"Now to the top five thousand!" He says audibly.
"It's nice knowing this year's application for the army is very high. The top five thousand (4990) like I promised, will get their reward.
Every year, the top five thousand most impressive during both waves of trials, which equals to ten thousand can choose to belong to the marine, air force or militias. But, this is only applicable when you pass the written aspect."
"Cmon, why the hell did we go through all those sh*tty situations?" An unknown voice echoed and it was backed up by the remaining applicants but, silence followed thereafter. No one wanted to test the army's patience.
"You see," General Minamino continues his speech, not minding the person that questioned his authority indirectly.
"The practical aspect, is another method of eliminating unnecessary numbers, the top five thousand will still retain their reward, only if they pass the written aspect. And, this is for all of you apart from the top ten that were promoted, if you fail the written test, you go home." As he says this, he turns his back, then walks away.
For real, this guy gotta be kidding, after minutes of struggle, and hours of recovery, all he's saying now is that we have to pass the written test. I knew that this was coming, what a pain!.
I wasn't the only one dissatisfied with the order, some were lamenting while others, were quietly murmuring.
"Silence!" the warrant officer shouted.
Man! can't he stop shouting, hurgh!
"Are these the type of people that wants to join the army this year?" He asked. "You guys should buckle up because only thirty five thousand candidates passed the practical aspect, which already equals the overall number of the first wave. You guys had better prepare because, in the written aspect we'll show no mercy."
"Numskulls." He muttered as he too walked away.
"Wow! Thirty five thousand? That's pretty low for just the practicals only. Well, I just have to survive, I don't give a damn about others." I thought.
Wait! I saw someone very familiar in the top ten, I tried to remember, but to no avail. As I looked at one of the banners and saw 360 degrees, I finally remembered. He was the guy with the 360 waves.
But how?
"I see.... He's a big gun. He He He!" I grinned slightly as I thought about him.
Well, not like I care, he got there by luck.
Everyone was now dismantling, and preparing for the second wave. I was walking around the area, looking at several ladies and gentlemen talking.
"Don't they know the purpose of them coming this far?" I asked myself but, it seemed like I was the only one standing aloof.
But still, I boldly rejected any offer from other people to join their discussions or circus, I'd rather be alone.
As I was trying to freshen myself by walking around and staring at nature and it elements, I saw Shinsui waving at me.
Does he understand what we talked about? I just helped him for the benefits, so, why is he waving?
I turned away, as I pretended not to see him, and distance favoured me also.
Soon enough, he stopped waving.
"Maybe he didn't see me." He muttered.
There was a great distance between both of us, so he thought he was hallucinating.
"In ten minutes time, we'll be expecting you in the large hall." Said the lady that was with the warrant officer as she walked away almost immediately after her announcement.
She was fair in complexion, had a slim stature, her hair was layered and it was at shoulder length, the way her jacket was fit on her body made her attractive and she had a mild application of lipstick that blended with her skin color.
"It's time!" I muttered to myself.
I must pass this test, even though I wasn't that good in educational stuffs but, at least I was above average so, there's a possibility of passing.
***
We were now standing outside the hall, it really was colossal. But, we were over thirty thousand, how is this gonna contain all of us?
"This time, you're going to split into different groups, five thousand people per groups!." The warrant officer announced.
"This building over here". He pointed towards the building at our front. "..Is for the top five thousand (4990), other participants should organize themselves and follow me, there are a lot of halls available." He announced.
"That's better, I thought we were going to be squeezed together like a crumpled paper." I thought.
As I was still talking to myself, the lady appeared again. It looked like she came out of the building but, what exactly was her rank? Well all I knew was that she was in the army.
"Hello! I'm the warrant officer 2 of the sangotoro army." She said with a broad smile.
"Oh! That means she's the German Shepherd's assistant." I thought.
"Don't think I'm the warrant officer's assistant." She said with alacrity
"Since when was my mind readable?" I mused.
"Well! Let's get started, I only have a rule for you guys that must be followed strictly. You mustn't test my Patience." She said with a smile but, I knew that warning was a very serious rule we all must follow.
"All of you follow me, there are numerous seats for you to sit on so, no rushing and yeah, sit according to your number" she turns and walks towards the building.
As she got closer to the entrance, the door opened automatically.
"Phew! At least, she isn't the type that gives tons of rules." I thought.
***
I was now sitting at the far end of the hall, I could behold the number of participants.
Man! I never knew that just five thousand participants could be as much as this. Imagine what a whole military force would be like?
The hall was large, and there was enough space so, there was good ventilation.
The paper was already on our table but, it was turned over and, a peculiar instruction was written at the back of the paper.
"Don't turn over until you're told to do so" I mumbled, reading what was written at the back of the paper.
"How will this exam be fair for all when it's only one supervisor?, and it's a nice lady for crying out loud! Oh wait, that's a good opportunity to cheat." I thought as I licked the tip of my right thumb in excitement.
Ahhhh! Maybe this is the sort of exams that test your cheating skills. This is going to be so easy!
"You may now begin your examination, all the best and good luck." Said the warrant officer two.
"And yeah I forgot to add, this exam's duration is forty five minutes so, enjoy." She added.
***
It's been twenty minutes, and nothing here in this paper is right. I mean, these are not questions. They're riddles with no answers.
"I can't believe that this is the type of hell people pass through just to join the 'depths of destruction', and it's only forty five minutes, how am I going to do these in a short amount of time? No wonder she was so cheerful when announcing the duration of the exam." I thought, as I tapped my desk gently but repeatedly.
Looking at the questions only was enough to cripple me mentally. The questions goes thus:
You're expected to do all questions in all, you're free to give up, quit, or answer all.
1) A bullet is fired at a tree that is nine feets tall, the speed at which the bullets travel, is 90km per hour calculate the mass of the gun.
"Is this even possible? I've never heard of it in my life, even though I wasn't good at physics, I know that this is unanswerable. Or maybe it was but this is just another way to die, not an exam questions." I thought.
2) An armour tank moves at the speed of 60km per second, calculate the mass of it's tires.
"Seriously? Do they think it's funny? They surely want us to fail." I wondered, as I stared at my paper blankly.
The last question was the most annoying of all.
3) A rebel is hung to a tree for twenty minutes, find the area.
Feel free to use calculator,
Good luck!
"Tssch! They didn't even give us a calculator.
Even if they did it's no use." I thought.
I was now frustrated to the core, I felt like tearing the paper to pieces but, at the cost of my unfulfilled life.
I heaved a sigh and looked at the ceiling. It was surely over for me.
I looked around but, it seemed as if I was still composed than most of the people around me, some were fidgeting, some were crying, some sleeping, some were staring hopelessly.
The funniest thing was that there was a great gap between individuals so, there was no medium of spying on other people's work but, there was still hope, since we we're sitting in two's.
I rolled my eyes from left to right repeatedly, after sometime I spotted Shinsui who was already looking at me. With smile, he gave me a thumbs up as I stared at him blankly then, he turned back.
"Wow! I'm doomed!" I said under my breath.
"Wait! They didn't collect our mobile phones nice!" I smiled as my hands reached for my pockets.
"Out!" The warrant officer two said with a gentle voice.
So, that's was she meant by her so called policy. No wonder she is the only supervisor here. "She's a one man army!" I said inwardly.
With ten minutes left, tons of people have been sent out, and my page is still empty.
"Jeez! What am I going to do now?" I thought.