Upon entering the next area, the group came face to face with the imposing machine that would measure their compatibility with the suits.

“Now, let’s evaluate your percentage of compatibility with the suits,” Aurion announced, while the participants connected the cables to their arms. The tension was almost suffocating.

A female, automated voice began to announce the results:

“San: 23%. Dan: 26%. Viviane: 30%, Mira: 34%. Thais: 36%. Fiona: 36%. Slayer: 39%. Kratos: 42%. Raven: 57%.

The murmurs began. Everyone was impressed with Raven’s result.

“57%? She’s already at that level... she has great potential,” Aurion thought, his eyes intently on the screen.

Kratos, upon hearing Raven’s score, discreetly clenched his fists.

— She beat me... — he murmured, feeling the weight of the rivalry.

The voice continued:

— Kay: 100%..., Kay: 100%... — The female voice of a scientist came through the intercom, but soon she interrupted herself, her tone full of surprise. — This... must be a mistake. Wait a moment, I'm going to restart his machine — she continued, now with a more serious tone, clearly focused as she tried to correct what seemed to be an anomaly.

The room fell into a tense silence as the voice of the machine announced Kaito's compatibility. Raven was the first to break the silence, her voice full of venom.

— One hundred percent? — She laughed, but there was no humor in her laughter. — This is ridiculous! How can someone like him have such a high compatibility?

— This has to be some kind of bad joke! — Fiona muttered, her eyes narrowed at Kay.

Kay remained still, seemingly oblivious to the hubbub around him. Her carefree attitude made Raven and Fiona boil with anger even more.

“Reset as many times as necessary, but this... this is impossible! He’s just a lazy brat! There’s no way he can surpass all of us like this!” There was frustration mixed with wounded pride in Raven’s words, each syllable filled with indignation.

“Didn’t you hear? The machine might have calculated wrongly. It’ll check again, go back to your place!” Aurion said, his voice indifferent, as if he wanted to put an end to that matter.

“There must be some glitch in the system!” Fiona insisted, irritated. “It doesn’t make sense for a result like that to come from someone so... disinterested. Reset it already! We won’t accept fraud here!”

Mira, who had remained silent until then, could no longer bear the unfair accusations of the two.

“Just because his result is higher than you expected, you’re looking for an excuse to belittle Kay! That’s not fair. You’re just jealous!” — She said, her voice rising in fervor.

Raven slowly turned to Mira, her expression a mixture of contempt and disbelief.

“Jealousy?” she whispered, each word dripping with sarcasm. “Do you really think someone like him deserves this result? Look at him! He’s literally lying down during the test!” Raven’s hands shook slightly, her wounded pride now inflamed with indignation.

Fiona, without taking her eyes off Kay, gave a bitter half-smile, an expression that carried more contempt than anything else.

“He doesn’t deserve to be here,” she murmured, almost like a prayer. “We can’t allow someone like that to join the army. It’s dangerous. He has no commitment to anything, not even to himself.” The scientist’s voice on the other end of the line broke the tension, sounding calm and determined. “Reboot complete. Test in progress again…” The air in the room seemed heavier. Everyone was waiting anxiously, but Raven and Fiona were on the verge of an explosion of frustration. To them, Kay personified everything that was wrong with this recruitment. “If he joins the army…” Fiona began, her voice low but firm. “It will be a disaster. We need to do something before it’s too late.” Mira, visibly irritated, crossed her arms and faced the two. “Hey, Raven, do you remember the method we chose for the team? Now look at our ranking!” Kratos exclaimed, his tone insistent. “He stinks like a vice-captain. Are you sure about that?” — Raven remembered Viviane's words, her voice full of doubt. — It must be because he's wearing the suit, but I don't think he made a mistake when classifying you! — Raven repeated, remembering her friend's answer.

The scientist's voice echoed once more.

— San: 23%. Dan: 26%. Viviane: 30%. Mira: 34%. Thais: 36%. Fiona: 36%. Slayer: 39%. Kratos: 42%. Raven: 57%. Kay: 100%.

The numbers fell on them like a blow. Raven opened her mouth to protest, but the words wouldn't come out.

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— They're the same results as the previous test. The machine is working perfectly. Proceed to the next room! — Aurion decreed, leaving no room for argument.

They removed the cable and headed to the next room, but the tension still hung in the air. Upon entering, they were greeted by a huge area where all the contestants were being chosen or not by the captains. All six captains were sitting in the audience box, watching every move.

Mira, feeling the pressure rising, looked at the captains. Their presence was overwhelming.

The atmosphere was tense, and Raven and Fiona exchanged glances, the distrust in them growing like a storm about to erupt.

"Mira, hey Mira!" Kay called, her voice breaking the tension in the air.

"What's wrong?" Mira exclaimed, irritated, already bracing herself for another one of her friend's jokes.

"Look at that guy's bangs, it must take him a long time to do that!" Kay laughed, pointing to one of the captains in the audience, whose perfectly styled bangs caught everyone's attention.

Mira rolled her eyes, but couldn't help but feel a slight smile forming.

"That's Captain Julius. He leads the first division of the army, so be careful not to disrespect them! — she said, her seriousness returning to her tone. — All six of them are captains!

Kay blinked, a mischievous smile still on her face.

— There's a girl in the middle, she looks young! — he said, his curiosity piqued.

— Yumi, leader of the fourth division. She's very skilled and became captain at only 18 years old. It's best not to underestimate her! — Mira warned, her voice full of respect.

— And how old is she now? — Kay exclaimed, the surprise visible on her face.

— 22 years old! — Mira replied proudly. — She's only been captain for four years.

— In this field, that's normal, but assuming the position of captain without being a vice-captain is very difficult! This proves that she's really impressive! — Kay commented, admiring her determination.

— And you? Which team are you going to join? — Mira asked, getting back to the subject at hand.

“I want to stay closer to home, so I’m going to choose the sixth division!” she replied, determined.

Kay frowned, clearly bothered by Mira’s choice. What he didn’t understand was that she was just being practical, but his protective instinct couldn’t help but worry.

“Ninetieth competitor, no offers!” announced the vice-commander of the second division, his voice echoing through the room.

“Can I leave now?” Kay asked impatiently, her expression growing discouraged.

“It’s almost over!” said Mira, trying to convey some encouragement.

The competitors advanced one by one, some being accepted with a nod, while others were greeted with indifferent looks. Most, however, ended up receiving the dreaded “no,” which echoed in their hearts like a sentence.

The competitors watched the stage attentively, each new recruit that passed in front of the captains generating a mixture of expectation and apprehension. Captain Julius, the leader of the first division, remained unfazed, not once raising his hand to accept a new recruit. His gaze was cold, his posture rigid, and it made everyone present uneasy.

“He’s not even moving!” Mira muttered to Thais, her frustration growing. “Why doesn’t he give anyone a chance?”

Thais furrowed her brow, nervous. “He’s known for being extremely demanding. If he’s not completely convinced of someone’s abilities, he won’t hesitate to reject them.”

“That’s discouraging!” Thais replied, shaking her head.

More competitors came forward, and most were turned away. Murmurs of disappointment spread through the room as the rejected candidates’ faces grew increasingly desolate.

“Ninety-first competitor, no offers!” the vice-commander announced again.

The next competitor was called, and soon, only the last arrivals remained in the room. This time, the team expected Kay to go first. Wanting to get it over with, Kay stepped forward.

“One hundred and sixth competitor, Kay!” the vice-commander of the second division announced, his voice echoing through the hall.

The eyes of the competitors and captains turned to Kay, but he kept his head down, staring at the wall in front of him. To him, this selection was just a formality; he didn’t want to be there, and his calm demeanor radiated an indifference that starkly contrasted with the tension around him.

The other competitors, in contrast, raised their heads slightly, trying to catch a glimpse of the captains in the gallery. A murmur spread through the room as Kay’s information was read aloud.

The captain of the fourth division was the first to raise her hand.

Mira smiled, excited about the offer, but Kay remained impassive, his attention still fixed on the wall.

Soon, all the captains raised their hands, even the feared Captain Julius. The room erupted in murmurs of surprise.

Aurion, noticing the confusion, stepped in.

“One hundred and sixth competitor, Kay, accepted by all captains! Which team do you wish to join?”

“This doesn’t make sense!” Fiona whispered, her disdain evident. “He’s not serious.”

“Unbelievable!” Ravena retorted, biting her lip in a mix of anger and disbelief. “How did this happen?”

Mira, sensing the distrust in Ravena and Fiona’s voices, turned to Kay, who was still staring at the wall.

“Kay, you have to take this opportunity! Choose the division you want!” she urged him, trying to encourage him.

Kay finally shifted his gaze from the wall and looked at the captains, but his expression remained disinterested.

“I…” Kay began, taking a deep breath. “I choose… not to join any division.”

A heavy silence fell over the room, and the reactions varied. Mira was stunned, and the captains exchanged confused looks.

Ravena and Fiona shared a glance of disdain, neither able to hide their satisfaction at his self-imposed rejection.

“He’s really going to refuse the first division?” Dan exclaimed, incredulous, as Kay headed for the exit.

Mira ran after him. “Excuse me, I need a moment to speak with him,” she said politely and, catching up to Kay, pulled him to a corner of the room.

Mira whispered in his ear. Kay, reluctant, let out a sigh and, still without much emotion, walked back to the captains. He bowed his head slightly in a gesture of respect and said, “I apologize for my earlier attitude… I choose the sixth division.”

“Ka-chan, you bastard!” shouted the fourth division captain, Yumi, visibly frustrated.

“Ka-chan?” Mira exclaimed, confused, not understanding the familiarity of the nickname.

“One hundred and sixth competitor, Kay, accepted!” the vice-commander of the second division announced.

Kay, impassive, turned again and began walking toward the door.

“Did he just ignore me?” Yumi muttered, incredulous, watching him leave without giving her another glance.

Moments later, the vice-commander’s voice echoed through the hall once more: “One hundred and fifth competitor, Mira!”