“Nicely done. None of you were eliminated in this test. That’s rare.” The old man ented while scratg his beard. "We will o go to another facility; we will have the final test there."

  The group tinued advang through the researd development building corridors, once again passing various closed rooms or some more with darkened windows.

  As they walked, Oliver and Isabe moved closer to An.

  "Amazing! Good work, Mr. Bishop," Oliver remarked. "Amazing indeed. Only you and that irl had such a grade," Isabe added while patting An’s shoulder.

  An's face flushed slightly from the reition of his peers. He was usually very outgoing, but he had a weakness for pliments.

  Oliver was gd his two transport truck buddies were doing well. Perhaps the life-or-death experience, bined with the unknown adventure, had ected the three and created a small bond of friendship, fragile as it was.

  The group tinued walking until they reached a staircase that led to the building's basement. As they desded, the lights turned on, revealing a rge hall. It resembled a sports court, but in the ter was an arena. It was hexagonal, with barred walls and a floor covered in rubberized material.

  "This is our oing room. Usually, we use it for something more potent, but it also serves to test you," the officer ented.

  "The strength test will be a bit different. Strength goes beyond how much you lift on a bench press. We want to know how much you apply in real bat."

  Ihe arena, a person was leaning against one of the walls. A Hispanic boy looked coldly at the group. With his gaze, he assessed each recruit.

  “Each of you will have 3 minutes in the arena to face our challenger. Santiago is in his sed year at the Ranger Academy and is expected to bee the Bck Ranger. His specialty is hand-to-hand bat.” The old officer expined.

  The group took their turn to analyze Santiago. For some, he didn’t seem very intimidating. He was shorter than what they expected from a Ranger. However, for those who uood the power of a Rahis seemed like an absurd test. But among everyone, only Oliver was worried: “I have no idea how to fight him!”

  Living oreets of New San Francisco for the past few years forced Oliver to learn how to fight. However, it's entirely different to fae petty thief who wanted moo buy Vapor than to fight against someone who is trained.

  “Your evaluation will be automatic again. Surviving the full 3 minutes won’t guarantee your approval. You must give your best to gairy into the Academy!” The officer shouted at the recruits.

  The officer approached the arena. he entrance was a small table. Passing it, he picked up one of the items and showed it to the recruits.

  "During this fight, you will be allowed to use an Artificial Ranger Armor, while Santiago will not use a Bck Ranger Armor. I hope that by the end of this bat, you will clearly uand the differeween what you are now and what you bee," the officer cluded, pointing at Santiago.

  Some recruits breathed a sigh of relief, but the situation didn’t improve for Oliver. The officer tinued presenting the Ranger Badge.

  “If you’ve never used it before, just hold it in your hand and think ‘Activate.’ The Z Crystal will hahe rest of the process.”

  As soon as the officer finished expining, grayish goo was expelled from the badge. Initially c only his arms, small pieetal expanded until they covered his entire body, f armor.

  Oliver reized it as the same one used by the soldiers. However, something caught his attention. The design was pletely different. The helmet appeared to be more sophisticated, with more details on the visor, while the arm and leg defenses seemed much more reduced.

  'Could it be eology?' the boy wondered.

  The first to ehe arena was a boy. Oliver didn’t know who he was, or at least he hadn’t paid enough attention to remember.

  The cadet grabbed the badge and stepped into the arena. As soon as he took his first steps, the liquid metal exparansf into armor. Once again, Oliver was surprised. Uhe officer's armor, this one had sharp spikes on the shoulders and elbows, along with reinforced gloves.

  After the armor finished f, the cadet lifted his visor and gave a thumbs-up.

  Oher side of the arena, Santiago wore a standard military outfit. However, he had metal gaus on both arms. But oail that didn't go unnoticed was his armband. In the ter of it was a shining bck crystal that emanated energy powerful enough to be felt even from a distance.

  [Test will begin in …]

  [3… 2… 1…]

  [Test initiated]

  As the fight began, Santiago raised both arms and assumed a guard position, what the recruit would do.

  The boy tried to anticipate Santiago’s move, charging at his oppoo attempt a sucker punch. However, he did not surprise him. Santiago raised one hand to block the punch, and before the recruit could return to his position, the offensive began.

  Taking advantage while the recruit was still close, Santiago delivered a cross to the ribs. Without giving space for recovery, he followed with an uppercut using the same hand and finished with a straight punch to the helmet's ter. The movements were so quick that many recruits couldn’t see what was happening.

  The boy fell to his knees and passed out.

  [Test pleted]

  [Failed]

  Some had expected the Rao win, but not so quickly and decisively. Again, two officers in white uniforms appeared promptly in the arena and removed the injured recruit.

  “…” The Ranger said, looking at the rest of the group.

  Oliver was grumbling inwardly. “Damn, why did I have to be sed in line?”

  However, he felt that more time wouldn’t help at all. Oliver hadn’t been able to follow the fight and didn’t know how to fight against a Ranger. Perhaps being one of the st to fight would allow him to face a tired oppo. Yet, given the speed of the previous fight, it would be difficult for that to ge the oute.

  Oliver grabbed the Ranger Badge, still deep in thought. "Will this be enough to help me? I o surprise him somehow." The boy was strategizing, trying to make the most of the remaining seds.

  The arena seemed much smaller from the inside. Additionally, he could see his oppo from every angle, making him even more nervous. As he activated the armor, he heard that pleasant voice again.

  [Hello recruit Oliver!]

  [Are you ready for your est?]

  As the armor finished enveloping Oliver, he noticed that it had the same design as the one he had used against the Orks.

  'Is the armor uo each person? Or am I doing something wrong?' the boy wondered, lost in thought.

  At the same time, the annou echoed outside his helmet.

  [Test will begin in …]

  [3… 2… 1…]

  [Test initiated]

  Oliver needed more time to sider his moves. As the match began, he backed away from his oppo, trying to formute a strategy.

  [Boon loaded…]

  [Glitch loaded…]

  [Skills loaded…]

  [No bat forms among your skills.]

  [No crystal ons among your items.]

  [You have a skill with Ranger ons.]

  [Skill: Ranger on (Pawn)]

  [Would you like to load yer on?]

  [Yes / No]

  Oher side, Santiago uood Oliver’s as but wouldn’t let the boy gain time. He advao the ter of the hexagon, raising his guard and taking quick steps. However, these few seds of advang allowed Oliver to ge his position, moving closer to the walls.

  Now, in the ter of the hexagon, Santiago had a clear lio his oppo, but Oliver responded before he could close the gap. In his hand, a standard energy pistol for Artifical Rangers oi Santiago. A series of shots was fired, aiming to push him back. But what Santiago didn’t expect was the impact of eaergy shot.

  After four shots, Santiago tio block with his guard. After the initial shock, he knew Oliver’s energy would soon run out. But he didn’t want to wait that long. As Oliver took a breath between shots, Santiago leaped to close the distaween them.

  Oliver looked around, searg for a pce to run and keep shooting. However, his body was already too tired. The previous tests had taken a toll on him, and with the energy spent on firing, his body couldn’t take much more. He tried to force himself to move, but his legs wouldn’t respond.

  This was the opening Santiago needed. As he approached, he used his left arm to blo energy shot and delivered a punch to Oliver’s stomach. The punch's impact made Oliver lose his st bit of strength, causing him to drop the pistol. Santiago didn’t give Oliver a ce to recover and tinued with powerful strikes, taking down the petitor.

  [Test pleted]

  [Evaluated status: Strength]

  [Grade: Pawn]