The confrontations between the aspiring agents were nearing their conclusion. Each remaining group managed to secure their statuette after overcoming a challenge suited to their current skill level.
Lucas Muller, the slender boy with pink hair, stared at his hand as his opponent lay defeated on the floor. "Was that synchrony?" he asked his teammate, who was rifling through the other fallen competitor’s clothes.
"It seems we awakened this strange aura during the fight," replied Ethan Chang, pulling the statuette they needed from Number 13's jacket.
"Maybe that was the real purpose of the test—to put us in different battles and force us to unlock the Synchro Aura mid-combat," the bespectacled man speculated as he stood and stretched.
Both victors’ clothes bore clear signs of an intense battle, but as soon as they won, their devices displayed the mark of the next zone.
"Haha, I think I'm going to like being an agent," Lucas grinned, clenching his fist before walking away with Ethan.
Lucas Muller #10 on the list and Ethan Chang #16 moved on to the next phase.
..........................................................
Meanwhile, in another part of the testing sector, a different group had just secured their qualification by defeating their opponents.
A towering man, 6'3", stood over one of his fallen adversaries, a friendly expression on his face. His disheveled hair and large frame contrasted with his casual attire: a yellow jacket, blue jeans, and sneakers.
His teammate, a small woman, was finishing off her opponent.
"Megaton Punch!" shouted a 4'9" woman with sky-blue hair, delivering a fierce blow to her opponent’s stomach. The force sent him flying backward, and the statuette he was holding clattered to the ground.
"Haha, this aura is incredible! I feel unstoppable!" she exclaimed, throwing a series of punches and kicks into the air. "Did you see that? I’m on fireeeeee!"
She was dressed in a bear-themed hoodie with pink ears on the hood, a short black skirt, and long tights that matched her hair, along with sneakers in the same shade.
"You did great, Bianchi," the man said with a thumbs-up as he got up from his opponent.
With the statuette in hand, their next destination was the meeting point for the next round.
João Santos #11 on the list and Chiara Bianchi #12 advanced to the next phase.
..........................................................
The last group to secure a statuette was led by a man with waist-length blond hair, who had just single-handedly defeated both of his opponents. He wore a red shirt, tight white pants, leather shoes, and several gold chains around his neck.
"Pathetic... Rats like you, who couldn't even awaken your auras, think you can become agents?" he sneered, pressing his leather shoe against the face of one of the fallen opponents.
The agonized expression on the defeated aspirant's face highlighted the blond man’s lack of mercy. "Less than trash..." he muttered with disgust before spitting on his opponent.
"Too bad I didn't face someone who had already awakened their synchrony before this exam. It would've been more interesting," he said, his voice tinged with regret.
"Hey, parasite. Take the statuette and lead the way," he ordered his teammate, a small, dark-haired young man dressed in a school uniform, who trembled after witnessing the scene.
"Y-yes, sir..." the student stammered as he approached the wounded man and retrieved the statuette from his clothes.
Bellamy Taric #8 on the list and Frank Bettle #22 advanced to the next phase.
..........................................................
"Awesome, what a group of rookies we have this year, don't you think?"
Textex’s voice echoed through the broadcast on the observers' screens.
"I hope your favorites made it to the next round! ... Personally, my bets didn’t go so well. I thought Ahmed Al-Farsi had a shot... Damn, it cost me some good money..."
For a moment, Textex seemed genuinely downcast, but he quickly remembered he was still on air and snapped back to his usual upbeat tone.
"Anyway, here’s the list of groups moving on to the next phase of the Agent Exam! They’re ranked, so I hope your bets fared better than mine!"
⌠Group 1 -
# 1 - Level 8 - Xin Hua Pin 63 and # 25 - Level 1 - Sophie Tanaka Pin 44
----------------------------------------
Group 2 -
# 28 - Level 1 - John Williams Pin 31 and # 31 - Level 0 - Brennan Deville Pin 110
Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.
----------------------------------------
Group 3 -
# 3 - Level 6 - Nova Hawk Pin 112 and # 18 - Level 2 - Angelo Bennet Pin 1
----------------------------------------
Group 4 -
# 6 - Level 5 - Lars Andersen Pin 29 and # 17 - Level 2 - Elara Fallbrook Pin 4
----------------------------------------
Group 5 -
# 2 - Level 7 - Sven Wagner Pin 88 and # 7 - Level 4 - Katya Ivanova Pin 111
----------------------------------------
Group 6 –
# 10 - Level 3 - Lucas Muller Pin 41 and # 16 - Level 2 - Ethan Chang Pin 71
----------------------------------------
Group 7 -
# 11 - Level 3 - João Santos Pin 102 and # 12 - Level 3 Chiara Bianchi Pin 81
----------------------------------------
Group 8 -
# 8 - Level 4 - Bellamy Taric Pin 23 and # 22 - Level 1 - Frank Bettle Pin 11⌡
The results flashed on the screen, prompting some to cheer while others sighed in disappointment, depending on how their bets turned out.
"But don't be discouraged!"
Textex chimed in, his voice brimming with energy.
"If your bet didn’t pay off, let me tell you—there’s still more to come! That’s right, by order from above, we’ll be broadcasting the third test! We’re here to stay!"
He paused for breath, momentarily choking on his own excitement.
"You’ve still got a chance to win some cash in the next round! So don’t miss tomorrow's third test of the Agent Exam!"
⌠Transmission completed...
₍ᐢ. ̫ .ᐢ₎ We'll be back soon...₍ᐢ. ̫ .ᐢ₎⌡
..........................................................
Ryota’s eyes snapped open as he felt himself being carried, his red hair brushing the shoulders of the person helping him. "Huh?" he muttered, then realized Ahmed was the one with him on his back.
"We didn’t make it?" Ryota asked bitterly, wincing at the pain coursing.
"No, we lost. But it was a good fight!" Ahmed replied cheerfully.
"Maybe for you. That gorilla’s punch knocked me out cold. Even now, I’d collapse if I tried to stand," Ryota grumbled in frustration.
"He attacked you without mercy, using his synchro aura. You should be grateful you’re still alive," Ahmed responded. "If you’d been able to fight longer, you might have awakened your aura during the battle."
"My aura? Shouldn’t we have all awakened our synchro by now?" Ryota asked, clearly irritated and confused.
"Betsy’s power only unlocked the aura in those who were compatible. It's up to each person to nurture and master it," Ahmed explained as they continued down the street toward the TN building.
"My master always says that falling isn't the end; it’s just a step toward success. Next year, we’ll both be stronger."
Ahmed’s words eased Ryota’s frustration. His thoughts drifted to a little girl with red hair like his. "Yes, no matter what... I have to succeed."
..........................................................
The TN device guided each participant who had won two statuettes to the Natural History Museum in Gyokuseki City.
This magnificent five-story building, designed in oriental architectural style, reflected the cultural essence of the city. The teams gathered in the museum’s lobby, which was closed to the public and completely empty.
The lobby was adorned with lacquered wooden walls, decorated with intricate carvings of animals and lotus flowers. Large glass windows framed by wooden grilles allowed natural light to flood the space. At the center stood a 20-foot-wide fountain resembling a pond, where koi fish swam among floating lilies. Water cascaded from a massive Chinese dragon statue in the middle. Carved wooden benches, covered with red and gold cushions, circled the fountain.
The polished stone floor, supported by ornate columns, and the exposed wooden beams overhead added a touch of elegance. A sleek white marble reception desk completed the sophisticated scene.
The first to arrive were Xin Hua and Sophie, who quietly took a seat near the fountain. Sophie’s expression made it clear she wanted to talk, but her respect for Xin Hua kept her silent.
Soon after, the two luckiest competitors, John Williams (pin 31) and Brennan Deville (pin 110), entered. John, at 5’5", was a small man with short black hair, a neatly trimmed beard, and a tailored suit. Brennan, in contrast, stood at 6’2", his athletic build evident beneath his well-fitted suit. His short, slightly tousled red hair added to his commanding presence.
After briefly eyeing Xin Hua, they chose to sit at the opposite end of the lobby, preferring to keep their distance, fully aware of her abilities.
Next to arrive was Angelo Bennet, leaning casually against one of the walls with his signature smile.
Lars and Elara soon followed. Elara, with her innocent demeanor, approached Angelo, while Lars took a seat on one of the benches by the fountain.
"Thank you!" Elara exclaimed cheerfully as she stood before Angelo.
"A deal’s a deal," Angelo replied, his friendly smile never wavering, though a hint of suspicion lingered in his gaze. "Though I can’t help but feel you shifted the odds to use me."
"Of course not. I’d never do that," Elara answered, her naïve smile concealing, one that perhaps concealed her own thoughts.
After their brief exchange, Elara wandered through the spacious lobby, admiring the art and decor.
As she did, another group entered: Katya, Othar, and Sven. The signs of battle were evident on the two humans, especially Sven, whose green haori was torn to shreds.
"Thank goodness the group stage is over," Sven sighed, recalling Katya’s scolding after nearly causing her to miss the exam. "I never want to hear your shrill voice again."
"Ahhh!!! The one who's glad we're not working together again is me! You muscle-headed idiot!" Katya shouted, irritated, as Sven ignored her and lay down by the fountain’s edge.
"Moron..." she muttered, glancing around in search of her friend. Unfortunately, she couldn’t spot Nova, so she sighed and sat on an empty bench. "Hasn't he made it yet?" she wondered.
More groups trickled in one by one. Ethan Chang and Lucas Muller arrived quietly, taking seats without drawing attention. Lucas pulled out a device resembling a cell phone, a small holographic screen popping up as he started browsing.
Next through the doors were João Santos and Chiara Bianchi. João’s towering height caught some off guard, while others were more intrigued by the petite Bianchi, who wandered over to the fountain, watching the koi fish with fascination.
The last arrivals were Bellamy and Frank. Bellamy leaned casually against a wall, while Frank seemed visibly relieved to no longer be in the blond man’s company.
"Did Nova really not make it?" Katya’s worry deepened as she scanned the room, not spotting her friend. Doubts crept in “Had he failed the test? Maybe he ran into someone stronger..." The thought unnerved her, and Othar, the small animal on her shoulder, noticed her distress. Gently, he nuzzled her cheek in a comforting gesture. Katya smiled softly and petted him in return.
Just then, the door opened, and Nova walked in.
His delay was due to a stop at a laundromat to wash his clothes. Fortunately, the machines in this world were so advanced that they dried clothes in seconds, and since the entire combat sector was closed, he hadn’t even needed to pay.
Katya’s face lit up, and she stood, approaching Nova with a playful punch to his arm. "What took you so long?" she asked, feigning annoyance just to tease him.
"Haha, my clothes smelled awful, so I had to hit the laundromat," he replied, smiling at his companion. "But I’m glad you made it through. Who was your group partner?"
Katya’s expression shifted, a mix of discomfort and bad memories. "I’d rather not talk about it..." she said flatly, before asking Nova the same.
"And yours?" she inquired.
Nova’s face mirrored her unease as Angelo’s grinning face flashed in his mind. "Same here..."
"Looks like they're all here."
A serene voice echoed through the space, startling everyone except Sven, who had dozed off by the fountain.
Everyone's attention was immediately drawn to a figure that hadn’t been there moments before, standing atop the dragon statue in the center of the fountain.
"What? When did he get up there?" John Williams muttered, clearly taken aback.
Perched on the fountain stood a young man, appearing around 16 years old, with snow-white hair that darkened to deep blue at the tips. He wore a blue haori adorned with intricate snowflake embroidery, paired with a black hakama that flowed down to his feet. His footwear, a modern take on traditional wooden geta, added to his striking presence.
When the young man opened his eyes, he revealed stunning aquamarine irises, though his expression remained completely emotionless.
"My name is Saito Yukimura,"
He spoke, his voice calm and steady.
"I am the TN agent overseeing your second test."