The group that had battled the ice mantis was soon reunited.

Each member bore marks of the intense fight—cuts and bruises scattered across their bodies, their clothes torn in several places. Despite their pain and exhaustion, they remained standing, resilient enough to continue.

"Interesting. It looks like we've all leveled up from the fight," Ethan remarked, scrutinizing the screen before him. As he explored the options, he discovered he could now access his stats profile by selecting the appropriate option.

⌠User Profile:

Name: Ethan Chang.

Race: Human.

Biological Age: 25 Años.

Category: Unknown.

Synchro percentage: 5% Synchro - Disabled.

Classification: 0 Stars.

Level: 3

Synchro ability: Unawakened.

Physical Status: Damaged.

STATS:

STR: 5

AGI: 5

CON: 5

PSA: 0⌡

"Low numbers, huh?" Lucas teased, peering over Ethan’s shoulder at the screen.

"Yours aren’t much better," Ethan retorted, annoyed by the pink-haired boy’s remark, shooting him a challenging glare.

"Guys, arguing about this isn’t helpful; your stats are still lower than Katya’s," Sophie interjected, trying to defuse the situation.

Both men turned to her with scowls, startling her into a small scream of fear before she quickly hid behind Katya.

"You shouldn’t say anything! You almost got us all killed!" Lucas snapped angrily.

Katya, who had been examining the new options on the TN device's interface, sighed in response.

"Lucas is right. Sophie, what you did was quite reckless," Katya said, her disapproval evident.

"Quiquiquiqui..." Othar mimicked his owner's gesture with a hint of disappointment, shaking his head in a mockingly resigned manner.

"You’re a chea—" Sophie started to yell at the animal, but she was interrupted for Katya's voice.

"Nonetheless, your help was crucial in defeating the Mantis. We owe you, so thank you," Katya said with a warm smile. Her gesture surprised the brown-skinned young woman.

"Thanks... but next time, try not to almost kill us," Lucas grumbled, turning his face away but clearly agreeing with Katya’s sentiment.

Ethan sighed, letting go of his irritation. He looked at Sophie with a more appreciative expression. She deserved at least that for her help.

Seeing everyone’s reaction, Sophie’s eyes brightened, and tears began to trickle down her cheeks. She quickly lowered her head to wipe them away, prompting concern from the others.

However, their worry dissipated when she lifted her face, now beaming with joy.

"Humm! You're welcome," Sophie said with great enthusiasm.

The group fell silent, giving Sophie a moment to relish the recognition she had clearly appreciated. For a few seconds, they enjoyed a quiet pause, allowing her to savor the moment.

"Anyway, the test continues. We need to leave before another ice monster finds us," Ethan reminded them, bringing their focus back to their situation. Although they had defeated the first monster, there was still time before the test concluded.

“The way out is blocked,” Katya observed, her eyes scanning the surroundings. “It’s impassable even with the Synchro Aura. We should find another route to reach the second floor.”

As she spoke, her gaze searched the area for any possible solutions.

The light from the TN device illuminated their path, and the group navigated through the debris and relics, searching for an alternative exit.

“Hey!” Lucas called out, catching their attention. “There’s an air duct over there. Maybe we can climb it.” He pointed to a large metal duct above the basement wall, which appeared to lead to the floor above.

"That’s a brilliant idea, Lucas!" Sophie said, standing too close to him and invading his personal space.

Lucas, startled by her proximity, turned away with visible irritation. "Well, whether they want to go or not, it doesn’t matter," he said, his nervousness evident, as he headed toward the duct.

Sophie looked puzzled; despite her earlier fear, the praise she received had shifted her perception of her companions. She now viewed them as valued allies. “Did I say something wrong?” she asked Ethan and Katya.

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

Ethan and Katya exchanged glances and forced smiles, understanding Lucas’s tendency to be aloof. Sophie still needed to learn how to navigate his personality.

“Hehe, don’t worry about it. Let’s just follow him,” Ethan said, trying to smooth over the situation.

The group reached the base of the tunnel. They quickly dismantled the vents and entered the narrow aluminum shaft, which rose vertically. Though cramped, it was wide enough for them to climb one at a time.

Despite her bruised heel, Katya took the lead. With her back against the aluminum wall, she began climbing using only her uninjured leg and hands. She held a metal rod she had found in the rubble firmly in one hand, using it for support as she ascended.

Sophie followed closely behind, carefully mimicking Katya’s climbing technique, ensuring her hand and foot placements were precise to avoid any mishaps.

Third in line was Lucas, who was visibly blushing. He forced himself to look down to avoid making eye contact with Sophie's buttocks, as she was wearing a skirt.

Lucas' face burned red as he climbed up the ventilation tunnel, following the same climbing pattern as the others.

"Haha, you look the same color as your hair," Ethan said with a laugh. Being last in line, Ethan had a clear view of Lucas' face and understood perfectly why it was so red.

"Shut up, I'll kill you if you keep taunting me," Lucas replied angrily as they all climbed up.

"Taunting? Is Ethan taunting you, Lucas?" asked Sophie, instinctively stopping to look down.

Unfortunately, Lucas didn't expect Sophie to stop, and as he continued to ascend, his head accidentally touched on Sophie's butt.

The soft touch left no room for any other interpretation in the boy's mind and a crimson liquid began to flow from his nose down to Ethan, staining his white shirt.

"Hey! What do you think you're doing?"

Ethan shouted, annoyed at the state of his clothes.

From that moment on, everything became a chaos of shouting and running between Ethan and Lucas, both eager to get to the next floor.

The situation worsened as they transitioned from climbing to crawling horizontally through the tunnels, with Lucas still struggling with his predicament.

“Enough! Stop acting like children! Look, we’ve finally reached an exit!” Katya, frustrated by the constant arguing, swiftly opened the nearest grate to end the squabbling.

As they emerged from the chute, their previous troubles seemed to fade away. They found themselves in a new area.

In front of them stood an aspirant with torn clothes and numerous wounds, beside the remains of a completely destroyed ice monster.

The aspirant was Angelo, his body glowing with the distinctive Synchro Aura, which made his figure stand out even more in the hallway. He didn't even flinch at the group's arrival, but remained lost in thought, watching his hands with particular awe.

Recognizing him, Katya instinctively grabbed the staff he was leaning on. From what Nova had told her, Angelo was not someone she could trust.

“Hello, Angelo, right? It’s good to see other challengers taking down these monsters,” Ethan greeted the black-haired boy with confident familiarity.

Angelo didn’t turn to acknowledge him. He continued walking down the hallway, his back to them, until the Synchro Aura gradually faded.

Suddenly, Angelo paused and glanced back over his shoulder. His gaze was sharp, resembling an animal ready to pounce on its prey.

“You looking for a fight, asshole?” Lucas challenged, stepping in front of the group with clenched fists, clearly perceiving Angelo’s look as a threat.

In an instant, Angelo’s demeanor shifted. He dropped his intimidating expression and turned to the newcomers with his characteristic friendly smile.

“Ah, sorry, I was lost in thought. Haha, bad habit,” he apologized, his smile dispelling the tension from earlier.

“Tks... how rude,” Lucas grumbled, crossing his arms in visible annoyance.

“No, no, you’re not in a position to criticize him for that,” Ethan said with a sigh, clarifying the misunderstanding.

“You were the ones who tackled the mantis, weren’t you? It was clever to use the tunnels to return,” Angelo remarked as he observed them emerging from one. “Though it would have been even more ingenious to make your way to the heating system to change things up,” he added.

Angelo's comment surprised everyone; none of them had considered such a strategy, nor were they aware of the existence of such a location.

“How do you know about the floor below?” Katya asked.

“There was a map of the museum at the front desk. Didn’t you see it?” Angelo replied.

Katya recalled waiting at the reception for Nova and noticing Elara snooping around while the others remained seated.

“I don’t think any of us imagined the test would take place in the museum, though it seems obvious now,” Ethan admitted, clearly annoyed with himself for not using his time at the reception more effectively.

“Someone is probably trying to access that location right now,” Katya said, thinking of the only person with the strategic acumen to deduce such a conclusion.

Lucas, Ethan, and Sophie were taken aback by Katya's words. Before they could inquire further, the sound of footsteps approaching from both sides of the hallway reached their ears.

Instantly, they went on high alert, with only two of them activating their Synchro Auras to face the impending onslaught.

Museum - Heating System Room

Meanwhile, in the cellar area of the museum, Elara, Lars, João, and Chiara had reached the heating system room, struggling through their journey.

“How did you know about this place?” Lars asked, his body bruised and clothes torn, a testament to their arduous efforts to get here..

“I pay attention to details, but none of that matters if we can’t finish this,” Elara replied, frustration evident in her voice.

In front of them loomed a giant Scolopendra - a large by Amazon Basin centipede - this one towering over 12 feet tall. It dominated the vast, futuristic room, which was filled with complex ventilation ducts, pipes, and control panels lining the walls, creating a stark, metallic, and technological ambiance.

⌠Danger Detected:

Ice Scolopendra

Synchro Materialization

Level 9.

Non-living creature.

Synchro Percentage 0%⌡

Thanks to the TN device, a holographic screen materialized in front of everyone, alerting them to the imminent danger.

“It’s time for the heroine to make her stellar entrance, right, João?” Chiara, the pink-haired girl in the animal hoodie, said as she stepped forward, confronting the menacing monster.

“It could be dangerous, so stay sharp,” João cautioned, keeping a wary eye on the Scolopendra.

The creature, resembling a towering cobra, was positioned defensively, its legs twitching restlessly in a menacing display. Its posture suggested it was ready to strike.

“It hasn’t attacked us yet. Just as I suspected, these monsters seem to have some level of intelligence. If it’s guarding the system, raising the temperature might weaken it,” Elara said. Her confidence convincing the others of her reasoning.

“Why do you always seem to have a plan?” Lars asked, taken aback by her insightful analysis.

“A girl always has a plan,” Elara replied with a wink. Lars could only sigh, acknowledging that she always had a strategy.

“Well, if defeating it means we pass the test, I’m on board,” Chiara said briskly.

“I’m not certain, but it should at least weaken them,” Elara added.

“Then let’s not waste any more time,” João said, adjusting his stance as his Synchro Aura began to resonate. “Chiara, take the lead. We’ll back you up.”

Chiara smiled resolutely and stepped back to gather momentum. Her eyes locked onto the Scolopendra, and a glowing trail of translucent energy enveloped her.

“Ready or not, here I come!” Chiara shouted, sprinting toward the creature. Her movements were fluid and precise, reminiscent of an acrobat.

With a combination of jumps and turns, she dodged the creature’s quick counterattacks, which lashed out furiously, trying to ensnare her with its elongated body.

Unfortunately, Chiara's speed wasn’t enough to evade all the attacks.

One particularly fierce strike, like a whip from the creature’s tail, was about to hit her directly. João leapt into action, using his large frame as a shield. His intervention allowed Chiara to propel herself forward and leap at the monster.

“Megaton Punch!” Chiara yelled as she delivered a powerful blow aimed at the monster’s head. However, just before impact, the Scolopendra rolled its head, protecting itself with the hardest part of its body.

Chiara’s punch hit the Scolopendra’s thick exoskeleton with a muffled thud, causing no significant damage.

The creature reacted swiftly, snapping its head around and striking Chiara with a forceful blow, sending her crashing into the tunnels.

“Chiara!” João shouted, catching her just before she hit the tunnel wall. He absorbed the impact, cushioning her fall.

“Elara, we’ll keep it occupied! You focus on hacking the system!” Lars ordered, activating his aura and plunging into the fray without hesitation.

“Got it!” Elara responded.

With all participants now engaged in their respective battles, they were nearing the end of the test.