*****
{ 6:00 PM | Dandi forest | Blue Planet }
The plane landed at a safe location in the Dandi forest where many Shika association seniors had already set up a tent.
A unique flag at the gate was buried in front of every tent denoting who the tent belonged to.
Once everyone got off the plane, Mandy - the head supervisor for the second exam and a woman of great stature from the Maesto family - gathered all of the 28 candidates together to explain to them about the test they would be undergoing for the next 2 days and 3 nights.
[ ... You already know about the incident that happened during Stage 1 of the exam.
[ ... Of course, some people couldn't perform well and lost their lives, but it was not because the test was tough, but rather they didn't give their all when their lives were at stake...
In an extremely sadistic and condescending way, Mandy ranted for a couple of minutes about how the weak didn't deserve sympathy. It was her way of saying that the association had nothing to do with the Shikas that lost their lives during the first test.
Vikram didn't give a care about the dead Shikas either, but he still openly showed his dissatisfaction with the association. Even if the plant monsters were known to be weaker, making a total beginner like Vikram fight above his rank could not be called simple tests.
'This world really deserves the title of Dystopia'
From hungry children like Maya to the rotting corpses of old men, this world didn't exist for the weak. Vikram knew that well based on his experience, but it still surprised him how the association didn't even bother declaring compensation for dead Shikas.
According to his own messed up logic, even though he eradicated families covertly, killed his lover for political gain, backstabbed people, and used underhanded tactics in war, at least he did it for a grand goal of unifying the continent.
However, the association had simply killed many Shikas for no purpose at all, which Vikram thought was a total waste. His military mind would never let someone kill 'soldiers' for no good reasons and yet association wasn't even going to give any explanation, let alone any compensations.
'Not only I took care of the families of my dead soldiers in the Empire, I even donated to orphanages...', Vikram pouted, and added, 'sometimes'.
The reason Vikram donated to orphanages in his past life wasn't that he was kind though, instead, he was investing money in a soldier factory that would constantly produce more and more soldiers for his army.
[ ... This is the new era
Mandy's speech ended with a talk about how the world will change and a new era was upon us.
"So the ROOT has appeared, the timing is right I guess. It is 2202 after all", Vikram heard Mandy's monologue and remembered a few takeaways that were relevant to his future actions, 'but why did they reveal its existence here? and also it looks like they even used VANI during the first stage to decide which monsters the candidate would fight'
Vikram was in deep thoughts thinking about what the appearance of ROOT and VANI entailed for his future.
*****
{ Dandi forest }
"I don't understand what was with those new domains and stuff Mandy was talking about? It is not like any of it matters to us, we just want our license so that we can legally sell our monster loot and start earning money...", the girl in Vikram's team asked in a playful tone.
"It's not useless. I heard from a senior once that the big families use these domains to find exclusive monsters with powerful gene pools. Independent Shikas like us can only hunt common monsters...", Basil explained.
"Hey, enough of that! Why are we still taking this guy with us? It will only burden us more if we take him...", Akram said with a disgusted look on his face while pointing towards Vikram.
"Tch... Of course, not", Basil gave a hand-sign to stop his teammates.
"Oye lowlife. Listen", he said while looking at Vikram.
"As a team leader, I've decided that the team is better off without you. Not only are you weak, but you also don't even have a decent weapon on you", Basil spoke in a haughty manner while looking at Vikram's steel sword on his sides.
All three of them were carrying special weapons. The girl had an enhanced bow, Akram carried shadow knives that didn't make a sound, and Basil's ax had fire properties.
"I think the only reason cha resident like him even reached so far is that the AI or whatever gave him an easier test", Akram spoke next.
As he insulted Vikram, he wasn't even looking in his direction, instead, all his focus was on the girl who simply ignored him. It was clear from her lustful eyes fixed at Basil that she was betting on the team leader to kill her share of monsters too and that made Akram insecure.
Vikram who had just woken up from his dream looked at the three teammates and realized that he had been unconsciously following them since Mandy's speech.
As he was about to say something, his face suddenly turned to his sides at the tingling of his danger senses and a smirk appeared on his face that lasted only for a split second.
CG
"But you can't leave me behind. I'm still your teammate", Vikram said with a frightened face. He looked pitiful.
"Hah! Where is all your confidence from before, not going to use sarcasm anymore?", Basil spoke confidently. He thought if he pushed Vikram hard enough he could use Vikram's growling to impress the girl.
"I say let's just kill him boss", Akram tried to provoke Basil as he got behind him and whispered some kind of plan.
"Why are you doing this to me Akram", Vikram complained. His tears could even shame experienced alligators in the acting department.
He looked at Akram and said, "I know you are only saying all this tough sh*t as an excuse so that you can touch the boss, but you don't have to fear anything from me. I am not even gay! I'm not a threat to your love...", Vikram's tear now reached his chin.
"WHAT-", Basil raised his voice as he looked at Akram with disgusted eyes and pushed him apart.
"YOU-", Akram's face was all red, he stared at Vikram as if he would definitely kill him.
"Please team leader, I won't care if you also like Akram. It is okay to love a boy, you don't have to fear anything with me around. I support people like you", Vikram gave a thumbs-up.
Even the girl was now looking at Basil and Akram with a weird gaze.
"No!, Babe-, I mean dear, don't listen to his nonsense. I'm definitely not gay like Akram. I'm straighter than a dog's tail", Basil spoke in defense.
However, before the situation could get any weird, Vikram broke the tense atmosphere, "You guys are right, I'm so weak and I will only pull you down..."
"huh-?", all three turned to look at the abrupt change of mood.
"...I will leave you brave warriors and hide in a hole somewhere...", Vikram said while waving his hands as he quickly turned and ran towards a clearing in the forest towards their right. There was a grin on his face as he ran.
"...don't become monster food...hehehe", a faint voice was heard as Vikram completely disappeared from the view of the three teammates.
"What just happen-"
*rumble... crash... thud*
As if a bulldozer was piling through the forest, a loud rumbling sound with earthquake-like tremors shook the area.
"What was that-!", the girl spoke, frightened; her legs were still shaky from the earthquake.
"Did that a*shole just use us as bait?", Akram said what was on the mind of the other two.
"I'll kill him when I see him next time", veins popped up on Basil's forehead, "ARMS UP!!!... get ready to intercept the monster...", Basil took out his ax and turned to look towards the direction of the rumble.
**
"I have to find a place to rest for the night", Vikram said as he was running through the forest.
The second test was divided into two parts. First, every candidate had to kill 10 monsters in a 5:3:2 ratio of weak, equal, and strong monsters and then use a flare gun given by the association to call for an Examiner.
Once a candidate's first task was submitted to an examiner, they will then receive a second 'item request' from the examiner which they would have to submit at the same Examiner's tent.
Although the test looked easy on the surface, there were multiple conditions. Candidates were allowed to steal other candidates' monsters and the requested item could be anything depending on the Examiner.
On top of it, a complete group of 4 candidates would only receive one 'item request', whereas, individuals or incomplete teams would receive one extra 'item request' for every missing member in their team.
This was done in order to ensure that the candidates would not simply start infighting and also to see whether someone was really crazy enough to take the risk of solo-ing the whole test. If they could, the association had declared a prize for solo candidates.
**
While Vikram was running atop the trees trying to figure out a good location to rest, his eyes suddenly fell on a wide clearing with even ground.
"This looks like a good location"
As Vikram reached the clearing in between the forest, he could see that the area was clean. It was also wide enough for him to be warned in due time in case a predator appeared.
Since he had not brought anything except food and potions, he quickly cut a few large leaves from the trees that resembled coconut leaves and set up a makeshift bedroll.
He took out dried meat and a bottle of water and quickly gobbled them up.
'mAkasch-bani', he called out to his personal system with a mouthful of food.
---
[ Avi Dovici ] Body Level (mid) (10%)
[ Mutation ] - Dystopian Resident (C)
[ Gene Pool ] - Akashik Parasite
[ Abilities ] - Adaptation, Viral Thought
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"Oh! The interface got updated..."
Vikram made a surprised expression with his eyes; with enlarged cheeks due to a mouthful of food, his face looked like a laughing buddha.