Andy woke up to the sound of rain tapping against his window. The room was dark, the only light coming from the glow of his monitors. He rubbed his eyes and sat up, his back still sore from the surgery. The pain was a reminder of all his hard work and why he was doing this. He couldn't afford to fail.
He swung his legs off the bed and stood up, stretching. The endoskeleton shifted with him, a subtle burst of power coursing through his body. It still felt strange, like having a second set of bones, but he was getting used to it.
He walked over to his desk, where his notes were spread out in a chaotic mess. Diagrams of Rifts, monster anatomy, mana theory—everything he'd been studying for the past few months was there. He picked up a sheet of paper and scanned it, his eyes darting over the words.
"EIL," he muttered, his voice still rough from sleep. "Run through the basics again. I don't want to miss anything."
[Of course. The Hunter Exam consists of three parts: the written test, the power measurement test, and the combat simulation. The written test will assess your knowledge of Rifts, monsters, and mana theory. Based on your current understanding, you have a 92% chance of passing.]
He nodded, but he didn't feel as confident as EIL sounded. He'd spent weeks preparing, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he was missing something. The exam wasn't just about knowledge—it was about proving he belonged. And that was something he'd never been able to do.
He grabbed a protein bar from the pile on his desk and took a bite, chewing slowly as he flipped through his notes. The rain outside was getting heavier, the sound of it almost drowning out the hum of his monitors. He glanced at the clock. He still had a few hours before he needed to leave, but he couldn't sit still. He needed to move, to do something.
"Let's test the endoskeleton one more time," he said, tossing the wrapper in the trash. "I don't want any surprises."
[Understood. Initiating diagnostic scan.]
He closed his eyes and focused on the sensation of the endoskeleton. It was like a second skin, a layer of metal and wires fused to his spine. He could feel it responding to his thoughts, adjusting to his movements. He took a deep breath and activated it, the presence of power growing louder. His muscles tensed, and he felt a surge of strength coursing through him. He flexed his hands, the metal joints clicking softly.
"Alright," he said, opening his eyes. "Let's see what this thing can really do."
He moved to the center of the room, where he'd cleared a space for training. He started with basic movements—punches, kicks, dodges. The endoskeleton amplified his strength and speed, making each movement sharper, more precise. He could feel the power in every strike, the way his body moved with almost inhuman grace.
But it wasn't perfect. There were still moments when the endoskeleton lagged, when his movements felt jerky and uncoordinated. He gritted his teeth and pushed through it, forcing himself to adapt.
After an hour, he was drenched in sweat, his muscles aching. He deactivated the endoskeleton and collapsed onto the couch, his chest heaving. He stared at the ceiling, his mind racing.
He'd come so far, but he still felt like he was playing catch-up. The Gifted had been born with power, but he'd had to build his from scratch. And even now, he wasn't sure it would be enough.
"EIL," he said, his voice quiet. "What if I fail?"
[Failure is always a possibility,] EIL replied, its tone neutral. [But the probability of success increases with preparation. You have prepared. You are ready.]
He laughed, a short, bitter sound. "Yeah, well, preparation doesn't mean much when everyone else is already ten steps ahead."
[You are not competing against them. You are competing against yourself. And you have already surpassed your own expectations.]
He didn't respond. He just lay there, staring at the ceiling, until the rain outside finally stopped.
---
The journey to the Hunter Exam Hall was a long one. He lived in the Slums, a sprawling, decaying maze of crumbling buildings and narrow alleys. The air was thick with the smell of oil, rust, and something else—something sour and unnameable. The streets were slick with rain, the puddles reflecting the glow of flickering streetlights.
His boots splashed through the water as he walked, his bag slung over his shoulder. His clothes were old and worn, patched together with whatever scraps he could find. His jacket was stained with oil and grease, the fabric frayed at the edges.
He smelled like metal and sweat, a sharp contrast to the clean, polished world of Midtown.
[Your heart rate is elevated. Are you experiencing anxiety?]
"Just thinking," he muttered, stepping around a pile of rotting food. "About how many times I've walked this path, watching the Hunters come and go. Dreaming about being one of them."
As he climbed the steep, winding streets that led out of the Slums, the air began to change. The smell of decay faded, replaced by the crisp, clean scent of rain-washed stone. The buildings grew taller, their facades smooth and unblemished.
The streets widened, the puddles replaced by neatly paved sidewalks. He kept his head down, his hands shoved deep in his pockets. He could feel the eyes of the people around him, their gazes lingering on his ragged appearance. He didn't belong here, and they made sure he knew it too.
'Tch, bastards.'
---
The Hunter Exam Hall was a massive building in the heart of Midtown, its towering spires reaching into the sky. He stood outside, staring up at it. The building was imposing, its sleek, modern design, completely different to the crumbling streets of the Slums. He adjusted the strap of his bag and took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves.
He could do this. He just had to.
He walked through the doors and into the lobby, where a crowd of candidates was already gathered. Most of them were Gifted, their mana-powered abilities on full display. One guy was levitating a few inches off the ground, his feet glowing with energy. Another was juggling fireballs, the flames dancing in his hands. Andy kept his head down and moved through the crowd, trying to ignore the stares and whispers.
"Hey, Null!" someone called out, their voice dripping with mockery. "You lost or something?"
He didn't look up. It was obvious who it was—Kael, of course its him. He'd grown taller, his hair longer, but the smug grin was the same. Andy stopped for a bit then continued walking. This was not the time for this nonsense.
"What's the matter?" Kael said, stepping in front of him. "Too good to talk to us now?"
He stopped and looked up, his eyes meeting Kael's. "I'm here to take the exam, same as you."
Kael laughed, a sharp, mocking sound. "Yeah, right. Like a Null could pass this exam. You're just wasting everyone's time. Leave before you ruin my mood."
This was obviously to bait him into getting angry but Andy simply gave him a look devoid of emotion and care. The longer Kael stared, the more nervous he got.
'What the hell, has his stare always been that scary?'
"Look, I think its about time you move on," he said, his voice calm. "We are both adults here, such childish things should be left to the kids. Anyways, see you around."
Kael's smirk faltered for a moment, but he recovered quickly. "Whatever, Null. Don't come crying to me when you fail."
Andy didn't respond. He just walked further inside without looking back.
He wiped his sweaty palms on his jeans as he walked into the registration area. 'Just act like you belong here,' he told himself. The place was nothing fancy - just a big room with a long table near the door where some guy from the Enclave sat looking like he'd rather be anywhere else.
"Great, just great," he muttered under his breath as he got in line. There were at least twenty people ahead of him, all of them probably loaded with magical talent. Meanwhile, here he was, plain old Andy the Null.
He didn't have to wait long to hear the whispers start.
"Hey, check it out," a guy in a leather jacket nudged his friend. "A Null trying to take the Hunter exam. That's hilarious."
"Maybe he got lost looking for the janitor's office," his friend replied with a snort.
Andy rolled his eyes. 'Real original, guys. Like I haven't heard that one before.'
The line inched forward slowly. He kept his head down, running through the exam details in his mind.
"Next!" the bored official called out.
Andy stepped up to the table. The guy behind it didn't even bother looking up - just kept staring at his tablet like it held the secrets of the universe.
"Name?" he droned.
"Andy." He tried to keep his voice steady.
"Last name?"
"Just Andy."
That got the official to look up, if only to give him the standard "are you kidding me?" look that Andy was all too familiar with.
"Fine. Put your hand on the scanner."
He stared at the small glowing device on the table. 'Here we go. Moment of truth.' He placed his hand on it, watching the blue light run across his palm.
The official's face twisted like he'd just bitten into a lemon. "No mana signature. Null status confirmed." He grabbed a badge and practically threw it at Andy. "You're Candidate 147. Try not to waste everyone's time."
'pfft, well that didn't work, guess the mana stone in my spine can not be detected.' He thought as he pinned the badge to his jacket.
"Thanks for the warm welcome," he muttered under his breath as he walked away.
He made his way to the big screen on the wall that showed room assignments. 'Let's see... 147... 147... There! Room 12B.'
The walk to the exam room felt like miles. His mind raced with doubts. 'What am I even doing here? Maybe they're right... maybe this is stupid.'
But then he thought about all those nights studying, all the years spent taking apart mana devices and putting them back together. 'No. Fuck that. I earned my shot at this, just like everyone else.'
Room 12B was smaller than he expected. A few other candidates were already there, some looking confident, others looking like they might throw up.
"Hey, Null boy!" someone called out as he walked in. "I think you missed the exit."
He found a seat in the back, ignoring the comment. He pulled out his lucky pencil - the same one he'd used to sketch his first gadget designs. 'Focus on what matters,' he told himself.
[So those with mana can detect those without mana?]
'Yeah, apparently those with mana give off a unique aura that can't be replicated...heh, not yet anyways.'
[Hmm, I can't wait to see your solution to this.]
The examiner who walked in looked exactly like Andy had imagined - tall, strict, probably hadn't smiled since the last ice age. She adjusted her glasses and looked around the room like she was sizing up cattle at auction.
"Welcome, candidates," she announced. Her voice could've cut through steel. "Let's be clear about what you're getting into. This isn't some school quiz. The Hunter exam tests everything you've got - brains, skills, and guts. Out there in the real world, monsters don't care about your grades or your family name. They just want to eat you."
Andy couldn't help but smile a little. 'Finally, someone talking sense.'
"Three parts to this exam," she continued. "First, we see what's in your head with this written test. Then we check your power levels." She paused, and Andy could've sworn she looked right at him. "Or whatever other... abilities you might have. Finally, you'll face our combat simulation. Pass all three, and you get your Hunter license. Fail any part, and you're out."
She checked her watch. "You've got three hours for the written test. Starting now."
The test packet landed on Andy's desk with a soft thud. He opened it and felt a grin spread across his face as he read the first question about Rift classifications.
'All those nights reading monster manuals instead of sleeping are about to pay off,' he thought, and started writing.
The mana theory section was even better. His hand flew across the paper, explaining concepts he'd learned the hard way by taking apart and rebuilding countless devices.
Then came the combat section. His confidence wavered for a moment, but he thought about all his gadgets back home.
'They want to know about combat strategies? Let me tell you about the time I took down a Shade Beast with nothing but a modified flashlight and some copper wire... they won't know its a lie anyways.'
Three hours later, he put down his pencil and flexed his cramping hand. Around him, other candidates were still scribbling frantically, but he was done.
'Not bad for a Null,' he thought, allowing himself a small smile. 'Not bad at all.'
---
After the test, the candidates were given a short break before the next part of the exam. He stepped outside, the cool air a welcome relief after the stuffy auditorium. He leaned against the wall and closed his eyes, taking a deep breath.
"Hey."
He opened his eyes and saw a girl standing in front of him. She was tall, with dark hair and sharp features. She wasn't like the other Gifted candidates—she didn't have that arrogant air about her. She looked... different.
"Number 147, right?" she said, her voice soft but confident.
'Is she serious? my number is literally on my jacket.'
"Yeah. Who's asking?"
"I'm Lina," she said, holding out her hand. "I saw you in there. You did really well."
He looked at her hand for a bit before walking away, "sorry but I don't need fake friends." She looked at him with a confused expression, she was only trying to make conversation after all.
"He is interesting, I want him."