At this point, Dawn and Diogenis were the only two people remaining in the room. Ubtaal took the two to the first station in the room. This station consisted of a lone punching bag with an electronic meter connected to it.
Ubtaal: "Alright, first station." He stood in front of the punching bag, facing Dawn and Diogenis. His stance made him appear much taller than he actually was. "This station is very straight-forward, just punch the bag and you will get a number. I will score you based on the number projected on the meter." He then stepped off to the side, allowing the two to start.
Diogenis: "I'll go first." He gave Dawn a nod before stepping up to the punching bag. "My strength has increased a good bit since the last time I did this." He said before taking his stance.
Dawn: I guess this is where I get to see what I'm up against, and more or so how outclassed I am.. He was really inspecting Diogenis, wanting to see how powerful he was. Dawn wanted to learn in order to get stronger because he knew that without being powerful, he might not achieve the things he wanted to.
Ubtaal simply stood, watching Diogenis. The demi-human recognized the kid from the last time he took the test, but he was interested to see what new power the human had to offer.
Diogenis: "Alright." He took a deep breath in and slowly exhaled. With a savage yell, Diogenis unleashed a powerful force upon the punching bag. His strike sounded like a thunderclap, reverberating through the room like a sound of destruction. Once the strike landed, the meter immediately shot up, Diogenis' number being 452.
Dawn simply stood back in awe. How could someone have such raw power? I felt the shockwave of the strike in my own body, but I was a good ways away from it..
Ubtaal: "Very nice hit, Diogenis. This new number shows your improvement from last time. Your first score is an A-." He then looked to Dawn. "Your turn, first timer."
Diogenis then walked up to Dawn.
Diogenis: "You got this, Dawn, just make sure you get your number over 200." He gave Dawn an encouraging smile.
Dawn: "Okay." He nodded, comprehending Diogenis' instructions. As he approached the punching bag, he realized that Ubtaal never explained what the number system was or how it operated. Based on his assumptions, he concluded that uncertainty was also part of the exam.
As Dawn approached the station, Ubtaal observed him intently. The proctor initially noted the boy's white hair. Not everyone would criticize Dawn because of it, or even understand why he was judged, but Ubtaal did, and this led to his curiosity.
Diogenis was also looking attentively at Dawn with a broad grin on his face. He did not analyze Dawn for the same reasons as Ubtaal; instead, he wanted to know if Dawn was worthy of being his competition.
Dawn began to take deep breaths and exhale gently, exactly like Diogenis did. This technique usually helped him relax in stressful or troubling circumstances, and this one was particularly stressful for him. Knowing that each score may determine the trajectory of his future was difficult to accept given how fresh and foreign everything was to him. Once he had built up his focus, he decided it was the time to show the proctor what he could do, and even if it wasn't enough, he knew he had to give it his all. With a resounding thud, Dawn's fist connected with the punching bag, sending vibrations reverberating through the room. The impact echoed the years of dedication to his training. The bag swayed violently, as if caught in a storm, before settling into a rhythmic sway. The number portrayed on the meter after his strike connected was 236.
Both Ubtaal and Diogenis were looking at Dawn, not expecting him to score better than the 200 mark Diogenis had set for him.
Ubtaal: "Not bad, first timer. Although I think there could have been a little more power behind it, the punch was solid. Your score is a C-." He said before writing both scores down on a notepad he pulled out of his pocket.
Diogenis: "Nice work Dawn!" He said after walking over to where Dawn stood. "To be honest I didn't know if you had it in you, but you did, and I feel like an asshole for doubting you." He started to chuckle awkwardly. "Why did I admit to that?"
Dawn: "Thank you?" He stood awkwardly, a little confused by Diogenis' words.
Ubtaal: "Alright you two, time for the second station." After speaking, he led the two over to the next spot which had a dummy that was planted on what seemed to be a concrete block with another meter placed next to it. "This next station is the push test. Like the other one, this test is as straight-forward as it gets. Just push the dummy as hard as you can and the number shown on the meter will determine how I score you."
Diogenis: "Alright! I will go first again." He said proudly before walking up to the dummy. "This is my least favorite of the three, so I want to knock it out quickly."
Ubtaal: "Maybe the first timer would want to start first?" He asked both of them openly.
Diogenis then looked back at Dawn: "Oh.. uhm.. Sorry Dawn, I tend to think after I make a decision." He gave an embarrassed smile while scratching the back of his head.
Dawn shook his head: "It's okay, I don't really want to go first anyway." He spoke honestly. The idea of going first just to be shown up by Diogenis was a humiliating one.
Diogenis: "Works for me!" He responded before turning back towards the dummy. Diogenis extended his right arm towards the dummy, his hand beginning to glow with a faint, ethereal light. Visualizing the energy flowing through him, he connected to the world around him. Diogenis channeled his energy, sending a powerful force into the dummy. The air crackled with energy as the force met the solid mass of the dummy, pushing against it with incredible strength. The dummy was pushed back before it began to wobble back and forth due to Diogenis' strength. The number reading on the meter was a solid 415.
Dawn had no clue how Diogenis accomplished such a feat without even touching the dummy, but based on Rowan's statements, he assumed it was a demonstration of Ukiyo. He knew he couldn't pull off anything close to what Diogenis had at the moment, but the idea that he could sparked a newfound desire in him. The desire to not only get stronger, but the desire to be stronger than Diogenis.
Ubtaal: "Your Ukiyo has grown as well, Diogenis. Your score is yet another A-." He gave Diogenis a nod.
Diogenis reciprocated with a nod before making way for Dawn. As Dawn took his place in front of the dummy, he began to breathe deeper.
Ubtaal: "If I remember the report correctly, you cannot use Ukiyo. Is that correct?" He spoke directly to Dawn.
Dawn: "That is true." He looked over at Ubtaal and Diogenis with embarrassment.
Diogenis: "You can't use Ukiyo?" He seemed caught off guard by his statement. "I remember you come from another planet and all, but surely they at least taught you how to use it.."
Ubtaal: "Relax, Diogenis. Dawn is not the first who has come through without the ability to use their Ukiyo. Just try your best and we will go from there." He said with an optimistic tone.
Diogenis nodded while giving Dawn two thumbs up, mouthing the words you can do it.
Dawn read his lips before recognizing what Diogenis had said. He was the first person, aside from Rowan, to fully believe in him, at least after Rhys' death. Using these words as inspiration, Dawn moved right up to the dummy, ready to use all of his body's might.
Dawn's muscles tensed and his sinews strained as he pushed against the dummy's unrelenting resistance. He pushed forward with all of his power, his resolve clear in the air, droplets of sweat shimmering on his brow. His jaw clenched and his teeth gritted in determination as he faced the challenge head-on. The muscles in his arms bulged, and veins stood out against his skin like rivers on a map. The dummy, a powerful opponent in its own right, appeared to mock him with its immobility. Dawn was undeterred. With a guttural scream, he redoubled his efforts, directing all of his force into the push. Dawn's persistence paid off as he forced it back a little bit, the number on the meter reading 230.
Dawn's efforts surprised Ubtaal and Diogenis once more. They both gazed at each other out of surprise before returning their attention to Dawn.
Ubtaal: "Nice work, first timer. You scored another C-." He then wrote down the new scores on his notepad while Diogenis walked over to Dawn.
Diogenis: "Good job man, that was some intense resolve!" He spoke while holding his hand up for a high-five.
Dawn: "Thank you." He carried out the high-five. "You doubted me again though, didn't you?"
Diogenis: "I did yeah.." He sighed.
Dawn: "I figured." He chuckled at Diogenis while walking over to Ubtaal, Diogenis following in shame.
Ubtaal: "Alright you two, final station." He stated this after taking them to the final station in the room, which consisted of a wooden table with two seats and another meter. Another dummy sat in one chair, hand stretched onto the table, while the other chair remained vacant. "This is the grip test, and well, it is to test your grip strength. Once again, very straight-forward. Just grip the dummy's hand with all your strength and the meter will display the number determining your score."
Diogenis: "Mind if I go first again, Dawn?" He said before just walking up this time.
Dawn: "Knock yourself out." He said, waving Diogenis on.
Diogenis: "Sweet!" Diogenis then took the unoccupied seat across from the dummy and reached out to grab the dummy's hand. Upon taking hold of the dummy's hand he squeezed it with all of his might, the meter reading 375.
Ubtaal: "Very good, your final score for test one is a B+." He said before looking at Dawn. "Your turn now, this one is just another test of pure strength, so no Ukiyo involved."
Dawn nodded before swapping seats with Diogenis. He took hold of the dummy's hand, considering how he might raise his grade from a C- to anything higher. This was the exam that appeared to be the most plausible after all. He wanted to ensure that Ubtaal and Diogenis' expectations were not misguided, as they were likely to be greater this time. He readjusted his grasp on the dummy's hand before exerting all of his effort to squeeze it, seizing possession of it, as if he were gripping a blade. His effort amounted to a 265 on the station's meter, being his highest score.
Ubtaal: "Good work, first timer. Your final score is a C!" Ubtaal spoke in a way that made it seem like he was proud of Dawn.
Diogenis: "That is higher than your C-'s Dawn, good shit!" He said as he walked over to Dawn, patting him on the shoulder. "You did great for your first time! A lot of people come through and only score D's and F's." He said while chuckling.
Dawn: "Really? I thought I would be one of the weaker people that has come through here.." He sounded shocked at this information.
Diogenis: "Oh yeah. One of the people I took this test with the first time didn't score higher than a D-. Pretty embarrassing if you ask me." He laughed at his own statement.
Ubtaal: "Okay, you two, listen up!" He said as the two gave him their full attention. "After examining both of your scores, I have your averages. Diogenis, your average score is A-, and Dawn's average score is C-. Both of your average scores were higher than the general average, which is an uninspiring D+, as well as the failing average. Very nice work."
In the moment upon hearing he passed, Dawn's body felt light. If he were to be honest with himself, he would have said that he did not expect to pass at all, but the fact that he did meant that he was one step closer to finding Imogene, and to fulfilling his Father's wishes.
On the other hand, Diogenis seemed unsurprised by his passing score. Instead of celebrating, he approached Dawn with a competitive expression on his face.
Diogenis: "Well, Dawn. Looks like we are going to be finishing the rest of the tests together." He said, holding out his hand. "From here on we are evenly matched, so let's do our best together."
Dawn nodded, then shook his hand. Before their hands parted, the two held it for a moment, studying each other.
Diogenis: "You are an interesting person, Dawn… What's your last name?" He furrowed his eyebrows.
Dawn: "It's Carter, Dawn Carter." He said proudly.
Diogenis: "Dawn Carter, huh. Cool name!" He said, seemingly forgetting what his original statement was going to be.
Dawn couldn't help but laugh at his forgetfulness, after chatting for a brief moment the two received a stamp on their hands that marked the passing of the first test. Ubtaal then dismissed the two onto the second test, which was in the next chamber through the door in the back of the room. Once the two made it to the door, they examined, and the words embroidered on the sign above the door that read, "Chamber 2: Psych Test".