The classroom was currently chaotic, as it often was when a group of would-be hunters were stuck in a room together. Jax, a lanky kid with a reputation for running his mouth more than he should, was slumped over in his seat, his face contorted in an exaggerated expression of frustration.
"Man... school sucks so much, why can't we just go to the hunter exams!" he whined, his voice echoing off the blue tech panels that lined the walls. The panels were designed to ensure that anything under Level 1 on the hunter or monster ranking system wouldn't break through the reinforced walls, but even that didn't keep Jax from acting like an utter nuisance.
"Jax, you know why we aren't in the exams. Because you had to cheat before we went and now, we have to wait five more minutes for the results!" Minoan snapped back, his arms crossed, his eyes narrowing in exasperation.
Jax groaned dramatically, sinking lower into his seat as if the weight of his own disappointment would somehow drag him through the floor. He hated being stuck in a classroom like this, especially when the Hunter Exams were just within reach and about to start too. What did any of this mundane learning even matter when there were monsters out there to fight, powers to acquire, and ranks to rise?
But Minoan's words only made Jax sulk harder, his focus wandering away from the conversation as his mind drifted back to the debacle earlier that morning.
"Man, I barely cheated," Jax muttered to no one in particular, clearly still in denial about his earlier actions. "I mean, what was I supposed to do? Study? Me?"
"You're not fooling anyone, Jax," Minoan retorted, exasperated. "You hacked into the system and tried to get past the exam's security check, which is why we're stuck here waiting." He emphasized each word like a parent scolding a child.
Beck, who had been eerily quiet until now, finally had enough of Jax's whining. With a swift motion, he stood up and walked over to Jax's desk. Without saying a word, he reached down, grabbed the back of Jax's head, and slammed it straight through the top of the desk with a sickening crack.
A massive, ugly bump appeared almost instantly on Jax's forehead, swelling rapidly like a miniature mountain range rising on his skin. He didn't even have time to react before his head was embedded into the metal desk, his hair tangled in wires and tech circuits.
"Shut up, Jax," Beck muttered calmly, wiping his hand on his pants as if the action hadn't even phased him. "Complaining isn't going to get you into the Hunter Exams any faster."
Jax, stunned and disoriented, sat there for a moment, unable to process what had just happened. His eyes blinked rapidly as he tried to make sense of it all. Finally, he groaned and pulled himself out of the desk, rubbing the monstrous lump on his forehead with a scowl.
"Ow, that hurt...!" he mumbled, but his words lacked the usual fire. The group knew that Jax would whine about it, but even he could see that Beck wasn't someone to mess with.
Minoan rolled his eyes. "You're lucky it wasn't worse," he muttered, half-smirking at the sight of Jax trying to unstick himself from the desk. "Maybe that'll teach you not to cheat next time."
"Next time?!" Jax huffed, pulling himself fully upright and glaring at Beck, who was already walking back to his seat with his hands in his pockets. "No way I'm not going to try again. They wouldn't even know if I—"
A sharp beep from the classroom's central console cut him off. The blue tech screen flashed, and a calm, robotic voice filled the room:
"Attention. Results for the preliminary Hunter Exam tests are now available. Please remain seated while the evaluation process is completed."
The room fell into a tense silence. Jax instantly stopped his complaining, his eyes widening, his heartbeat quickening. This was it. The moment that would determine if they were getting a shot at the exams or if they would have to wait even longer.
The screen flickered to life, displaying a list of names in bold blue letters. There was a long pause as the results were processed, the name "Jax" taking its sweet time to appear.
When it finally did, Jax's face fell. A solid F appeared next to his name, followed by a flashing red warning: UNSUITABLE FOR EXAM DUE TO UNAUTHORIZED TECH MANIPULATION.
Minoan couldn't help but laugh. "Told you," he said, not even bothering to hide the smirk. "Nice job cheating your way out of this one."
Beck, on the other hand, said nothing. He simply shot a glance at Jax, then looked away, his face unreadable.
Jax groaned, his entire body slumping as if the weight of the world had just hit him all at once. "Well... this suck's..." he mumbled, rubbing his forehead and staring at the screen. He knew he'd messed up, but part of him still held out hope that there would be another chance.
Minoan stood up, walking toward the exit. "Let's just go," he said, shaking his head. "You'll get another shot eventually. Just... maybe don't try to hack the system next time?"
Beck pushed his chair back, glancing one last time at Jax, before following Minoan out the door.
Jax sat there, alone for a moment, staring at the flashing warning on the screen. His lump still throbbed, but now it was nothing compared to the bitter disappointment that weighed on him. As much as he hated to admit it, his impulsiveness had cost him his chance at the exams. The idea of staying stuck in this miserable school was unbearable, but he had no choice now.
Jax sighed and, after a few seconds, stood up, walking out of E.Q. High School. The most prestigious school in the city, known for its brutal difficulty and an acceptance rate that hovered at a measly 0.02%. The school wasn't the hardest in the world, but the sheer number of applicants—more than 100,000 per year, with some years even pushing close to 1 million—made it one of the most competitive institutions around.
Why had Jax even bothered going here in the first place? Sure, the school had resources beyond anything else in the city, but the chances of success were slim, and the odds were stacked against anyone who wasn't at the top of their game. And yet, there was one major reason: the legacy of Lijo, the founder of E.Q. High, who had struck it lucky on a Rank 2 task and discovered a rare artifact—a "Reproduce Artifact."
Artifacts were a huge part of this world, with five distinct types. Boost artifacts were the most common, granting temporary power boosts that could only be used once. Permanent artifacts were rarer, but offered lasting benefits, though weaker than the boosts. Skill artifacts granted unique abilities when absorbed, but they required intense mastery to unlock their full potential. Multi-auto artifacts were extremely rare, allowing users to grind monsters for loot and even capture Kore cores—but only a few had unlocked the hidden storage function, which required extensive research and intelligence.
But then there were the Reproduce artifacts, the rarest and most coveted. These artifacts could reproduce any item every minute, based on the artifact's quality. Jax knew about Lijo's luck with a "Good" quality artifact, which was still incredibly rare. The artifacts' true power, however, lay in their potential, and only the top ranks in the world could truly harness them.
Jax sighed again as he walked away, his mind already planning his next move. He may have lost this battle, but he wasn't ready to give up yet. Not by a long shot.
Jax's footsteps echoed as he walked aimlessly, his mind swirling with thoughts of failure and disappointment. The sun was setting, casting long shadows over the cracked and grimy streets of the city. As he passed by old, half-destroyed buildings, his eyes barely registered the chaos unfolding in the distance—until a massive shockwave rattled the ground beneath his feet, snapping his attention to the skies.
A monstrous roar split the air. The sound was low, guttural, and filled with so much rage that it made Jax's stomach churn. He looked up instinctively, his heart hammering in his chest as a figure—an impossible figure—loomed in the distance.
A creature. No, not a creature, a nightmare.
It looked like a prehistoric dinosaur, but distorted, a grotesque mishmash of ancient bone and unnatural energy. Its massive, muscular frame rippled with power as it tore through the city, tearing buildings apart like they were made of paper. Its jaws were a nightmare of jagged teeth, snapping at anything in its path. But there was something even worse than the creature itself: two figures stood between it and the city.
Yin and Yang.
The two legendary Star Rank Slayers were locked in battle with the beast, their movements a blur of precision and power. Yin, with her dark, flowing armor that shimmered with Kore energy, danced around the beast with inhuman grace, slicing through its hide with energy blades that burned with unholy light. Yang, towering and almost impossibly strong, seemed to be the brute force of the duo, using his incredible strength to block and strike, his fists creating shockwaves that could level entire blocks.
But there was a problem.
The fight was taking place too close to the city, and despite their god-like abilities, both Yin and Yang were doing their best to avoid collateral damage. Their strikes and counters had been carefully calculated, ensuring that they kept the monster away from the civilian areas. But it wasn't enough. The creature was too powerful, and every time they struck, its retaliations sent debris flying, sending shockwaves through the streets. The air was thick with tension, and the sound of cracking stone and screeching metal filled the atmosphere.
Jax felt a surge of panic rising in his chest. As much as he hated his current situation, he couldn't help but stare at the scene with awe. This was a real fight—the kind that could reshape the world.
But then, a massive rumble beneath his feet knocked him off balance. He looked around in confusion, only to see rubble plummeting from a nearby building. Time seemed to slow down as chunks of concrete and steel came crashing down around him. He barely had time to react, too stunned to move as a large piece of debris came hurtling towards him.
The world exploded into chaos. A sharp pain—excruciating—hit him in the chest as the rubble struck, crushing him to the ground. His vision blurred, his body barely able to process the pain, but even in those final moments, one thought ran through his mind.
I'm too weak.
Jax tried to scream, but the sound never escaped his lips. His body was crushed beneath the weight of the rubble, his consciousness slipping away with each passing second. He tried to move, to stand, but his limbs wouldn't obey. His breaths came in shallow gasps as blood pooled in his throat.
He closed his eyes, feeling the darkness closing in, his mind still racing with regret and frustration. No one would come for him. Not now. Not after everything he had done. His inability to control his impulse, his reckless ambition, his failure to learn from past mistakes—they had all led him here.
He was going to die.
The last thing he felt was the crushing weight of the debris. The last thing he heard was the deafening roar of the S Rank monster, its power unchecked and its rage unrelenting.
And then… silence.
A beep.
It started as a soft, faint sound in the back of his mind, like a far-off chime ringing in his skull. Then, it grew louder. The tone was digital, mechanical, like the sound of a system booting up.
"TRYING AGAIN…"
The world around Jax blurred into an indescribable chaos, twisting and warping as though his entire existence was being rewritten. He couldn't understand it, couldn't process what was happening. The pain, the fear, the helplessness—all of it evaporated in an instant.
Then, the beep came again. "COMPLETED…"
Jax's eyes snapped open, but he wasn't in the ruins of the city anymore. No. He was back in the same classroom at E.Q. High, staring at the blue tech panels on the walls. His body was intact, his head free from the weight of a massive lump, and there was no sign of the S Rank monster, the rubble, or the chaos that had killed him.
He was alive.
Jax's heart pounded in his chest as he stared at the screen in front of him, which flashed with an unfamiliar set of symbols—strange, foreign to him. It wasn't a normal system notification. The words felt… different. System has detected failure. Recalibration initiated.
He blinked, his mind still trying to catch up with what had just happened. The last thing he remembered was the pain. The darkness. The sense of finality. But now, he was back here, in the same exact place.
The classroom was still buzzing with tension, the air filled with the usual chatter, the same hum of technology. Nothing had changed. But everything had changed.
Jax's eyes darted around the room. Minoan was sitting at his desk, arms crossed, looking as annoyed as usual. Beck was at the back of the room, leaning against the wall, eyes half-closed as if waiting for something to happen. No one seemed to notice the transformation that had just taken place inside Jax.
His chest tightened, and a cold sweat began to bead on his forehead as the realization hit him.
He had died. And somehow, impossibly, he was back. But why? What had happened?
The answer was somewhere in that strange notification, somewhere in the mysterious force that had just intervened to reset him.
Jax stood up slowly, his head still spinning, his body trembling with the intensity of the experience. He didn't know how or why, but he knew one thing for sure:
He couldn't waste this second chance. Whatever force had brought him back, he was going to find a way to control it. And next time, he wouldn't be weak. Next time, he would survive.
And he would be ready for the Hunter Exams...
Jax sat in his seat, staring at the results flashing on the screen in front of him. His heart sank as the glowing letters spelled out the inevitable:
F+ - UNSUITABLE FOR EXAM.
He could feel the weight of the failure pressing down on him, just as it had the first time. It was almost like déjà vu—the same sinking feeling, the same sting of inadequacy.
"Man, this is getting pathetic," Minoan muttered from across the room, arms crossed, his eyes narrowed with a mixture of annoyance and disappointment. "You really can't help yourself, huh?"
Beck, standing by the door with his usual disinterested stance, glanced over at Jax, his face unreadable. He didn't speak a word, but his silence said more than enough. Jax could feel the weight of their judgment without them even having to say anything.
"I told you," Minoan continued, the hint of a smirk playing at the corner of his lips. "Just study. But noooo, you think you can hack your way to the top. Look where that got you."
Jax gritted his teeth, but he didn't respond. He had no defense. He'd tried again, but it hadn't mattered. His results hadn't improved. In fact, they were worse this time. The F+ result wasn't even a failure as monumental as the first time, but it felt just as crushing.
He hadn't passed. Again.
Beck gave a single, almost imperceptible nod toward Minoan, signaling the end of their conversation. Without another word, the two of them turned and walked out of the classroom, leaving Jax to wallow in his failure.
Jax didn't move, didn't speak, didn't even blink. He just sat there, staring at the screen, as the seconds ticked by. A cold, hollow emptiness settled in his chest. He couldn't do this. No matter how hard he tried, he was never going to be good enough.
But then, just as he was about to collapse into his own despair, a strange noise echoed in his mind.
Beep.
The sound was mechanical, almost digital. It started faint, then grew louder, a strange, rhythmic pattern repeating itself. A soft, unnerving chime, like something coming to life.
"SECOND FAILURE DETECTED."
Jax's eyes widened. His breath caught in his throat as a cold chill ran down his spine. The voice was different this time—more impersonal, more robotic. But it was unmistakable. It was coming from inside his head, like some kind of system was speaking directly to him.
NEW TASK:
Run 1000 kilometers
Progress: 0/1000
Time Limit: 1 Hour
Chance to Successfully Complete: 0%
Strength is Too Weak: ADDING MORE OBJECTS IN THE WAY
REWARDS: UNKNOWN
Jax's mind reeled as the notification scrolled through his consciousness. He shot out of his seat, his body moving on pure adrenaline. His classmates—Minoan, Beck, and the rest—blurred into the background as the weight of the system's command settled over him like an iron shackle.
"Run 1000 kilometers? In one hour?!" he muttered, his voice trembling with disbelief. "That's... that's impossible!"
Before he could fully process the absurdity of the task, a new sensation gripped him. His surroundings shimmered and shifted, the classroom walls dissolving into an endless expanse of gray nothingness. His heart raced as objects—massive blocks of metal, spinning blades, and walls of fire—materialized in the distance, forming a surreal obstacle course.
The voice returned, cold and emotionless.
"FAILURE TO BEGIN TASK WILL RESULT IN RETRYING AGAIN. COUNTDOWN INITIATED: 59:59."
The timer appeared in his vision, ticking down in ominous red numbers. Jax staggered back, his breaths coming in short, frantic bursts.
"Is this... some kind of punishment?!"
Jax's voice echoed in the gray void, but no one was there to answer. The countdown relentlessly ticked away, each second pounding like a drum in his ears.
59:45. 59:44. 59:43.
His mind raced as he tried to process the impossible situation. 1,000 kilometers in one hour? Even the strongest Slayers he'd read about couldn't do that without using high-tier artifacts or Kore energy. And he wasn't even close to their level.
The surreal, endless landscape stretched before him, punctuated by towering obstacles and spinning death traps. Everything screamed "destruction." Massive blocks of metal hovered in midair before crashing down with violent force, and pillars of flame erupted from the ground in chaotic intervals.
Jax staggered forward, his legs trembling beneath him. He didn't know if this was real or some kind of sick simulation, but he had no choice. The command was etched into his brain, leaving no room for refusal.
He glanced at the timer.
59:30.
"Run, huh?" Jax muttered to himself, his voice shaking. "Fine. Let's see what happens."
With no other option, he broke into a sprint, his feet slamming against the ground as he pushed himself forward.
Jax's legs thundered against the forest floor as he raced through the thick underbrush. The night air was cool, sharp with the scent of pine and damp earth. He was nearly 100 meters away from the clearing when he felt the sudden, heavy pressure of a presence behind him. Before he could turn around, a powerful fist rocketed into his gut.
Jax (thinking): No... it's too fast!
The impact left him breathless, a shockwave of pain erupting from his chest as ribs splintered and his vision blurred. His body crumpled mid-air, crashing into a patch of brambles and sharp rocks that tore at his skin.
Rolling desperately, he gasped for air, fingers scrabbling against the cold ground. The wind was knocked out of him, but instinct kept him alive. Before he could push himself up, a shadow loomed overhead. The humanoid rabbit, muscular and terrifyingly fast, loomed with arms outstretched, claws glinting under the moonlight.
Jax (pushing himself up): No time to think, move!
He shifted, body aching as he leaped backward, narrowly dodging the rabbit's next punch, which splintered the tree behind him. Wood chips and splinters sprayed in every direction, and Jax's ears rang with the noise.
The rabbit crouched, a deep growl rumbling in its throat. The creature lunged forward, a blur of motion. Jax pivoted to the side, muscles screaming as his broken ribs protested. He barely managed to avoid the strike, but the rabbit's claw caught his arm, leaving a deep gash that stung with a metallic heat.
Jax (breathing heavily): I can't... I can't let it get me.
The humanoid creature didn't pause; it was relentless, eyes locked onto him like a predator. Jax tried to push himself to his feet, but the pain was suffocating. He stumbled and fell, landing on his back. Before he could react, the rabbit loomed over him, its shadow swallowing him whole.
A monstrous punch, fueled by raw, animalistic power, connected with his ribs again, shattering them completely. The air left his body in a single, shuddering gasp. He felt the bones pierce his organs, searing pain erupting in every fiber of his being.
Jax (voice trembling): I... I'm done...
The world spun as the rabbit raised its fist once more, ready to strike a final blow. Time slowed, and Jax's vision dimmed, the forest fading into darkness. The last thing he felt was the cold rush of wind as the rabbit's fist cracked down, sealing his fate in the silent, unyielding night.
Jax's body flickered back into existence at the same spot—the edge of the forest clearing where he had previously stood. His eyes darted around, a sense of déjà vu creeping in. The task was here again.
Jax (thinking): This... this again?
The familiar interface of the task appeared before him, floating in the air with its cold, mechanical message. His heart sank as the numbers and words burned into his mind.
NEW TASK: Run 1000 kilometers
Progress: 0/1000
Time Limit: 1 Hour
Chance to Successfully Complete: 0%
Strength is Too Weak: ADDING MORE OBJECTS IN THE WAY
REWARDS: UNKNOWN
Jax: DAMNITTT!!!
As Jax strained to push forward, his muscles screamed in protest, and every breath felt like fire tearing through his lungs. He'd made it 100 meters through the unforgiving terrain, but the task was far from over. The sky above grew darker, as if to underscore the increasing tension. He could barely focus on the timer counting down, but he knew he had to keep moving. That's when he felt it—an ominous presence creeping up behind him.
Before he could react, a loud, sudden thud and the earth shaking beneath his feet signaled danger. He spun around, eyes widening just in time to see the buff humanoid rabbit launching at him with terrifying speed. Its hulking frame was a blur, its powerful legs propelling it forward, muscles flexing and rippling as it lunged.
Jax (thinking): No, not again...
He ducked low, just as the rabbit's fist whistled through the air where his head had been milliseconds before. The air crackled with the force of its punch, sending a shiver down his spine. Jax pivoted on his heels, using his momentum to spin out of the way as the rabbit's body followed through, missing its mark.
In an instant, he retaliated with a punch aimed at the creature's side, but it was fast, too fast. The rabbit's arm shot up in a blur and blocked the attack, the impact reverberating up Jax's arm, nearly knocking him off balance. The rabbit's eyes gleamed with a cruel, predatory focus as it grabbed Jax's wrist and pulled him forward, using his own weight against him.
Jax (grunting): Not this time!
He kicked out with his leg, catching the rabbit off-guard as its knees buckled, breaking the hold. The rabbit snarled, its mouth opening wide to reveal sharp, glistening teeth as it staggered back. Jax seized the moment, his body still aching, but adrenaline coursing through him, sharpening his senses. He lunged forward, bringing his fist down on the rabbit's exposed shoulder.
There was a sickening thud as his knuckles connected, and the rabbit howled in pain, its red eyes flickering with fury. The creature swiped at him with its powerful arm, claws tearing through the air. Jax dodged sideways, the claw barely grazing his arm, leaving a thin, burning line of pain. He stumbled, but quickly regained his footing, spinning to deliver a kick to the rabbit's midsection.
The force of his blow sent the creature sprawling, its back hitting a rock with a force that shook the ground. But the rabbit wasn't out; it recovered, eyes narrowed and shoulders hunched as it prepared for another attack. Jax's ribs ached with every shallow breath, but he clenched his jaw and prepared for what he knew would be the final clash.
The rabbit lunged once more, its fists raised high, muscles coiled like a predator ready to strike. With a burst of speed, Jax ducked under the swinging blow, grabbing the rabbit's arm and twisting it. The creature's eyes widened in shock before Jax drove his knee up into its chest.
The rabbit let out a guttural cry as Jax's knee collided with its chest, sending shockwaves through its massive frame. It staggered back, clutching at its torso, its breaths coming in sharp, ragged gasps. Jax didn't let up. He pressed forward, ignoring the searing pain in his side, his fists a blur of motion as he drove punch after punch into the rabbit's defenses.
For a moment, it seemed as though he had the upper hand. The creature faltered, its movements slowing, its once-predatory confidence dimming under Jax's relentless assault. But just as hope began to kindle in Jax's chest, the rabbit's eyes gleamed with a dangerous light.
With a roar, the creature surged forward, its body twisting as it lashed out with a powerful kick. Jax barely had time to react, throwing up his arms to block, but the force sent him flying back. He crashed into the ground, skidding to a halt against a jagged boulder. Pain exploded across his back as he struggled to rise, coughing and spitting dirt.
The timer in his vision continued to tick down mercilessly:
45:12. 45:11. 45:10.
Jax forced himself to his feet, his body trembling under the weight of exhaustion and injury. The rabbit was already charging again, its claws gleaming in the dim light of the simulated arena. Jax's mind raced, desperate for a strategy.
"Think, damn it!" he muttered through gritted teeth. "There has to be a way…"
The rabbit lunged, and Jax darted to the side, narrowly avoiding the swipe. He spun, his eyes scanning the terrain for anything he could use. Then he saw it—a cluster of sharp, broken rocks jutting out from the ground nearby.
As the rabbit turned to face him again, Jax baited it, staggering back toward the rocks. The creature followed, its movements feral and unrelenting. At the last second, Jax leaped over the cluster, landing on the other side. The rabbit, blinded by its rage, didn't stop in time.
The jagged rocks bit deep into its legs as it stumbled, letting out a pained roar. Jax seized the opportunity, dashing forward and delivering a spinning kick to the side of its head. The blow connected with a satisfying crack, and the rabbit crumpled to the ground.
Breathing hard, Jax took a step back, his fists still raised, waiting to see if the creature would rise again. For a few tense moments, it lay still. Then, with a shimmer of light, its body began to dissolve, breaking apart into tiny motes of energy that faded into the air.
TIME: 44: 59
TIME: 44: 58
TIME: 44: 57
Jax stood frozen, his chest heaving as he stared at the shimmering particles dissipating into the simulated arena's ambient glow. His fists clenched, ready for the rabbit to pull some last trick, but no movement came. It was gone.
The timer continued to tick down in the corner of his vision, a constant reminder that his trial wasn't over. He wiped a streak of blood from the corner of his mouth and took a deep breath, ignoring the sharp ache in his ribs.
44:55. 44:54. 44:53.
"That... was too close," he muttered to himself, his voice raw.
TO BE CONTINUED...