Nathan is observing a crowd of people ready to attempt tests. He had to set up two chambers to test each individual based on their choices. Using the station controls provided by CNC, he created chambers for them to walk into and undergo testing. The Puzzle station can accommodate around 200 people at a time. This test has the highest takers, so keeping the time constraint in mind, he set it up.
He further divides them into 10 batches, assigning each batch a number, and allows them to take the test number-wise. This way, the transition between them is smooth, as every batch can go in one after the other. After instructing the first batch to start immediately, he steps back, allowing them to proceed as they are moved to the chamber. He leaves them to continue on their own.
Nathan now only needs to observe. He leaves them to continue on their own. Meanwhile, thinking about the other test, he realizes he will need a bigger place, almost half the platform. Consequently, he sets it up, releasing 100 crystals from his hands that move towards the middle of the platform. The crystals float towards each candidate and release a shield in the shape of a dome that encapsulates each of them. He then instructs them that they will have to last 10 minutes. They can give up any time they feel they can't fight the beast, and the match will stop. They have 5 minutes to prepare for the match to start.
As he flicks his fingers, everyone in the dome looks at the beast in front of them. It looks like a projection from the crystal. But, it looks real as well. Looking at their confused faces, he proceeds to inform them that this is a simulation fight, and the simulated version has all the attributes of the creature found in the 13th realm and has all its stats.
He then goes on to tell them that the beast in front of them is a two-horned monkey – notorious beings that enjoy leaping around and causing havoc in the 13th realm. They are intelligent creatures with high speed, better reflexes than many other beasts, and they get irritated easily. "I believe that satisfies your curiosity clears your confusion," he adds. He then tells them to look at their watches; now, it has a countdown. The fight will start after the countdown, and everyone looks a little nervous.
Nathan now only needs to observe. He sets off two more crystals as they float towards the other side. Both of them float in the air and project a screen displaying the score of every individual taking the tests. He starts to observe the battles that are about to start. While he does not have higher expectations, someone with above-average strength, a unique element, or a trait with good intellect should suffice for him.
He knows that his standards are high, as any other organization will take someone with above-average strength and a good trait easily. It can be attributed to his spotter thinking that he always looks for greater talent and draws out their potential; he has been great mentors for his recruits. Well, nothing he could do to change his innate trait. He is reminded constantly that the ranking system never reflects one's talent. A unique trait will have other applications and not necessarily be useful in getting a higher ranking. He understands it well; that's the reason for this way of testing.
He could have easily used Dauss crystals to measure their ki output and sort them into ranks. However, he doesn't want to do that, as it only reveals their current ki output, not their potential or talent. He will let them use their wits and any pre-existing talents for these challenges so that their innate traits are well expressed. Especially for those who have chosen to fight the beast. They will have to push their limits to achieve the objective. This is what his experience has taught him yet.
On the other side, Raghu is watching with others as people are getting ready to fight. He is observing the lady he had met before at Enbo Emporium and came with him; she has chosen to fight the beast. He wishes to observe what she has in store. As the fight countdown finishes, the monkeys make a move towards the people in the shield. Most of them do not even get a chance to see what happened as they are thrown at a shield with such force that the impact might have broken some bones; he hears several bone-crunching sounds. Most have been knocked out cold and seeing that Nathan takes action as they can't give up on their own; she shields lift, and the setup disappears as though it never was there in the first place. He lets them be as he knows they won't die.
The rest are avoiding the monkeys left and right, and Raghu notes that they're dancing to a rhythm not easily identifiable to naked eyes. The onlookers are looking at the scene with disbelief in their eyes. Raghu is wondering who is the real monkey here, the candidates or the monkey himself. They both are bouncing and hopping around in an arena as equals as they dodge and avoid the strikes from him.
There are several who have kicked the bucket as they are getting to know the real difference between them and the monkey, and this is a simulation, not the real deal. This thought makes a shiver run down their spines. Only ones remaining are the 10 people, and that girl is among them. She really is good at dodging though Raghu, while watching her move as a Gazelle throughout the arena, moving as nimbly and navigating the attacks of the monkey. While he is watching her, Nathan is also observing her and has made sure to note her talent, thinking "she might be useful"; he continues to gaze at her.
But his gaze is drawn towards another one guy who is fighting with the monkey as if he is one himself. He is constantly irritating him by jumping around, pounding his chests as if he is a gorilla and challenging him to become more aggressive. "Doesn't he realize that this simulation is right and not the real thing right?"; this is what everyone wants to voice out but no one bothering to as the battle is just interesting to watch. Who cares if it is real or not; he looks like he is enjoying himself out there. Ohhh.. so he one of those that enjoy the fighting for the thrill of it, Nathan observes.
As the timer comes to an end, most of them look utterly exhausted. The lady is only a little out of breath as if she did something that was fairly routine to her. The guy who also lasted the whole time is having an expression of a kid that just had his candy stolen from him. He is staring daggers at Nathan for stopping this as he was having a time of his life. But he does not complain to him. Out of 100 people, only 2 lasted the entire 10 minutes; this was a wake-up call to most of them as they can see what level they are at. Nathan instructs them to wait for the puzzle round to finish.