Elimination Round

Selena smirked, "Saw that. Your special ability is weird—makes you nearly invincible in a one-on-one fight."

She wasn't wrong. My special ability had given me the edge I needed, and it was a large part of why I had the confidence to aim for the Hunting Dogs and challenge the cult.

"Any ideas on what the test will be like?" I asked, hoping for a hint.

Selena arched a brow. "You tell me. Aren't you the Author?"

I gave her a dry look. "Just because I'm an information broker doesn't mean I know everything."

Even with my meta-knowledge of the novel this world was based on, there was only so much I could predict. The exam now might differ from what it would've been ten years later, but the structure shouldn't be too different.

"The exam takes place over a series of events, lasting anywhere from a week to a month. There are eight stages. The first stage is an elimination round, and the remaining tests represent the Seven States: Fighter, Runner, Dealer, Trickster, Caster, Maker, and Reader. To pass, you only need to complete half, but I intend to clear all of them."

Selena tilted her head, a flicker of curiosity in her eyes. "At least you did your homework. So, any reason why you need to pass them all?"

"I'm aiming for a gold-tier hunter pass."

What exactly was a gold-tier hunter pass? It wasn't something just anyone could get their hands on. A regular hunter's license granted the holder access to low-level resources and allowed them to operate freely within certain limits. It provided stability for hunters who took on local jobs, usually involving low-risk bounties and simple contracts. Most hunters had silver or bronze-tier passes, which offered a steady career path without too many risks.

A gold-tier pass, however, was different. It granted access to top-tier resources, rare intel, and high-paying contracts that went beyond the usual assignments. Gold-tier hunters had the freedom to operate internationally, their jurisdiction extending far beyond the reach of regional hunter associations. They received first dibs on lucrative jobs, equipment, and, most importantly, respect and recognition from the Hunter's Association. It was the kind of pass that made a hunter's name known—sometimes feared—and I was determined to get it.

Something like a gold-tier hunting pass would also improve my standing within the Hunting Dogs… so it was quite crucial.

"Any ideas on how many participants?" I asked, glancing over at Selena.

She raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. "Oh, how should I know such sensitive data?"

"I don't know," I shrugged, "maybe you took a peek or something."

She smirked, crossing her arms. "I mean, I do have very good eyes, but are you insinuating I've done something criminal?"

"You're such a tease," I replied, grinning.

Selena tilted her head, her smirk widening. "Careful, your wife might get jealous."

I rolled my eyes. "Spit it."

"Where do you want me to spit it?" she shot back. "And how wet do you like it, anyway?"

Okay, that one was on me.

She chuckled. "Yeah, I took a little run through their system while no one was looking. There are over twelve thousand participants. Apparently, this isn't the only lobby they're keeping people in. From what I heard, the passing rate will be around 20%, so competition's gonna be tough."

"Twenty percent?" I echoed, raising an eyebrow.

Wasn't it supposed to be 30%? This was a different year, so it was understandable.

Twelve thousand applicants, and only a fraction of that would make it through. And given the kinds of people drawn to these exams—the desperate, the overconfident, and the downright deadly—it was going to be a gauntlet, even for the seasoned.

Selena gave me a half-shrug, looking amused at my reaction. "It's a bigger cutthroat pool than the place where I came from," she said, "but hey, you wanted a gold-tier pass. High stakes come with high rewards."

"Fair point," I conceded, glancing at the waves of applicants around us.

Selena chuckled. "Better make sure you're more than just a pretty face in that suit. They'll eat you alive otherwise."

"Good thing I've got a bit of bite myself," I replied, straightening my jacket.

The lobby suddenly fell quiet. I noticed that the clerks had all disappeared, and in place of the chandelier, a giant jumbotron now hung overhead. The change was so seamless that I hadn't noticed when it happened. I figured multiple aura abilities had been used—probably Maker, Trickster, and Dealer.

On the screen appeared the face of the Hunter's Association chairman. He looked like any middle-aged man, with a plain face, a not-so-obvious stubble, a shiny bald head, and eyes so dull he seemed like a background character in a manga… except he clearly wasn't. He wore a red cape, of all things, along with a plain white shirt and a pair of shorts.

"Greetings, aspiring hunters!" he began, his voice booming through the hushed lobby.

The chairman's voice was surprisingly deep, commanding attention even in his strange attire. He looked like someone who'd just stumbled into the frame, not the leader of the most powerful hunter organization. But appearances were deceptive; I knew better than to let his plainness fool me.

"Welcome to the Hunter's Exam," he said, his dull eyes scanning the room as if he could see us all individually. "You're here because you think you're ready. I assure you, most of you are not."

The silence thickened around us as he continued. "Out of the twelve thousand applicants, only a small number will succeed. The path will be brutal, the tests designed to weed out the unworthy." He paused, his gaze seeming to linger on each one of us, and for a brief moment, his dull eyes sparkled with something fierce.

"And so," he continued, "for those who survive the first stage, let's see what you're truly made of. You have fifteen minutes to reach your designated training rooms. Good luck, and may the best hunters rise."

The screen went dark, and the murmur of voices filled the lobby once more.

A series of letters made of aura flashed over my head, reading [Room B]. Over Selena's head, the aura spelled out [Room A].

"We can't have that, can we?" she said, smirking. "How am I supposed to protect you?"

"You don't necessarily have to protect me all the way," I replied. "Just save me if it looks like I'm about to die."

Selena laughed. "Nah, your wife would kill me if she found out her hubby got hurt or something."

She stared up at the aura above her, and it shifted to [Room B]. Behind us, I heard some shouts as others noticed their own auras switching to [Room A]. Without missing a beat, Selena grabbed me by the wrist and led the way forward.

I raised an eyebrow at Selena's little trick but didn't resist as she pulled me along. "So, swapping aura markers now?" I said with a smirk tugging at my lips. "Didn't think you were that interested in keeping me company."

Selena glanced back, grinning. "Please, I just don't feel like explaining to your wife how her husband couldn't make it through the first round. Besides, these exams tend to have... hazards." She flicked her gaze forward, her grip on my wrist unrelenting.

As we weaved through the crowd, I noticed a few bewildered participants scratching their heads, staring up at the aura above them as if trying to figure out what had just happened. Selena's skill with aura manipulation was unnervingly smooth, and she seemed to relish stirring up a little chaos.

We entered a room lined with steel plates, their gaps filled with fluorescent lamps casting a stark glow. I used my Soul Link to connect with the mundanes, keeping it subtle so they wouldn't sense the aura's invasion. As a precaution, I only linked the auras without equalizing them.

A giant LED screen on the wall displayed a counter, ticking upward as more people filtered in. When it hit 500, a voice filled the room—it was aura, unmistakable and resonant.

"Here are the rules," it announced. "Numero uno: No killing. We aren't barbarians. The killing will come later, so for the bloodthirsty idiots out there, have patience… or you're disqualified. And in this room, disqualification means certain death. Numero dos: Only the top 150 can proceed from this room to the other stages. Once the counter falls to 150, then the door for the other room will open. Immobilizing or knocking out your contenders is fair play. Numero tres: Don't try too hard, 'cause you can try again next year. That's all. Now on the count of ten…"

Selena looked at me, her expression serious. "Here's what we're going to do: hide. Let them fight among each other and take it easy. Simple enough, isn't it?"

"I have a better idea." I grabbed her wrist. "Let me borrow your attribute."

She looked unsure, but she relented nonetheless. "Yeah, sure."

I connected her to the Soul Link and pulled in her disguise attribute.

I connected her to the Soul Link and took on her disguise attribute. "I think I'll need your mental power too, so on my signal, transform us into clowns."

The announcer's voice counted down. "Eight. Nine. Ten. Go crazy, you lot!"

I channeled the Soul Links, equalizing everyone's aura, then pulled Selena close. "Now!"

Instantly, every mundane in the room—including Selena and me—transformed into clowns. I quickly pulled her into a corner, and once we were hidden, I returned everyone's aura to where it belonged. "Selena, dispel our disguises, and let's camouflage ourselves against the walls."

A crowd of weapon-wielding mundanes filled the room, each carrying some sort of deadly instrument. Expecting no casualties was unrealistic, but it seemed the Association had measures in place to keep things under control. I stayed close to Selena, both of us camouflaged against the walls.

The scene was utter chaos.

A big guy—clearly an unofficial hunter—threw a punch at a clown wielding a sword. Nearby, several clowns with unorthodox weapons ganged up on another unofficial hunter. But the wildest part? Most of the clowns were fighting amongst themselves, creating a tangled mess of limbs and weapons.

Dismemberment seemed acceptable, huh? But no killing. Crazy.

As long as it wasn't a one-hit kill, it looked like they'd survive, judging by the teleportations happening all around. Another aura ability at work. I wouldn't be surprised if a healer was waiting for the teleported injured. The Hunter's Association was never one to hold back on its exams, that was for sure.