Alex was sweating the last number. For some reason, his mind kept nudging him toward the number seven—maybe some pattern he thought he'd picked up on. But he wasn't all that confident. So, he just went for it and hit "7"—and instantly, the screen flashed red. He let out a sigh, smirking. "Yeah, like that was ever gonna work."
His brain wouldn't quit. Thoughts were racing around. "Three chances... the test has three stages… I'm a Third-Class Hunter... I've already gotten three numbers right… there were three questions… everything here's circling back to the number three!"
It was like the whole digital setup was practically screaming "three" at him. There was no way it was just random.
With a mix of doubt and determination, he punched in "3" and stopped. His heart was pounding like this was some life-or-death moment. Each second stretched out forever, his forehead dripping with sweat, hands shaking a little from the nerves. Then, all of a sudden… the screen flashed a bright, satisfying green. He nailed it.
He'd done it.
Relief washed over him, like he'd just dropped a heavy weight he didn't even know he'd been carrying. "Holy crap, I actually did it," he whispered, a grin breaking across his face.
But right then, the screen shifted again, now flashing white. A new option appeared: "Activate Antivirus." He didn't hesitate for a second and smashed "Accept." Instantly, the data around him started to unravel.
The walls that had seemed so solid started breaking apart into streams of symbols and numbers, coming undone right before his eyes. The ground beneath him morphed into a grid of glowing, pulsing lines, everything just dissolving into code. Even the ceiling was collapsing, spiraling into beams of fading light.
As everything dissolved, a cold robotic voice echoed: "Congratulations, you've completed the test."
Relief flooded him again. Hearing that voice was like reaching the finish line after a marathon. But he wasn't exactly shocked—he knew he'd get here.
Just before everything faded, the voice added: " You will now be returned to reality. "
"Congratulations, novice hunter, Alex Müller."
Everything around him began to fade, the details of the digital world evaporating into nothing. He felt like he was drifting down, but this time he was ready. He knew he'd be back in the real world soon—and he'd actually pulled it off.
Alex slowly opened his eyes, and instantly, he felt like he hadn't moved in ages. His whole body was heavy, and every step was wobbly, like his muscles had to remember what they were supposed to do. He stepped out of the capsule, steam curling around him in a thin mist, leaving behind the virtual world where every moment had been one big stress test.
Barely able to stand, he took a few shaky steps forward. Out of nowhere, a hand holding a water bottle appeared in front of him. He looked up to see his instructor, John Smith, with a proud smile on his face. "Congrats, Alex. I watched the whole thing. You really knocked it out."
Alex grinned, taking the water bottle. "Thanks, Professor. Wasn't exactly a walk in the park, but I kinda felt… I dunno, prepared for it."
He glanced around the room, seeing rows of capsules lined up. Inside a few, other students were still in their tests, their faces calm, each one surrounded by a thin mist escaping from the capsules. The room was almost too quiet, just the faint hum of computers and the occasional automated voice announcing when someone finished.
John clapped a hand on Alex's shoulder, giving a nod of approval. "These tests aren't just about quick reactions or reflexes. They're about nerves, resilience, and confidence. And today, you had all of that. Looked like you'd been doing this for years."
Alex turned to look back at the capsule he'd just left. It wasn't just a fancy machine to him; it was a doorway to another reality, a test of his mental and physical strength. The whole thing had been exhausting, but he knew this was just the start.
"You should head over to the relaxation room," John said. "The committee'll call you in once everyone's finished. Remember, this isn't the end of the line—just the beginning."
Alex nodded, letting those words settle in. The air in the room felt cool and refreshing, so different from the constant tension inside the capsule. He took a sip of the water, feeling it hit like he'd been dehydrated for days.
As he made his way toward the door to the relaxation room, he felt a mix of nerves and excitement creeping in. Even with John's pep talk, he couldn't shake off the anticipation. Sure, this was only a test, but he knew the real stuff was still ahead. Glancing back at the students still deep in their own tests, he realized there was a long road in front of him—one packed with challenges he hadn't even begun to imagine.
When Alex walked into the relaxation room, he spotted a bunch of other students who had already finished their tests. Some were quietly chatting, others just lounging around like they'd been there for hours. But what really caught his eye was his friend Simon, completely knocked out on the couch, a little drool trickling down his chin.
Alex smirked and crept over, unable to resist messing with him. "Hey, Simon! Looks like you've got a little river flowing from your mouth there. Should I grab a boat?" he said loud enough to startle Simon awake.
Simon jolted, blinking and wiping his chin with a dazed look. "Wha—who?! What's going on?"
Alex doubled over laughing. "Dude, you were out cold! Drooling like a fountain—thought I'd need a lifejacket over here!"
Simon shot him a mock glare, trying to pull himself together. "Real funny, Alex. At least I finished my test hours ago while you were still trapped in that torture capsule."
Alex chuckled, dropping down next to him. "Fair point. It was brutal in there. Didn't expect to find you here in dreamland, though!"
Simon shrugged with a smug grin. "What can I say? Genius needs its rest!" He leaned in, suddenly serious. "But actually… remember that ability of mine I always complain about? You know, the one that lets me analyze stuff?"
Alex raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh yeah, the one you're always whining about. So, what? Did you finally figure out the mysteries of every chair and table in here?"
Simon smirked. "Turns out it's not so useless after all. During the second phase, I had to make quick decisions with barely any info. And there I was, using my ability to analyze every random detail, thinking it was pointless, but it ended up giving me just the edge I needed."
Alex gave him a light punch on the shoulder. "Guess I'll have to stop roasting you about it now."
Simon nodded, putting on a mock-serious expression. "Yep, you better! Us geniuses have a long road ahead." He laughed, adding, "Might need another nap before they drag us into the next stage, though."
Alex shook his head, grinning. "Don't worry, I'll be here to keep you from drowning in your drool river next time."
As they laughed, the room gradually started filling up with more students finishing their tests. Some came in with these huge grins, ready to brag about how they'd crushed it, while others shuffled in looking totally drained, clearly reliving every wrong step they'd made.
A loud, triumphant laugh echoed as one guy strutted in, instantly finding his friends to show off his flawless performance. In contrast, a girl slipped quietly into a corner, wiping away tears and staring off into space, her expression a mix of frustration and self-doubt.
Alex took it all in, observing each person's reaction. Simon glanced over at him and said quietly, "Everyone here went through the wringer. You can see it on their faces."
Alex nodded, feeling the weight of the atmosphere settle around them. "Yeah, it's like we just got back from a real battle. Hard to believe we actually went through all that."
As more students filed in, the noise in the hall kept growing. Every time someone new walked in, the whole room would go quiet, like everyone was trying to gauge whether they'd come back with a look of triumph or defeat.
Simon nudged him, nodding toward a friend who looked tense. "Remember that nightmare challenge back in Cynaris? I swear, I still feel it." He fiddled nervously with his fingers, his unease clear in every tiny movement.
Alex gave him a reassuring smile. "Hey, we got through the first phase. Now, it's all about learning and being ready for the next. Even if things didn't go perfectly, you came out stronger."
Simon let out a heavy sigh, slumping forward a bit. "Yeah, I get it. But there's a huge gap between what we know and what we actually feel, you know? The thought of messing up just keeps eating at you, no matter how much you try to ignore it."
"True," Alex said. "It's brutal waiting like this. But stressing won't change the outcome, right? All we can do is stay chill and wait to see how we did."
Nearby, Alex noticed a girl talking softly to her friend, her eyes red and puffy. She sounded heartbroken. "I nailed the theory, but the combat part? I was a total mess. Couldn't even react to the first hit."
Her friend squeezed her hand. "Hey, they're looking at the big picture. A lot of people struggle in one part or another. You probably did way better than you think."
Alex listened to them, feeling a mixture of empathy and that gnawing anticipation for his own results. It was weirdly comforting, knowing that everyone else was dealing with the same nerves, even if the specifics were different.
Then, names started being called out, and one by one, students headed into a side room to hear their results. Some came out grinning, looking like a thousand pounds had been lifted off their shoulders, while others looked like they'd just received the worst news of their lives.
Alex watched each face, each reaction telling its own story. He spotted Mark, who came out pale and wide-eyed, clearly shaken. Mark rubbed a sweaty hand over his hair, managing a half-hearted smile at a friend. "I blew a critical part of the test. They were right...I wasn't ready."
Just after, another girl walked out, practically glowing with satisfaction as she told her friend, "See? I told you I'd pull it off. My analysis was spot-on."
Seeing it all just made Alex's anxiety spike. He felt his mind racing with questions: What'll my results be? Will they just focus on my mistakes, or actually see what I did well? The worries were swirling, but he forced himself to stay grounded, to keep his cool… at least until he heard his name.
As they sat in strained silence, Simon leaned over and whispered, his voice barely holding back the fear, "Alex, what if my score's a disaster? What if my reaction time ruins everything?"
Alex looked at him, choosing his words carefully before deciding to just be real. "Simon, even if there were some screw-ups, that's what this test is all about. Learning from our mistakes. But let's not jump to conclusions—let's see what they say first."
Around them, the tension was almost tangible. Conversations grew louder and more urgent as more names were called, each announcement momentarily silencing the room. With each new name, it felt like everyone collectively held their breath. Alex tried to stay calm, but his pulse was relentless, each beat ramping up his anticipation by the second.
Then, suddenly, the voice echoed through the room.
"Alex Müller!"
For a second, Alex froze. Time felt like it slowed down, the weight of this moment pressing down on him. This was it—the turning point he'd been bracing himself for. Rising slowly, he glanced over at Simon, their eyes meeting in a look that said everything—a silent "good luck," a farewell before stepping into whatever awaited.