This time, instead of hiding behind the curtains empty-handed, I grabbed a thick black dictionary that was lying on the floor among a few other books. Its spine was heavy and worn, and I hoped its weight would give me some advantage. My heart thumped violently in my chest, but this time, I was ready to take control of the situation.
The blond guy entered the room like before, muttering in exhaustion, and collapsed onto the couch. His wavy hair fell over his face, concealing his piercing light blue eyes, just like the last two times. But I wasn't going to let him get the drop on me again. I pushed the curtains aside and dashed forward, adrenaline surging.
He barely turned his head before the dictionary smashed into his face with all the force I could muster. The crack of impact rang loudly in the room, and for a moment, he staggered, dazed. I didn't give him a chance to recover.
I jumped onto him and started landing rapid punches, letting the fury that had built over the repeated loops fuel my strikes. His arms flew up instinctively to block, but my fists kept raining down, each one landing with a sharp thud.
"I can't lose now!" he bellowed, his voice filled with fury. Then, with sudden strength, he flipped me over, slamming me to the floor. Pain shot through my body as his movements hit harder than I expected. My left eye burned, and a dark purple bruise bloomed across my cheekbone.
Despite his injuries, his attacks kept coming. Each punch landed like a hammer against my body. My vision blurred, my head spun, and the world felt like it was folding in on me. Just like before, the last thing I remembered before losing consciousness was his towering figure looming over me, fists raised, saying, "I won't let anyone take this away from me."
Then—
"Tick… Tock… Tick… Tock… Ding—"
The familiar, infuriating rhythm of the pocket watch filled my ears, dragging me back to consciousness. I opened my eyes to find myself lying on the same white couch, my body trembling, sweat streaming down my face. My stomach churned with nausea, and that twisting sound of the doorknob filled the room. I didn't move this time; I stayed put, waiting, bracing myself for what would come next.
The blond figure's eyes locked on mine as he lunged, flipping the entire couch over in his attack. This time, however, something was different. My blood boiled with frustration, anger, and determination. I had died—or at least been incapacitated—three times now, all because of that infuriating voice in my head. That anger, that burning frustration, was going to be my weapon.
He landed on me, fists raining down, but I let my rage channel through me. With precise timing and sheer willpower, I flipped him over and began my own barrage. His attempts to regain the upper hand failed; he tried to flip me again, but I was stronger now. My muscles burned from previous fights, but my determination outweighed the pain.
I kept hitting him, each punch landing with controlled force, my vision narrowing to just him and me. Slowly, his movements faltered. His punches became sluggish, his arms trembled, and his eyelids drooped. Finally, he went still. His body slumped, unconscious.
I stepped back, panting heavily, chest heaving as I tried to calm the whirlwind of adrenaline in my system. My fists throbbed from the repeated impacts, and a nausea I couldn't shake gripped me. I stumbled toward the bathroom, leaning over the toilet as bile rose uncomfortably in my throat. I emptied my stomach, resting my forehead on my arm, trying to gather my wits.
Then, the speaker came to life again. The familiar adult female voice rang out, clear and authoritative:
"Makita Koge, you have qualified. Please make yourself into the qualifier's gate. Only two spots remain."
My body stiffened. Two spots remaining. Every nerve in my body screamed for rest, but there was no time. I had qualified once, but I wasn't done yet. My eyes narrowed, determination flooding every inch of my being.
"All I need is nineteen more points," I calculated mentally, feeling the weight of strategy pressing down on me. "It's been fifteen minutes, so all seven of my portals are back."
I exhaled slowly, thinking carefully. I need to be strategic. I scanned my surroundings, piecing together the rules of the exam. "They must have put a limited number of robots to prevent everyone from farming points quickly. That means fewer robots to fight and more point-starving examinees."
My mind raced through possibilities. If I was smart, I could swoop in at the right moment, defeat the right participants, and secure my points efficiently. Seven human opponents could be enough if I timed it perfectly. I clenched my fists, feeling the sting of exhaustion and the surge of anticipation.
"All I need to do is swoop in and defeat seven examinees to pass," I whispered to myself, feeling the determination settle in like armor. My portals were my advantage, my speed and reflexes sharpened by repeated loops.
I pushed myself away from the toilet, standing slowly as my muscles protested, my body heavy from repeated exertion. Pain and adrenaline intertwined, forming a strange, electric energy inside me. I let myself breathe in and out slowly, steadying my heart.
It's going to be hard, but I'll make it happen, I told myself. I have to.
The sounds of the arena filtered through the windows—shouts, metal clanging, the buzz of distant explosions. Other examinees were still engaged in fights, but I had a clear path forward if I acted carefully. My portals were ready. My fists were steady. My mind was focused.
I glanced at the door. I knew he would come again, but this time, I wasn't going to be caught off guard. I had survived three deadly loops. I had learned. I had adapted. This was my moment.
"Let's finish this," I muttered under my breath, my eyes narrowing. Determination flooded through me, pushing away the fatigue and fear. Every movement from now on would be deliberate, every strike calculated. The qualifier's gate was within reach, and I was going to get there.
With a deep, grounding breath, I stepped forward, ready to face whatever—or whoever—came through that door next. My journey through the exam was far from over, but I was no longer the same inexperienced examinee who had started this morning. This time, I had the experience, the strategy, and the will to survive.
The arena had yet to test my limits fully, but I was ready. Fully ready.