Chapter 12: Physical Fitness Test

While all these shocking incidents took place -which would certainly lead to more shocking incidents- Nevan Venner was totally oblivious to them. He was wholeheartedly focused on solving the problems and moving between two worlds.

Somehow one hour and thirty minutes had passed since he started the exam. He had solved two thirds of each difficulty level maths. Suddenly when he tried to write the solution of another question, the pen wouldn't leave a mark on the answer paper.

He looked at the pen. The pen was one of the newest pen available in the market with the mighty name of 'Infinity Pen'. This pen's refill was made with Space compression technology which made it possible to store huge amount of ink. It is said that it will take at least 1 year of continuous writing for it to finish. It could hold on for one year of non-stop writing!

This was a huge deal. A student can easily use one of this sort of pen in their whole student life. One pen for one student, for his whole student life.

'Strange', he thought, 'Though I am using this pen since childhood, there should be more than 6 months worth of ink left.'

He tried to scratch the paper again but no ink appeared.

'This is why I always tell you to carry more pens. You always carry just one.' White Nevan berated him. Nevan certainly couldn't talk back since he was indeed in the wrong.

Maybe he should borrow from someone beside him. With that thought he looked at his left side. There was none. He looked right. There was none. He looked at the front. There was indeed someone. But too front from him. At least 4 desks away.

That's when he realized the classroom was rather empty. There was only 5 more students aside from him. They were really furthur away and he couldn't ask for help from them. So he raised his hand and asked, "Excuse me Mr. examiner, my pen is not working can I get another pen?"

"You don't have extra pen?" replied the examiner without a care from behind the columns of papers.

"Yes, originally I had the infinity pen which still has ink left but for some reason it's not working."

"Oh that, try to write in your hand."

Nevan was perplexed but still took the pen and drew a line on his palm. A line really appeared. The pen was working perfectly.

Nevan tried to use the pen to write on the paper but didn't work. Then he again scribbled on his hand and it worked just fine.

'What the hell is happening!?' screamed Black Nevan.

"Give me your paper kiddo, your time's up." as if being able to see Nevan's confused look without looking at all, the examiner said, "This is special paper, you can't write anything after one and a half hour of your first mark."

"Wait there's a time limit? I didn't know." All Nevans had the same thought. Wasn't it examiner's duty to explain everything clearly before exam?

"Well, this guy's game comes first before exam, no way he will adhere to his duty." Black Nevan's voice was full of ridicule. Clearly he thought less of this middle-aged and out of date gamer.

Nevan got up and gave the examiner his paper. The examiner then inserted it into the rectangular hole. A single paper came out with various complex design and in the middle written, "Mathematical Test: Eligible for St. Garos Academy."

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'As expected this guy has a calculative ability exceeding normal sense. With such calculation power, he can easily make it to great engineer's ranks.' The examiner had a good impression of this ordinary looking boy. This boy had started his misery but also had saved him from it. So he had developed a good affinity with him. Unbeknownst to all of this, Nevan would never have guessed that his ordinary behavior had earned him a great ally.

"Give me your hair."

"Huh?"

"Huh?"

"Huh?"

The first was from Nevan voiced loudly, second and third one from Black Nevan and White Nevan, echoing inside Nevan's mind. Why does this guy want hair from a kid? Does he have some weird fetish?

"What huh? I need to scan your DNA." The examiner replied.

"Oh! Thank God." All Nevans heaved a sigh of relief.

Nevan then tore off a strand of hair and gave it to the examiner. The examiner put it on a circle on the paper. The markings changed into a unique pattern.

"This design is unique to your DNA. If you study genetics, you will understand what these symbols and designs mean." The examiner described.

Nevan was amazed. To think this piece of paper had the ability to actually scan DNA and then create a unique pattern all by itself. This was a highly sophisticated technology.

"Well, let's go." The examiner stood up and left the room with Nevan's paper.

Nevan hurriedly followed after him. "Hey wait, Mr. Examiner, where are you going?"

"My name isn't Examiner. I am known as Melon Feller", without turning around the examiner now known as Melon Feller spoke.

"Melon?" This was White Nevan.

"Melon! Hahaha" This was Black Nevan. "haha, Melon? Seriously, Melon?" Black Nevan roared with laughter.

"Mel..on" this was Nevan. It was not good to laugh at people's names but Nevan found it hard to stop his shaking voice which was giving warning to laugh at unknown decibels.

To prevent this, Nevan rapidly spoke, "Hello Mr. Melon. I am Nevan, Nevan Venner."

"Plus 100 points to his parents. They must have loved melons." Black Nevan gave points, still laughing madly.

"You have good manners boy. If you are always so polite then you will become a great figure one day." Seemingly pleased with Nevan's behavior, Melon praised him.

Melon and Nevan came to room labeled as 'Room 0127'.

The door handle was a little strange. Its horizontal handlebar was shaped so that a person's right hand would fit into its shape when grabbing.

Melon held it for approximately 5 seconds and removed his hand without twisting it. Then the door opened automatically by itself. He did not twist it but still the door opened.

"This is a genetic scanner. This is programmed to open for two person. One is on vacation and so I was the only one who could access this." Melon explained to Nevan.

"Only two people? Isn't it too low?" Nevan asked back. A room where tests would be held shouldn't be accessible to only 2 people. What if both of them were on leave?

"Hmph. This room holds one of the most expensive pieces of equipment in this whole building, I can only leave it to people whom I absolutely trust. Be careful and don't touch anything without my guidance."

Nevan audibly gulped. Most expensive equipment! He was going to make his debut on expensive devices of Arcmania. He was nervous and much more than that - was visibly excited.

With eyes glowing, Nevan entered the room. Only to-

"Huh? It's a centrifuge. A fucking centrifuge!This thing is cheap as shit." Nevan yelled out loud. He was very disappointed. The half-young, half old man aka Melon had bragged like it was an epic expensive machinery but it turned out to be just a centrifuge. Centrifuges may have been expensive in ancient times. But now it's dirt cheap. Besides who uses centrifuges now. There are many advanced tech that can do things much better than any centrifuges.

"Are you kidding me? Have you seen the size of this baby! Do you know how much money it costs to build these beautiful long arms?" Melon seemed to become agitated over Nevan's remark. He seems to value it very dearly.

Nevan looked at him with disdain apparent on his face.

"Well, to be honest the 500 meter long arms might be expensive. The material has to be more heat resistant so that the friction produced by the rotation does not heat it up. Besides there's also measurements that need to be taken to reduce the friction. It should be the most expensive part of this whole system. Lastly there's also the engine which makes it spin. It must be very strong." White Nevan spoke up in Melon's defense.

"I don't think so. The only costly thing here should be the methods used to reduce the friction between air and the arms. But even then, if you consider it can create gravitational force upto 10 times, the velocity of the arms at maximum should be roughly 800kmph. It's well below the sound barrier. And the current technology can even easily reduce friction of mechanical bodies that can go mach 20. So in this case it has to be rather cheap since the velocity couldn't even reach mach 1", Black Nevan gave a logical counter which White Nevan couldn't refute.

The one who was truly miserable was Nevan himself. These two guys were showing off their nerdy sides, though he was not really jealous of that. The problem was-

"Guys, we are disappointed that it's a centrifuge and not high-tech stuff but aren't we forgetting something important."

"What?"

"What?" a simultaneous echoing question from both Nevan.

"This is a friggin' centrifuge. It rotates and creates artificial gravity. And I am here to take tests. Which means-"

"OK boy, get inside. You will experience 2 times gravity. It is a physical test. How your physical body handles the change in atmosphere will be determined in this test. The insides are full of sensors. They will give you a score."

"Shit!"- A pale Nevan.

"Here goes Arcmania" - A regretful Black Nevan.

"Do we have to return now?" - A sad White Nevan.

In terms of physical abilities, Black Nevan was the strongest. For him 2 times gravity would have been no problem. He could easily get top scores.

The second among Nevans would be White Nevan. He could probably get an above average result.

The worst would be Nevan. The ordinary Nevan. He could perhaps produce average results.

Since the insides were full of sensors, Black and White Nevan couldn't divide themselves and take on the test. So it was all up to Nevan now.

Nevan clenched his fist. This was entirely up to him. Unlike the first test where White and Black Nevan helped him. This time he wouldn't be helped. It was all on him. He had to somehow carry on not just himself, but his two significant others.