The loud blast of the whistle echoed through the arena, reverberating off the walls and sending shivers down my spine. Every examinee stiffened at the sound, their movements frozen for a split second before chaos erupted. The metallic doors that had allowed me to enter the roof suddenly flew open. My pulse quickened.
From the opening stepped a nerdy-looking guy. He had long brown hair, messy but tied back slightly, and wore a full gray body suit that clung to his frame. Big, round glasses reflected the sunlight streaming from the arena's artificial sky. He didn't run or approach aggressively—he just stood there, calm, yet radiating a strange intensity that set me on edge.
"Defeat him."
The voice wasn't coming from anywhere around me. It resonated inside my head, deep and serious, almost like it was physically pressing into my thoughts. My first reaction was to frown, annoyed. 'What was that? I was already planning to fight anyway,' I thought.
The nerdy guy's voice, high-pitched and deliberate, cut through my concentration. "I'll take control over this territory. Either leave or fight me for it."
A small grin crept onto my face. I raised my fists into the fighting stance I had drilled endlessly with Kagetsu. "Go ahead. Let's fight," I said, my voice steadier than I felt.
"If it's what you want," he replied confidently. Golden arrows began forming around him, glimmering in the light like shards of sunlight caught on glass. Each one hovered in the air, humming faintly with energy.
"Uh… oh…" I muttered nervously, feeling the weight of the situation sink in.
"Just remember, I gave you a chance," he warned, and with a swift movement, launched five golden arrows at me.
I was near the edge of the rooftop. My heart raced as I dodged the first three with ease, stepping lightly and maintaining my balance. But the last two arrows seemed to materialize out of nowhere. I barely managed to twist out of their path, stumbling backward—and suddenly, I was falling.
The nerdy guy leaned over the edge, ready to watch me plummet, but when he looked down, I wasn't there.
Not now, I thought, adrenaline surging.
In an instant, I reappeared behind him. With a swift motion, I launched a roundhouse kick that sent him toppling off the roof. "AHHHH!" His scream pierced the air as gravity pulled him downward at terrifying speed.
But he wasn't out of options. Moments before he hit the ground, the concrete split open beneath him, and an inflatable cushion popped up to break his fall. I didn't hesitate. I created a portal underneath him and another in front of me. He fell straight through, emerging directly in front of me with the same velocity. Without wasting a second, I struck him with a punch so hard a tooth flew from his mouth.
"Ouhh… that looks like it hurt," I said, a small grin forming as I stepped closer. He slumped to the ground, unconscious. "Three points for me, I guess."
A massive boom shook the building, throwing me off my feet and onto my butt. My ears rang from the impact. I looked up and saw a guy with spiky orange hair, his right hand shaped like a gun. He was condensing fire into a tiny orb on his fingertip. With a flick, the fireball shot forward, expanding explosively as it hit a massive black robot in the street below, leaving a plume of smoke in its wake.
"That's so cool," I muttered aloud, my eyes wide with admiration.
I quickly reminded myself of the task. I've already got three points. Twenty-seven more to go. Fighting robots one by one would take forever, especially since I only had four portals left before needing a break. I needed a better strategy.
An idea sparked in my mind. A risky one—but it was my best shot to rack up points quickly. I darted out of the building, deliberately drawing the attention of several robots. Five of them gave chase, their black metal bodies clanking loudly as they moved. I ran fast, heart pounding, and then activated an invisible portal.
Halfway through their momentum, their bodies entered the portal—and I closed it. The metal slices of their forms passed cleanly through the space I controlled, effectively cutting them in half. The smell of burnt metal and the sound of tearing steel filled the air.
The effort drained me completely. My body sagged with exhaustion, and I knew I couldn't use any portals for another fifteen minutes. My limbs shook slightly, but the points were worth it.
Then, the female voice returned, ringing clearly across the arena.
"Akagawa Enjin, you have qualified. Please proceed to the Qualifier's gate."
I looked around, scanning the participants. Who was this Enjin Akagawa? And then I saw him: the orange-haired boy who had just obliterated the robot. He strode confidently toward the gate I had seen earlier, fire still flickering faintly at his fingertips.
This early? I thought, my stomach tightening. He must be insanely powerful.
I forced myself to focus. My eyes narrowed, determination surging through me. I couldn't let myself get distracted by other participants, no matter how strong they seemed. I need to pass this test.
I clenched my fists, feeling the residual adrenaline still coursing through my veins. My body ached from exertion, but my mind was sharp, calculating my next moves. The arena was massive, and there were dozens of robots and participants scattered throughout. Each robot offered a point. Each participant offered three. I needed to be smart, efficient, and fast.
The fire-haired Enjin had already proven the level of danger I was up against. Every action I took needed to be precise. My portals, my stamina, my offensive skills—all of it had to come together perfectly. I could feel Zane's memories and abilities blending with my own, giving me the confidence to take calculated risks, but I knew my limits.