I dashed through the arid soil between Max Brain's secret lair and the deadly obstacle course called 'orientation'. I could feel the dry soil on my soles quite clearly and even stepped on one or two sharp pebbles that stung my feet. But I didn't give a damn about any of them! My running became even faster with each step I took. I didn't realize it at the time, but the force I exerted with each step cracked the dry soil.
I saw the "entrance" of the obstacle course: a long, steep metallic platform that led to another higher platform. I couldn't exactly measure the length of this steep platform, but I could guess the height of it, and it was roughly 2 to 3 stories tall. Many of my fellow grunts were still waiting at the bottom of the steep platform, observing the obstacle course while only a few were trying to climb these steep platforms themselves. Those observers were either studying the course or waiting to see which of us "braver" grunts would show them how to clear it.
"Lucky for them, 'cause I'll gladly volunteer to be the one who finishes this obstacle course first!" I shouted my inner thoughts loudly, which brought their attention to me.
"Huh? Hey! What is that?"
"Wait... Is that another grunt?"
"It's another one of us!"
"Uh... Why is he running so fast toward us...?"
"Who's this guy?! He's running pretty damn fast!"
"No. 703!" A familiar voice shouted my name at the end. I glanced at the source of the voice and saw it was none other than Grunt No. 704. I also saw Grunt No. 711 and even the meek fanboy No. 702 with him, as they seemed about to climb the steep platform themselves.
With my fast running, I quickly reached their gathering. Seeing me, a huge hulking grunt, dashing into them, they all moved aside quickly in fear and panic, creating a clear path for me to the obstacle course.
"Thanks for the path, bros!" I exclaimed to them gratefully, even calling my fellow grunts 'bros' to sound friendly. Whether they feared me or not didn't matter right now. What mattered was the obstacle course in front of me as I quickly stepped onto the steep platform.
I could feel the hot metal platform, heated by the searing sun. It was already a challenge to step onto this platform. It didn't help that all of us grunts were practically naked in these skin-tight dark suits, so we all started barefoot. Nevertheless, it didn't matter to me as I quickly hiked this steep platform with speed, passing through all of my fellow grunts who had made a clear path for me.
The metallic platform was not just hot, but it also felt slippery in some places. I also realized that it was steeper than I had imagined it to be. Well... I just had to step on it! I put more strength into my legs as I stomped the metal platform hard, creating a dent with each step I took. The dents made it easier for me to hike this steep platform, and I quickly made it to the top of the next platform with ease, leaving behind a path filled with dents.
I looked back at my fellow grunts, their faces full of shock upon seeing my advance, and waved at them, "See you guys at the finish line!" I bid farewell to them and then dashed into the next challenges.
Meanwhile, the grunts I had left behind were witnessing the dents I had made with shock and awe.
[3rd Person POV]
"What the hell was that hulking guy...?"
"Did he just make dents in this thick steel platform...?!"
"No freaking way! How did that guy manage to do that?!"
All the grunts began to clamor at each other over the impossible feat that Grunt No. 703 had just shown them, except for Grunt No. 704, No. 711, and No. 702. All three of them had also been awed by No. 703's feat of strength, but... all three of them had something else in mind when they saw the huge dents No. 703 had made in his path.
All three of them nodded at each other, thinking the same thing, and then quickly approached the path of multiple dents that Grunt No. 703 had created. They swiftly climbed the steep platform and then... grabbed onto the dented parts as if they were makeshift climbing holds. With this, all three of them managed to climb the steep platform quickly. When they finally reached the top, Grunt No. 704 and No. 711 looked back at their fellow grunts below the steep platform.
"See you guys at the finish line!" Both of them bid farewell cheerfully and playfully, repeating the same words Grunt No. 703 had said to them all before.
All the grunts finally realized what these three had done, and they all quickly surged toward the path that those three had climbed, but of course, with minimal success as they fought over access to the path itself.
[3rd Person POV End]
< | X | >
I had been jumping and climbing through platforms after platforms with ease, avoiding minor but still dangerous obstacles such as sharp spikes, spinning bars that would sweep you off the platform, huge pendulum balls that swung around wildly, and many, many more. They really did mash up almost every obstacle they could think of into this single obstacle course. I'd also passed some of my fellow grunts who had managed to climb the steep platform themselves, leaving them behind as they were still trying to manage through these obstacles themselves.
The physical enchantment on this new body of mine was quite something else. Those grunts I had just passed through were already pretty amazing themselves for managing to get through some of the obstacles, but I somehow felt this obstacle course was a breeze. As I was still thinking, I quickly saw a fast-rotating hammer obstacle about to hit me, but with my newfound quick reaction, I was able to easily avoid it narrowly.
I'd been dodging near-death situations quite a lot, not only thanks to my reaction time but also because my body was able to react fast to my will. It actually felt really nice to be able to overcome this obstacle course with ease. But... then I heard the crackling of electricity.
I stopped in my tracks to see the new obstacle waiting for me... and it was a large platform filled with electricity. Tall rods were scattered throughout this large platform. I thought the rods were placed randomly, but I realized that there was a hexagon grid map line on the surface of the platforms, with vertices of each hexagon being the place of these rods... and each of these rods crackled with electricity between each other, forming a temporary lightning barrier that I imagined would shock anyone to death if they just so happened to cross them.
While I was contemplating how to cross this field of lightning rods, I heard the familiar sound of spinning blades. "Good work on reaching the Lightning Grid first, Grunt No. 703!" I also recognized the voice, that of a certain mad scientist woman... of course, none other than Victoria "Mad Star". I looked in the direction of the sound coming from outside the platform and found the familiar drone hovering gently. On it was a display screen, currently showing said mad scientist that was showing me her same-old mischievous smiling.
"I'm the first, huh? Good to know," I replied to her, earning a grin from the mad scientist. So, this lightning rods field was called the 'Lightning Grid,' huh? Pretty fitting, I would say.
"That's right! In fact, you have broken the previous record holder by a huge margin! Impressive!" Victoria praised me through her drone's speaker, even going so far as to give me a thumbs up from her small display screen that I could barely see. Her praise honestly made me feel a bit happy, and I subconsciously scratched my head in embarrassment.
"Truly impressive, indeed. But..." Victoria paused for a moment, showing me her mischievous smile again. That smile of hers... she was planning on doing something, wasn't she?
As if on cue, the lightning rods in front of me suddenly crackled even louder. The lightning barrier formed between them became larger and even denser than before. Not only that, but the frequency of these rods emitting their electricity became even faster.
"We have decided this year to pump up the Orientation obstacle course difficulty!" She announced, with a huge grin plastered on her face. She looked like she was enjoying this a bit too much.
"Is that so, huh?" I replied with fake surprise in my tone. I knew they were petty, so I had expected them to do this. So, it didn't matter much if they were going to raise the difficulty, because I had resolved myself once again that I was going to finish this obstacle course no matter what.
"That's right, Grunt No. 703. Do your best~," Victoria did a fake cheering voice herself, mockingly encouraging me. Nevertheless, I was still pumped up by her encouragement even if she was just sugarcoating it.
I gave the displayed Victoria a thumbs up. "You got it, boss!" I shouted back with confidence as I then dashed forward towards the so-called Lightning Grid, the higher difficulty version!