That evening, Lucas reached out to Emily, Jeff, and Jack, suggesting they get some practice in before the National College Entrance Exam. "This is our chance to sharpen our combat skills!" Lucas declared. The others eagerly agreed; after all, getting guided by a skilled player was a rare opportunity.
Jeff offered to cover the cost of equipment and supplies, even bringing along a magic-powered gun set from home for a bit of "extra firepower." Though magical weapons wouldn't be allowed in the exam, he was excited to test it out in training.
---
Early the next morning, the doorbell rang, waking Lucas. "They're really on it," he muttered as he opened the door to find Emily, Jeff, and Jack ready to go.
As soon as he was in, Jeff shouted, "Lucas, guess what the exam task is? It's epic!"
"Task? What task?" Lucas replied, clearly out of the loop after spending so much time leveling up.
Jack chuckled. "Told ya! Lucas has been too wrapped up in gaming to care about the exam!"
"Lucas has got the skills to back it up, unlike us," Jack teased.
Smiling sheepishly, Jeff explained, "The exam's all about taking down Gloomy Forest's cat monsters! The more you get, the better your ranking!" He shook a bag of bullets, eyes gleaming with excitement.
Emily added, "Everyone's headed to Gloomy Forest to practice. If we don't go, we'll fall behind."
Jack nodded. "Yeah, the Forest is no joke. People say those cat monsters are tearing everyone up."
After a moment's thought, Lucas agreed. "Alright, Gloomy Forest it is. I've been meaning to check it out anyway."
Jeff cheered, patting Lucas on the shoulder. "About time you joined us outside! I even brought my fancy ride just for you!"
Lucas followed them outside to find a shiny "Lamborgar" parked there, looking impressively sleek and modern.
"Pretty sweet, right?" Jeff asked, beaming with pride.
"It's nice," Lucas replied, secretly envying Jeff's lifestyle.
Jeff sighed. "Figures you wouldn't get it." He waved them into the car.
---
On the ride over, Lucas took out his phone to keep leveling up his character while listening to his friends chat about Gloomy Forest.
The upcoming exam had turned Gloomy Forest into a hotspot, with students focused on the cat monsters known for their speed and ability to ambush. Jeff was already worrying about them. "Good thing I stocked up on bullets; those cats are lightning-fast! Fire Blast might not work too well, Lucas. Maybe try that arrow skill?"
"This is a team challenge, right?" Lucas asked, realizing the exam score might depend on their group's overall performance.
Jack nodded. "Exactly. This year, they're scoring teams based on teamwork. Problem is, it might tempt some to pay for strong teammates."
Lucas gave his friends a curious look. "You mean like you guys?"
Caught off guard, Jeff cleared his throat but didn't deny it. With Lucas on their side, they definitely felt more confident.
Emily chimed in, "They're also structuring the exam this way because we're getting competition from transfer students from the big cities. They're here to snag the exam spots."
Lucas frowned. "Transfers? They're allowed to compete for spots here?"
Emily nodded. "Yeah, it's a loophole in the federal education policy. Big cities only get a limited number of top university spots, so when they can't compete there, they transfer to smaller towns like ours. That shrinks our odds of getting in."
"That's low," Lucas said, shaking his head. "They have all those resources, and now they're crowding us out too?"
Jeff scoffed, clearly annoyed. "All about connections! They just need to switch addresses and then transfer back after college. This happens to every small town around us."
Lucas sighed. "Big fish always eat the small fish."
As they discussed, Jeff pulled up to the entrance to Gloomy Forest.
---
The Gloomy Forest entrance was on the city outskirts, not too far from town. Lucas noticed guards stationed nearby and groups of students gathering around. With the exam nearing, access to Gloomy Forest had been expanded, creating a buzzing atmosphere.
Emily whispered, "It's not just us here. Watch out for those out-of-town transfers; they're serious competition."
Lucas glanced around, noting the energy and preparedness of his fellow students, who looked eager and ready. Taking a deep breath, Lucas readied himself to dive into Gloomy Forest.