F-City National Mountain Range, West of Metro Citedal.
The National Mountain Range stretches for 470,693 miles square, that's half of F-City and the place is full of many forest hills being home to rare animals.
Walking on a narrow road around a mountain was Rex and a helper officer heading to the summit.
Helper officers are a specific group designed to help those taking part in the hero exam reach the exam location.
The helper wore a Rangers uniform carrying a big bag on his back.
He had long ears facing upwards that matched the white color of his fur.
He was a rabbit person, who regularly worked to ensure the safety of the National Mountain Range and because of his professionalism in the area, he was tasked to be a helper.
Right as they walked on the narrow mountainside road he gave few glances at Rex wanting to strike up a conversation but was only able to utter um... uh... before retrieving anything he had to say as they continued to walk silently.
This though only made the mood awkward and scary because Rex was wearing his plain skull mask and black suit which made him unapproachable.
From his perspective, this man is a trained hunter because of the beast aura he exudes.
He wanted to ask whether that was true and why he does such a thing but courage was something he didn't have when it comes to meta-humans.
Not long ago at their Ranger office, they received a report of a strange man going in and out of the mountain range, and on him were traces of animal blood.
And after investigating him they found that he was hunting bears and deer.
They took him in for interrogation but the man came clean saying that he manifested superpowers and was testing his might while hunting for food.
That was a weird encounter for them because they never had cases like that before and to boot the man said he was from A-City escaping from the mob.
He didn't have bad intentions so their superior recommended for him to get a hero's license and with that, he'll have free access to hunting on this ground under the condition that he doesn't harm any of the rare creatures.
The man excepted and took a part-time job with no pay to help them manage the National Mountain Range while the date for the exam approached.
Today being the day of the exam this man has already proven his capabilities making the Rangers believe he can pass the exam.
They say those who manifest superpowers can only have three futures one of heroism, one of being under government surveillance, and one of the most hated villainy.
So far there aren't many meta-humans as there are only less than a hundred known to the world, so to make sure some don't fall into the category of criminal they are under government observation restricting their movements and activities.
If you have powers you must register yourself to the hero guild so they can train you to be proficient at it and to make sure there are no accidents.
This way you are saved from government eyes and can be around civilians, the hero guild also runs a joint academy with the government to train the next heroes.
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These next heroes will take the hero exam to be recognized as one after the academy although there are cases where those who don't register themselves can take the exam to be recognized.
As the benefits of heroism are large.
*
Three days ago at 11:00 PM August 3rd
Rex had planned to find the people who attempted to murder him but visiting his old home made him realize it would be dangerous to seek revenge on the heroes who did it and those behind them so he must go about a different route.
He walked back and forth aimlessly asking himself what was wrong about him.
All my life, all I tried to do was find companionship with the other kids yet they were pulled away from me and told to never approach me.
What have I done to deserve it?
Was I a monster?
I donated to be amongst them because I felt the same.
I knew I had no one outside my aunt.
They made me an outcast in school and in public that I had to be schooled home.
She told me they would never except me and I should focus on becoming who my ancestors were to restore the honor of our fallen family.
I started to hate it all!
All I see on the media and the internet was how bad my family was and I'm to them.
They said I would become a crazy robot cyborg going after them to exact revenge on them.
They said using my wealth I would be a villain.
They said all kinds of horrible acts about me...
I despised them!
When nothing affects them they are quite slandering others.
When something is taken from them they would scream like it only happened to them.
They don't change things unless it affects them.
And who can forget the ones who say they are the guardians of justice, keepers of the peace, and the ones who will protect us from harm?
Liars... Where were they when all those years I was being bullied by young and old?
Nowhere exactly nowhere because my life was not in danger lias.
How many tried to kill me?
How many tried to rob me?
How many asked for redemption from me?
How many said I should be locked up?
How many said I owe them for what my family did?
I'm asking what did I do to these people?
I couldn't walk or talk without my chair with the AI.
They said my body can't and will not be given cybernetic enhancements so I can walk.
They monitored me like a criminal.
Throughout the whole ordeal, they never even for once considered my innocence, despite knowing everything about me.
I was denied my destiny.
Now I stand at the crossroad of evil and good what shall I choose?
There was light in my life but she gave that light and right now she might be gone because of me.
I don't know.
I don't know where to look for her or if she's alive.
I know if she was here she would tell me to not give up and that hope is always there, but now that I have the power why should I stay still?
I should be out there even if they call me a villain I would stop at nothing and they must pay for it.
But what if she is alive?
I should search for her first maybe.
Arriving at a crucial point in his thinking Rex hold himself wanting to know one thing.
"A-T where exactly would you stand based on what path I take?"
[Ding]
[As the host said before the system is yours no matter what you choose... but A-T suggests the host should see life for himself first.]
"What do you mean see for myself?"
[The host had a traumatic past but lacks many aspects of life so A-T suggests that you go out and see life.]
Thinking about what she said he felt like she was not an AI assistant but like a real person and for that he was really grateful.
*
Finally reaching on top of the summit Rex and the Ranger both smiled though Rex's smile was hidden behind a mask.
On the summit of the mountain, there stood a door and this was no ordinary door but an elevator door.
On the door, it read Base 54...
Coming closer to the elevator the rabbit Ranger smiled clearing his throat as he pressed a screen on the door with his fingertips and appearing on the screen was his information.
This little screen was the way to access the elevator.
"Ahm, it says here that for the elevator to be used there must be five individuals, oh boy what a carrot I guess we must wait for the others to arrive then!"
Rex nodded thinking that it was no problem.
Standing at the bottom of the mountain though were four girls between the age of eighteen to twenty and a helper officer with red hair.
This helper was Sonya Sord who seemed to be going well with the girls as they conversed while going up the narrow mountain road.
Of these girls, two looked different than the others because one was a horse person and the other was a bear person.
However, one thing the four girls aside from their helper had in common was they all were meta-humans.
Two girls looked identical and wore a purple full-body costume with a black design, leaving their heads uncovered and their costumes had the letter K on the chest.
And the bear girl wore loose elastic pants that can enlarge to match her size and a black hoodie top, while the horse girl wore a horse jockey outfit that had all colors having the number one on her back.
Fin