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[ Location: Monitoring Facility of the Black Ribbon Participants, Just Above the Tunnel ]
The facility looked like a NASA setup. Many monitors were present in every corner of the walls, and each monitor had an assigned operator responsible for observing a participant who wore a black ribbon.
Even though the place was shrouded in advanced technology, the monitoring team acted in complete unison and professionalism. They were well accustomed to this work and far more experienced. Each examination that happened every year had different settings and environments, and this time, the terrain was an Ancient Amazon.
This examination focused entirely on survival and combat, as requested by the higher-ups. Unlike before, when the tests were easier and more accommodating for new students, this time things weren't simple. Changes within their world had made every anomaly stronger and more out of control. In the near future, the balance between humans and anomalies would be shattered.
Because of this, the higher-ups requested an examination suited for combat and engagement with monsters. They didn't want more young people to die and risk their lives on the front lines of duty. They needed to choose the next generation of reliable and resilient students. This exam was all about strength paired with good mentality, control over unknown situations, and the ability to overcome them.
The monsters inside the Chamber were produced using advanced technologies of this world. They copied the exact monster biology—every single detail. The monsters prepared for this examination ranged from D to B-tier beasts. These beasts originated from the Void Stacks that appeared ten years ago, for unknown reasons.
Void cracks could appear anywhere, at any time. Whenever one appeared, distortions occurred in the air. Small cracks, like shattered glass, would form as space itself fractured. From those cracks, the void emerged, and strange monsters came through—what they called anomalies.
Each void crack differed in size. They ranged from five feet tall to the largest one ever recorded, which was around 2,100 feet tall—double the size of the Eiffel Tower. From that massive void crack emerged the largest anomaly ever known
It was a massive 2,000 feet tall humanoid giant with dark red scales covering its skin. Its head was surrounded by many eyes, and every eye had a mouth beneath its pupil, filled with sharp teeth and a long purple tongue. This anomaly brought terror to the entire world. It was the first time humanity had witnessed something so horrifying.
From the monster's chest, a massive dragon head protruded. It had dark scales and no eyes, yet it could breathe fire that destroyed a large portion of Germany. This enormous void crack appeared in Germany, causing massive devastation. Around 10,000 people—old men, women, children, and others—died. It spared no one.
They named this anomaly "Drachenkopf."
Alongside it, many more anomalies emerged from void cracks. All of them shared black-and-red scaled bodies and terrifying appearances. Some were hybrids—a lion with the lower half of a snake, a massive snake with human legs, a humanoid with bizarre biology, a wolf with hawk heads, a tiger with the body of a massive bird, and even prehistoric and mythological monsters that should never have existed in this world.
The German government couldn't handle the destruction alone. Their guns, cannons, lasers, missiles, bombs—even nuclear weapons—were useless against the anomalies. That was when they sought help from other countries. Many powerful figures came forward to assist in defeating the anomaly.
That moment marked the beginning of everything—and a grim realization.
Their world was no longer just about evil souls becoming Hollows, not just villains, criminals, agendas, or desires. Their world was being invaded by something unknown. The anomalies didn't care about anything—they came only for destruction and annihilation.
If this continued, an apocalypse was inevitable.
( ＾ω＾)
Everything would be explained step by step in the near future. This was only a glimpse of what was to come.
Because of the increasing anomaly appearances, representatives from every country and many high-ranking figures gathered to discuss new defensive possibilities against void cracks. One of the most important topics was education—training the future protectors of the world.
Many discussions followed.
That was why one of the top academies in the world, UA, decided to adjust its curriculum, introducing new studies and stricter requirements that students had to accomplish.
This was no longer about aspiring to be a hero, chasing fame, becoming number one, or making people smile. It was about survival—limiting destruction, saving what could be saved, and protecting those who needed protection.
Today, many applicants came to UA to be part of this new era—the future of their world.
But would they all be accepted?
That depended on their capabilities.
Every monitor graded each participant, analyzing their abilities. Even their smallest movements were watched and calculated carefully. Many participants had already failed the test the moment they entered the Chamber.
In a secluded corner of the facility, a woman observed the late examinee who had just entered. He had already received a penalty for being late, and she had deducted his points without hesitation.
She was—
( ＾Д＾)