"Do you want to become stronger?"
The words hung in the air, heavy with a weight Luo Wu Chen couldn't quite grasp. He stared at the tiny, smug figure of a monkey, who floated effortlessly on a golden cloud.
"Stronger?" Luo echoed, his voice laced with doubt. "What are you talking about? Who even are you?"
The monkey yawned, scratching his head lazily. "Name's Wukong. Sun Wukong. The Great Sage, Equal to Heaven, you know? Don't tell me humans forgot me already."
Luo blinked. "Sun Wukong…? Like the monkey king?"
"Ding ding! Took you long enough," Wukong said with a smirk. "And you, kid, just became my apostle. Congrats."
"Wait, wait, wait!" Luo raised his hands, his mind reeling. "Apostle? Monkey king? What is happening right now?!"
Wukong rolled his eyes. "Look, it's simple. You found my hair and now got to become my apostle"
"Apostle??" Luo took a step back, his voice rising. "I don't have time for this! My hunter exam is today, and I can't afford to screw it up!"
Wukong chuckled. "Kid, if you survive what's coming, you won't need some dumb hunter exam."
Despite Wukong's cryptic words, Luo sprinted toward the examination hall, his heart pounding. Wukong floated beside him, munching on an ethereal peach as if this were all a casual stroll.
"Do you have to follow me?" Luo muttered.
"Of course," Wukong said. "Gotta make sure you don't do anything dumb. Besides, I'm bored. Being trapped in that hair for centuries wasn't exactly entertaining."
"Why me?" Luo groaned. "Why not someone… else?"
"Eh, fate's a weird thing." Wukong grinned. "Luck."
...
They have finally arrived at the examination hall
The hall was massive, its sleek steel walls lined with glowing runes. A crystal, about the size of a human head, pulsed gently at the center. Rows of examinees stood nervously, each waiting their turn.
Luo joined the line, his hands clammy.
"This is it," he whispered to himself. "I've worked so hard for this…"
"Relax, kid," Wukong said, lounging on his cloud. "You're acting like this is life or death."
"It is!" Luo hissed. "If I pass, I can finally live an easier life. No more struggling to pay rent, no more instant noodles every day—"
"What's wrong with noodles?" Wukong interrupted, offended. "Noodles are great! You humans don't appreciate them enough."
Luo groaned, ignoring him as the line moved forward.
When Luo finally reached the crystal, he hesitated, his hand hovering over its surface.
"You got this," Wukong said with an uncharacteristic note of seriousness.
Taking a deep breath, Luo placed his hand on the crystal.
---
The crystal started glowing red, symbols flickering across its surface. Then, without warning, it dimmed, a loud chime echoing through the room.
[Error Detected.]
The room fell silent as everyone turned to stare at Luo.
"What… just happened?" Luo whispered.
The examiner, a tall man with sharp eyes and a stern expression, approached. He studied the crystal, his brow furrowing. "This has never happened before."
"I—I didn't do anything!" Luo stammered.
The examiner tapped a few buttons on his tablet, muttering under his breath. "Strange… This anomaly is beyond the crystal's parameters."
Wukong cackled. "Anomaly? That's a fancy way of saying you're talentless, kid."
"Not helping," Luo hissed.
The examiner straightened, his gaze piercing. "Since the crystal can't evaluate you, we'll have to call the manager."
After some time an notification came saying that Luo has to attend to the exam in the old ways if he wishes to become a hunter
"Old methods?" Luo asked nervously.
"You'll fight a monster," the examiner said flatly.
"Okay I accept" said Luo nervously
In a smaller room adjacent to the main hall, Luo found himself standing on a dirt-covered arena. The examiner stood above on a platform, watching him carefully.
A metal gate creaked open, and out stepped a goblin. It was shorter than Luo but unnervingly muscular, its green skin glistening under the harsh lights. It snarled, brandishing a jagged knife.
Goblin - Level 1
Stats: 2
Speed: 1
Durability: 2
Mana: 0
"Piece of cake," Wukong said from his perch on the railing. "For me, anyway."
"Yeah, not me," Luo muttered, his hands shaking.
"Relax. This thing's dumber than it looks," Wukong said. "Just don't let it stab you."
As Luo was stepping into the arena suddenly, the system's screen appeared
before him.
[Trial of Inner Resolve: Begin.]