Candidates' reactions varied widely and were immediate: some withdrew instantly to safeguard their information, while others, more analytical, memorized everything they had on hand.
The list of the strongest was led by those who had not taken the Betsy test.
Xin Hua, ranked number one, was a woman of medium height (5'7"), with a slim build, short black hair that reached her neck, and delicate Asian features. She wore a red kung fu tunic adorned with intricate gold patterns, white, baggy kung fu pants that tapered at her ankles, and comfortable red sneakers.
"If my level is so low, it just means I need more training," she remarked solemnly, with a hint of disdain, as she began walking toward the location where she would meet her partner.
Ranked number two, Sven Wagner, was a tall man (6'5") with an athletic build, dark skin, blue eyes, and long dreadlocks combed back. He wore a snug white tank top, baggy pants that tapered at the ankles, green sneakers, and a Japanese haori with an elegant green checkered pattern.
"I'm going to have to take down number one. I hope he crosses my path so I can crush her," Sven said with determination. Without another thought or even glancing at the other participants' levels, he turned away from the group and walked off in a different direction.
"Man, I hope I don't have to face them," Nova sighed heavily. He had never expected to be ranked number three, let alone become a focal point. He wasn’t comfortable with this sort of attention or being labeled a favorite for advancing to the next round.
"Nova," Katya's voice drew his attention. "If we end up facing each other, I'll give it my all. I want you to know that," she said with a determined tone that made Nova smile.
"I would expect nothing less," he replied encouragingly. "Though I'd rather not have to fight you. Let's aim to meet at the end, both of us with the two rabbits."
They raised their fists in unison, bumped them together, and then separated, heading toward their respective locations where, according to Textex, they would find their partners and their designated rabbits.
The group of participants soon dispersed, each now bearing the weight of their assigned numbers and positions. Some moved forward with confidence, assured of their strength and abilities, while others showed signs of nervousness, acutely aware of the challenges ahead.
Textex was soon left alone in the square. "Hehe, I'd better find a good spot to watch how this all unfolds. This test is going to be a lot of fun," he chuckled, unable to conceal his excitement, hinting at a surprise in store for all the participants.
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What started as a walk for Katya soon turned into a sprint as her Nexus device began marking a bright green peephole in her field of vision.
"The gap between some of us is enormous. Based on offensive capabilities alone, only the top three have a real shot at advancing to the next test," Katya analyzed, while Othar clung to her shoulder as best he could.. The small creature had become accustomed to this routine from the previous day.
"However, considering everyone here has unlocked their Synchrony, even a low-level participant could outwit the higher-ups with the right strategy," she continued, knowing well the importance of a well-thought-out plan.
"Besides, Textex mentioned we can acquire the rabbits any way we want, including stealing them. Direct confrontation isn’t mandatory," she added with a confident smile. Katya had full faith in her strategic abilities, and with the right partner, she felt she had a strong chance, even if her adversaries were the top three on the list.
Yet, there was one factor Katya hadn't anticipated—something so glaringly obvious it made her feel somewhat careless when she saw who her phase partner would be.
As she turned into an alley, she saw Sven Wagner standing in the middle, his dreadlocks swaying.
"You're late!" he called out sternly, holding up a golden rabbit figurine about six inches tall. "Lucky you. You’ll be grouped with the strongest one here." With an air of arrogance, Sven tucked the figurine into his pants and began walking away.
Katya was uncertain whether to consider herself lucky or unlucky. Although Sven was ranked number two for a reason, his boastful demeanor made it seem almost impossible to work with him.
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At the other end of the field, preparations for the exam were underway. Xin Hua and Sophie Tanaka met at a small children's park. Sophie, with her brown skin and visibly distressed demeanor, was anxious about being paired with the highest-ranked participant.
"What if I'm not strong enough? What if I make her lose? What if she hates me?" Sophie muttered nervously, unable to start a conversation. Xin Hua maintained a calm and confident expression.
"We have the golden rabbit. I trust you know how to handle it," Xin Hua said, extending the rabbit figurine to Sophie with a reassuring smile.
"It's too much responsibility!" Sophie thought to herself, unable to voice her anxiety. She could only nod and accept the figurine, her fear silencing her.
The prospect of being attacked frightened her; she feared she would be the primary target simply because she was holding the rabbit.
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One by one, the participants met their test partners.
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Next up were the elegant Elara Fallbrook and Lars Anderson, who found a silver rabbit in a nearby coffee shop.
Lars, in his twenties, had tanned skin, a buzz cut, an athletic build, and a serious demeanor. He wore a white tracksuit, black sweatpants, and comfortable shoes.
"So, Number Six, not too bad. Want to hear how we can easily advance to the second round?" Elara said with a friendly smile, having arrived first. She sat down at the table where the rabbit statuette was placed.
"Sure," Lars replied, taking a seat.
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Away from the cafeteria, in the middle of an intersection, Lucas Muller, the pink-haired boy with a detached expression, faced off against Ethan Chang, the adult with a distinctive topknot.
A silver rabbit figurine lay between them. "Don't make me lose, old man," Lucas said flatly.
"Same here, kid," Ethan replied with a sarcastic grin, picking up the figurine. Both then set off in search of the other figurine.
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Throughout the sprawling urban landscape, the various groups met in different sectors. Unbeknownst to them, small drones resembling rabbit faces, identical to Textex's, hovered above, monitoring and recording their every move from a distance.
Textex sat on the terrace of a nearby building, operating a screen projected by his Nexus device. He controlled the drones tracking the groups using a holographic command keypad.
"Hehe, the boss wanted to spice things up this year, so I’ll make sure to deliver," he chuckled, focused on typing numerous codes. A loading screen soon reached 100%.
"Agents of Terra Nexus! Welcome to the first exclusive broadcast of this year’s agent exam in Gyokuseki City!"
Textex’s voice was broadcast as a notification to all Nexus devices on the mainland.
Hundreds of agents saw the vibrant notification on their screens, with some activating it to watch the broadcast. The figure in the rabbit mask appeared, introducing the applicants one by one according to the list.
"This year we have a promising group of aspiring agents, and as those who know me understand, I love a good main event. But... what’s a main event without bets?" His tone shifted to seriousness, reflecting his growing excitement.
"Place your bets and enjoy the show while watching the rookies in action!"
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"What, a notification?" Adan, the elite five-star agent who had encountered Nova in Luxury Underground, showed interest and pulled up the login screen to check it out. He watched the live feed of the cameras and the rabbit's presentation.
"Hahaha, what a great idea," he chuckled to himself. Looking battered, with only a pair of pants and the rest of his clothes torn. He was resting on what appeared to be a massive boulder.
"Let’s see… I’ve always had a good eye for rookies. I’ll pick one to bet on." A name on the list caught his attention, and Adan couldn’t contain his laughter, placing a hefty wager on the white-haired boy he saw running on the feed.
"Number three in his generation. Not bad at all. I was number one in mine, though," he said with a grin as the rock beneath him began to tremble.
"You still won’t give up? Fine, I’ll finish you off so I can watch my charge's test." Adan was standing on the back of a gigantic B-Synchro, approximately 20 yards high.
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"Stop running! You're an agent! Do your job!" shouted a 47-year-old man with a muscular build, gray hair, a beard, and a military haircut, dressed in a black suit. He was chasing a younger man, 29 years old, with brown hair, honey-colored eyes, black-rimmed glasses, and attire resembling a scientist's lab coat.
"I’m doing my job! I’m a researcher," the younger man called back, trying to evade the older man who was significantly taller.
"You spend all day smoking and reading comic books! Your own research group says you don’t do anything!" The gray-haired man continued to shout.
At that moment, both received Textex’s message and stopped abruptly to read it. The younger man started laughing at the rabbit-masked figure's presentation, while the older man could only shake his head in frustration, feeling surrounded by lazy and eccentric colleagues.
He used the distraction to grab the younger man and lead him away.
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"HAHAHAHAHAHA!" came a hearty laugh from a plush office on the top floor of a grand building in an unfamiliar area. "My God, this rabbit is brilliant!" exclaimed the president of Terra Nexus, while their secretary outside could only sigh in resignation.
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None of the candidates realized that a large segment of the Agent Corps was watching them from all angles. Some were in the middle of missions, others were on the move or working from their offices. In an instant, Textex had turned the event into a spectacle that delighted the entire organization.
Even four of the most powerful agents were observing, one of whom had placed a large bet for the boy running down the emergency stairs.
"The terrace seems to be the right place. I just hope my partner is someone agreeable," Nova thought, believing that chemistry would be crucial for their success in a two-on-two fight.
Though he had some experience in this kind of battle against the B-Synchro they had previously defeated, he anticipated that the dynamics might be more complex in a two-on-two scenario.
Finally, the race concluded, and Nova reached the top floor of the building, finding a golden rabbit waiting for him. It appeared he was the first to arrive, so he approached the rabbit and waited for his partner.
The sound of footsteps on the emergency stairs soon announced the arrival of his companion.
Nova greeted his partner with a friendly expression to make a good first impression. However, his demeanor quickly shifted to one of contempt, disgust, and discomfort upon recognizing who it was.
Once again, the omnipresent, all-watching fate seemed to mock him, as his partner turned out to be Angelo Bennet.
"..." Nova chose silence, maintaining his expression of dissatisfaction and avoiding eye contact with Angelo.
Angelo, for his part, was equally dismayed at the prospect of having Nova as a partner. His goal was also to become an agent, and without teamwork, things could get complicated fast.
He knew there were many skilled strategists among the applicants, and without effective teamwork, they might face elimination.
"It’s not what either of us expected, but we both want the same thing. We’re not allies; it’s purely a matter of survival," Angelo said carefully. Skilled at manipulation, he framed the situation in a way he hoped Nova would accept.
"..." Nova was at a loss for words. Angelo’s point was valid, but it felt like another betrayal.
"Dammit..." Nova clenched his fists in frustration, then felt the comforting touch of the scarf Katya had used to bandage his injured hand.
"If it’s about survival, you can count on me. I won’t let anyone attack you," Nova clarified, taking the golden rabbit and tucking it into his jacket.
"I expected nothing less," Angelo replied.
"Any ideas on how to find the silver rabbit?" he asked, more to feign interest in Nova’s opinion than out of genuine curiosity. Angelo already had a plan in mind, but he needed to gauge how to use Nova, ranked number three, to his advantage.
Nova regarded Angelo with a serious expression. "You don't mind my opinion do you, just say what you have to say, and if it's a good idea I have no problem going along with it." he said. He was wary of Angelo but preferred this direct approach over the pretense of seeking his opinion.
"It’s best to avoid unnecessary fights. We’re all after a specific rabbit. They’ll likely come to the same conclusion: they’ll reveal their figures to attract those who need the rabbit they possess. This way, they'll know that anyone who attacks them has what they’re looking for," Angelo explained.
"The problem with this strategy is that it puts those using it at a disadvantage. They become the second to act. If the initial attack is well-coordinated, even top-ranked opponents could lose their rabbits and be overwhelmed if the attackers focus on escaping," he continued.
Angelo’s strategy was clear: although it seemed effective, it inherently placed them at a disadvantage. It might be better to be among those who hide and strike first.
However, the challenge was that everyone would likely be adopting this strategy.
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"I'll tell you what’s going to happen, you idiot! If you keep announcing that we have a golden rabbit, you’ll give them time to plan an attack!" Katya's voice echoed down the street as she walked beside Sven, who held the golden rabbit aloft.
"How annoying you are... I told you, it doesn’t matter. A lion isn’t afraid of other animals," Sven replied dismissively.
"Even a lion can be overpowered by a pack of hyenas!" Katya retorted, exasperated by his arrogance.
"No animal surpasses the king," Sven declared, then took a deep breath and bellowed, "I have a golden rabbit! Anyone who wants it can come and get it! Let them all come at me!"
His shout was so loud that Katya and Othar had to cover their ears.
"Damn it... this isn’t going to work. Why couldn’t I be paired with a rational partner?" Katya thought despondently, unaware that two different groups were trailing them, concealed in the shadows of the buildings.