WebNovels

Chapter 11 - Let The Entrance Exam Begin

I pushed through the massive crowd of excited examinees and made my way to the gate marked "Zone 1–3." The line moved quickly, the hum of nervous chatter surrounding me. Everyone seemed on edge, some stretching, others bouncing on their toes, waiting for the exam to start. The air was filled with a mixture of adrenaline, excitement, and fear—it was almost tangible.

I stepped into the crowded elevator, trying not to bump into anyone. Bodies pressed against me from every side. Some kids were muttering to themselves, psyching themselves up. Others were whispering strategies to their friends. I could feel the nervous energy radiating off everyone. The elevator began to descend slowly, the walls closing in slightly as the floors passed by, the faint hum of machinery vibrating through my feet. Through the small gaps forming in the metal walls, I could glimpse the floor below, though it passed by too quickly to make out details.

When the elevator finally stopped and the doors slid open, I stepped into a wide, brightly lit room. To my left was a gate labeled "Zone 1," and each gate in the room had its own display screen. The screens glowed softly, displaying numbers for the other zones, each assigned to different groups of examinees. The room was buzzing with movement as examinees poured out of the elevator and began forming lines in front of their respective gates.

I moved toward my line, joining at the back. Counting quickly, I estimated there were around 20 to 30 examinees ahead of me. Everyone shifted impatiently, some fidgeting, others standing perfectly still, waiting for their turn. A few glanced at their phones or checked the screens above the gates, while others muttered words of encouragement to themselves or their friends.

Minutes passed. The line slowly moved forward, and I could see the table at the front. A small box was attached, and a screen hovered above it. The instructions read: "Please place your belongings here." Beneath that, there were fields to type in names. I placed my phone on the box, hands trembling slightly, and typed "Kabuchi Zane." I pressed Done. Almost immediately, the box was pulled into the wall with a smooth, mechanical hum, and a moment later, it emerged empty.

The Zone 3 gate creaked open, revealing a long, dark blue hallway stretching far ahead. A faint light glimmered at the end. The hallway was unnervingly quiet compared to the buzzing room we had just left. The walls were sleek and featureless, a cold, metallic shade of blue that reflected the faint glow from the ceiling lights.

"Can't this exam just start already?" I muttered to myself, my voice lost in the murmurs of the other examinees. I pushed forward, running alongside them, our feet echoing on the smooth floor. Some were sprinting, others jogging, scanning their surroundings. My heart pounded in my chest as adrenaline surged.

The light at the end of the hallway grew larger and brighter until we stepped through, and my eyes widened. Beyond the hallway lay a town—a perfect replica of one I might have seen in real life. Tall buildings lined the streets, houses dotted the blocks, and even a park sprawled in the center. Sidewalks were neatly arranged, street lamps stood like silent sentinels, and the roads were wide enough for vehicles to pass comfortably. The arena was enormous, stretching far beyond what I could see in a single glance.

I froze for a moment, trying to take it all in. The scale was overwhelming. Metal clanged behind me, snapping me out of my awe. The gate leading back into the hallway had closed with a definitive thunk, cutting off any thought of retreat.

A calm, female voice rang out across the arena, clear and deliberate:

"Welcome to this exam. You will have ten minutes to explore and position yourselves. After this time, the robots will activate. A whistle will mark the official start of the exam. Let it begin."

At her words, the crowd erupted into motion. Examinees scattered in every direction. Some ran into buildings, others stayed near the streets where the massive black robots were stationed. A few ducked into houses, trying to find a tactical advantage. The robots stood silently, their unblinking eyes fixed forward, waiting for the signal to activate.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. This is it, I thought. No turning back now. My training flashed through my mind—the stamina runs, the Muay Thai drills, the portal exercises. Every drop of sweat, every moment of exhaustion, all leading to this day.

I spotted a massive building in the middle of the town and made a decision. If I could get a vantage point, I might be able to see the movements of other participants and plan my next steps. I ran toward the building, sprinting up the long staircase two steps at a time. The wind bit at my face as I pushed harder, adrenaline sharpening every sense. I reached the roof and leaned on the edge, catching my breath. From here, the entire arena unfolded before me.

Participants were moving in every direction, some dashing between buildings, others cautiously scanning the streets. Robots of various sizes dotted the town, some small and nimble, others massive and imposing. The sheer number of examinees and machines made it difficult to keep track of everything, but the view gave me an advantage—a momentary sense of control in the chaos.

The walls of the arena were painted to mimic a sunny day, casting bright light across the town. It felt strangely surreal—almost peaceful—until I remembered the purpose of this arena. I shifted my gaze to the distant gates. One gate had "Qualifiers" written in bright green, a symbol of success. The other had "Eliminated" in stark red, a reminder of what failure would bring.

My heart pounded as I clenched my fists. This is what it means to fight for your dream, I thought. Every step, every move counts. One mistake, and it could be over. The stakes were higher than anything I had faced before, and yet, a strange calm washed over me. The preparation, the training, the hours spent building stamina and skill—it all came down to this moment.

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of Zane's memories and dreams merging with my own. It was strange, surreal even, but I could feel his determination flowing through me. My dream was no longer just mine—it was shared. A burning drive to succeed, to reach the gate of Qualifiers, surged in my chest.

I shifted my weight, eyes scanning the streets below. Robots, buildings, examinees—all waiting for the first move. Time was ticking. Fifteen minutes had passed—or was it just starting? The countdown in my mind began as I prepared to step off the roof, ready to dive into the chaos, ready to test every skill I had honed over the past weeks.

This is it, I reminded myself. Time to see if I have what it takes.

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