SSS-Rank Talent: Super Upgrade System-Chapter 129: Final Test. Pt 1

The loud uproar of the gathered aspirants gradually settled into a quiet murmur, the sound of countless minds struggling to grasp the overwhelming scale of Daniel’s battle record.

He stood calmly, a quiet island in a sea of shock, his expression unreadable.

Ayra stood beside him, and for a moment, the weight of his power pressed in around her like a storm.

She had always known Daniel was strong, but this? The record ? This was something else entirely.

"Okay, Vance," she said aloud, managing a half-smile, her voice laced with awe. "You’re not a recruit. You’re a monster! ."

But in her mind, a quieter truth resonated.

The gap between us... it’s even wider than I thought.

Lia, ever the serene one, simply offered a small, almost imperceptible nod, her calm grey eyes holding a new depth of understanding.

She had suspected his power was immense, but the raw data laid bare on the holographic screen was beyond even her wildest estimations.

Director Gareth, his expression tense and strained, finally managed to restore a semblance of order to the stunned assembly.

He cleared his throat, the sound amplified across the plaza, cutting through the disbelieving whispers.

"The battle records," the Director began, his voice strained but firm, "are, as the system has confirmed, a matter of official Academy history.

We will now... move on." He gestured toward the center of the plaza, where the holographic display screens pulsed expectantly.

"The second test has concluded. It has served its purpose, filtering out those who lack the fundamental combat experience or integrity required to advance.

Nearly half of you who arrived on this platform will now be politely escorted back to your respective homeworlds or offered civilian roles here in Riversouth.

Your journey as Vanguards ends today."

A wave of despair and panicked groans swept through the crowd.

"Boom!"

The sound was not of combat, but of hundreds of Nexus Interfaces simultaneously going dark.

The light in many aspirants’ eyes died along with their connection to the Academy.

Stern-faced guards, their armor gleaming, materialized silently, their movements efficient and utterly devoid of emotion as they began to usher the failed recruits towards waiting transport shuttles.

The elimination was swift, brutal, and a stark reminder of the Academy’s unforgiving standards.

"For those of you who remain," Director Sterling continued, his gaze sweeping over the now significantly smaller, more nervous crowd, "congratulations.

You have passed the second filter. Now, you will face the third and final entrance test.

This is not a test of your past deeds, your reputation, or the whispers that follow you.

This is a test of your present capabilities. It is the Actual Combat Test!"

He paused, letting the words hang in the air like a guillotine.

"At the very heart of this platform, housed within the base of the Founder’s Statue at the main entrance, is the Academy’s Origin Power Core.

It is a marvel of technology and energy manipulation, the source of all power for this entire sub-dimension.

Using this core, we have created a virtual opponent."

He pointed towards a series of sleek, enclosed pods that had risen silently from the floor, their polished surfaces reflecting the anxious faces of the remaining aspirants.

"Each of you will enter a pod and be teleported to a virtual combat space.

There, you will face an opponent we call ’Sango’.

A virtual construct imbued with the combat data and Will of Astralis Academy’s first and most legendary director.

It is, for all intents and purposes, unbeatable.

Its strength will adapt to yours, its defenses are absolute. It cannot be killed. Your objective is not to win, but to endure. To survive. To persevere for as long as you possibly can.

Every second you last is a testament to your skill, your resilience, and your will to fight. Your score will be your survival time."

The wind picked up, carrying a collective shiver through the crowd.

An unbeatable opponent? This was a test of pure, unadulterated grit.

Director Sterling’s lips twitched into something that might have been a grim smile.

"This test will humble the arrogant and reveal the true heart of a warrior." He then gave a very pointed look directly at Daniel.

"And a word of warning, Aspirant Vance. The opponent is virtual, and the pods are reinforced with Adamantium. Please, try not to break them.

The repair budget has already endured more than enough intense debate for one week."

A few nervous chuckles rippled through the crowd, breaking the tension slightly.

The queues began to form, a long, shuffling line of nervous energy and quiet desperation.

The final test, the true measure of their worth, was about to begin.

Daniel watched, his expression calm. He wasn’t thinking about endurance. He wasn’t thinking about impressing the Vice-Principals.

He was thinking about the Origin Power Core, the source of this unbeatable opponent.

The first aspirant stepped into the gleaming white pod, his face a mask of nervous bravado.

He was a muscular youth with a C-grade strength enhancement talent, and he clearly intended to meet the Sango head-on. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm

The pod door hissed shut. The crowd watched the large holographic timer above it begin its silent count.

For a few seconds, there was only a low hum. Then, the sounds began, broadcasted for all to hear.

"BOOM! CLANG! WHUMP!"

A furious roar from the aspirant, followed by a series of impacts that made the pod visibly shake.

It was a savage, diabolical ass-whooping!

The wind shrieked with the force of the virtual blows.

Then, after thirty-seven seconds of relentless, one-sided beatdown that could only be described as an industrial-grade ass-whooping, the pod door hissed open, and he was ejected, dazed, bruised, and looking like he’d just been introduced to every corner of the afterlife.

He had a new, profound respect for the Sango.

Another recruit, a stealthy-looking girl, lasted for two and a half minutes by dodging constantly, but was eventually cornered and overwhelmed.

It quickly became clear that lasting three minutes was the benchmark for impressing the Vice-Principals, who now watched the matches with sharp, focused attention.

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