Chapter 49: Comprehensive Test

Fewer than ten participants were fortunate enough to possess enrollment tokens this year. They entered the auditorium under the gazes of the six hundred or so remaining participants. Upon entering, Hugo caught sight of the scores displayed on the large screen and revealed a pleasantly surprised expression. He glanced around the auditorium, discovered Ain’s location, and hurriedly made his way over.

“Ain! You got first place!” He exclaimed in a hushed tone with admiration plastered all over his face. Ain nodded with a tiny smile, unsure of any other appropriate response. Hugo, aware of Ain’s nature, chuckled at his unintentional humbleness before eagerly inquiring, “What was it like inside Cyberspace? Did it look real?”

Ain briefly recollected his test experience. Hugo listened with enthusiasm, excited for the upcoming comprehensive test. Following an explanation of the pod’s workings, the duo paused their conversation. Mr. Brighton had returned to the stage. The auditorium also grew silent. Mr. Brighton observed for a few seconds before addressing the participants.

“As I’ve stated before, Arcane Heart University’s recruitment includes two tests, and you must pass both tests to be admitted. You’ve already passed the first test, but the second comprehensive test still remains. This test requires participants to form pairs. I’ll allow you five minutes to do so. Sitting next to your partner will suffice. If you haven’t formed a pair in five minutes, you’ll be assigned a random partner!” Mr. Brighton announced loudly. At the same time, a five-minute timer replaced the top scores on the screen.

Ain and Hugo, already seated beside each other, exchanged glances. Hugo said, “Let’s pair up?”

“Yeah.” Ain readily agreed. He had the same intentions. Hugo was the only familiar face here. Moreover, they’d worked together a few times already.

Once the five minutes elapsed, the random pairs were swiftly formed. Everyone took their appropriate seats and waited. With an even number of participants, no one was left out. Mr. Brighton nodded before saying, “The comprehensive test has a duration of five hours! Upon entering Cyberspace, you’ll have some time to understand the instructions before the test truly begins! Now, enter the pods!”

With the proctor’s cue, Ain once again entered Cyberspace.

…

Arcane Heart University, Arcane Library.

The Arcane Library, a magnificent palace shrouded in rainbow mist, was one of the university’s ten major departments. With its vast accumulation of knowledge, it was perceived as a holy sanctum of wisdom, one of the greatest across Dawnstar Federation. Its significance within the university was even greater as meditation techniques, spells, and martial arts could only be exchanged through the Arcane Library.

Deep inside the library, a refined man with brown eyes and black hair in a loose ponytail knocked on an engraved wooden door. Waiting a few seconds, despite a lack of response, he calmly entered an antique and sophisticated study, closing the doors behind him. “Archive Master, I’ve received the results for this year’s Intelligence Test,” he said after a slight bow, reporting to an old man seated behind a desk. The Archive Master, with a sagely demeanor, had short, neatly combed white hair and a precisely trimmed beard. His posture was straight and tidy, his eyes reflecting immense wisdom. He appeared to be engrossed in a thick tome held in his hands, as if unaware of the refined man’s presence.

The refined man continued, “Two participants reached five thousand meters this year.”

“Did they reach the question with the clothes?” The Archive Master inquired without tearing his gaze away from the tome. His tone was unhurried and peaceful. The refined man answered, “Yes, this year’s first place, Ain Weisman, reached even farther. He even breached the top ten scores for the Intelligence Test since the university’s establishment.”

At this point, the Archive Master finally looked away from his tome. His eyes were still tranquil, staring at his direct subordinate, the Vice Master of the Arcane Library, Nathan Ursus. Vice Master Ursus added, “We’re quite fortunate. It’s rare to see someone reach the top ten in a thousand years but we encountered two such cases just a decade apart. Ain Weisman even reached second place; his score wasn’t far from first place. Should we try to connect with him early? It would be a pity if he refuses later on as Leila did.”

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The Archive Master remained silent for a few seconds before responding, “Observe for now.” With these brief words, he returned to the thick tome in his hands. Vice Master Ursus expressed his compliance and respectfully bowed again, exiting the study with light footsteps.

…

Cyberspace.

“Ain! How many more are there?” Hugo shouted excitedly; his gaze fixed ahead at the windshield. At the moment, he was speeding in a low-flying rover, frantically avoiding the annoying traffic. In the shaky backseat, Ain leaned out the window, casting Spectral Blast at the rovers chasing them with aggression through the bustling metropolis.

Boom!

The purple glowing sphere exploded one of the rovers, resulting in a fiery explosion. Hearing Hugo’s voice, he responded loudly, “Four more left! Just keep going!”

Sitting beside Ain was an unkempt old man in a white laboratory coat. Parts of his body were covered in dirty bandages. He kept glancing out the back window nervously. Leaning closer to the driver, Hugo, he said with urgency, “Please hurry! If we take too long, we will encounter their elite squads!”

“Don’t worry, Mr. Slader! We’re almost there!” Hugo replied loudly, steering a violently sharp turn. Ace flew above their rover, attacking the chasing vehicles with Wind Slashes. Several more explosions followed. After a while, Ain returned to his seat, closing the window to block off the roaring winds. “That was the last of them,” he informed Hugo.

“Great! I see the hideout already!” Hugo declared. With a fierce drift, the rover entered an abandoned warehouse, arriving before an elevated loading dock. Once the vehicle landed, the three passengers hurriedly alighted. Mr. Slader limped over to a few crates, pressing a hidden switch on the wall behind them. With sharp mechanical sounds, the loading dock revealed a secret entrance, leading down into a well-lit tunnel. “You have my gratitude for escorting me here. I can finally disrupt Nighthawk’s plans!” said Mr. Slader.

Simultaneously, Ain and Hugo received virtual prompts as they recovered to their peak condition.

[D-Class Mission Completed]

[+93 Points]

[Total Points: 181]

“I received ninety-three points,” Ain said. Hugo glanced at his own virtual panel, “I got ninety-one points.”

It had been nearly half an hour since the second test commenced.

Upon entering Cyberspace, they’d quickly received the test instructions. This comprehensive test was a series of missions, adhering to the Spirit Master Association’s classification. From E-class to X-class, the participants had to complete consecutive missions. Judged by their performance, the participants would be awarded points out of a hundred for each completed mission. Moreover, the points could differ between teammates. A hint also informed them of a penalty for undermining your teammate. It was impossible to obtain more points by deliberately outperforming your partner. Besides that, if you were successfully admitted into Arcane Heart University, the total points would be converted into Arcane Credits, granting an advantage to the ones with high points.

The test venue was a thriving city with a metropolitan vitality. The participants were scattered throughout the landscape. It was possible to encounter other teams during missions, whether it be in opposition, alliance, or in competition for a shared goal. The test was limited by a five hour duration. However, the fifth hour was a bit special. This was the time for the sole X-class mission in the test to activate. Only the teams that’d completed their S-class mission before this time were eligible to participate. The X-class mission was a bonus mission. You could still pass the comprehensive test by obtaining a total of 500 points upon completing the S-class mission.

“We should have the same points now,” Ain instantly calculated. This was already their D-class mission. He’d obtained eighty-eight points in the E-class mission, whereas Hugo had obtained ninety points.

The two had originally spawned atop a towering skyscraper where they received their E-class mission. Their task was to reach a nearby building to rescue Mr. Slader, an engineer from the Northern City Defense Facility – NCDF. To save some time, Ace carried Hugo with its talons while Ain utilized the attached zipline between the skyscrapers. Just as Hugo reached the building, Mr. Slader’s penthouse suddenly exploded into a fiery blaze. With much effort, they finally located their target and brought him out of the burning building. At the building’s entrance, their E-class mission was completed, which immediately activated their D-class mission. They had to safely escort Mr. Slader to his secret hideout while hindering any assassination attempts. According to Mr. Slader, he was targeted by an evil organization called Nighthawk. This was what led Ain and Hugo to the abandoned warehouse.

“Five hundred points averages out to about eighty four points per mission across six missions. We’re doing pretty good so far,” Hugo said happily. Their points were sufficient these past two missions. Ain nodded in agreement while saying, “The next mission should be here soon.”

At this moment, the follow-up mission made its timely appearance.

[C-Class Mission]

[Protect Mr. Slader while he completes his task.]