Chapter 14: Spotting Stalkers

The lounge was a sanctuary of warmth and light after the cold, brutal chaos of the virtual reality test. Soft, ambient music played in the background, mingling with the low hum of conversation and the clinking of utensils against plates. The air smelled of roasted meat, fresh bread, and the faint tang of mana-infused beverages. Rob sat at a corner table with Lina, their plates piled high with food. For the first time in what felt like weeks, they were eating something that didn't taste like despair or regret.

Rob stabbed a piece of grilled chicken with his fork, holding it up like a trophy. "You know, I never thought I'd miss real food this much. I mean, I've eaten some weird stuff in my life, but grass? That's a new low."

Lina snorted, tearing off a piece of bread. "Don't forget the time you cried while eating leaves. A goat would've been proud."

Rob groaned, shoving the chicken into his mouth. "I was starving, okay? And those leaves were… surprisingly bitter. Like, who programmed that? 'Hey, let's make the grass taste like regret.'"

Lina smirked, leaning back in her chair. "Yeah, well, at least you didn't almost get eaten by a sandworm. That thing was terrifying. I still have nightmares about those teeth."

Rob shuddered, his fork pausing mid-air. "You and me both. But hey, at least it wasn't real, right? I mean, we're all still alive. Well, technically."

Lina rolled her eyes. "Yeah, because getting eaten by a virtual sandworm is so much better. I can still feel the phantom pain."

Rob grinned, pointing his fork at her. "Next time, maybe try not to look so delicious."

Lina responded by hurling a piece of bread at him. It bounced off his forehead, and he laughed, catching it before it hit the table. "Shut up," she said, though her lips twitched into a smile.

The lounge was filled with other applicants, some chatting quietly, others eating in silence. The mood was a mix of relief and tension, as everyone processed their experiences. A group of hunters in the corner were recounting their close calls, their voices rising and falling with exaggerated gestures. Nearby, a lone applicant sat staring at his plate, his hands trembling slightly. Rob couldn't blame him. The test had been brutal, and not everyone had made it out unscathed.

Rob leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms. "So, what do you think the next test will be? Another virtual nightmare? Or maybe something even worse, like a desert or a frozen tundra?"

Lina raised an eyebrow. "Why not both? A frozen desert with sandworms that shoot icicles."

Rob groaned. "Don't give them ideas. I'm still trying to forget the deer-horned Bigfoot."

Lina chuckled, but her expression turned thoughtful. "You know, the evaluator mentioned something about adaptability and teamwork. Maybe the next test will focus on that."

Rob nodded, tapping his fork against his plate. "Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. They're probably testing how well we can work together under pressure. I mean, we barely survived as a group. Imagine if we'd been on our own."

Lina smirked. "Great. More teamwork. Just what I needed."

Rob laughed, but his attention was drawn to the front of the lounge as the evaluator entered. The room fell silent almost instantly, the weight of her presence commanding attention. She stood tall, her crisp white lab coat immaculate, her expression calm but authoritative.

"Congratulations to all of you," she began, her voice carrying effortlessly across the room. "You've completed the Vitality Test, and I must say, many of you performed exceptionally well."

A murmur of relief and pride rippled through the applicants. Rob exchanged a glance with Lina, a small smile tugging at his lips.

The evaluator continued. "For those who made it to the 3-day mark—or 1 hour in real time—you'll have the opportunity to choose a Rare Rank item after the entire test is over."

The room buzzed with excitement. Rob leaned over to Lina, whispering, "Rare Rank gear? That's not bad. I could use a new staff."

Lina smirked. "I'm eyeing a new set of daggers. Mine are starting to feel… inadequate."

The evaluator raised a hand, silencing the chatter. "And for those who survived the full 7 days—or 2 hours in real time—you'll receive an additional reward: 1 Epic Rank item of your choosing."

The room erupted into a mix of cheers and gasps. Rob's eyes widened, and he turned to Lina, who looked equally stunned. "Epic Rank gear?" he muttered. "That's… insane."

Lina nodded, her smirk widening. "Guess we're not just surviving anymore. We're thriving."

The evaluator's expression grew serious as she continued. "The test you experienced today was part of a new system implemented by the Bureau. It's designed to simulate the real challenges of gate raids and prepare future hunters for what's to come. Some of you may have noticed that the system has changed. In the past, the tests were… easier. But we believe this new approach will better prepare you for the dangers ahead."

Rob leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "Well, I mean, I've seen those old YouTube videos hunters used to upload. They'd just run on a treadmill, lift some weights, and call it a day. No monsters, no radiation fields, no sandworms trying to turn you into a snack."

Lina smirked, tearing off another piece of bread. "Yeah, I remember those. It was basically gym class with a fancy interface. No wonder so many hunters got wrecked in their first real gate raid. They probably thought it'd be just as easy."

Rob shook his head, a wry grin on his face. "Guess the Bureau finally figured out that watching YouTube tutorials doesn't make you ready for the real thing."

The evaluator's gaze swept across the room, her tone firm. "The next test will begin in three minutes. Rest well—or at least, as well as you can in that time—and prepare yourselves. The challenges ahead will only grow more difficult."

A collective groan rose from the applicants. Rob's jaw dropped. "Three minutes? Are you kidding me? I haven't even finished my food!"

Lina shrugged, already shoveling the rest of her meal into her mouth. "Better eat fast, rookie. You don't want to face whatever's next on an empty stomach."

As she left the room, the chatter resumed, louder and more animated than before. Rob picked up his glass of water, swirling it thoughtfully. "You know, for all the hell we went through, this doesn't feel so bad. We survived. We're getting rewards. And we're one step closer to becoming hunters."

Lina raised her glass, clinking it against his. "To surviving. And to not getting eaten by sandworms."

Rob grinned. "I'll drink to that."

As they ate and talked, the weight of the test began to lift, replaced by a cautious optimism. They had faced the worst the virtual world could throw at them and come out alive. Whatever came next, they would face it together.

Three minutes passed in a blur. The lounge, once a haven of warmth and comfort, was now a memory as staff members poured in, their crisp uniforms and no-nonsense expressions signaling the end of the brief respite. The applicants rose from their seats, plates of half-eaten food abandoned, and followed the staff through a series of winding hallways. Rob and Lina exchanged nervous glances but fell in line with the others, their footsteps echoing in the sterile corridor.

The next chamber was a stark contrast to the lounge. Sleek, metallic walls lined with glowing blue circuits gave the room an almost clinical feel. At the center stood the evaluator, her arms crossed and her expression unreadable. Rows of special goggles encased in glass were being set up by staff members, their surfaces shimmering faintly under the bright overhead lights.

The evaluator clapped her hands, the sharp sound cutting through the murmurs of the applicants. "Now, let's move on to the next test. Please follow me to the next chamber."

Rob raised an eyebrow as he took in the setup. "What's this? Virtual reality again?"

Lina groaned. "If it's another sandworm, I'm out."

The evaluator ignored the comments, her tone crisp and professional. "This is the Perception Test. When you wear these goggles, you'll be immersed in a simulated environment. Your task is to spot as many enemies as possible within a 360-degree view, ranging from 60 meters to 800 meters. You'll have a time limit of 10 minutes. The test will progressively increase in range and difficulty, and your score will be based on accuracy and speed."

Rob blinked. "360 degrees? So, basically, we're looking for enemies everywhere?"

Lina sighed, rubbing her temples. "Great. Just what I needed—more things trying to kill me from all directions."

The evaluator continued, her gaze sweeping across the room. "No skills are allowed in this test. This is about your raw perception and focus. Good luck."

The applicants were directed to put on the goggles. Rob adjusted his, the cool metal pressing against his temples. He glanced at Lina, who gave him a thumbs-up, her smirk barely visible through the reflective lenses of her own goggles.

"Don't miss any enemies," she said, her voice teasing but with an edge of seriousness. "Or I'll never let you live it down."

Rob chuckled, though his stomach churned with nerves. "Thanks for the pressure. I'll try not to disappoint."

As the test began, Rob's vision shifted abruptly. The sterile chamber vanished, replaced by a dense, shadowy forest. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves, and the faint rustling of branches overhead sent a shiver down his spine. He took a deep breath, reminding himself to stay calm and focused. This is just like the virtual reality test, he thought. Except this time, I'm not fighting for my life. I just need to see.

The first phase began. Goblins darted through the underbrush, their movements quick but predictable. Rob's eyes scanned the environment, his focus razor-sharp. He spotted one, then another, and another. His score ticked up steadily: 5, 10, 15. By the end of the phase, he had scored 31.

The next phase was harder. The goblins were faster and farther away, their movements more erratic. Rob's eyes strained as he tracked them, his heart pounding with the effort. He managed to spot 23 this time, but the strain was starting to show.

The third phase was brutal. The goblins didn't just run—they hid, blending into the environment with unnerving skill. Rob squinted, his vision blurring slightly as he tried to pick out their shapes in the distance. He missed one, then another. By the end, he had only scored 12.

The final phase was a nightmare. The forest seemed to close in around him, the shadows deepening until he could barely see a few feet in front of him. He strained his eyes, but the goblins were invisible, their presence only hinted at by the faintest rustle of leaves. His score remained at zero.

When the test ended, Rob pulled off the goggles, his head throbbing. A staff member approached, noting his final score. "Wait here," they said, gesturing to a corner of the room. "We'll call the next applicant."

Rob nodded, his shoulders slumping as he made his way to the waiting area. He glanced up at the leaderboard, his eyes widening as he took in the scores. The average applicants ranged from 50 to 90, their names listed in neat rows. But at the top of the board, one name stood out: Kai Nakamura – 141.

Lina joined him a moment later, her expression grim. "How'd you do?" she asked.

Rob sighed. "Not great. You?"

She shrugged. "Better than you, probably. But not by much."

Rob glanced back at the leaderboard, his jaw tightening. "That guy's a machine. How does anyone score 141?"

Lina followed his gaze, her lips curling into a smirk. "Guess some people are just built different. Don't worry, rookie. You'll get there."

Rob snorted. "Yeah, maybe in another lifetime."

As the next applicant stepped up to take the test, Rob leaned against the wall, his mind racing. The Perception Test had been a wake-up call. He had survived the virtual reality gauntlet, but this was different. This wasn't about brute strength or quick reflexes—it was about focus, precision, and the ability to see what others couldn't. And right now, he wasn't sure if he had what it took.

But as he watched the scores climb on the leaderboard, a spark of determination ignited within him. He might not be at the top yet, but he wasn't going to give up. Not now. Not ever.

The test wasn't over. And neither was he.