After contacting his mother and getting her agreement, Thomas was brought to an room at the left wing of the building's 30th floor. The room was fairly large and the lights were dim.
Upon sensing their presence, the lights were immediately turned on. The room was completely empty other than the a huge circular platform in the middle. The platform was connected the to rest of the room through numerous circuits that flowed straight to the big sphere in the ceiling right above the platform.
"This in front of you is the Holo-chamber, an strength testing that tests your physique, skill proficiency and fighting as a whole. Once you step there, the test will initiate." Association Head Yong pointed at the platform then at the circuits. "In this test you are going to face numerous monster holograms, those holograms have thin force fields around them so know any they can still hurt you despite being holograms."
Thomas observed the platform... Virtual technology wasn't something new to him, since there did exist some neural interfaces that enable full-immersion experiences through virtual interfaces.
However, inside there it was only possible to imitate some of the real world experiences, things like detection or emulation of adept abilities and powers didn't have any precision. This one was similar, but it used tangible holograms instead of a full-immersive virtual world.
"So, how do I enter? It's stepping on it?" Thomas approached the large platform with caution.
"Eh? Yes, you just need to get on it and it will activate." Muller laughed as he and James left the chamber and headed to the room on the left.
Thomas prepared mentally, took in a deep breath and then stepped on the platform.
"...." For a second, Thomas felt as if his brain paused. Suddenly, the black steel walls vanished and a vast landscape could be seen extending endlessly.
On the left corner he could see a thin window with his name.
[Thomas Ries: Special Grade Test Participant]
Thomas looked around, this was still the real world and it was just the entire landscape completely holographic yet everything seemed so real, even the wind.
Lowering his hand, he knocked against the ground with his fingers. The hardness of the metal floor he was convinced this place was a hologram.
At that moment, Muller's voice came from the speakers on the ground. "Welcome to the Everlasting Plains where your examination will take place. Do you need to familiarize yourself first?"
With a thought of his mind, Thomas circulated both anima and sunlight demonic energy. Despite not having direct contact with sunlight, his demonic powers were still active.
Thomas gave a few jumps and threw some punches and kicks, "My body fells... quite odd"
It took a little to get used to his surroundings, but everything else seemed pretty normal to him.
"Thomas, before we start there is a selection of weapons at the far left, can you see it?"
Thomas searched around and saw a large desk with over a dozen weapons. He already knew it was for him to choose the one of his preference.
His eyes wandered through the weapons one by one, slowing down upon a silver shortsword before locking onto a 7 feet spear with a wooden shaft.
"I will take this one." Thomas picked up the spear which made Muller surprised and a little afraid. In all the data and footage about Thomas, the only weapon which he had a training is short swords, knifes and daggers, to him picking a spear which was one of the hardest weapons didn't seem like a wise choice.
Inside the chamber, Thomas chuckled. He understood more than anyone his own abilities, luckily he has already trained in secret and unlocked a new skill.
[Spear Proficiency I]
Within 10 seconds, like a flash, he was finished equipping himself.
James voice came through the speakers "Thomas, a horde of 100 3-star Demonic beasts will be spawned shortly. You objective is to clear the plains of all the demonic beasts in 45 minutes! If your life points hit zero, then you fail! If you don't clean the everlasting plains in 45 minutes, you fail! The examination is starting in 5 minutes."
Thomas's face changed then returned to normal. "100 3-star beasts?"
Thomas had already over dozens of 3-star beasts, yet the one who made the greatest impression was the mutated beast he met in the Association Selection. If it was a 100 a that level, even he wouldn't be as confident on winning.
Now he understood why no one had passed this test yet. If he was going to face 100 3-Star beasts, wouldn't that means elite adepts had to face 100 1-star elite beasts?
If it was indeed the case, it was fortunate the beasts were all holograms or he would only be sending himself to death.
After the period of five minutes, luminous particles scattered in the air dozens of beasts started to appear one after one.
With a fairly large body, beasts with yellow fur with its greatest distinguishing feature being the single azure-colored horn on top of their bull-like heads. Upon recognizing the beasts before him, Thomas face turned green before he cursed internally.
"Are you fucking with me."