KON POV
A couple of days have passed since we first engaged in our initial club activity. After a few more patrolling commissions, I have developed a newfound respect for those who regularly undertake such jobs.
I still find it a somewhat tedious task with minimal excitement, apart from exchanging greetings with passing acquaintances. However, these duties are a necessity to deter troublemakers from thinking that they can cross the line for the fun of it.
Sera suggests that we diversify our commission types, engaging in a rotation rather than focusing solely on one. According to her, it helps in building a favorable reputation.
Increasing my visibility in the neighborhood does wonders for public relations, creating more connections and job opportunities. That’s why, during a patrol, it’s encouraged to stop by different places, ask around for the latest happenings, and connect with the community.
Speaking of troublemakers, regarding the prankster we apprehended earlier, we confiscated the item and delivered it to the nearby police outpost. After reviewing the footage, a fine was imposed on the offender. If the fine isn’t paid within 30 days, the confiscated item will be returned to us.
Joan is taking bets on whether the fine will be paid, and Venti obliged.
I can already see where this is heading, Zack knows it, I know it, and everybody knows it. It’s so obvious that Joan will have a higher chance of winning given his previous experiences. RIP Venti the gambler.
Sera explained that normal civilians, including streamers, require permits from the relevant guild when performing vertical maneuvering or accessing the training ground in their districts. This becomes even more crucial when camera and video recordings are involved.
At times when an area war is near, things can become so tense to the point that outsiders or unknown people are treated like a spy. However, that’s a topic for another time. I rather not open the can of worms that’s rife with politics for now. Not when I have other stuff to worry about.
I asked Sera and Joan what their plans were for the tournaments and district battles. Sera said that it’s rare for the academy club to get involved, much less the freshies. We can still go there and watch, but most of the time, the senior club members are benched. They are only pulled out when the main members cannot make it.
Venti and Zack looked dejected knowing that there won’t be any actions for a while. These battle junkies. Caged fight in your free time is not enough for you?
Currently, I have other things to worry about. I have money to make and rent to pay. A nice shampoo and conditioner aren’t just going to magically appear in my bathroom one day.
Before we parted ways for the weekend, Sera and Joan warned us about the neighboring guild that had begun causing troubles around the districts in an attempt to recruit talents. I’m starting to wonder if I should stop working in Suanka districts until we finish creating the team.
If I have a team badge along with an affiliation badge, as long as I don’t do any provocative vertical maneuvering in front of them, people will think twice before attacking me.
Sigh, I think my scooter needs to work hard for a bit longer.
DING DING.
Kon Caspier, please proceed to counter 15 for your written exam result.
Oh, they finally finished grading my answers. Time does pass by faster when you are daydreaming or recollecting memories.
The exam questions themselves are simple. The name of the signs, and their meaning. What to do when you encounter a certain scenario as a SpeedGear user. The user experience and understanding of official app interface features and functions. Ethics and stuff can be boiled down to don’t be a pinhead.
It didn’t take me long to finish because I had already prepared for every possible question a week ago. All I had to do was review it the day before and finish it with ease.
“Your name?”
“Kon Caspier, number #24, an applicant for AB license.”
“There is no problem with your written exam grades, and your background check is all green. You may proceed to the next part, which involves a practical exam. Take the door on your left, and good luck.”
“Thank you.”
Short and simple. The guy spoke as if he had delivered the speech for millennia. Not that I’m complaining. I just want this exam to be over and done with so I can go home and brag about it to my friends. I say brag, but they had already finished theirs.
Maybe I can beat their course time attack?
I walked passed the gate and stepped onto the indoor field the size of half a football stadium. Inside there are a bunch of obstacle courses with seats and blackboards which I assumed is for a classroom setting.
I was the last one to arrive for this batch so I took a seat after greeting the proctor.
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The proctor introduced himself and began to teach us the introduction to the basic hardware of SpeedGear and AB.
To summarize, the majority of factory setting SpeedGear contains Core wheels with Rotor and Stator, bearings that manage the friction for smoothness and stability, Turbo for hard energy propulsion, Cooler for soft energy dispenser, a Control system that can be installed, and API to another device, Battery which in most cases is static compared to the more expensive counterpart which is auto, Air Cushions that acts as a sole, and finally the Safety gear for braking and falls arresting.
Compatible software for the control system is not covered during this time.
For Ankle Breaker, different types of cushions are used and modified to wrap the user’s ankle like a mini spine along with other extensions. Despite the name, the size of an Ankle breaker is no different than slightly bulkier socks. So, most SpeedGear can accommodate a normal setting Ankle Breaker.
After the introduction was done, we were each lent a SpeedGear and AB for the practical part of the exam. We were taught how to slow down into a break. You simply put more pressure on your back feet soles and heel.
To accelerate. You put pressure on the front feet soles and toes. The more pressure you apply there, the faster the acceleration will occur.
That’s why the usage of SpeedGear in martial arts settings has seen a rise in popularity. The key to body pivot and power transfer has always been the toes.
With SpeedGear you can go from 40kmph to a literal dead stop if your feet strength is powerful enough to handle it. Of course, you will still need to train your body to be able to handle the G force of such momentum.
Maintaining speed is just a balancing act with the pressures of your foot. That’s why people who are used to moving around with rollerblades in the olden days will still find themselves needing time to master SpeedGear.
Unlike Rollerblade, SpeedGear allows you to move forward without ever lifting your legs. You can move while standing still, and all it requires is delicate control over your feet and your body balance.
There are many ways of cornering, but the most popular one is the heel striking method which involves lifting your foot to strike the ground with the heel, essentially breaking the momentum and changing direction to where your striking foot points. Simple.
The hardest part for most people is the safety roll test. To me, it’s as simple as performing a well-practiced Judo maneuver called Ukemi. I rolled with the chin tucked and my body relaxed to distribute the force of a fall.
So while waiting for other applicants to get the pass for their safety roll from the proctor, I kept on practicing my ukemi. Through my back, through my shoulder, falling diagonally, falling forward, even backward, I kept on doing it since I felt like my Judo had gotten a bit rusty.
Throughout the training, I can feel some eyes on me. It’s the guy on the bleachers. He doesn’t seem to hold any ill intent towards me, just observing from afar. Not sure what his deal is, but I will just ignore him for now. I need to concentrate on the next part.
The next one requires a bit more courage from the participant since we will be introduced to the AB part of the testing. How to fall from height correctly with Ankle Breaker.
With the specialized cushions that have been modified to accommodate the features of an Ankle breaker, it allows the user to be auto-corrected when falling from a height that’s higher than 3 meters. Any lower than 3 meters, the accuracy of the safety system might vary.
Basically like a cat, the center balance of the SpeedGear will help to flip you over from whichever positions you were in when mid-air, so you will always land feet first onto the ground. However, it is still not completely foolproof. That’s why AB applicants are required to spend the next hour practicing righting themselves while falling.
I had no trouble with it. I let myself fall a couple of times and righted my posture with flips and body twists. The proctor gave me a thumbs up and the tutorial was finished. All that’s left is for the final practical exam. Which is the obstacle course run.
To pass the test, I need to complete every obstacle perfectly, including the safety maneuver, within the allocated time frames. It’s 6 minutes to reach the end. There is a different course for the license without AB.
Anyway, I warmed myself up plenty before attempting the running course. I plan on beating Zack’s 2 minutes and 11 seconds. Also, I asked the proctor whether or not we were allowed to skip some part of the course by doing a long jump. He said no. Bummer.
My mind is not idle when I am warming up. I gazed at the course and committed it into memory, then I picture myself running in them a couple of times. I am simulating the course running in my mind. From the minimum deceleration needed that enables me to carry on to the next corner, into a forward roll fall that allows me to maintain my speed smoothly with fewer breaks in between.
In my mind, I’m shaving off seconds like a speed runner.
When I was happy enough with the simulation result I went into the starting line and ready myself. The timer will start the moment my SpeedGear passes the white line. So leaned my body forward, and gathered strength on my toes.
I let it explode, and went full tilt into the first obstacle.
A fence which I vault over using my left hand. Next is the upward-sloping ramp, I simply gather more energy into my toes and let myself accelerate once more traverse the ramp in one dash. For the next part, I needed to turn to my right, so I lowered my body almost into a fetal position before kicking out with my heel to change direction sharply on a corner. I used my gloved hand to skid along the ground for better traction.
For the next obstacle, instead of climbing using the rope, I prepared a high jump with a front flip. I nearly managed to traverse the height in one go, but I used my hand to grab on the ledge instead. Using the SpeedGear, I accelerated the moment my front wheel touched the wall and I let it carry me up using the friction.
Then onto the final challenge which involves dropping down on 4 meters height. I ran and backflipped myself twice before landing, and I finished it with a forward roll. I ended the safety roll into the stance of a sprinter’s starting position and dashed through the remaining distance into the finishing line.
After I passed through the finishing line, I brake with both heels to do a U-turn and look at the result of my time attack. 1 minute and 33 seconds. I gathered my breathing and wiped the sweat from my forehead.
Is this good enough to be considered fast? Without knowing past applicant’s time results as a reference, I can’t tell. The obstacles are very simple since this is just a basic license test, so there are no parkour elements added to it.
Although, judging by the shocked look of the rest of the participants and the wide-eyed proctor, I guess I overdid it. For some reason, the guy on the bleacher just stared at me harder. Is he here to scout people? Is a random person even allowed for to be here and look at the examinee?
I hope he is not one of the aggressive recruiters Sera mentioned, but regardless he won’t cause trouble in the examination place right? The proctor here looks strong enough to punch the guy’s living daylight into nighttime.
“Ahem, you did well. 1 minute and 33 seconds for the practical test, and all of the obstacles were completed properly. Kon Caspier, your SpeedGear AB license examination has been concluded. You may wait here or proceed to the waiting room for further instructions.”
“Thank you very much, Sir. I will stay here and rest for a bit before heading into the waiting room.”
I was tempted to ask him what the top scorer results were, but I held myself back.
A whole 38 seconds faster than Zack, huh?
Ehehe, I can’t wait to rub it in on his face.