CHAPTER 32
Even though the instructor had given the teens a ten-minute time limit to complete the assessment, it took hundreds of them an hour before they could sprint around the field four times.
That was because of how wide and massive it was.
The field was almost like one and a half soccer pitches merged together.
It made Ray wonder how they were able to get something this huge inside the Corps, but he didn't care much as he was part of the hundred-plus students who barely finished within an hour.
The moment he crossed the finish line, Ray immediately collapsed onto the ground.
He was heaving like someone who had dived underwater and stayed there for several minutes before bursting back to the surface.
He lay there gasping for air, his lungs burning fiercely while his chest felt tight, making his vision spin for a brief moment—until a loud ding echoed inside his head.
[Congratulations! Daily Quest completed]
[10 EXP received]
'Huh?' Ray lifted an eyebrow as he stared at the screen hovering in front of his face while he lay flat on his back, still panting heavily.
'... Does that mean I completed the 10KM run? But that doesn't make sense. The field isn't even large enough to add up to ten kilometres.'
His brows knitted as he racked his brain, trying to understand how the system had marked his quest as "completed".
After a few seconds of thinking, he finally arrived at a conclusion.
'It probably added the distance I ran from the dorm to the training field, then back again, and stacked it together. Oh well. Who am I to argue if the system feels like being generous?'
He shrugged nonchalantly, only for a shadow to suddenly loom over him.
Squinting slightly, Ray discerned the facial features of the person standing above him.
"What do you want?" he frowned.
"Just checking up on my friend," Kai replied with an eager smile as Van dragged his heavy feet over.
Van looked like he was about to collapse at any moment, swaying left and right from exhaustion.
Where others had finished in an hour, Van had taken an hour and a half to complete the run.
"We aren't friends."
"But I want us to be."
"And I don't."
Ray pushed himself off the ground after regaining a bit of composure, only to notice the instructor staring at the Aspirants with a judging, almost disappointed expression.
It was only a handful of students—including Kai and Trisha—who had managed to finish under twenty minutes.
Before Kai could say anything else, the instructor's voice echoed across the field.
"This training was supposed to last for two hours, and we still have thirty minutes to spare. However, since today is your first day, I'll be lenient.
You're dismissed early."
A few tired murmurs rippled through the crowd.
"Head to the cafeteria and get something to eat before your homeroom class. We'll meet again tomorrow at this same time and location. Have a nice day."
With that, the instructor vanished from view, leaving the Aspirants behind—some beaming with mild joy, others drowning in exhaustion.
"So, Ray. Have you decided on the aspect training you want to join?" Van asked, flashing his teeth weakly.
Ray rubbed his hair thoughtfully.
The previous day, Chuck had explained that they would need to register for an aspect training, and a list of available classes had already been sent to their watches.
Tech class, combat class, ability class, weapon class, utility class—and several others.
"I'm still undecided," Ray replied. "Maybe I'll decide during breakfast."
Kai had already run off somewhere, leaving the two of them behind as they exited the training field.
The best friends headed toward the cafeteria together.
"What about you?" Ray asked with a raised brow. "Which aspect class are you joining?"
Van just chuckled as if the answer should have been obvious.
"Do I really have to tell you now? You should've guessed by now."
Ray exhaled softly as he shook his head.
"Right. Tech."
Van nodded, and soon enough, they found themselves inside the cafeteria.
It wasn't anything notable.
Just a wide, enormous space capable of fitting hundreds of people comfortably, with chairs and tables scattered all over the area.
A long line had formed at one corner as Aspirants queued up to get their meals.
Those who already had their food had moved away and picked tables to sit at.
With his keen observation, Ray quickly noticed something peculiar.
All the higher-grade Aspirants sat together, while the lower grades clustered among themselves, deliberately keeping their distance from the stronger ones.
Ray simply shook his head and joined the line with Van.
They waited for several minutes as the line moved painfully slow until, finally, it was their turn and they were handed their trays of food.
Pasta drenched in sauce, a cup of water, and chunks of meat placed neatly to garnish the meal.
Walking away, the duo scanned the cafeteria for a place to sit, and it didn't take long before they found an empty table and settled down.
Away from all the hierarchy nonsense, they ate quietly, choosing not to discuss anything.
'... The food here is surprisingly good. Even though this is my first day eating here, the cook actually did a decent job with this pasta,' Ray mused inwardly as he shoved a spoonful into his mouth, chewing slowly and savoring the rich taste spreading across his tongue.
Until—
"Oh. So this is the low-grade moron who dared surpass me during training today?"
A voice suddenly wafted into Ray's ears as its owner approached.
Lifting his head, Ray saw four boys walking toward them, each holding a tray of food.
Their leader, a boy with jet-black hair, sneered openly at him.
"What are you glaring at?" the boy continued. "Won't you apologise for overtaking us during training?"
Ray paused, staring at them with his fork frozen mid-air, just inches from his mouth.
Van, seated beside him, instinctively glanced at their watches and caught sight of the glowing grade levels.
The leader was a Grade 2.5 ability user, while the boys flanking him were all around Grade 1.7 each.
'Shit! This is bad!'
Ray, however, remained calm—far too calm for the situation.
He slowly finished shoving the fork into his mouth, chewed deliberately, then lifted an eyebrow mid-chew before replying.
"If I overtook you," he said calmly, "doesn't that just mean you're slow?"