I already had eight points to my name thanks to those robots and that nerdy guy. All I needed now was twenty-two more to pass this test. But my body was screaming for rest. My arms were heavy, my legs trembling, and my mind fuzzy from using so many portals in such a short span.
I need to hide somewhere until my ability recharges, I thought, scanning the street for a place to catch my breath. My eyes landed on an average-sized house across the road. Its exterior was painted a muted brown, with a small garden and a wooden fence that didn't look particularly secure. It would do.
Taking a deep breath, I darted across the street, narrowly avoiding a group of examinees fighting a medium-sized robot. Sparks flew as punches collided with steel plating, and screams of surprise or pain echoed through the arena. My heart pounded in my chest, my adrenaline spiking, but I forced myself to focus on the house.
I slipped through the front door and froze. The interior was surprisingly well-stocked—couches, curtains, books scattered across the floor, and tables with small lamps. Everything was neat but lived-in, as if someone had been using this house for months, maybe even years.
I collapsed onto a white couch, letting my arms fall limply at my sides. My chest heaved as I tried to slow my breathing. Just as I began to relax, I heard it—a soft twist of a doorknob.
Panic shot through me. I scrambled behind the nearest curtains, pressing myself as flat as possible.
A voice, male and hoarse with exhaustion, echoed through the room. "I'm so close to passing. I just need to get my energy back."
God damn it. This is the worst situation to be in, I seethed silently, feeling my pulse accelerate.
"Defeat him."
The voice was back, deep and commanding, inside my head again. I groaned, pressing a hand against my forehead. I keep hearing this damn voice. No, I'm not going to fight him, I'm exhausted.
But the world didn't give me time to argue. Suddenly, a sharp, throbbing pain shot through my chest, as if something invisible were crushing my heart with relentless force. My airways tightened, suffocating me, and then blood began to seep into my mouth. My body convulsed as I fell forward, dragging the curtains down with me.
"Help…" I croaked, my voice barely audible over my own ragged breathing.
Then—an impossibly cold hand seemed to grip my chest, crushing my heart with terrifying strength. Time froze. The only sound in the world was the relentless ticking of a pocket watch, echoing in my ears.
"Tick… Tock… Tick… Tock… Ding—"
When I opened my eyes again, I was on the same couch. My body trembled with residual fear, sweat streaming down my face. The doorknob twisted again, just like before. My stomach dropped. I quickly scrambled behind the curtains once again.
What the fuck just happened? I whispered, my voice barely above a breath. My heart raced, and my breathing grew shallow. I pressed a hand to my mouth, trying not to alert whoever—or whatever—was approaching.
"I'm so close to passing this exam. I just need to get my energy back," the same exhausted voice said aloud.
"Defeat him," that damning voice in my head instructed again.
If I don't do what he says, he's going to kill me again, isn't he? I thought, panic prickling every nerve in my body. Sweat dripped down my temples. My palms were clammy, and my legs felt weak, as though they might buckle at any moment.
Cautiously, I peeked out from behind the curtains. The figure from before lay on the couch—the same one I had been lying on moments ago. Wavy blond hair framed a face with light blue eyes. His back was turned toward me, giving me a perfect view.
I slipped out of the curtains and moved closer, intending to strike him. My steps were careful, silent, measured. But as I neared him, the wooden floor creaked beneath my weight.
"Who's there?" he asked, spinning around with astonishing speed.
Without thinking, I charged. We collided with a harsh thud, both of us tumbling to the floor. I tried to scramble on top of him, but he was unnaturally strong, despite his exhaustion. Every punch, every grapple, felt like wrestling with a force beyond human strength. He pinned me down and began raining blows onto me. Each strike sent waves of pain across my body. My vision blurred. My face stung with every hit.
I can't… I can't… my mind screamed, but my body refused to respond.
The last thing I remembered before blacking out was his voice, calm and chilling: "I won't let anyone take this away from me."
Darkness swallowed me.
Then—the pocket watch again. The ticking, the ringing:
"Tick… Tock… Tick… Tock… Ding—"
When I opened my eyes, I was back on that goddamn white couch. My stomach churned, and my body shivered as sweat soaked my clothes. The doorknob twisted again. I froze, heart hammering in my chest.
It's happening again, I thought, my breath hitching. My mind raced, trying to figure out how to survive. I couldn't let exhaustion or fear control me this time. I needed a plan—fast.
I forced myself to sit up straighter, brushing damp hair from my forehead. My portals weren't fully recharged yet, but I could make it work. I just had to be smart, precise, and avoid unnecessary risks.
What should i do?
Sweat dripped into my eyes, as I scrambled to hide behind the curtains, preparing to face the same figure who was the cause of two of my deaths. My mind felt clearer now, sharpened by fear, by adrenaline, by the absolute necessity of survival.
The doorknob twisted. The figure was coming. I took a deep breath, summoning every ounce of courage I had left. My next move would determine whether I continued toward the Qualifier's gate—or lost