Alyssia stayed waiting in the queue but as she was getting closer to the front, the queue had halted suddenly.
She got a little impatient and asked. "What happened?"
She was feeling lazy and had not put her Observation Haki up so she had habitually asked as she was annoyed by the delay.
The man in front of her turned around and sighed. "The new testing machine has been broken."
Alyssia raised an eyebrow towards what she had heard. "Is that so.."
She sent out her Observation Haki to investigate since she was intrigued but she then took it back after investigating. 'So it is that. Only a couple of them had been released into the world after some fine tuning but they have their limitations in how much they can endure before breaking.'
Within the VIP area of the gyms set up by the White Storm, there were some that had many types of advanced training and measuring tools to help people to grow stronger.
Those VIPs were loyal members of the White Storm or workers for one of the groups that had contributed enough to earn themselves access to that area and its facilities.
Some had used it for maintaining their health but many had come to improve themselves with the example of many of the mercenaries whose lives depended on their combat power.
Among the equipment that were within the VIP area there was a mechanical striking machine that measured the power of a punch or kick.
There had been some that had been sold as there had been some that had been made that were not being put to use and were gathering dust.
Other martial arts halls or other organisations that focussed on training the human body had quickly purchased them but Alyssia had made sure to put her traps within so that they cannot disassemble them and copy its design.
She had not sold one to anywhere within the New World but it seemed as if they had already been shipped through one of the previous buyers and were sold to somewhere that needed them desperately.
The result was that one had already been broken as one of the applicants could not hold back their power.
They could not fix it on the spot as people were waiting in the queue but even if they could get the time to fix it, they did not have the blueprints to be able to do so.
Alyssia had seen an opportunity upon realising the overall situation and couldn't help but be a little happy inside.
She was silently thanking who ever had broken it but the line had started to move as a large machine was pushed into the place of the previous one that was broken. 'Of course they had two! An event such as this one has to be prepared for such things happening.'
The main culprit had felt a shiver go their spine and let out a sneeze as someone was thinking about them.
The queue had finally shortened and Alyssia was now at the very front and stood in front of it casually with her hand on her chin. 'Hm.. how much should I use?'
She stretched out her hand and took up a fighting pose but it was as if she was about to casually flicked her arm out quickly as most of her fingers were curled up except her forefinger which was shaped like a hook.
Her arm stretched out and hit the middle of the area where she was supposed to hit.
The back area between the knuckle and her next finger joint had made made contact with the machines punching area and as she had pulled back her hand, the numbers started to climb up until they stopped a little over the required power to register. 'Heh heh heh! I always wanted to try that but my control is still not so perfect since I was aiming for a couple of points lower. Oh well!'
The woman who was helping out at the testing area had seen that Alyssia qualified and walked over to hand her a token.
She patted Alyssia's shoulder encouragingly. "Best of luck!"
Alyssia looked a little embarrassed as she understood the woman's thoughts. 'She probably thinks that I may get hurt.. but I am glad she is not trying to discourage me from participating. The last time it was annoying.'
She took the token and then entered the stadium which was the preliminary grounds but before that, she had slipped a card into the hands of the woman and moved closer to her ear. "If you want your machine fixed then I can fix it for you. If you read my card you will understand why I can do this. If your bosses wish to receive my help and talk business then come and find me."
The woman revealed a look of excitement after she had read the card. 'Its.. the White Storm who were behind the making of the power measuring machine! If I report this then I may get a promotion!"
She asked someone to cover for her and then ran inside so that she could report to the boss.
Her minor showing of kindness and care towards Alyssia had earned her a chance to rise up from her current position as the White Storm had become a well known name even in parts of the New World.
It had been obvious that some places would try to get their hands on their products but once they were broken, they could no longer be used so it was a big problem for many but now that Alyssia had crossed the Red Line that issue would soon be resolved for some.
The current boss in charge of the stadium was very happy with the news he had received and said to the woman. "If this is true then you will be rewarded for this."
The woman briefly showed her excitement before suppressing her emotions as she entered her work mode once again so that she did not disappoint the boss in front of herself. "Thank you boss for this chance. I will not let you down!"
The woman was very grateful to Alyssia because her life would be greatly improved but in truth, Alyssia had only been interested in earning more berries and expanding her influence and power so the promotion of the woman was just a minor good result in her actions.
Many people had been gathered but they were quickly separated into different blocks and they were told to fight an opponent within their block.
It was the usual ordinary win and loss point system where the two with the most points in a block would qualify for the next round before the actual competition begins.
Within C block, Alyssia was assigned and she stepped onto the ring with her hands behind her back casually as she faced her opponent.
Those around had started jeering right away.
"Wait, isn't she the one who barely qualified?"
"Is it true?"
"She may have qualified but those at the bottom should just drop out before they get hurt."
"Poor girl."
"Hey do not pity her, it is her own fault since she signed up for this herself."
Alyssia had sighed. 'This is what I get for holding back!'
The match had begun and she stood her ground as she occasionally changed the direction she was facing because her opponent was circling her.
The opponent charged right towards her but she had let out a sneeze and her head narrowly avoided the fist that came towards her face.
She had stepped forward a little and had attempted to stand up straight again which resulted in the back of her head hitting the chin of her opponent.
In a single moment, her opponent had been knocked out and she remained standing as she had her hand over her head as if she was in pain.
She stepped off the fighting platform to allow the next fight to take place. 'Heh, heh, heh! I just had to try that one too! Clumsy and accidental win!'