"Uhm...D-29, is this normal?" Luca finally asked the question everyone was thinking.
Because now, everyone was looking at him like he was supposed to say something.
Anything.
But the truth was, the first-time proctor was sweating bullets.
Because as soon as the simulation started, nearly half of the candidates almost face-planted.
"!!!"
And one such person was Corporal Anya Merren, who wobbled so hard she was almost floored.
She was only twenty-six—fresh blood, one of the youngest to reach her position.
But as a medically discharged soldier under the House of Kyros, she was quite literally the youngest.
She had been a rising star. Cross-trained. Medal-earning. A name people expected to shine in the military.
Until it all fell apart.
Contaminated during a mission to save her stranded squad, she came back broken. Medically discharged.
The day they told her about her condition and how it was better for her to retire, she thought it would’ve been better if she hadn’t made it out alive back then.
All her dreams were thrown into the gutter. And all that was left was the orphaned girl who dreamt of giving back.
But who would’ve thought she’d make it this far?
And who would’ve thought they’d have another shot at life?
Not her.
And likely not any of the eighty-three other people who were going to be tested today.
But here they were. Not just trying to get back into things, but likely coming back with a vengeance.
All because they were fortunate enough to end up in this house, and were lucky enough to continue staying alive until their savior arrived.
They were given a second chance.
So when they called for volunteers who could pilot the biomechas, which their very own young lord would make, all hell broke loose.
A brawl broke out just to get to the sign-ups.
Because just who was smart enough to place a single holoboard instead of sending a notice via their terminals like normal people?
Well, a certain heir who approved Master Quinn’s suggestion.
Thankfully, the heir as well as the Duke and Duchess hadn’t seen the kind of spectacle that resulted in blackeyes and hurting shins.
But more importantly, Anya was thankful for the rating requirement. For it not for that, the eighty-four candidates would’ve tripled or so!
As if it wasn’t tricky enough already, when she could clearly see a few legends competing for the ten spots. Not to mention the other people watching. Eyes sharp. Judging every move.
She swallowed as she stepped into the chamber.
It was definitely not their first time in the training hall, but the configuration of the simulation area looked different from anything they had tried.
Apparently, all they had to do was to remain upright for as long as possible.
Okay, that shouldn’t be too bad, right?
[COMMENCING SIMULATION]
[3]
[2]
[1]
[BEGIN]
BEEP!
Famous. Fucking. Last. Words.
"!!!"
It felt like someone had dropped a full-grown adult on her back.
From out of nowhere.
And then sat on her shoulders just for fun.
The air left her lungs. Her knees nearly buckled.
She glanced around.
And saw the same thing happening everywhere.
People gritting their teeth.
Candidates wobbling like newborn foals.
Soldiers gasping and swearing through their teeth.
Oh yeah.
This was going to be hell.
Had they not been trained to respond instinctively, Anya would have collapsed immediately.
Her instincts alone saved her from being disqualified on the spot.
At first, she thought she could conserve spiritual energy while the gravity sat at a manageable two times normal.
But wait.
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