The evaluation hall was nothing impressive.
No luxurious decor.
No spectacular effects.
Just white.
Everywhere.
Smooth walls, a spotless floor, and at the center… a series of circular platforms surrounded by black sensors.
Cold.
Clinical.
Merciless.
Ren Aster swallowed with difficulty as he entered with the rest of his class.
A giant screen floated above them.
Fundamental Evaluation — First Year
Objective: measure students’ raw value
An excited murmur spread through the room.
For many…
This was just a formality.
For Ren…
It was a public sentence.
His fingers tightened slightly against his oversized uniform.
Calm…
But his heart was already beating too fast.
—
“Group 7, step forward.”
—
Their instructor—a tall man with a stern gaze—watched the room as if weighing each of them.
Ren stepped forward with the others.
He immediately felt the stares.
Always.
The same ones.
Some curious.
Others mocking.
One in particular muttered behind him:
— That’s the scholarship kid?
— Seriously… he looks even smaller in person.
A muffled laugh.
Ren stared straight ahead.
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Ignore it.
Keep moving.
They stopped in front of the platforms.
The instructor activated the screen.
Test in two phases:
Physical Reactivity
Aptitude Affinity
Ren’s stomach tightened.
The second part…
That was the worst.
Because there—
You couldn’t cheat.
—
“First volunteer.”
—
A boy stepped forward confidently.
Straight posture.
Calm eyes.
He climbed onto the platform.
The sensors lit up.
—
Reactivity Test — Begin
—
A drone shot down from the ceiling.
Fast.
Precise.
The boy moved instantly.
Clean.
Fluid.
Sharp.
The screen displayed:
Score: 82
Several approving nods.
Nothing exceptional.
But solid.
The second test began.
The platform glowed softly beneath his feet.
A bluish light rose along his body.
Then—
Affinity detected: Physical Reinforcement
Initial level: B
An impressed murmur spread through the room.
The boy smiled faintly as he stepped down.
Ren felt his stomach twist.
B…
That was already well above average.
The turns continued.
Score 76.
Score 91.
Affinity C.
Affinity B+.
Even the weaker ones…
…were good.
The pressure slowly built in Ren’s chest.
Then—
—
“Ren Aster.”
—
The silence changed texture.
Subtle.
But real.
Several heads turned.
He felt it immediately.
His legs still moved.
One.
Then two.
Each step echoed too loudly in the white room.
He stepped onto the platform.
The metal was cold beneath his shoes.
Very cold.
His heart hammered against his ribs.
—
Reactivity Test — Begin
—
The drone dove.
Too fast.
Always too fast.
Ren moved.
Late.
As always.
The impact grazed his shoulder.
He stumbled slightly.
Muffled laughter.
But—
At the last moment—
His foot pivoted at a tiny angle.
Instinctive.
Imperfect.
But real.
The second pass was… less bad.
The third too.
By the time the test stopped, Ren was already breathing harder than the others.
The screen flickered.
Score: 31
The silence lasted half a second.
Then—
The murmurs exploded.
— 31?!
— That’s disastrous…
— Even civilians do better…
Ren’s face remained frozen.
But his fingers trembled slightly.
I know…
The instructor made no comment.
He simply activated the second phase.
—
Affinity Test — Begin
—
The platform lit beneath Ren’s feet.
A soft light slowly rose.
Very slowly.
…too slowly.
Ren’s heart tightened.
Come on…
The light flickered.
Weakly.
Then—
It stopped.
Dead.
The screen stayed silent one second too long.
Then displayed coldly:
Affinity detected: None
This time…
Even the whispers stopped.
A real silence.
Heavy.
Awkward.
Someone finally breathed:
— …Is he serious?
Ren’s gaze lowered slightly.
Just a little.
But deep inside—
Something tightened violently.
[Observation: high psychological pressure.]
The system window pulsed softly.
Almost… attentive.
[Advice: continue adaptation.]
Ren inhaled slowly.
Very slowly.
Then raised his head.
His eyes briefly moved toward the ranking board.
Then—
Toward the observation walkway.
And for a fraction of a second—
The cold gaze of the dark-haired prodigy met his.
Still unreadable.
Still calm.
But this time…
…she didn’t immediately look away.
Ren’s heart skipped.
Then the moment passed.
—
“Next.”
—
Ren stepped down from the platform under the murmurs.
Pathetic score.
No affinity.
Still at the bottom.
Still the weakest.
…
But as he left the testing area—
The familiar pressure pulsed softly in his skull.
Very faint.
Almost like an ancient whisper.
[Passive Echo — adaptation in progress.]
[Compatibility: 1.1%]
Ren’s fingers tightened.
Very slightly.
His lips barely moved.
— …I’ll rise.
No one heard him.
But somewhere in the depths of Unlimited Evolution Human Potential…
…something had just confirmed that the subject had not given up yet.
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