"Please don't fail me now."
...
"It is difficult to make the right choice if you fear choosing wrongly."
― Roy T. Bennett
...
He holds the orbs and it glows... Weird...
Shou looks anxious about seeing the orb. The orb emits a bright orange glow, reminiscent of fire, yet its light flickers weakly, tinged with a hint of red but predominantly orange in hue.
When the attention from Nao was gone, the instructor saw Shou doing the test already while everyone's attention was directed to Nao trying to pick up a girl. The instructor looks shocked.
The instructor seeing Shou's anxious face, He approached Shou and asked, "Are you okay?"
Shou snaps out of his thoughts and replied, "I-I'm fine. Am I done?"
"Uh, yes. Please proceed to the next test."
The instructor appears apprehensive, but despite the concern, the test must proceed.
Because of the commotion that Nao started, Shou left them all behind by accident not knowing that Nao and Kohaku are still back in the 1st test.
Shou proceeds to go to the 2nd test. When he arrived, he saw a shorter line because he got ahead of people. Waiting for his turn, Shou tries to ignore it, even as a commotion erupts nearby over someone's refusal to accept their low mana output.
"WHAT THE HELL YOU SAYIN'? YOU CALLIN' ME WEAK?"
Enraged, the man violently flips the table before storming out.
Shou looks away and just waits silently.
It's finally Shou's turn. Positioned across from him is a table, where a nurse stands prepared with a lancet and a computer, ready to examine his blood.
"Please take a seat."
Shou sits down nervously.
The nurse takes Shou's finger. She massages Shou's finger before she uses the lancet to his index finger. Blood flows from Shou's finger as the nurse collects the sample and carefully labels it with his name before inserting it into a tube. With practiced efficiency, she enters a few details into the computer and begins the analysis. However, to everyone's surprise, the computer displays a mana output of 1.
"I'm so sorry Shimomura Shou, but you are listed as a
Shou was left utterly speechless by the unexpected result. Despite his disbelief, he resigned himself to proceed to the next test without voicing any objections. With a mixture of confusion and determination, he silently resolved to confront whatever challenges lay ahead, determined to prove himself despite the surprising setback.
Moving on to the next test, students will undergo a physical test, during which every detail pertaining to their physical condition will be meticulously documented and assessed. From head to toe, every aspect of the participants' physical condition will be thoroughly examined and recorded during the test.
Shou queues up for the next test, patiently waiting for his turn, which arrives after a brief five-minute wait. Upon reaching the front of the line, the instructor directs him to step onto the square pad.
"Please step inside the square pad."
Shou obediently makes his way to the square pad as instructed.
With a press of a button, the instructor initiates the scanning process, causing the square pad to analyze everything within its radius.
The computer methodically vocalizes each aspect it's meticulously scrutinizing, ensuring every detail is accounted for.
"Shimomura Shou. Gender: Male. Human. 18 years, 7 months, 26 weeks and 182 days old. Hair: 2a, Antique White. Eyes: Blue. Height: 184.3cm. Body Type: Mesomorph. Ethnicity: Umiyaki. Fingerprints scanned. Please proceed."
Shou couldn't help but feel utterly taken aback by the sheer volume of data that was said with just the push of a button.
The instructor then asked the next students to go in the square pad. Shou proceeds to the next test.
Shou is now lined up headed to the next test which will be in the auditorium's 2nd floor. Shou patiently waited for his turn until the next 10 students are called into the room. The MBTI test.
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a widely used personality assessment tool that is based on the theories of Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung. It's designed to help individuals gain insight into their own preferences, strengths, and potential areas for growth by categorizing them into one of 16 personality types.
Seated patiently on one of the chairs, Shou eagerly awaits the moment when the instructor will distribute the MBTI test papers to the class.
Upon receiving the test papers, Shou wastes no time and swiftly proceeds to answer the questions with confidence and ease.
After the test, Shou decides to take a bathroom break. While he is in the restroom, he sees a familiar face heading out of the restroom. It was the guy that was raging earlier about his mana output. He seems to be heading towards the final test. Despite his reluctance to confront him, Shou decides to follow. Rumors among the students hint at the possibility of observing the final test, prompting Shou to choose to trail the individual and find the School's Colosseum. He takes a seat and decides to watch some of the fights.
In the final test, students will be required to engage in a duel with another student. The victor will stand a better chance of being placed in a higher-tiered class.
Shou meticulously reads the rules displayed on the screen for the benefit of the audience, ensuring they understand the regulations of the duel.
The rules of this fight is simple.
1. You are prohibited from lethally injuring your opponent. You may only incapacitate them or persuade them to surrender. Any disregard for this rule will result in immediate disqualification."
2. You can only use 1 weapon in the fight. The weapon is provided by the school. You cannot use third party items.
After the rules got announced and the arena got cleaned up, the announcer's voice echoed through the arena, introducing the next round of matches.
"Get ready for some thrilling matchups! We have Shimita Karlos Terron facing off against Sayawa Hiro. After, it's Fukunaga Daichi taking on Machi Masato. All of them so far has topped their scores on the test!"
First up was Shimita Karlos Terron vs Sayawa Hiro.
Both of them stepped in the arena. Shimita Karlos Terron wearing no armor whatsoever. He only bought a short, 23 inch blade. He looks a bit anxious with a mix of pride in his face. Like he's ready to fight but isn't seeing how careless his opponent is. Sayawa Hiro is wearing no armor as well and is acting like this match isn't a big deal.
Shou is curious. Why does he have a long name? Shimita Karlos Terron is a weird name to have. In the other hand, Sayawa is acting like she doesn't care about what's about happen.
As the bell resounded throughout the arena, signaling the commencement of the match, a wave of anticipation swept over the audience, palpable in the air, while the competitors felt the weight of expectations settling heavily upon their shoulders, the announcer's voice boomed, "And now, let the match begin!"
Karlos rushed instantly going for the knockout but Hiro rushed while she wasn't even looking at him. Karlos was shocked that she dodged his strike. Hiro didn't even bother striking back. She just grabbed her phone from her pocket and started scrolling in social media.
Karlos was insulted. It's like Hiro doesn't care he exist. Karlos, enraged, suddenly went behind her like he teleported. Where he used to stand was a small circular pad. His ability allows him to go in high speeds but it only applies to his legs. Karlos tries to go for another strike in her head but she dodged by bending her whole spine behind and then she kicked Karlos while in that pose. Karlos barely dodged it but he took some damage from that kick. Karlos backs up and takes a breather.
Hiro suddenly asked, "You're such a gentleman for trying to hit a girl. Why don't you just give up and make this easy for us?"
Karlos was insulted once again. But Karlos replied, "I believe in gender equality."
Karlos pulls out a gun and shoots her in the right side of her chest. Hiro falls down and the match was decided.
"Match over! Shimita Karlos Terron is the winner!"
The medical team hurried to attend to Sayawa Hiro as the audience erupted into a chorus of disapproval, casting disdainful glances at Karlos for resorting to such underhanded tactics by brandishing a firearm.
Karlos and Hiro is then assisted out of the arena for a last medical check before headed back to the auditorium. The staff cleaned up the arena for the next battle.
The next battle doesn't need an explanation.
Fukunaga Daichi vs Machi Masato didn't go very well.
The match started and Daichi pulled out a sword made out of dark in his legs. This terrified Masato so bad that he ran the whole match. Meanwhile Daichi was messing with Masato. He was faking every move he does. When a female voice shouted, "FINISH HIM ALREADY." He slashes Masato's chest ending the battle.
Seeing all that, Shou got nervous on this final test. He was anxious but he started walking lining up for the battle.
Shou, apprehensive about his upcoming opponent, took the precaution of donning a chestplate, opting for a bit of extra protection amidst his nervousness.
After a few rounds, it's finally Shou's turn. We head the announcer announcing the fights.
"The next match will be Hozomi Suzumi vs Sanda Kazuko. After that will be Shimomura Shou vs Chiba Sinji."
That sentence gave Shou goosebumps. Who is Chiba Sinji? He is the student council's president.
The battle between Suzumi and Kazuko turned into a disaster. Suzumi's ferocious attacks nearly resulted in fatal injuries to her opponent, leaving the audience in shock and horror.
With all those noises gone, after a few minutes, the announcer started announcing.
"Ladies and gentlemen, get ready for the ultimate showdown! Brace yourselves as we witness the electrifying clash between two titans of the arena: Shimomura Shou and Chiba Sinji!"
As they stepped into the arena, a chilling aura emanated from Sinji, accompanied by a sinister grin that sent shivers down the spines of everyone present.
To be continued...