The day for the practical exam came quickly and I again a bit nervous. I did my usual activities and was about leaving my dorm room when I saw a message from Gladys on my watch. I was shocked when I saw the content it read.
"Good morning Femi. I know you are ready for the practical exam but I want to give a crucial instruction. Since the practical examination would be monitored, do not show your strength. If possible, use the strength of an unawakened human. I'm sure you don't want any trouble so adhere to my instruction.
"I see", I said after thinking for a bit. "Since there will be many eyes watching,it might raise a suspicion about my strength as an unawakened. I might even be subjected to different tests and experiments. It's better to lie low at this point. I just have to keep my emotions in check".
Breathing deeply, I replayed all the information in my head. I then left my room and went to meet up with Kofi and Kwami and from there we went to the practical hall for year one with the girls. The hall was a bit different from other hall. It had it's own section on the academy and there were different subsection. There was different place for talent showcasing, for exams, for battling with AI live and offline. It was a big place.
"Have you been here before?" I asked Kofi who was beside me.
"No yet", He answered viewing his environment. "I heard it's till second semester that we will be able to access this place. We can only use this place for now".
"Oh that explains it".
We rushed to meet up with the others who were waiting in the exam hall. Soon enough, a tall elderly man was escorted by some instructors to the stage to address us.
"My name is Kola Oladele and I'm the head instructor. Your practica examination is a special one and the first of its kind. What I mean by first is that all academy around the world are also participating in this kind of exam. So, it's expected of you to do your best. Now, instead of you fighting against a particular person by ballot, you will be fighting robots. Monster robots.
"Wait what".
"Why robots".
"This is interesting".
"QUIET",Mr kola shouted releasing an immense pressure on all the students thereby silencing each and every one of them before releasing it . "Anyone who interrupts me should consider his or her exam done and that's zero marks. As I was saying, you will be given weapons by the academy to defend yourself against those monsters. Make sure you pick the right weapons. Also, the time of your exams would be sent to your watches. Do not come late. I wish you good luck. Your exam starts now".
He then turned and left with his escorts, leaving us speechless. Suddenly some watches rang across the hall creating some disorder as students were moving to their selected examination location.
"I'm so happy I'm not part of the first people to fight robots", Aluna said giving a deep breath.
"Right", Annika added. " I"m so nervous".
"Crap", I said after getting a message from my watch. "It's my turn ".
"Mine as well",Kofi said as well.
"Good luck to you guys",Kwami said as he gave us the thumbs. "I'm sure you both will do well".
We both left our group and headed to the selected examination hall. Luckily, it was the same hall we were placed in. A total of 60 students including us were present and ready to take the practical exam".
"A lovely morning to you guys", a voice boomed from the television above us. Soon enough, we saw a lady's face on screen giving the instructions.
"it's now time for your practicals. Today is the day you take charge and prove yourself worthy of being a student of this academy. Now to the rules; First, you are to choose your weapons. Each weapons you pick would be acknowledge as your primary weapons. Second, choose the weapons that you will use in battle. Any weapons not used would results in some specific marks being withdrawn from your score. Third,you have two minutes to choose a weapon. The moment you enter the weapons area, your time starts counting and please note all weapons given by the Academy are common grade as you lot aren't expected to use one in first years. Next, head to the next hall which was part of the message sent to you. Instructions would be given when you arrive there. Good luck guys.
With that, the television switched off and we were all silent for a few seconds
"So much rules", a guy said breaking the silence.
"Let's just get over with it".
"Let's do these guys".
We all headed to the weapons area. Immediately we entered,our time started counting and I hurried to the sword section. I took a long sword suitable for me and I moved to the gun section and picked an automatic pistol with five magazines. Fully equipped, I turned into the direction of the next hall when the treasure map started beeping. Not acting suspicious, I used my thoughts to view the map and noticed green dot. Using the treasure map as a guide ,I narrowed its direction and got to the green dot on the map. It was a miscellaneous weapons area. An additional weapons you might say. My time almost up so I headed to the particular weapon which was a paper- like weapon. I pick it with haste and went out of the weapons area and into my exam point. Immediately I got wrapped to another place. It was so sudden and I felt nauseous.
"Is this the so call teleportation technique",I said nauseously. "I'm not quite sure what it's. It seems my exam has started. There's no one here and I can't here anybody".
"Welcome candidate 81",A robotic voice boomed out of nowhere. I looked around to try and locate its position to no avail. "As required,you are completely equipped to clear some dangerous obstacles set in front of you. Beware of your health bar displayed above you. Should it reduced to zero, you will be disqualified. Clear as much level as you can and free this city from monsters
"So this is what games look like in real life", I said in awe as a deserted city came into view. "Interesting".
I moved careful trying to find more information about the city and if any monster was around the area. I didn't want to use my treasure map as I wanted a level footing ground with the others and avoid raising any imagination. I wanted to know my worth. I move closer, passing through some vegetations when something collided with me. My health bar decrease with 10 points. I was pushed back from the collision and managed to stabilize myself. In front of me was a red robot-like bunny. The difference between it and a normal bunny was the size. It was much bigger. I drew my sword and launch my attack trying to size it up. It reacted swifty and parried my attack with its metallic hind legs. My hands sent numb from the clash but I held on. Pushing it away,I readied my stance and unleashed a vertical slash aimed at its legs. It evaded my attack and tried to hit me again at my neck . I jumped out of the way and created a distance.
"This is a pain", I complained while being alert. "I can't unleash more of my power due to the fact that I'm unawakened and it will create some misgivings if I killed this monster in one blow. It's easy to kill. It can just leap high and has claws to attack. Though it's fast, it's nothing serious. If I can slash its leg or its body, then It would be restricted or..... Well then, let's try this move".
I rushed towards it and slashed my sword vertically with my right hand. It blocked again with its foreleg giving me to opportunity to pick my gun from my holster and shoot three times right in the eye. Everything happen in quick motion. It felt to the ground defeated.
"You have defeated a F- rank red bunny", The unknown voice said. "Get ready for round two. You will be fighting the white fox".
"Ok", I replied getting ready for the attack. "Bring it on".
"Round two starts in 5..,4..,3..,2..,1..,0. Start".
Immediately three white foxes appeared in front of me. They bared their fangs snarling. I wasn't fased and I remained calm and composed since they can sense fear. Suddenly in a coordinated attack, they all lunged at me . I made a flip to avoid them and started shooting at them. One of the foxes took damage while the others avoided the bullets. I was stunned for a bit as I was taken aback for a bit Suddenly I was blinded for a minute and I got slashed by the fox claws.
"What happened ", I asked myself I fell to the ground due to the sudden attack. "Did I lose my guard ?" My fall made the fox that took damage before to bite my right hand really hard trying to hold me down. Using the gun on my left hand,I shot to its eyes, killing it completely. It remained two foxes and I had decrease to 50 points on my health bar. Both foxes were unhurt and they move about me in opposite direction.
"This pain feel so realistic", I pondered trying to bear with the pain in my hand. "How did they do that. I can move right my hand but barely. Wait, I can't move my hand. What's this feeling? Is it poison? I thought I won't be affected by poison because of my physique skill. No it's not that. I'm in a game- like world so my health status is reflecting at my body. Crap, my health level is going down due to the poison circulating in my body. I let down my guard. Tch, I have to use a little bit of strength then".
Using my gun, I fired at the two foxes to create a distance but somehow they were able to dodge my bullets and head towards me. One of the foxes opened its mouth and shot a beam of white light. I tumbled to the right to avoid the beam.
"That's what hit me earlier", I said while panting. "My movement is being restricted and my body feels so stiff. Tch, I don't have an antidote. What to do? Huh ,20 points. That damn poison.
Suddenly, I remember the paper-like weapon I picked up in haste
"There's a red button", I said when I checked it's content in haste. The foxes were just circling around me, waiting for me to collapse from the poison inflicted on me. I quickly pressed the button and a light blinked from it which made the fox freeze their movement around me and drop down dead. I was surprised
"What's this?", I said surprised. "It a cheat level weapon. I guess you can call this luck in real life. Thanks so much treasure map".
"You have defeated three E+ rank white foxes",The robotic voice said. "You will be fighting black wolves in the next round. Round 3 starts in 5...,4...,3...,2...,1...,0 Start".
"Black wolves", I said while looking at my health bar. "Black means darkness. I have to watch out. They can appear anywhere. My health bar also didn't decrease. That's good..
Suddenly I jumped out of the way, the same instant a claw swiped at the place.
"Tch shadow", I gasped as five wolves came out of the shadows with their fangs growling at me. "I should have known. Thank goodness I unleashed a little bit of my strength".
The wolves didn't attack ,they were just looking at me. They watched me for a while before turning back.
"What's going on?", I asked myself as I was surprised by their decision. "Why did they leave? The first attack didn't injure me. I'm sure of it. So wh..."
I couldn't complete my sentence as I felt a sharp pain at my chest. Looking downwards, I saw a large slash and then my level decrease to 0.
"You have lost against the black wolves", the robotic voice announced. "Please head out of the hall".
A line appeared from the ground and I followed it to the exit. Exiting the hall, I met an instructor who told me to drop my weapons.
"You were smart enough to use the reto while you were at a disadvantage", He said as I dropped the weapons. Don't be confused on how the wolves defeated you. It's a C rank wolf after all. All it just did was increased its speed and slashed you before returning at the same place using it darkness element. To you, it never attack but it did. Anyways, you didn't pass third round which would be super impressive for someone without mana. Congratulations".
I was speachless. I just nodded and left. I met Annika at our waiting spot which we picked before that day.
"How was it", Annika asked as I drew close to her.
"I did my best",I answered indifferently. "I reach level 3"
"Level 3!", She exclaimed putting her hand on her mouth ."Wow you are strong".
"You didn't reach level 3"
"I didn't",She answered looking downwards. "Those jackals had poison fangs which dropped my health bar. It was a bad loss".
"Jackals?", I mused facing her. "I see. So, it's a different animal for each student. You have light element so it shouldn't be that hard to stop the poison and heal yourself
"I tried", Annika replied. "I couldn't heal myself. I don't know why but it just didn't work".
"Really",I said in surprise. That's interesting. Why didn't it work?
"I have no idea", Annika replied. "I had no antidote also"
"That was why", I said clapping my hand. "Antidotes are weapons used against poison. We didn't consider it as a choice of weapon so that's why we lost. Our normal healing skill won't work either as we were in a game-like world. We have to follow the rules of the game ".
"That explains it", Annika said after hearing what I said. We waited in silence for a while before discussing random talks. Kofi came along and not before long we were all complete.
"Let's met up by 12pm and we leave the academy", Kwami said before heading to his dorm.
"See you guys later", I said as we all dispersed. On my way to my dorm, I replayed my practical exams in my head. Each move and mistakes I made.
"If I had use my a quarter of my power", I said to myself. "Those wolves wouldn't have got me. I forgot about elemental attributes as well. Well that's a lesson for me. Now I wonder how James is faring. No need to worry, he's the protagonist and I'm sure nothing will happen. Now to find my awakening potion. I smell another adventure.
With that I reached my dorm and entered with good mood and a beautiful expression on my face
***************
In an office, different videos of Femi were playing inthe back background as Professor Nicholas was watching his practical exam and his interaction with his friends.
"I wonder", Professor Nicholas mused drinking his tea. "This kid is just unusual. Something is fishy here and why is he close with Gladys. For her to train him, she perceive something in him. I just can't get my hands on it. What are you hiding kid".
He placed the cup on the table before scribbling some words on a notepad.
"Well then, let's investigate".
.....
.....
"It's nice to have you back Femi"
" It's nice not seeing you dead".
"Whatever you mean. Besides.."
"Why am I here? It shouldn't be my turn"
"Well you said you were worried about the MC
Why?"
"Oh, I guess that will be my secret".
"Did you alter the story? Heyy.... Where are you going? We are not done yet".