Sir Ahmed's voice cut through the murmurs in the auditorium.
"Now, I'd like to call Principal Geo Smith to the stage for the opening ceremony speech."
As Sir Ahmed stepped aside, the Principal walked up to the podium with purposeful strides, his expression calm but commanding.
He stood tall, his caramel skin reflecting the auditorium's light, and looked out over the sea of students, pausing for a moment before beginning.
"Students," he began, his deep voice echoing in the now-silent room,
"today is more than just an examination. Today is a reminder of the strength and hope that lives within all of us, the hope that you, the next generation, will carry forward into the future."
The Principal's eyes glimmered with intensity as he spoke, his words holding the weight of someone who had seen the world at its darkest.
"The war between the Virals and humans reshaped everything. My generation saw humanity brought to its knees, cities crumbling, lives torn apart. We fought on the edge of extinction, but in that struggle, we found something precious. resilience!"
He paused, allowing the gravity of his words to sink in.
"It was a time of loss, but also a time of awakening. The war, those bloody battle, are what drove us to push beyond our limits, to rebuild, and to reclaim what was ours. You are the result of that legacy. You are the light."
His gaze softened, looking at the students not as children, but as the torchbearers of the future.
"I am proud of what humanity has become. From the brink of destruction to our last stand, we fought back, stronger than ever. Now, I see in all of you the potential to carry that strength into the future. Every word I speak today is meant to remind you: you will be the light for the generations to come."
The Principal's voice carried through the room as he concluded his speech.
"I wish you all the best of luck, students. May you rise to this challenge and show the strength that humanity has placed in you. Finally, let the Examination begin."
With a graceful wave of his hand, the room began to transform once again.
The walls of the auditorium expanded outward, the ceiling rising higher.
The space grew wider and more open, morphing into a vast training hall.
Gasps of awe escaped from the students as the room adapted around them.
Below their feet, glowing squares of light appeared, each spanning roughly five meters across.
Every student found themselves standing atop one of these squares, and with a soft hum, they were gently separated, a distance stretching between them, just enough space to summon their Data Beasts without crowding each other.
Kris glanced around, noticing how effortlessly the transformation took place.
The glowing squares felt like invisible barriers, creating individual zones for each student. Despite the crowd, the room didn't feel cramped at all, the students' positions perfectly aligned in a grid-like formation.
He stood still for a moment, taking it all in.
'That was something else, everything here look so advance.'
His attention was then drawn to the right side of the hall, where a sleek machine began to rise from the floor, emerging with a mechanical whirr.
It was sleek and metallic, gleaming under the lights, and stood about as tall as a person. Kris squinted, recognizing it from something he had read recently.
"That should be the T-12... Tonya's 12th invention," he muttered to himself, recalling the book from his research.
It was an Aura Detection machine, designed to measure the aura points of individuals and assess their connection to their Data Beast.
The advanced technology was known for its accuracy, created to help trainers understand their potential better.
As the students around him whispered and murmured, clearly impressed by the sight, Kris remained calm, studying the machine with keen interest.
'I haven't used Genesis that much, maybe I could use it to evaluate myself as well?'
...
Kris's gaze drifted upward, his attention suddenly caught by a logo at the top of the transformed auditorium.
The sleek, metallic symbol seemed oddly familiar, its intricate design stirring something deep within his memory. His brow furrowed as he tried to place it.
Before he could think further, Necho, turn around, noticed Kris staring at the emblem.
"That's the Hayao Tech Corporation logo," Necho said, his voice casual yet informative.
Kris blinked, his mind processing the information.
'Hayao Tech?'
"I didn't know my mom's company was this widespread," he muttered, his voice barely audible.
His eyes stayed fixed on the logo.
'Did Mom's company build the entire auditorium?'
The thought seemed absurd, yet undeniable.
He had always known they were wealthy—after all, they lived in a mansion nearly the size of his school.
But until now, he hadn't given much thought to where all the money came from.
Just yesterday, he'd learned that his family owned a luxurious hotel and restaurant in the city, and he'd assumed his father's side must be the wealthy one.
But now, seeing Hayao Tech's influence right here, in this massive training facility, he realized that his mother's company wasn't just some side business.
It was far bigger than he had imagined. The scope of it left him feeling unexpectedly... shocked.
His thoughts were interrupted by Sir Ahmed's voice, booming across the hall once again, pulling everyone's focus back to the task at hand.
"Students, now that the room is set, let me explain the stages of the first round and how you'll be graded," Sir Ahmed announced, his tone serious and focused.
"The first stage is Aura Proficiency," he continued.
"You'll need to summon your Data Beast using your Datavice. If you're having difficulties on summoning your beast, you'll be graded lower. Additionally, your Aura points will be measured by the T-12 machines. This process will be handled by Teacher Issa Abara and Professor Arnav Kapoor."
Kris's eyes shifted to where Teacher Issa and Professor Kapoor stood. The two instructors were positioned near the sleek machines, ready to monitor the students closely.
"The second stage," Sir Ahmed said, "is Command Proficiency. In this round, you'll command your Data Beast through an obstacle course. Your ability to direct and control your beast effectively will be tested. I will be personally overseeing this stage."
Kris's attention sharpened.
Commanding the Data Beast through an obstacle course? His training with his Data Beast would apply on this stage very well.
Sir Ahmed continued,
"Finally, the third and final stage is Attack and Defend Proficiency. You will attack a training dummy, and the points of your Data Beast's attack will be displayed. Following that, you will need to defend against an attack from the dummy. Teacher Lea and Principal Geo Smith will be in charge of this stage."
Kris glanced toward the Principal and Teacher Lea, both standing with composed expressions.
This final round seemed designed to test not only the offensive capabilities of the Data Beast but also their defensive instincts, both critical skills for any Data Trainer.
"For those who receive low grades," Sir Ahmed added,
"you will have another chance in two weeks to retake the examination. For those who pass, you will move on to the next round, which will take place next month. You'll have time to prepare and improve on any areas where you're lacking."
The hall fell silent as the weight of the challenge settled on the students.
Kris, standing on his glowing square, felt the familiar weight of anticipation building within him. The first stage was about to begin.