The Result
The sudden blare of an alarm echoed through the terrarium, emanating from the tablets of the test instructors.
The signal was clear: a mid-tier monster, specifically a black-and-gold wolf with crimson fangs, had appeared.
The instructors immediately sent out an emergency notification to the Dome Rangers, who were on standby, monitoring the test.
The Dome Rangers, clad in their distinctive blue armor, reacted with practiced efficiency.
They sprinted towards the coordinates of the disturbance, their movements precise and swift, knowing that any delay could mean disaster for the cadets.
As the three Dome Rangers raced through the forest, their minds were filled with concern.
The test had been carefully scheduled to avoid times when mid-tier and high-tier monsters regenerated within the terrarium.
This unexpected encounter was a serious emergency.
Their primary worry was for the cadets, who, though promising, were still inexperienced and potentially vulnerable to such a dangerous creature.
Within minutes, the Dome Rangers arrived at the clearing.
They stopped abruptly, their eyes widening in surprise at the scene before them.
The crimson-fanged wolf lay dead on the ground, its body bearing the marks of a fierce battle.
Haein sat in front of the fallen beast, her sword still clutched in her hand, her face showing a mix of relief and exhaustion.
Rangga seated a short distance away, was silent and still, seemingly lost in thought as he gathered his strength.
"Check the perimeter," one of the Dome Rangers, a tall man with a stern expression, instructed his companions.
The other two Rangers quickly spread out, scanning the area for any additional threats.
The leader approached Haein and Rangga cautiously. "Are you two alright?" he asked, his voice calm despite the tension in the air.
Haein nodded slowly, still catching her breath.
"Yes, sir," she replied, her voice steady but weary.
The Ranger's eyes flicked to the dead wolf.
"You managed to take down a mid-tier monster," he remarked, a note of disbelief in his voice.
One of the other Rangers, a woman with short, cropped hair, approached and knelt by the wolf, inspecting its wounds.
"This was a fierce battle," she said, looking up at her leader.
"They must have fought with everything they had."
The third Ranger, a younger man with a scar running down his cheek, looked at Rangga and Haein with a mix of awe and respect.
"Incredible," he murmured.
"To think that they could handle a mid-tier monster…well, she's a red class after all."
The leader turned to his tablet, activating the communication link to the test instructors.
"We have secured the area. The monster has been neutralized," he reported.
Song Haein struggled to her feet, determination etched on her face.
Her body screamed in protest, every muscle exhausted, but she refused to give in.
She turned to the Dome Rangers, her voice steady despite her weariness.
"May I continue the test?" she asked, her eyes unwavering.
The Dome Rangers exchanged uncertain glances. Her condition was concerning, but the rules were clear.
As long as a candidate had not surrendered, they were allowed to proceed.
"Are you sure you want to continue?" the leader asked, his tone both impressed and cautious.
Haein nodded firmly. "I'm almost at the end. Just one more kilometer.
"The Rangers hesitated for a moment, then stepped aside.
"Go ahead," the leader said, though his eyes held a trace of doubt.
Haein began walking slowly towards the hill, each step a testament to her willpower.
She could feel Rangga's eyes on her, sensing his quiet admiration.
As she moved, her body gradually regained some strength.
She started to jog, then picked up her pace, though not as fast as before her battle with the monster.
Rangga watched her go, a mix of respect and concern in his gaze.
He admired her determination. After a few moments, he too rose to his feet.
His body ached, but he knew he had to continue.
"I want to finish the test," Rangga said to the Dome Rangers, his voice steady.
The Rangers nodded, acknowledging his resolve.
Rangga started walking towards the finish line, his pace measured but determined.
He was slower than usual, his body still recovering, but he pushed forward.
Rangga pushed forward, his steps steady but labored.
"Sora, give me a status report," he requested, his voice strained.
"Your stamina is at 15%," Sora replied promptly.
"No significant injuries from the battle with the crimson-fanged wolf."
Rangga nodded.
"Sir, you let Miss Song Haein take the kill to avoid drawing too much attention did you?"
"A Blue Class cadet killing a mid-tier monster would have caused quite a stir.", Rangga responded.
"You used the situation to your advantage, quite clever sir!"
Rangga just smirked.
After a while, He could see the end of the test in the distance with the top of the hill coming into view.
A sense of relief washed over him as he climbed the final stretch.
At the summit, a grassy field spread out before him, several test proctors stood with their eyes fixed on their tablets monitoring the progress of the cadets.
To his right, Song Haein sat on a large rock, her face a mask of exhaustion.
Two other cadets, their white and blue uniforms dirty from the test, stood nearby, panting heavily.
Rangga took in the scene, realizing he had arrived fourth.
A wave of disappointment threatened to surface, but he quickly pushed it aside.
He was relieved to have made it this far.
He took a deep breath, steadying himself, and walked toward the gathering of proctors and cadets. He had finished the test, and that was what mattered.
The test proctor's voice rang out, announcing the results.
"Jimmy Lung: 50 points. Song Haein: 48 points. Mia Hanz: 46 points. Rangga Sakti: 44 points. Yakub Gani: 42 points. Randi Potter: 40 points. Hania Anwar: 38 points. Ian Kasel: 38 points."
The announcement settled over the group, marking the end of the physical test. Relief and exhaustion mixed on the faces of the cadets.
Hover drones arrived, large enough to carry ten people each. They began to ferry the participants and proctors back across the terrarium towards the portal.
Inside the hover, Rangga sat with his head bowed, eyes closed, pretending to sleep.
Opposite him, Haein glanced at him occasionally, her mind racing. She scrutinized the man before her, trying to piece together the puzzle.
How did he know the wolf's weak points? Cadets were only given information on low-tier monsters. Mid-tier and high-tier details were not disclosed, even to the public.
As the granddaughter of the Geommu Guild's leader, even she didn't have access to such specifics. Yet, the wolf's tendons were slashed—a precise move she hadn't made.
Haein remembered vividly: she had only struck the neck after it was already down. Those cuts were made while she was incapacitated.
That man must have done it. But why didn't he say anything? Why let the Dome Rangers believe she had defeated the monster alone?
Her curiosity about the handsome man in front of her grew stronger with each passing moment.
Rangga remained motionless, eyes shut, appearing to rest.
In reality, Sora's voice echoed in his mind. "Sir, Miss Song Haein has been observing you since we boarded the hover."
"I know," Rangga replied internally. "That's why I've kept my eyes closed."
The hover drone arrived at the portal entrance, and Rangga swiftly disembarked.
His muscles ached, but a sense of accomplishment filled him.
As he stepped out, a test instructor greeted them, announcing, "Congratulations, you are now officially cadets in training for the Dome Rangers."
At the exit of the hover, an alien officer from the Rangers Training Center awaited them.
Dressed in a sharp J-1 uniform, the officer instructed Rangga to place his right and left thumbs on the scanner and set a password for his new apartment, a facility for cadets.
"Rangga Sakti, you have been assigned to Raflesia Building, Apartment 501."
Stepping out of the hover area, Rangga spotted Sita standing with a black pouch bag, waving enthusiastically.
Her presence, also in a J-1 uniform, brought a smile to his face. He walked over, feeling a rush of happiness.
"Congratulations, Rangga!" Sita exclaimed, her eyes shining with pride.
"Thanks, Sita," Rangga replied, genuinely pleased.
They boarded a mini hover, a green jade-powered drone vehicle that hovered 20 centimeters above the ground.
Designed for short distances, it comfortably seated two and moved at 10 km/h.
As they glided through the apartment complex within Dome Jakarta, Rangga took in the futuristic surroundings.
The mini hover came to a halt in front of a sleek, modern apartment building.
The building was predominantly white, with a transparent lift cutting through its center, giving it an almost ethereal appearance.
Rangga pressed his thumb against the lobby door sensor, which unlocked with a soft beep. They took the lift up to the fifth floor.
Standing before the door labeled 501, Rangga entered his password on the digital lock.
The door slid open to reveal a spacious, modern apartment.
The interior was futuristic, dominated by white furniture and sleek lines.
There was a large bedroom, a pristine bathroom, a dining area, a cozy living room, a functional workspace, and a storage room.
Rangga and Sita sat at the kitchen island. Sita opened the pouch and took out a smartphone and a bank card.
"This apartment is a facility for cadet dome rangers," Sita explained.
"You don't have to worry about any expenses, including maintenance. The Dome Rangers Association covers it all.
You can stay here until you complete your training and decide where to go next."
She handed him the smartphone and the bank card.
"This phone runs on blue jade energy, so its battery lasts indefinitely unless the phone is destroyed.
Its signal is unique, using satellite internet specifically for dome rangers."
She held up the black and gold bank card, engraved with Rangga Sakti's name.
"This is both a debit card and mobile banking is already set up on your phone.
Your account has been credited with your first monthly allowance of 50 million rupiahs.
It's not much by dome ranger standards, but it's sufficient for cadets."
Rangga listened, taking in the new information.
He had a few days to rest and adjust to his new environment before training started on June 1st.
They continued to chat, Rangga sharing a bit about the day's test, though not in full detail.
Sita listened intently, her expression lighting up with each success Rangga recounted.
The apartment's modern aesthetic, coupled with the excitement of a new beginning, filled Rangga with a sense of anticipation.
The journey ahead was uncertain, but with Sita's support and the resources at his disposal, he felt ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
--end chapter--