The Gates of Power The academy was nothing like Gotham’s universities or training centers. It loomed before him—a colossal fortress stretching beyond the horizon, its spires piercing the sky. Walls forged from obsidian and Essence-infused steel pulsed with raw energy, shifting between reality and something else entirely. This was not just a pce of learning. This was a battleground.

  Batman stood at the gates, his cloak barely stirring in the wind. Around him, hundreds of aspiring students gathered—some humanoid, some not. Each radiated power, their Essences visible in the air like auras of fire, lightning, or something stranger. [Welcome, Applicants.] A voice echoed through the sky, impersonal yet absolute. [Your worth shall be judged. Those who fail will not enter.] The tension thickened. No one spoke, but everyone understood. This was no simple entrance exam. This was survival.

  The Brutality of Arcadia A massive, golden barrier shimmered before the academy gates. The moment Batman stepped closer, a screen materialized before him.

  Academy Entry Requirements

  – Rank Evaluation Required – Power Demonstration Mandatory – Failure Results in Immediate Expulsion (or Death) He wasn’t surprised. Everything in Arcadia followed one rule—the strong rise, the weak fall. But there was a problem. Batman had no Essence. No recognized power. No rank. And Arcadia didn’t tolerate the powerless. A deep chuckle rumbled beside him. “You’re dead on arrival, human.” Batman turned. The speaker was massive—easily eight feet tall, muscles like steel cords coiled beneath armor-like skin. His eyes burned with golden fire, and his aura exuded pure dominance. A Highborn Draconian. One of Arcadia’s strongest races. “Lost Travelers like you never make it past the gates,” the Draconian sneered, his scaled lips curling into a cruel grin. “You ck Essence. You ck status. You ck power.” Murmurs spread. Others had noticed. A Traveler with no rank? No power? Dead weight. “I suggest you walk away,” the Draconian growled. “Before the academy erases you.” Batman didn’t move. He simply stared, his expression unreadable. Then— He stepped forward.

  The Entrance Test [Rank Evaluation Commencing.] The golden barrier pulsed. A sigil formed in the air, intricate patterns shifting like clockwork gears. Batman stood beneath it as the energy scanned him. The system calcuted. The world held its breath. Then, the result appeared.

  Rank Evaluation: FAILED.

  Status: Unqualified. Silence. Laughter erupted. The Draconian barked a ugh, shaking his head. “Told you. You’re nothing in Arcadia.” The others smirked. Some lost interest. And then— A new message appeared.

  Override Activated.

  Special Condition Detected: [Dark Knight’s Will] Emergency Trial Initiated. Batman’s eyes narrowed. The Draconian’s grin faded. “What…?” The golden barrier shimmered, then shattered. And suddenly, Batman wasn’t at the gates anymore.

  The Trial of Shadows The world shifted. Darkness swallowed everything, pulling him into a void. A moment ter, he nded on solid ground—an arena of bck stone, surrounded by endless abyss. A voice boomed from above. [You are unranked. Powerless. Worthless.] The air crackled. A shadowed figure emerged—a monstrous entity formed from pure darkness, glowing red eyes locked onto him. [If you wish to enter, prove yourself.] The monster lunged. Batman reacted instantly. No Essence. No magic. No system. Just pure, honed instinct. He sidestepped at the st moment, his movements razor-sharp. The creature’s cws missed by an inch, its sheer force cracking the stone beneath. Batman countered. A precise strike—right at the throat. The creature staggered, but it wasn’t enough. It was fast. Strong. Far beyond human limits. But Batman had never relied on brute force. He adapted. He analyzed. Within seconds, he found it—the weak spot. A flicker in the creature’s form, a disruption in its shadowed body. Exploitable. It lunged again. This time, Batman didn’t evade. He stepped in. A feint. A twist. A strike to the core. The shadow let out a piercing wail. Its form shuddered—then colpsed into nothing. The void trembled. A new message appeared.

  Trial Complete.

  Rank Assigned: Shadow Initiate. The darkness faded. Batman stood once more before the academy gates. Silence. The Draconian stared. The others gawked. No Essence. No magic. And yet, he had survived a trial that should have killed him. Batman exhaled, adjusting his cape. Then, without a word—he stepped forward, crossing the threshold. He had entered the Grand Academy. And Arcadia would never be the same again. ---