Chapter 9: THE REFLEX ASSESSMENT
The room was completely silent after Noah punched the striking pillar. Everyone’s eyes were fixed on the number floating above it.
1,242 Newtons.
For a time nobody said a word.
Even Noah was staring at the result with a face.
"One thousand...?" he said to himself.
He was hoping to do a little maybe around nine hundred if his Ki cultivation really worked. He had done a mock test before which only resulted in less than five hundred.
1242? That was not just passing that was the kind of score that talented D-Rank or C-Rank awakeners would get.
The people who were making fun of Noah earlier were now losing their smiles.
"...How?" someone asked.
"I thought he was F-Rank " another person said.
"Did the machine break?" someone else asked.
The blond boy, Leon Hart narrowed his eyes.
"No..." he said.
He had a feeling that something was not right. That punch did not look lucky it looked clean and controlled and perfectly timed. The young man who had made fun of Noah at the reception desk clicked his tongue.
"Hmph " he said.
"Probably a physically gifted F-Rank " he added.
Even though he sounded like he was not impressed his face looked serious. Examiner Victor Hale was watching Noah from across the room. He was not looking at the score he was thinking about the punch itself.
"It was interesting." Victor thought.
The force of the punch was not that special. The way Noah threw it was. There was no wasted movement, no muscle tension, no imbalance.The power just flowed naturally from his feet to his waist to his fist like he had practiced it thousands of times.
It reminded Victor of something. He could not quite put his finger on it.
"No..." Victor said to himself.
"...Impossible " he added.
He shook his head there was no way someone with an F-Rank awakening could have that kind of body mechanics.
"Pass " Victor said loud.
Noah stepped aside. He ignored the stares from the people in the room.
Inside he was really excited.
It really works, I was even holding myself back. The Ki cultivation is not something I imagined. The Memory Cabinet is actually changing me...
That thought filled him with a kind of excitement he had never felt before. For years every time he trained it felt like he was not getting anywhere. Now every day of training would actually make a difference. The thought alone made him want to keep going.
After the other applicants finished their strength tests Victor clapped his hands.
"The next test " he said.
The staff members rolled away the striking machine. Brought in a new device. It looked like a platform with floating blue rings and small metallic spheres inside.
Victor stood beside the platform.
"This is the Reflex Assessment " he said.
He picked up one of the spheres.
"The average Hunter does not die because they are weak " he said.
"They die because they react slowly " he added.
The applicants looked more serious now.
"The machine will throw these spheres at you randomly " Victor said.
"You can dodge them block them or deflect them but," he added.
He said with a smile. "...do not let them hit you."
One of the applicants scratched his head.
"What happens if they do hit us?" he asked.
Victor tossed the sphere at the man.
It hit him on the forehead.
THUNK.
"Ow!" the young man said.
The room erupted in laughter.
Victor crossed his arms.
"They hurt " he said.
The laughter got louder even Noah was smiling a little. The atmosphere in the room finally relaxed. The first applicant stepped onto the platform. A countdown started.
3...
2...
1...
Then a sphere shot forward. The young man barely dodged it. Then another sphere. Another and another. The room quickly became chaotic.
The applicant took two direct hits.
FAILED
One by one the applicants tried the test.
Some were really agile others just relied on instinct. Several of them failed miserably. Noah watched every attempt carefully.
The Memory Cabinet in his mind was working quietly analyzing every movement. He moved early, he did not confirm the trajectory. Unnecessary step.
It was like an instructor was whispering corrections in his ear. The physical training book really did became a great help to him for this test.
The F-Rank girl from before passed this time. Eventually it was Noah’s turn
"Noah Kurtz " the announcer said.
Noah stepped onto the platform. The spheres surrounded him. He took a breath and then closed his eyes. Everyone was confused.
"What is he doing?" someone asked.
"Did he give up?" another person said.
Even Victor raised an eyebrow.
Then Noah opened his eyes again. His breathing had changed, it was steadier and calmer. His body naturally settled into one of the postures he learned from the training book.
Not a combat stance, but a balance stance.
One that was designed to improve reaction speed.
The countdown started.
3...
2...
1...
The first sphere launched. Noah moved instinctively. A simple sidestep with no panic. The second sphere shot toward his shoulder. He leaned slightly. It missed by centimeters. Then five spheres attacked at the time.
The room gasped. Most applicants struggled with three spheres. Five guaranteed failure. Noah’s body moved almost naturally. Every movement was minimal, elegant and efficient.
The memories in the Memory Cabinet guided him unconsciously. Not controlling him, just reminding his body what efficient movement looked like.
Victors eyes narrowed further.
"That movement again..." He thought.
The examination continued. Finally the machine powered down. Noah was still standing. Not a single sphere had hit him.
The display flashed.
Reaction Rating: Excellent
The observation room overlooking the arena became quieter. Several officials exchanged glances.
"F-Rank?" someone said.
"Those reactions are unusually refined " another person said.
Victor remained silent. He was getting more and more suspicious. The score itself was not impossible. Noah’s efficiency was. No unnecessary effort, no wasted energy. He moved like someone who had repeated those motions times before.
According to the records, Noah had never received formal Hunter training. Victor looked at Noah again.
Who exactly are you...?
The examination paused briefly while the staff members prepared the equipment. The applicants gathered in groups discussing the results. This time, nobody was laughing at Noah. Instead they looked at him differently.
The arrogant young man from the reception hall stared silently from across the room.
"...Lucky " he muttered.
Even he did not sound convinced anymore. Leon Hart approached Noah.
"Hey " he said.
Noah looked up. The blond teenager smiled politely.
"Nice movements " he said.
"Thanks " Noah replied.
"You’ve trained before?" Leon asked.
Noah hesitated for a moment.
"...A little " he said.
Leon nodded.
"I could tell." he said.
His expression became thoughtful.
"Your Talent might be F-Rank..." he said.
"...but your fundamentals definitely aren’t, Uncle." he added.
Before Noah could reply, Victor’s voice echoed.
"Everyone " he said.
The applicants immediately returned to formation. Victor stood before a pair of reinforced doors at the far end of the hall. His expression had become more serious.
"The final examination " he said.
He rested one hand against the steel door.
"Everything you’ve done far has merely been preparation " he added.
The applicants exchanged looks.
Victor slowly smiled.
"This is where we determine whether you’re fit to become a Hunter."
A loud mechanical rumble filled the arena. The giant doors slowly began opening. Darkness waited beyond them. Then a deep monstrous growl echoed from inside. The smile on applicants instantly disappeared. Noah’s expression hardened.
Victor looked back at the assembled candidates.
"Welcome to your real hunt."