As Jake entered the room, he saw an elderly man sitting behind a desk. The stark white walls seemed to amplify his nervousness as he approached.
"Excuse me, I'm here for the test," Jake said, his voice slightly unsteady.
The man looked up, his eyes sharp despite his age. "I know, I know. I'm your test administrator." His voice was gruff but not unkind.
Jake felt a small surge of confidence. Surely an old man wouldn't make the test too difficult?
"So, what's your name, kid?" the examiner asked.
"Jake. Jake Thompson, sir!"
The old man glanced at his computer screen. "Age 33, just awakened," he muttered, then looked back at Jake with raised eyebrows. "Aren't you a little old for this?"
Jake's newfound confidence wavered, but he quickly composed himself. "It's all for Mother Earth, sir!" he declared, hoping his enthusiasm would mask his uncertainty.
The examiner's laughter filled the room. "I like you, kiddo! Name's Jay. Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too, sir," Jake replied, relaxing slightly.
Jay stood up, revealing a tall, lean frame that belied his age. "Your first test is physical. See that metal block over there?" He pointed to a gleaming cube in the corner. "Hit it with everything you've got. Any weapon is allowed."
Jake approached the block, acutely aware that he had no weapon. Taking a deep breath, he balled his fist and struck the metal with all his might. The impact sent shockwaves through his arm, but the block remained unmarred save for the faintest scratch.
Disappointment and embarrassment washed over Jake. "I can do better, sir," he said quickly.
Jay waved off his concern. "Don't worry, even I have a hard time breaking it. It's common for new hunters to barely scratch it." Despite his reassuring words, Jake noticed a flicker of dissatisfaction in the old man's eyes.
"Alright, next up is the mana test." Jay tossed a crystal towards Jake, who barely managed to catch it. "Pour as much mana as you can into it."
Jake stared at the crystal, confusion evident on his face. "Um, how exactly should I do that?"
Jay chuckled. "Just imagine you're releasing energy from your body into the crystal. Focus and let it flow."
Nodding, Jake closed his eyes and concentrated. He tried to visualize energy flowing from his hands into the crystal. Suddenly, a notification appeared before his eyes:
"Would you like to absorb the mana of the crystal?"
Jake glanced at Jay, realizing the examiner couldn't see the message. Curiosity overcame his hesitation.
"Yes," he whispered.
"Absorbing Mana," the message updated. "Successfully absorbed 180 mana."
Jake's eyes widened as he felt a surge of power course through him. His status screen flashed before his eyes:
```
Level: 4
Strength: 24
Stamina: 140
Mana: 210
Agility: 20
Remaining stats: 0
Title: None
Skills: Rock Throw (40% increased critical chance with rock weapons)
Class: None
```
Shock and confusion warred within Jake. "Did it absorb all the mana from previous test-takers?" he wondered silently. The implications were staggering.
Jay's voice cut through his thoughts. "180! Even the National Rank hunter only managed 40!"
As Jake struggled to process this information, he noticed the number 10 appear on the crystal's surface.
Jay clapped him on the shoulder. "Ha! 10 is a great score for a newbie hunter. Congratulations, you've passed!"
Jake mumbled his thanks, his mind still reeling from what had just happened.
As Jake turned to leave, the world suddenly froze. Colors drained away, leaving everything in eerie shades of gray. The air grew thick and oppressive, making it difficult to breathe. A new voice, cold and ancient, slithered into Jake's mind:
"MORTAL."
The word reverberated through Jake's entire being, filling him with an instinctive, primal fear.
"YOUR PITIFUL EXISTENCE HAS CAUGHT MY ATTENTION."
Each syllable felt like ice-cold fingers tracing down Jake's spine. He wanted to run, to hide, but his body refused to move.
"I HAVE FOUND ANOTHER, MORE WORTHY OF MY POWER. A VESSEL FAR SUPERIOR TO YOUR FEEBLE FORM."
The voice dripped with disdain, each word a hammer blow to Jake's ego.
"BUT I AM... CURIOUS. AMUSE ME, INSECT. PROVE YOUR WORTH, IF YOU DARE CLING TO THIS POWER."
A suffocating pressure bore down on Jake, as if the weight of the entire universe was trying to crush him into nothingness.
"ONE YEAR. THAT IS ALL YOU HAVE. BECOME THE STRONGEST HUNTER IN THIS PITIFUL WORLD, OR BE CAST ASIDE."
The voice faded, but its echo seemed to linger in the air. Color rushed back into the world, and time resumed its normal flow. Jake gasped, his legs giving out beneath him as he collapsed to the floor. Cold sweat drenched his body, and he trembled uncontrollably.
But as the initial terror subsided, something else stirred within Jake. A spark of defiance, of determination, began to grow. He pushed himself to his feet, his jaw set in grim resolve.
"A new vessel? Looking down on me?" he thought, his fists clenching. "I'll show you. I'll show everyone. This chance... I won't let it slip away!"