Chapter 2: First Blood

The examination hall buzzed with nervous energy and the constant hiss of steam vents. Atlas found himself pressed against a mechanical wall panel, watching as hundreds of candidates milled about in groups. The room itself was a marvel of Japanese-steampunk engineering—high wooden ceilings supported by brass beams, with rotating constellation charts casting shifting shadows across the crowd.

"Attention, examinees!"

A voice boomed through the speaking tubes that snaked across the ceiling. At the front of the hall, a massive man stepped onto a steam-powered platform that lifted him above the crowd. His hunter uniform was immaculate—deep green with gold trim, indicating a Nebula Master rank. The highest Atlas had ever seen in person.

"I am Examiner Kane, and I will be overseeing your first trial." His voice carried easily through the mechanical amplification system. "Many of you believe that possessing a constellation makes you ready to become hunters. You are wrong."

Murmurs rippled through the crowd. Atlas noticed several candidates unconsciously manifesting their powers—small flames, wisps of wind, crackling electricity.

"The first trial is simple," Kane continued, his scarred face splitting into a cruel smile. "Survival. You have thirty minutes to remain conscious in the Pressure Chamber."

A section of the wooden floor began to descend with grinding gears and releasing steam, revealing a circular arena below. The walls were lined with what looked like star-fragment powered generators, humming with barely contained energy.

"The chamber will gradually increase gravitational pressure using captured star essence. Most of you will collapse within ten minutes. Those who remain standing after thirty minutes pass to the next trial."

Atlas felt his stomach drop. Pure endurance—something that had nothing to do with star power. Maybe he actually had a chance.

"However," Kane's smile widened, "to make things interesting, you'll be paired randomly. If your partner collapses, you both fail. Choose your survival strategy wisely."

Atlas's brief optimism evaporated. Being partnered meant someone's success depended on his performance—and everyone could see he was starless.

"Begin selection!"

A mechanical randomizer—a complex array of spinning brass wheels and steam gauges—began clicking through combinations. Names appeared on a board as steam-powered printing mechanisms worked frantically.

Atlas watched in growing dread as powerful candidates were matched with other strong fighters. Then his name appeared:

ATLAS STONE paired with VERA NIGHTSHADE

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me," came a disgusted voice from his right.

Atlas turned to see a girl about his age with striking silver hair cut in a sharp bob and cold blue eyes. Her uniform was pristine black with silver accents, and when she moved, the air around her seemed to shimmer with frost.

"Vera Nightshade," she introduced herself with obvious reluctance. "Draco Minor—ice manipulation." Small crystals of ice formed and dissolved around her fingers as she spoke. "And you're the starless Stone boy everyone's whispering about."

"I can handle this," Atlas said, trying to sound more confident than he felt.

"Can you?" Vera's eyes narrowed. "Because when you collapse in five minutes, my exam ends too. Three years of preparation, wasted because I got paired with dead weight."

Atlas felt heat rise in his cheeks. "I'm stronger than I look."

"Sure you are." She turned away dismissively. "Just... try not to embarrass your father's memory too badly."

That stung more than Atlas expected. Before he could respond, Kane's voice echoed again: "First group, enter the chamber!"

Twenty candidates descended into the circular arena via a steam-powered lift platform. Atlas and Vera found themselves standing near the center, surrounded by obviously powerful star-users. He caught sight of Castor across the chamber, paired with a tall boy whose lightning constellation made the air crackle around him.

For a moment, Castor's eyes met his, and Atlas saw worry there—not pity, but genuine concern for his safety. His friend raised a hand slightly, as if to wave, but Atlas looked away. He couldn't handle Castor's sympathy right now.

"Initiating pressure field," Kane announced from above.

The generators along the walls began to glow brighter. Atlas felt the change immediately—a subtle increase in weight, as if someone had draped a heavy blanket over his shoulders. Around him, other candidates shifted but remained standing easily.

"Level two."

The pressure doubled. Atlas's knees buckled slightly, but he forced himself to straighten. Several candidates were already breathing harder, though their star powers seemed to be helping them compensate. Vera stood perfectly still beside him, ice crystals dancing around her feet in complex patterns—apparently her constellation helped her maintain balance.

"Level three."

Now it felt like Atlas was carrying someone on his back. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he fought to stay upright. Across the chamber, two candidates had already collapsed, eliminating their partners as well.

"This is pathetic," Vera muttered, though Atlas noticed she was breathing more heavily now too. "You're shaking."

"I'm... fine," Atlas gasped.

"Level four."

The pressure slammed into Atlas like a physical blow. His vision blurred and he staggered, nearly falling. Only his desperate grab for a nearby wall panel kept him upright. The metal was hot against his palm—charged with star essence from the generators.

Bzzt!

Electric energy surged through the panel and into Atlas's hand. Pain shot up his arm like liquid fire, and he bit back a scream. The burn was agonizing, but as the seconds passed, something strange happened.

The crushing pressure... felt lighter somehow.

What? Atlas blinked in confusion, still clutching his burned hand. That doesn't make sense.

"Level five."

The pressure increased again, but Atlas found he could stand straighter than before. The pain in his hand was still intense, but his legs felt steadier. Around him, more candidates were collapsing, but somehow he was managing better than he had moments ago.

Maybe I'm just getting used to it? he wondered, trying to make sense of what was happening. Or maybe the adrenaline from the shock helped?

"Level six."

Now only a handful of candidates remained standing. Castor was still upright, his Leo Major constellation creating a protective aura of heat that seemed to push back against the pressure. The lightning-user beside him was crackling with defensive energy.

But Atlas stood without any visible star power at all, looking as confused as everyone else felt.

Vera was staring at him with undisguised shock. "How are you still standing?" she whispered.

"Just... stubbornness, I guess," Atlas replied, not wanting to admit he had no idea what was happening to him. He kept his burned hand hidden against his side.

"Level seven."

Three more candidates collapsed. Now only eight remained out of the original twenty, and Atlas Stone—supposedly starless Atlas Stone—was one of them.

This doesn't make sense, Atlas thought desperately. What's happening to me?

Kane's voice came through the speaking tubes, and Atlas caught a note of surprise: "Interesting. Several candidates showing unexpected resilience."

Atlas tried to understand what was going on. The electric shock had been painful—more painful than anything he'd ever experienced. But afterward, he'd felt... different. Stronger. Like something inside him had changed.

But what? And why? And more importantly, should he tell anyone?

No, he decided immediately. If I don't understand it, how could I explain it? They'd think I was making excuses or lying.

"Level eight."

The pressure increased to crushing levels. Two more candidates fell immediately, their partners crying out in frustration. Now only six remained: Castor and his lightning-wielding partner, a pair of twins with matching wind abilities, Vera with her ice powers...

And Atlas, who shouldn't have been able to stand at all.

"What's your secret?" Vera hissed, her earlier dismissiveness replaced by intense curiosity.

Atlas met her eyes, forcing himself to look calm despite his inner turmoil. "No secret. Just don't want to let my father down."

It wasn't a lie, exactly. But it wasn't the whole truth either. The truth was, Atlas felt like he was missing something important—something right at the edge of his understanding. The pain, the change in his endurance, the way his body seemed to be responding differently... it all seemed connected somehow.

But he couldn't grasp how. And until he could, he wasn't telling anyone.

As the pressure field prepared for its final levels, Atlas kept his expression neutral while his mind raced. His burned hand still ached, but somehow the gravitational pressure felt almost manageable.

He had no idea that he'd just experienced his first accidental power copying—or that this mysterious moment would eventually change everything.

For now, he was just a starless boy who'd somehow survived longer than anyone expected, including himself. And he was going to keep whatever was happening to him a secret until he figured out what it meant.

"Level nine," Kane announced.

And Atlas Stone continued to stand, keeping his confusion and amazement hidden behind a mask of quiet determination.