First Impressions

"Coffee Jelly is the best dish made by mankind. The soft jelly with the taste of coffee with just the right amount of sweetness that melts in your mouth makes it–"

I was rudely awakened from my dream of coffee jelly mountains by a blonde haired girl, who was looking at me apathetically.

This was Anny.

"5th exam," she announced, and walked towards the door, unbothered.

I nodded getting up, and went to the venue, walking through a dark hall.

At the end, I arrived at the venue, a large area with 10 doors on one side, each made of thick metal.

There was only the sound of nervous chatter and quick, agitated footsteps.

Examinees steeled their resolve for this final test they would have to take, before they get accepted into the finest institution in all of the Hunter Union.

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I looked around and spotted all the important people, the 'main characters' of the story of the game:

Alexia Hadrion, the noble who seemed to be lost in thoughts while standing.

Noticing it now, her height is basically average, shortest in her friend group.

Her build is elegant and toned, befitting of a noble, I suppose.

Anny Leonheart, the princess herself, who was talking to two boys, while occasionally glancing at Alexia, noticing her staring blankly.

She was wearing tight clothes that did not interfere with movement, but this also showed her body more clearly.

Her body looks slender, as if made for agility, her hair was not too long, neither too short, and styled in a ponytail.

Ryogaku, who was clenching his fists in determination with a determined aura around him, his eyebrows were furrowed in determination.

The light shining from his blade spoke "Determination" in Morse Code.

-.. . - . .-. -- .. -. .- - .. --- -. 

Did I forget to say that he looked determined?

He was quite tall, his physique looked toned, one could tell that he built it by training for years.

His hair was black and short, styled neatly, slightly waving in the nonexistent breeze in the closed room.

And then there was the mindless brute that is in every story, Johan Wolff

He was quite tall, almost the same as Ryogaku.

He looked muscular and bulky, like a gorilla... a trained gorilla.

His hair was brown and styled in a rush. He was standing in a confident posture, though there was a hint of nervousness in his eyes.

These four already met before and hence knew each other, forming a tightly knit friend group.

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'I'm here, finally, the work of all my life has got me here... and I cannot fail now.'

Ryogaku was born in a remote village in the mountains.

His upbringing was very sheltered, not knowing the pains of this world, he developed sympathy for all beings.

This was until one day, his whole life crashed down.

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Hungry, and half-dead, he was saved by an old man who found him unconscious on the road.

The old man revealed himself to be the Rank 11 S+ Class Hunter, Akira Alpin. He wanted Ryogaku to be great, as he reminded him of himself.

One day, Akira died a natural death, smiling even as his soul for heaven.

That day Ryogaku cried, but promised himself to become the strongest and help as many as he can.

He would never let anyone suffer the same fate as him.

He kept it a secret that he was trained by Akira, as he wanted to earn greatness by himself.

On his quest for training, he met his good friends, Anny, Johan, and Alexia, who all supported him in his dream.

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Let me guess, you didn't read all of it, did you?

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POV: Ryogaku

Now, the entrance exam is about to start, the examiner distributed the serial numbers and told everyone to go wait in our respective rooms. Me, Anny, Alexia and Johan are all in group 16.

The examinees will go 10 at a time through 10 doors, behind which are mini-dungeons made by the academy, they are ranked based on the time taken to clear the dungeon and other things like calmness in battle etc.

We went and sat down in the room, talking among ourselves.

We all had trained a lot together in the last 2 years, and were confident that we all would pass easily.

Alexia nervously tapped her foot, the rhythmic sound drowning in the chatter.

Unlike Ryogaku, whose determination practically vibrated in the air, Alexia felt a knot of dread tighten in her stomach.

Her gaze darted towards the doorway, a flicker of fear replacing the usual confidence in her eyes.

Seeing Alexia stiffen up, and looking at the door, I too, turned to check it out.

A skinny boy was coming in. His deep black hair styled as if as an afterthought. Looking at him, he does not seem strong at all.

Despite his appearance, the aura he exudes... overwhelming dread, as if he is leagues above you... it feels just like that day...

Looking at the boy, I clenched the handle of my sword.

A vivid image, a fleeting memory popped up in my mind. Burning houses, people screaming to be saved, begging for mercy.

A single silhouette killing people with movements that can only be called graceful.

My other hand went to my chest, on top of burn marks that I got.

I quickly shook the image out of my mind.

Even though he looks like a stick in the wind, with an unmaintained physique, he exuded an aura of superiority and oppression.

He turned towards Alexia and stared at her. Then he slowly started walking towards us.

I could see Alexia's hands trembling, as her eyes nervously darted around, trying to avoid eye contact with the boy.

We were all thinking that these two had some history, and that he had done something to her in the past.

We were going to stop him but that when Alexia said with a shaking voice, "Good... morning Sukuna"

"Do I know you?" The boy named Sukuna said in a bored voice.

Alexia took a deep breath and said, "I was in the party, when you . . ."

She trailed off at the end, remembering her state of helplessness.

Sukuna showed a face of realization and said, "Oh that, I've had questions about that a few times, don't worry I just got a little angry"

Sukuna then turned towards me, looking at me straight in the eyes.

It was as if my body was frozen, sweat was running down my back as I stared at the still pair of eyes that seemed to be glowing.

I saw him smile a little before saying:

"Ryogaku, I have high hopes for you, make sure you pass this exam, aim for second place, because there is no chance you get first"

After saying this he went to the corner of the room, sat on a chair and dozed off.

"So, what the hell was that?" said Johan with an expression that said 'I don't get it'.

Anny shrugged, before she turned to Alexia, who had calmed down a little.

"But Alexia, why are you so scared of him, what happened . . . in the party?" said Anny as she glanced at the boy sleeping in the corner of the room.

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'Group Sixteen, Enter the Simulator'

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POV: Ryomen Sukuna

Was that a good first impression? Yeah definitely . . . I think.

Well, now I can rest for a little while, there's still time till our turn.

'Group Sixteen, Enter the Simulator'

Bruh, why

Well, I always wanted to try divergent fist on living beings, seeing them explode would be fun... hehe.

I waited until I was the last one in the room and lazily walked out.

My serial number was 169, so I went and entered gate 9.

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"Alright, time for a taste"