The pop-up test

All the students of Class C-1 were gathered at the entrance of the academy's training ground. The massive facility spanned approximately forty kilometers in diameter, forming an irregular circular shape. It was divided into three distinct sections: the desert, the rainforest, and the ruins. These environments mirrored the major areas that scavengers frequently explored, making the training ground an effective tool for preparing recruits for real-world scenarios.

Each area was home to specific types of monsters, often in hordes, reflecting the dangers scavengers faced. To enhance the recruits' training, the academy had captured and released some of these monsters into the training ground. This strategy significantly reduced casualties during missions while improving the success rates of rankers.

The students of Class C-1 stood under the blazing sun, their attention fixed on the commander addressing them. The man was tall, with a muscular build and a perpetually sour expression. A deep scar ran along his right cheek, dangerously close to his eye, giving him an intimidating presence.

The commander wore a black military-grade cyber suit, layered with a jacket. On his belt rested a light blue badge with the letter "A" emblazoned on it, alongside a pair of pistol revolvers that gave him the air of a cowboy. His sheriff's hat, adorned with a star featuring the letter "S," completed his imposing look. His deep voice boomed as he addressed the students.

"The training grounds contain monsters ranging from E-class to A+. Unfortunately for you, your assignment will take place in the rainforest, where the most dangerous monsters are B-class," he said, his tone unbothered.

The students exchanged uneasy glances, their expressions reflecting their growing anxiety. Even Zain, usually calm, felt a chill run down his spine.

This commander is insane. How can he call that 'unfortunate'? Zain thought, frowning slightly.

Despite his scrawny appearance, Zain had visible muscle definition, which made him stand out. Among the students, he was the only one with a light blue badge, a distinction that placed him near the top students and close to the commander.

The rest of the students wore the same cyber suits, but their badges were white. This difference in rank sparked envy among some students, who occasionally shot angry glances at Zain. However, Zain barely noticed as he focused on the commander's instructions.

"You will be split into groups: Recon Squad, Hunter Squad, Alpha Squad, and Scavenger Squad. This will be your first test. Surprise, surprise! This is a pop-up test, and your skills will determine whether you pass or fail."

The commander's announcement caused an uproar among the students, except for the top-ranked ones. Even Zain found himself mumbling.

One student stepped forward, voicing what many were thinking.

"Commander, we're still dormant humans. How are we supposed to fight the monsters in there?"

"Yeah! That's right!" others echoed in agreement.

The commander gave a dark smile before answering.

"You don't need to worry. All of you drank the monster blood given to you last year, right?"

The students nodded in unison—except for the top students and Zain. The commander ignored the anomaly, knowing that the top students came from influential clans that provided their members with specialized monster blood. Zain, on the other hand, was an exception. He had been instructed not to consume any monster blood for the time being.

"Good," the commander continued. "I will now allow you to select your weapons. These weapons are powerful enough to kill an A+ monster. Oh, and if any of you manage to kill a C-rank monster or higher, you are permitted to collect its blood for yourself. However, do not drink it until instructed by a scientist from the Ascension Department."

Excited murmurs spread through the crowd. It wasn't every day that students got a chance to rank up before officially becoming scavengers.

"With that said, here are the groups and your assignments."

A hologram appeared, displaying the names of the students divided into four groups. The class of forty students had been split unevenly:

1. Recon Squad: This group consisted of six members, including Zain. The squad had four boys and two girls, all of whom were members of the "Pentagon," the most influential clique in the class. Their task was to scout for optimal camping locations, identify monster habitats, and estimate their numbers.

2. Hunter Squad: This group had ten members, split evenly between boys and girls. Their mission was to eliminate monsters that posed a threat to the scavenger squad.

3. Alpha Squad: Made up of ten members—primarily female, with only two males—this squad was responsible for securing the base of operations found by the Recon Squad. They would coordinate orders and sort collected materials.

4. Scavenger Squad: This group, the largest, had fourteen members. They were tasked with gathering useful items and completing the objectives outlined in the mission.

"Once you find your name, come forward and select your weapon!" the commander bellowed, his voice echoing across the training ground.

The students began scanning the hologram for their names, their excitement mingled with apprehension as the test loomed before them.

End of Chapter 10