The wind whipped through her hair as she ran, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Her eyes scanned the ground frantically, searching for something—anything—that could help. Her mind raced, but she couldn't focus. Her feet pressed against the dirt and gravel, and her body ached with the effort.
The robot was gaining on her, its metallic footsteps like a relentless drumbeat in the silence of the arena. She had to find it, had to find the one thing that could give her a fighting chance. But nothing. The terrain was empty, barren, with no sign of what she needed.
Her heart pounded, panic creeping in. She couldn't fail, not here, not now.
And then she heard it—the unmistakable sound of someone running toward her.
--pov change to girl--
I was still running, desperately searching for something—anything—that could help me defend myself. The robot's massive form loomed behind me, its heavy footsteps thundering closer. I couldn't find anything, and panic started to rise.
Then, I saw him.
He came charging toward me, calm and unhurried. Time seemed to slow as he leapt into the air, effortlessly dodging the robot's incoming punch. His left hand adjusted his position mid-air, and with a smooth slide, he used the robot's arm as slide. His body moved with fluid grace, as if gravity had no hold over him.
I was frozen, watching in awe. His expression was unbothered, almost playful. And as he slid along the robot's arm, he blew a flying kiss toward its glowing eye.
Everything slowed down. It was like a scene out of a fairytale. He was like a knight in shining armor, swooping in to save me, just like the stories I'd heard as a child by friend. A hero rescuing the helpless princess.
As he reached the robot, he spoke with a calm voice, "There's a button on the back of the robot. Press it, and it'll deactivate."
I barely had time to process his words before the robot suddenly stopped moving, deactivating with a soft mechanical whirr. It fell still, like a puppet with its strings cut.
I turned to thank him, but by the time I did, he was already gone. I hadn't seen him click the button, but somehow, the robot was no longer a threat. It was like magic.
He really was my knight in shining armor.
--pov change Renji--
As I watched the robot deactivate, a small, confident smirk appeared on my face. The job was done, and Yui was still trying to process what happened. But I wasn't bothered by it—I'd handled it, and that was all that mattered.
"Take that, Nezu. You think you're the one who's smart?" I thought with a quiet chuckle. All I need to do is stay cool. Look at me, making it look easy, while everyone else scrambles. They'll all be watching me now. I don't even need to break a sweat, just keep this cool front, and I'll be the one they all talk about.
I gave Yui a casual glance, as if nothing extraordinary had happened, and then looked around at the others. My calm demeanor, my ease in the chaos—yeah, that was the real victory. I wasn't just winning the exam; I was winning the show.
I couldn't help but run the numbers in my head. With the three points from deactivating that robot, that brought me up to 49. It wasn't a bad score, not at all. 46 points, plus 3—yeah, that's solid progress.
Sigh~
"Why is it so tough when i didn't even do anything " shaking his head he said, "I can feel you aizen how it is to be under watch when didn't even do a thing"
It had been harder than I thought, though, especially with Nezu watching from above. I couldn't just focus on my own score; I had to play the part of a hero. Helping others, offering them a way out when they were in trouble, trying to maintain some form of heroic integrity—it was the right thing to do, but it wasn't always easy. Nezu had a way of making you second-guess your every move, knowing he was always analyzing you. But even if the score is not at perfect, I still managed to pull through. A few points here and there for helping people—it was about the heroism, not the showy stuff. But, still... a little less pressure would've been nice.
'Alteast It will be easier now that I have adapted
And got the feels of nezu'
I took a quick glance at the sky, the air buzzing with tension. Any minute now, the big Zero robot would make its entrance. I wasn't worried though. In fact, I was almost looking forward to it. That giant target was bound to draw attention, and it'd make racking up a few more points pretty easy.
49 points and counting, I thought with a small chuckle. It's almost time to finish this show, and I've got the perfect seat for the finale.
Then, something shifted.
I felt no immediate danger—technically, I was outside the destruction zone. But Apex told me otherwise. A deep, instinctual awareness settled in, a pressure in the air that sent a chill down my spine. I wasn't the target. But I could feel the overwhelming threat creeping closer, like a storm gathering on the horizon.
I felt it before I saw it. That creeping, suffocating presence of something overwhelming.
"DANGER! EVERYONE MOVE!" I shouted, my voice cutting through the chaos.
The students I had helped before didn't hesitate—they moved the moment I did, instinctively following my lead. The ground trembled beneath us, a deep, ominous rumble vibrating through the air.
I heard multiple gasps of fear, but my focus locked onto one—Yui.
She had tripped, her eyes widening as she turned, frozen in place. The rumbling grew louder, the ground shaking beneath us. Others were scrambling away, but she was directly in its path.
The massive shadow overcast her, blocking out the light. There was no time to think—only to act.
Renji moved swiftly, helping others escape while keeping a watchful eye on Yui. He prioritized efficiency, making sure the students got away safely—but he kept her for last.
The massive zero-pointer loomed over her, its colossal arm rising, casting an even darker shadow. Yui barely had time to react as the metal hand came crashing down.( Had plenty but due to her ptsd )
At the last possible second, Renji lunged forward, scooping her up effortlessly. "Keep you eyes close," he ordered, his voice steady despite the chaos.
Without hesitation, he carried her outside the danger zone, the impact of the robot's missed strike shaking the ground behind them.
As Renji set Yui down, he noticed the fear in her eyes—and in the faces of the other students around him. The ground still trembled from the zero-pointer's strike, dust swirling in the air.
"Wake up to reality," he said to Yui, his voice calm but firm. He ignored the subtle signs of shock settling into her—her trembling hands, the distant look in her eyes. She kept her head down, gripping her arms tightly, but he didn't acknowledge it. There was no time for that.
But then, Yui looked up at him—her eyes wide, not just with fear but with something else. Shock. Recognition. Like she had just realized something about him.
"I thought this exam was for kids, but they almost killed me…" he muttered under his breath, catching his own shaken breath.
Then a thought crept into his mind, a rare moment of unease. I should not mess with Nezu.