As they entered the next area, the group came face to face with the imposing machine that would measure their compatibility with the suits.
"Now, we'll assess your compatibility percentages with the suits," Aurion announced as the participants connected the cables to their arms. The tension was almost suffocating.
An automated female voice began announcing the results:
"San: 23%. Dan: 26%. Viviane: 30%. Mira: 34%. Thais: 36%. Fiona: 36%. Slayer: 39%. Kratos: 42%. Ravena: 57%."
Murmurs started. Everyone was stunned by Ravena's score.
"57%? She's already at that level… she has great potential," Aurion thought, his eyes fixed on the screen.
Kratos clenched his fists discreetly upon hearing Ravena's score.
"She beat me…" he muttered, feeling the weight of their rivalry.
The voice continued:
"Kay: 100%... Kay: 100%..." The female scientist's voice came through the intercom but abruptly stopped, her tone filled with surprise. "That... must be a mistake. Hold on, I'll restart his machine," she continued, now more serious and clearly focused as she tried to fix what seemed like an anomaly.
The room fell into a tense silence as the machine announced Kay's compatibility. Ravena was the first to break the silence, her voice dripping with venom.
"One hundred percent?" She laughed, but there was no humor in it. "That's ridiculous! How can someone like him have such a high compatibility?"
"That has to be some kind of sick joke!" Fiona muttered, narrowing her eyes at Kay.
Kay stood still, seemingly unaware of the murmurs around him. His casual posture made Ravena and Fiona boil with even more rage.
"Restart it as many times as necessary, but this… this is impossible! He's just a lazy kid! There's no way he can outperform all of us like that!" Ravena's words mixed frustration with wounded pride, every syllable laden with indignation.
"Didn't you hear? The machine might have miscalculated. She's going to check again, go back to your place!" Aurion said, his voice indifferent as if he wanted to end the subject.
"There must be a system error!" Fiona insisted, irritated. "This result makes no sense for someone so... uninterested. Restart it now! We won't accept a fraud here!"
Mira, who had been silent until then, could no longer bear the unfair accusations from the two.
"Just because his result is higher than you expected, you're looking for an excuse to discredit Kay! That's not fair. You're jealous!" she said, her voice growing more passionate.
Ravena slowly turned to Mira, her expression a mixture of contempt and disbelief.
"Jealous?" she whispered, each word soaked in sarcasm. "Do you really think someone like him deserves this result? Look at him! He's literally lying down during the test!" Ravena's hands trembled slightly, her wounded pride now fueled by indignation.
Fiona, without taking her eyes off Kay, gave a bitter half-smile, an expression filled more with disdain than anything else.
"He doesn't deserve to be here," she muttered, almost like a prayer. "We can't allow someone like that into the army. It's dangerous. He has no commitment to anything, not even himself."
The scientist's voice on the other end cut through the tension, calm and resolute.
"Restart complete. Retesting in progress…"
The air in the room felt heavier. Everyone waited anxiously, but Ravena and Fiona were on the verge of exploding with frustration. To them, Kay embodied everything wrong with this recruitment.
"If he joins the army…" Fiona began, her voice low but firm. "It'll be a disaster. We need to do something before it's too late."
Visibly irritated, Mira crossed her arms and faced the two.
"Hey, Ravena, remember the method we chose for the team? Look at our rankings now!" Kratos exclaimed, his tone urgent.
"He's ranking at the same level as a vice-captain. Are you sure about that?" Ravena recalled Viviane's doubtful words. "It must be because he's wearing the suit, but I don't think he made a mistake ranking you!" Ravena repeated, remembering her friend's reply.
The scientist's voice echoed again:
"San: 23%. Dan: 26%. Viviane: 30%. Mira: 34%. Thais: 36%. Fiona: 36%. Slayer: 39%. Kratos: 42%. Ravena: 57%. Kay: 100%."
The numbers hit them like a blow. Ravena opened her mouth to protest but no words came out.
"These are the same results as the previous test. The machine is working perfectly. Proceed to the next room!" Aurion declared, leaving no room for discussion.
They unplugged the cables and headed to the next room, but the tension still lingered. Upon entering, they were met with a vast area where all the competitors were being accepted—or rejected—by the captains. All six captains sat in the spectator box, watching every move.
Feeling the pressure rise, Mira looked toward the captains. Their presence was overwhelming.
The atmosphere was thick, and Ravena and Fiona exchanged glances, their distrust growing like a storm about to break.
"Mira, hey Mira!" Kay called out, breaking the tension in the air.
"What?" Mira exclaimed, annoyed, already bracing herself for one of his jokes.
"Look at that guy's bangs, it must take forever to do that!" Kay laughed, pointing at one of the captains in the audience whose perfectly styled bangs caught attention.
Mira rolled her eyes but couldn't help the faint smile forming.
"That's Captain Julius. He leads the first army division, so be careful not to disrespect them!" she said, her tone serious again. "All six of them are captains!"
Kay blinked, a mischievous grin still on his face.
"There's a girl there in the middle, she looks new!" he said, curiosity piqued.
"Yumi, leader of the fourth division. She's very skilled and became a captain at only 18. Better not underestimate her!" Mira warned, her voice full of respect.
"How old is she now?" Kay asked, surprised.
"22 years old!" Mira answered proudly. "She's only been a captain for four years."
"That's common in this branch, but becoming a captain without being a vice-captain first is really tough! That proves she's truly impressive!" Kay commented, admiring her determination.
"And you? Which team will you join?" Mira asked, returning to the subject.
"I want to be closer to home, so I'll pick the sixth division!" she answered decisively.
Kay frowned, clearly bothered by Mira's choice. What he didn't understand was that she was just being practical, but his protective instinct couldn't help but worry.
"Ninetieth competitor, no offers!" the vice-commander of the second division announced, his voice ringing through the room.
"Can I leave now?" Kay asked impatiently, his expression growing more discouraged.
"It's almost over!" Mira said, trying to sound encouraging.
The competitors moved forward one by one, some accepted with a nod, others met with indifferent looks. Most, however, received the dreaded rejection, echoing in their hearts like a sentence.
The competitors watched the stage intently, each new recruit passing before the captains generating a mix of hope and anxiety. Captain Julius, leader of the first division, remained unflinching, never once raising his hand to accept a recruit. His gaze was cold, his posture rigid, making everyone restless.
"He's not even moving!" Mira whispered to Thais, frustration mounting. "Why doesn't he give anyone a chance?"
Thais frowned nervously. "He's known for being extremely strict. If he's not completely convinced of someone's ability, he won't hesitate to reject them."
"That's discouraging!" Thais replied, shaking her head.
More competitors passed, most rejected. Murmurs of disappointment spread across the room, and the rejected faces grew increasingly desolate.
"Ninety-first competitor, no offers!" the vice-commander announced again.
The next competitor was called, and then only the last arrivals remained. This time, the team expected Kay to be first. Wanting to leave, Kay stepped forward.
"One hundred and sixth competitor, Kay!" announced the vice-commander of the second division, his voice echoing through the room.
The eyes of competitors and captains turned to Kay, but he kept his head down, staring at the wall ahead. To him, this selection was just a formality; he didn't want to be there, and his calm exuded an indifference that contrasted sharply with the tension around him.
The other competitors slightly lifted their heads, trying to see the captains in the box. A murmur ran through the room as information about Kay was read.
The captain of the fourth division was the first to raise her hand.
Mira smiled, excited by the offer, but Kay remained expressionless, his attention still fixed on the wall.
Soon, all captains raised their hands, even the feared Captain Julius. The room buzzed with surprise.
Aurion, noticing the confusion, intervened.
"One hundred and sixth competitor, Kay, accepted by all captains! Which team do you wish to join?"
"This makes no sense!" Fiona whispered, her disdain clear. "He's not serious."
"Unbelievable!" Ravena snapped, biting her lip in a mix of anger and disbelief. "How did this happen?"
Sensing the doubt in Ravena and Fiona's voices, Mira turned to Kay, who still stared at the wall.
"Kay, you have to take this chance! Choose the division you want!" she urged.
Kay finally looked away from the wall and at the captains, but his expression was indifferent.
"I..." Kay began, taking a deep breath. "I choose... not to join any division."
A heavy silence fell over the room, and reactions varied. Mira was stunned, and the captains exchanged confused looks.
Ravena and Fiona shared a disdainful glance, both unable to hide the satisfaction of their self-imposed rejection.
"He's really going to refuse the first division?" Dan exclaimed incredulously as Kay headed for the exit.
Mira ran after him. "Excuse me, I need to talk to you for a moment," she said gently, reaching Kay and pulling him aside.
She whispered in his ear. Reluctantly, Kay sighed and, still emotionless, walked back to the captains. He bowed his head slightly in respect and said, "I apologize for my previous attitude... I choose the sixth division."
"Ka-chan, you damn brat!" shouted the fourth division captain, Yumi, clearly frustrated.
"Ka-chan?" Mira exclaimed, confused by the familiarity of the nickname.
"One hundred and sixth competitor, Kay, accepted!" announced the vice-commander of the second division.
Kay, impassive, turned again and began walking toward the door.
"He just ignored me?" Yumi muttered in disbelief, watching him leave without another glance.
Shortly after, the vice-commander's voice echoed again: "One hundred and fifth competitor, Mira!"