The next test was held in a separate building, a sleek, state-of-the-art facility with polished glass walls and holographic displays. Inside, proctors directed students into individual rooms, each sealed by heavy doors with glowing locks. The tension in the air was palpable, and even I couldn't completely ignore the knot forming in my stomach.
Eunha was led into a room across the hallway from mine. She gave me a fleeting glance calm, confident, and maddeningly self-assured. Her gaze seemed to say, Don't hold your breath, Oppa. I'm coming for you.
"Seo Seojun," a proctor called, motioning for me to follow. I took a steadying breath and stepped inside my assigned room.
The space was stark and minimalist, save for a single desk and chair in the center. As I sat down, the room dimmed, and a holographic interface sprang to life in front of me.
[Welcome to the System Utilization Test.]
[Objective: Demonstrate creative and effective use of your system to overcome challenges.]
[Time Limit: 30 Minutes.]
A timer appeared in the corner of the interface, and the first challenge materialized.
[Challenge 1: Decode this scrambled dataset to uncover critical information.]
The screen filled with a jumble of letters, numbers, and symbols encrypted text that needed to be untangled.
The Scholar System kicked into gear, analyzing patterns and highlighting likely starting points.
[Hint: Identify recurring sequences and assign placeholders to common characters.]
"Easy enough," I muttered, fingers flying across the keyboard. Within seconds, I'd isolated the key patterns and reconstructed the original message.
[Challenge Completed: +2 Intelligence Points.]
The next challenge appeared immediately.
[Challenge 2: Optimize resource allocation for a fictional space colony under threat of collapse.]
A detailed simulation loaded, displaying a sprawling colony on the edge of a dying planet. The inhabitants were running out of oxygen, food, and power, and every decision I made would either prolong their survival or hasten their doom.
I grinned. Real-world application? This was my bread and butter.
The system provided me with an overview of colony statistics, but I didn't rely solely on its analysis. Using what I remembered from my previous life, I prioritized restoring the oxygen supply while redirecting food distribution to high-value workers engineers, medics, and technicians.
The system rewarded me for efficiency.
[Hint: Utilize renewable energy sources for long-term stability.]
I initiated solar panel construction while using emergency power reserves to maintain life support systems. It was a delicate balancing act, but by the time the timer hit zero, the colony's survival score had reached 87%.
[Challenge Completed: +3 Intelligence Points, +2 Focus Points.]
The holographic interface shimmered, and a new prompt appeared.
[Challenge 3: Solve a live negotiation scenario.]
My brow furrowed. Negotiation? That wasn't exactly the Scholar System's specialty.
The simulation loaded, presenting me with two opposing factions vying for limited resources. Both sides had strong arguments, but their demands were mutually exclusive.
I hesitated. The system provided data logical compromises, and probability outcomes but none of them guaranteed success. This wasn't a simple calculation.
"Alright," I muttered, leaning forward. I used the system's insights to identify each faction's true priorities. With some carefully worded compromises, I proposed a solution that allowed both groups to save face while securing resources.
When the factions agreed, the simulation ended with a success score of 75%. Not perfect, but I'd take it.
[Challenge Completed: +1 Intelligence Point.]
The room fell silent as the holograms disappeared. My system interface displayed my results:
[System Utilization Test Results: Success Rate 88%.]
I let out a breath, satisfied.
Outside, the hallway buzzed with murmurs as students finished their tests. I caught sight of Eunha exiting her room, her expression unreadable. She noticed me and tilted her head slightly, her gaze sharp.
"How'd it go?" I asked, trying to sound casual.
She shrugged. "Good enough."
"Just 'good enough'?" I smirked. "That doesn't sound like a winning score."
Her lips quirked into a small smile. "You'll find out soon enough, Oppa."
Later that day, the results were posted. I opened my system eagerly, ready to compare.
[System Utilization Test Results: Rank #5 – Seo Seojun.]
[Rank #6 – Seo Eunha.]
Again, I was ahead, but barely. Eunha was nipping at my heels, and something about her steady progress unnerved me. She was adapting, improving just as relentless as I was.
She appeared behind me as I read the rankings, her voice cutting through my thoughts.
"Don't get too comfortable," she said lightly. "I've already figured out the weaknesses in my strategy. Next time, I won't make the same mistakes."
I turned to face her, matching her calm demeanor with my own. "And I'll keep improving. Let's see if you can keep up."
Eunha's smile didn't reach her eyes. "Oh, I'm not worried about keeping up, Oppa. I'm worried about overtaking."
The System Utilization test had been a challenge, but it also exposed the deeper implications of the Scholar System. It wasn't just about academic success it was a tool for shaping the world, for tackling problems that went far beyond the classroom.
For me, it was another step toward securing my place at the top. For Eunha, it was a reminder that the gap between us was narrowing and that she wasn't about to back down.
Zenith Academy wasn't just testing our abilities. It was shaping us for the battles ahead, and for better or worse, Eunha and I were locked in this fight together.