Kris and Cillian strolled down the corridor, the soft murmur of students filling the air around them. The hallways, lined with lockers and bustling with energy, seemed to narrow as the weight of their conversation deepened.
Cillian glanced at Kris as they walked side by side through the school corridor, his expression composed but focused.
"Young Master, there's something you need to know about the Data Beast exam. The Exam is divided into three rounds"
"Three rounds?"
Kris tilted his head, listening closely.
"The first round is today. It's called the Mastery Assessment. This round is straightforward, it's to check how well you can control your Data Beast. The teachers will evaluate your skills, making sure you understand the basics. It's mainly to gauge your potential and your eligibility to participate in the next round."
He glanced at Kris, looking at his reaction.
"Then comes the Viral Combat. In this round, you'll face your chosen Viral in the arena. It's not just a private battle; it's a bit of a spectacle. The whole school and your family and friends will be watching, so it's a chance to show off your abilities to defend and attack. So no pressure, Young Master." he added with a slight smirk, trying to keep things light.
Kris gave a small nod, processing the information.
But as they walked a few more steps, Cillian's expression shifted, his voice lowering.
"Then there's the third round," he said, his tone growing more serious.
"The Wilderness Trial. This is the one you need to be careful about."
He slowed his pace, turning to face Kris fully.
"They'll send you into a protected forest for training, but it's not as safe as it sounds. Students are left there for days, and… some don't make it back."
Cillian's eyes darkened as he spoke, memories of his own trial surfacing.
"When I was a freshman, three of my classmates didn't survive."
His gaze lingered on Kris, the weight of his words sinking in.
"So, Young Master, if you find yourself in real danger, there's a failsafe."
"Underneath your Datavice, there's a small chip. It's something your mother designed specifically for you—it's from the Hayao Tech Corporation. The moment you pull it out, it'll send your exact location to us, instantly."
He paused, making sure Kris was following on what he said. "It's more advanced than anything on the market. Once activated, we'll know exactly where you are, no matter where you're located. It's built to bypass signal disruptions, and it can even work in places where technology usually fails."
"And when that signal is triggered, we won't just send anyone. A commander-grade Data Trainer will come to rescue you. They're the highest level of Data Trainers we have. They'll come prepared for anything."
Cillian placed a hand gently on Kris's shoulder, his expression softer now but still serious. "I know you're capable, but promise me you'll be careful, Young Master. We don't want you going through anything like that again."
Kris looked up at Cillian, seeing the concern in his eyes. He gave a slow, understanding nod.
"I understand."
...
Kris slid the door open, stepping into a classroom filled with tension.
Everyone seemed on edge, nervous or outright depressed. As he walked in, he noticed Belle Carter, seated near the entrance, a pretty blonde with wavy hair that looked straight out of a movie.
They made brief eye contact, and Kris offered her a smile.
Belle turned away immediately, pretending not to care, but inside, her thoughts raced.
'Oh my gosh, did Kris just smile at me? Is Kris going to confess to me this time? What do I do?!'
Her heart was in a full-blown panic. She glanced back at him, but Kris had already moved on, heading towards his seat.
As Kris walked further in, he spotted Adam Rain and Selina Sim glaring at him, their expressions grim and accusing, as if they were ready to tear him apart.
Kris scoffed inwardly.
'These kids... I better clear up the misunderstanding soon.'
Passing by them, his eyes landed on a quiet classmate he hadn't really interacted with, his name was Jang Seonghoon.
The boy sat alone, looking withdrawn and enclosed in his own world, clearly introverted. Kris made a mental note of him.
'He reminds me of one my comrades, that feeling of helplessness'
Just then, Kris felt a gentle tug on his side. Turning his head, he saw Chansey fluttering her eyelashes at him.
"Kris, how are you? Have you adapted yet?"
Kris nodded. "Yeah, I'm doing fine, Chansey. Still adapting, but I'll get used to it soon."
Chansey smiled, recalling the day before.
She had wanted to approach Kris during lunch, but before she could, the teacher called him away.
She waited in the cafeteria, hoping to catch him, but he never came.
She even tried catching him after class, but he was too caught up in a conversation with Miguel. She didn't like Miguel, not one bit, but she couldn't deny that what Kris did yesterday had impressed her.
Still, she wasn't going to give up. This morning, she was determined to talk to him.
"No worries, Chansey," Kris said, pulling her from her thoughts. "What did you want to talk about?"
Before Chansey could respond, the door slid open, and Mr. Kwame Abara entered the room.
With a single glance at Kris, the class advisor's presence immediately commanded attention.
"Everyone, take your seats," he said in a firm, no-nonsense tone.
Kris quickly went to his seat.
"Alright, everyone, I have the list of students eligible to participate in today's Data Beast Examination," Mr. Kwame announced. The room grew more tense as the reality of the exam set in.
"After I call all your names, stand up and head to the changing rooms. Make sure to wear your training uniforms and have your Datavices ready with your Data Beasts. After changing, proceed directly to the auditorium. Sir Ahmed Batubara will be waiting to assist you all for the first round."
At the mention of the first round, several students fidgeted in their seats, a palpable anxiety hanging in the air.
Mr. Kwame began calling names. "Adam Rain… Selina Sim… Belle Carter…"
Hearing her name brought a sigh of relief, but as Belle glanced back at Kris, hoping to see him smile for her again, she felt a pang of disappointment. Kris was talking with other people and was in fact not looking at her.
'He didn't even look at me. Hmph! As if I care if your name gets called!'
But then regret crept in.
'Why did I say that? I really hope his name gets called next... I want to be placed together with Kris.'
The thought of being placed together filled her with happiness, a warm glow spreading through her at the imagined possibility.
Mr. Kwame continued, "Chansey Pham… Necho Rivera… Thursday O'Reilly…"
"Hell yeah!" an excited shout erupted from Thursday, cutting through the tense atmosphere.
Everyone turned to look at him, their expressions a mix of annoyance and envy since they were still waiting for their names to be called.
Embarrassed, Thursday sank back into his seat and turned to Kris and Necho. "Mate, I knew I would pass! I was confident!" He pounded his chest with pride.
"Yeah, sure," Necho replied, rolling his eyes.
Kris chuckled softly, then shifted his attention back to Mr. Kwame, who had paused momentarily due to the distraction.
After a brief moment, Mr. Kwame continued.
"Lastly, Kris Blazewood."