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7 chapters to the system
Don't forget to add to library
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"Welcome, students!"
A booming voice filled the auditorium as the lights dimmed, leaving only a single spotlight focused on a man standing center stage. His stance was relaxed, but his presence commanded attention. "I am Pith, and I'm here to congratulate you all. You have been selected to officially partake in the entrance exam for an organization known as Infinitum Set, or simply, IS."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd. Pith's voice cut through again, calm and composed, yet authoritative. "Infinitum Set is an elite organization, training the top students and military professionals from around the world."
Without pausing, Pith's gaze swept across the room. "I'll leave the rest to Kisame."
The spotlight flickered off, leaving the auditorium briefly in darkness. A new light suddenly illuminated the far side of the room, casting a beam on a man who slowly walked toward the stage. He was striking—dressed in a sharp three-piece suit, a holster resting at his waist with two guns visible. To Tatsuya, this man radiated a sense of cool confidence.
The man reached the podium and spoke, "Hello, kids. I'm Kisame Morane, president of the alumni of Infinitum Set."
The room buzzed with murmurs again, but Kisame's strong voice broke through. "This organization is not just for training students, but for shaping the best military officers from nations worldwide. You all were sent here to see if you're fit to enroll. And don't worry about fees—they've already been covered by your governments."
Tatsuya's heart pounded. The mention of governments always left a bitter taste in his mouth. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, considering leaving, but he decided to stay and wait for the orientation to end.
Kisame, sensing the tension in the audience, waited for the information to sink in before continuing. His tone grew more casual, though his words carried weight. "Now, I know some of you might be thinking about dropping out. Feel free to do so. The government doesn't like to force important jobs and roles on people. Many of you must've already known the purpose of these visits from the beginning, and many were recommended by talent spotters or high-ranking individuals. But before you decide, know this—anyone who returns home will have their memories of this place erased."
Tatsuya's eyes narrowed, and his gaze grew cold. 'Memory erasure?' he thought. If they could erase memories, they could certainly search them as well. This wasn't just an invitation—it was coercion.
Kisame's voice pulled Tatsuya back from his thoughts. "Look under your seats. You'll find two items: a bottle of liquid and a helmet."
The students rustled in their chairs, pulling out the items Kisame had mentioned.
"You'll need to drink the liquid and put on the helmet," Kisame instructed. The crowd followed his words, some hesitant, others eager.
Once the helmets were securely on, Kisame continued. "Now, I need you to say 'Duton, appear,' and stretch out your hand."
The students followed the command. Before them, weapons materialized out of thin air. For some, it was swords, for others, spears, or bows. The assortment was vast—each student's weapon suited them in some unique way.
"Many of you might not be familiar with dutons," Kisame continued, "These are the weapons that the elites of the forces around the world possess. They need high mental capacity to exist and even higher body energy levels to materialize. This technology was introduced to us by Country J about two decades ago."
But when Tatsuya stretched out his hand, there was no grand weapon awaiting him. Instead, a small shield formed, barely covering the length between his wrist to elbow. It was light, durable, and flexible—practical, but not impressive. Yet, Tatsuya remained quiet, as if this result was irrelevant to him.
Kisame's voice boomed again. "Now, look to the person who shares your chair number. That's your opponent. You need to defeat them with or without using your weapon and retrieve the chip inside their helmet. You have three minutes. If neither of you wins, both of you fail."
"Those who planned to leave already can head to the door on the right. Our staff is waiting there for the departure pre-procedures."
A few participants immediately rose and left.
"Those without partners, please find them in 20 seconds or you fail."
The room fell into tense silence as about ten participants shuffled about, searching for their partners.
"Now... BEGIN!" Kisame's command echoed through the auditorium as the battle began.
Tatsuya stood still, contemplating his next move. He was interrupted by a voice behind him.
"Hey, want to give up?"
Tatsuya turned his head and saw Sinon, standing confidently with a broadsword in hand. She seemed certain of her victory, pointing mockingly at his small shield.
Laughter and sneers rippled through the room. It was clear many found Tatsuya's weapon underwhelming, and Sinon was eager to capitalize on it.
Kisame, watching the interaction with interest, shouted, "You can consider giving up if your duton turns out to be too weak. A week's worth of memories is not worth dying or getting injured for. You may hand over your chip and leave if you are unable to fight."
This reignited the sneers from other participants, though Tatsuya remained unfazed. He quietly studied his shield, his expression unreadable.
But Sinon's patience was wearing thin. Her confident smirk grew cold as she waited for Tatsuya to submit. Seconds passed, and it was clear she was growing more impatient.
Tatsuya finally moved. He reached up and removed his helmet, glancing around the room. The dutons of other students disappeared, but Tatsuya's attention returned to Sinon. A small, knowing smile formed on his lips. He looked at her calmly, as if waiting for something.
Sinon, misunderstanding the gesture, believed he was ready to give up. Her smirk widened as she prepared herself to accept victory without a fight. Her hand hovered near her own helmet, ready to retrieve his chip, as if it were only a matter of time.
But Tatsuya didn't move to surrender. Instead, he calmly put his helmet back on, still silent, still patient. His stance shifted, but not into one of desperation or defence—it was confident, expectant, almost as if he was giving her the chance to make the next move.
For a brief moment, Sinon hesitated, her earlier confidence shaken by his composure. The thought flickered in her mind: Was he waiting for her to hand over the chip herself? The idea was absurd, but the way he stood there, resolute and unbothered, made it seem almost plausible.
The smile on her face faltered, replaced by something colder. Gripping her broadsword tighter, she narrowed her eyes, frustrated by the unnerving shift in the balance of control.
"Do you seriously want to die?" she asked, her voice low and threatening, cutting through the tension like a blade.
But Tatsuya's gaze remained steady. He didn't flinch, didn't react, as if he hadn't heard her at all. It was as though he had expected her to ask—expected her to be the one to break.