Chapter 49 - Unit Test (3)
When the airship doors opened, Nathan and his unit stepped out onto a grassy field that looked more like a resort than a testing ground.
The area was vast, with rolling hills and dense forests in the distance.
The air was crisp, and the sun shone brightly overhead, casting a golden glow over the landscape.
But the serene atmosphere was quickly shattered by the sight of the massive gate—or rather, the netted fence—that stood before them.
It was tall and imposing, with guards stationed on either side, their nano-tech suits gleaming in the sunlight.
Their stern expressions made it clear that no unauthorized personnel would be allowed to go through.
Nathan's eyes scanned the area, taking in the three other airships that had landed nearby.
Each one was unloading cadets, their units forming up and preparing for the test.
It didn't take long for Nathan to realize that there were different entrances for each class and their units.
This was confirmed when he noticed that none of the other airships belonged to units from Class A or C.
It was just units from Class B. And there were four units in total, including his own.
His gaze immediately sought out Natasha, and it didn't take long to find her.
She was standing with her unit, which consisted of Alicia, Kevin, and two others—Patrick and Annabelle, both of them being commoners.
Natasha quickly noticed Nathan staring and flashed him a teasing grin.
Then, in a bid to fluster him, she threw a playful kiss in his direction.
Nathan's reaction was immediate: his face twisted into a dumbfounded, disgusted expression, his hands flailing slightly as if to swat the imaginary kiss away.
Natasha giggled, clearly enjoying his reaction.
Seeing her giggle, Nathan's expression softened, and he smiled warmly at her.
He then raised his hand, forming a fist, and then pointed at her before miming a punching motion.
The message was clear: I'll beat you.
Natasha's grin widened, and she mouthed back, 'Dream on'.
The playful exchange was brief but enough to lighten the tension, at least for a moment anyway.
While this was going on, the instructors on the scene began handing out watches to each unit.
One of them, a tall woman with a no-nonsense demeanor, explained their function.
"These watches will record your kills and the type of monster you eliminate.
Regular rank beasts are worth 5 points, mutated beasts are worth 10, and pseudo-evolved rank beasts are worth 20.
If you take down a fellow cadet, that's 15 points. Taking down a unit leader is worth 30 points."
She paused, letting the information sink in before continuing.
"And while you won't be wearing the bracelets this time, these watches have a built-in function that determines when a fight between two cadets is over.
The cadet who loses will have their suit glow yellow. If they try to continue fighting after that, their entire unit will be disqualified and fail the test."
Another instructor, a burly man with a deep voice, added, "There are eight of us here, and we'll be watching your every move. So don't you dare think you can get away with anything underhanded. Now, begin!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Nathan and his unit sprang into action.
They didn't waste a second, sprinting toward the testing grounds.
Maria was the first to act, using her powers to summon thick vines and plants that quickly grew around them, providing cover and making it harder for anyone to follow.
The rest of the unit followed closely behind, their movements fluid and coordinated.
The other Class B units weren't far behind. As Nathan's unit disappeared into the dense foliage, the remaining three units rushed in as well, each taking a different path.
The air was filled with the sound of rustling leaves and hurried footsteps as the cadets spread out, their eyes sharp and their senses on high alert.
And with that the unit test had officially begun.