myself.

  Makenzie snorted, shattering the mood. “You’re both overthinking this.”

  Donadis raised an eyebrow. “How so?”

  She grinned. “It doesn’t matter how noble or legendary the Cosmic Knights are. If you’re strong, you get in. If you’re weak, you don’t. Simple.”

  Adonis—quiet until now—finally spoke. “That’s the most Kenzie answer I’ve ever heard.”

  Makenzie shrugged. “Tell me I’m wrong.”

  None of us did.

  Because she wasn’t.

  They only accepted the best.

  And the tryouts weren’t just some entrance exam.

  They were a battlefield.

  Survival of the fittest.

  The weak got eliminated. The strong moved forward. No exceptions.

  The line crept up, and finally I reached the registration booth.

  The officer barely looked at me as she lifted a sleek, high-tech wristband.

  “Name?”

  “Dexadis Hicks.”

  Her eyes flickered with brief recognition at my last name before she tapped her holo-screen.

  “Place your right hand over the scanner.”

  I did. The bracelet hummed to life and latched onto my wrist with a soft blue glow.

  A holographic display blinked into existence above it.

  [C.O.R.E. SYSTEM BOOTING…]

  SYNCHRONIZING USER DATA…

  REGISTRATION CONFIRMED.

  COMPETITOR ID: DEXADIS RAYCO HICKS.

  STATUS: UNRANKED.

  INATE ABILITY : N/A.

  ASSESSMENT: PENDING.

  I exhaled. “Great. More tracking devices.”

  “Didn’t your father make them?” Makenzie leaned over my shoulder, squinting at the display. “I’ll admit—they’re kinda cute.”

  “Oh, please.” I flexed my wrist. “It’s just a fancy scorekeeper to make sure I don’t get my head kicked in.”

  She smirked. “You know it’s a lot more than that.”

  Adonis grinned, stretching his arms behind his head. “Go on, Dex. Give us your expert breakdown.”

  I sighed dramatically. “Alright. Since you all clearly care so much—allow me to educate you.”

  I cleared my throat.

  “C.O.R.E. — Combat Observation & Ranking Evaluator.”

  “Combat” — tracks how well you fight. Punching, dodging, energy control. Basically, it grades how much of a badass you are… or how fast you get your ass kicked.

  “Observation” — like having a creepy gym coach analyzing your every move. Reaction time. Strategy. Whether or not you trip over your own feet.

  “Ranking” — real-time scores based on combat skill, teamwork, overall effectiveness. If you’re at the bottom… yikes.

  “Evaluator” — sends all that data straight to the instructors. If you suck, they’ll know instantly. If you’re good, they’ll still act unimpressed.

  I dropped my hand. “So yeah. A fancy scorekeeper.”

  Makenzie laughed. “You really have no faith in this, huh?”

  I stared ahead, deadpan. “Nope.”

  Right then, the clock hit 11:00 AM—and the entire hall went silent.

  Every head turned toward the center of the room.

  A tall figure stood there like he owned gravity.

  Kendoshi Kia.

  His presence demanded respect before he even spoke. Perfect posture. Arms crossed. Golden eyes scanning the crowd like he was already deciding who would break first.

  Then his voice cut through the quiet—calm, but absolute.

  “If you would please follow me to the first trial room,” he announced. “I’ll explain more once we get there.”

  I exhaled, hands sinking into my pockets.

  Tryouts had officially begun.

  And I was already over it.