Chapter 2: The First Trial Approaches NOVEL VER.

F-Class Capital District 4 — 10:00:00 Before the First Trial

The bathroom light flickered weakly above a cracked mirror.

Yota sat on the toilet, newspaper across his body and face as he looks at it.

He muttered under his breath, scanning the columns.

“Hmm… let me see… where are they hiring for E-Class members…”

The clock ticked somewhere in the living room.

He flipped a page, face scrunching.

“A caregiver?! I don’t wanna look after geezers—”

“They’re super sweet, sure—but I don’t feel like being snugged…”

“By a bunch of senior citizens… ironic.”

Then—something caught his eye. His grin widened.

“Aha! Perfect. They’re looking for sales workers—“

“Just the right job for someone like me!”

“I should be friends with, like, millions of people by now!”

He jumped up, yanking his pajama pants with a victory pose, newspaper in hand.

“This should be a piece of cake! I’ll become the world’s greatest sales employee, and in no time—”

“I’ll be boss of the company! Straight shot to S-Class!”

He paused at the mirror.

His reflection looked back, quieter.

“But… why do I still feel like I don’t know anyone…”

“Even though I’ve lived a billion years…”

“Feels like everything evolved—and not just the powers.”

At the bottom corner of the newspaper, a small ad read:

Buy Issue #1 — The First Continental Hero Comic!

———

The Interview

The air conditioner barely worked. Yota sat in a wrinkled suit that felt one size too tight. Sweat trickled down his neck as he tugged his collar.

“This totally sucks,” he whispered. “It’s like ninety degrees in here! Plus all that billion-years-of-pep-talk I gave myself… fading fast.”

A voice called from the front desk.

“Mr. Yota, the manager will see you now.”

He straightened.

“Huh…?”

Inside, the manager—Brad—sat behind a desk, chewing gum, sleeves rolled up.

“Yota—no last name? What’s the deal with that?”

“It’s part of my… belief?” Yota said, scratching his head.

Brad squinted, unimpressed.

“Haven’t heard of that before. Guess so.”

Yota exhaled in relief.

Brad flipped through the resume lazily.

“You’re an E-Class, huh? We don’t pay much for those…”

He leaned back.

“Unless you’re willing to work under the books, of course.”

Yota’s brow twitched. His thoughts flared—

Willing to work underpaid?! Not this again. He hasn’t even asked about my experience.

He looked down, tone flat.

“Sorry, but… thanks.”

Moments later, he sat outside on the curb, jacket tossed over one knee.

“Honestly… there’s no point to this Class upgrade.”

“Still can’t find a decent-paying job that doesn’t undercut E-Class…”

He leaned back, staring at the sky.

“And rent’s due in a few days. I don’t even know what to do anymore…”

———

3:01:59 Before the First Trial

The apartment door creaked.

Yota stepped inside, hanging his jacket on the crooked rack. A roach scurried along a cracked wall.

“I’ve got to move out of this place…”

He sat on the bed, turning on the TV.

A glowing red carpet filled the screen — cameras flashing as a hero waved to cheering fans.

“Here comes the Fourth Continental Hero!” a reporter shouted. “He single-handedly ended a three-year civil war in Dairo!”

Yota blinked.

“Ending a civil war… by yourself? Who’s this guy?”

He turned off the TV. The room dimmed.

“This kind of power barely existed back then…”

“People sure got stronger while I—sat back.”

He lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

“Has the Fifth evolved too? Being born in this era…”

“I wonder where he could be…”

His hand reached for the lamp.

“Too much to think about right now…”

“I’ll figure it ou… t late… r…”

Zzzzz…

———

WUG Academy — Night

Moonlight washed over the sleek facility walls. Inside the dormitory, ten recruits slept soundly — until the door slammed open.

Kert stood atop the fallen door like a war hero holding a bell.

“Rise and shine, young recruits—”

“The trials are about to begin!”

“Geez,” one groaned. “Did you have to startle us like that?”

“And why this early?”

Kert struck a noble pose, hand to chest, eyes gleaming.

“Because day or night does not rest during war… and neither will we.”

“Now head to the dining hall for breakfast and await further instructions!”

“Does he always get poetic when he says something heroic…” someone whispered.

———

The Dining Hall

Sergeant Kert and the four officers stood on stage above a hundred recruits eating and murmuring.

Ms. Merble stepped forward, voice calm yet commanding.

“May I have your attention.”

The hall fell silent.

“Shortly, we will begin the first of two trials required to become officers and heroes.”

“Only twenty out of one hundred will graduate.”

Forks froze mid-air.

“Only twurnty of us arfs gurna pass?!” Recruit 7 mumbled through food.

“Finish eating before talking,” Recruit 4 hissed.

“Do I need to be worried?” Recruit 2 asked.

“You idiot, you’re the second strongest here,” Recruit 3 said flatly.

Recruit 32 sweated, whispering to himself.

“If only twenty of us make it—and I’m the thirty-second weakest—”

“I’M TOTALLY SCREWED!”

Daley leaned toward Merble, murmuring. She nodded once.

“Recruit 60 has been disqualified for insubordination,” Merble announced.

“He’s currently being treated by the academy hospital.”

Whispers rippled through the crowd.

“We have to stay away from him.”

“Insubordination, huh…” Recruit 11 smirked.

“The remaining 99 will proceed with the first trial,” Merble continued.

“You’ll be split into five groups, each led by an officer.”

She gestured across the room.

“Group A, led by me, will feature Recruits 1–10 and 90–100.”

“Group B, led by Ms. Cassy, will include Recruits 11–20 and 81–90.”

“Score!” Recruit 85 cheered. “We got the hottest officer!”

Daley adjusted his coat smugly.

“Group C will be under daley’s command — Recruits 21–30 paired with 71–80.”

“Group D,” Merble added with a faint smile, “led by the no-potential Corporal Sora, consists of Recruits 31–40 and 61–70.”

“Of course we get the corporal with no potential…” Recruit 32 groaned. “There’s no way I’m passing this thing.”

Merble continues as kert steps forward.

“Group E, being shorthanded will be supervised by the Sargent, it includes the remaining recruits 41–59.”

“Now that groups are arranged,” Merble concluded, “the Sergeant will explain further instructions for the trial.”

From somewhere in the crowd, a voice shouted:

“Why are we teamed up with the strong recruits?”

“That’s not fair! We don’t stand a chance against them!”

The murmur spread fast — frustration, fear, disbelief.

———

The Mission

Kert took center stage. His expression hardened.

“Yes,” he said calmly, “and that’s how the system works.”

“Our government is built on status and power—”

“And its purpose is to rid the weak first… leaving no false hope.”

A nervous voice whispered,

“We’re… the weak ones?”

Kert softened his tone.

“But I also believe in destiny—and determination. From that alone, no one knows what will happen.”

“Which brings us to this first trial.”

Then he straightened again as he raises his voice.

“Our objective: remove all members of the five F-Class Districts. Relocate them… and if they refuse—”

“Eliminate them, as ordered of the government.”

The room exploded.

“What—!!”

Saki clicked his tongue.

“They want us to do their dirty work.”

Toya smirked.

“Exterminate what they think is unworthy…”

From another table—

“Wait—my brother lives in F-Class District 3!”“Mine too! My family’s there!”

The hall erupted in shouts. Officers tried to restore order.

Kert raised a hand.

“I understand your concern, please listen—this is our concern too.”

“Together, we can minimize damage as much as possible.”

“You don’t understand anything!” someone yelled. “We have family there!”

Recruit 55 stood, shaking.

“I don’t want to stay here! If I have to help kill my own family—I’m leaving!”

Daley’s voice cut through the chaos like a knife.

“Too late. You’ve already heard the mission.”

“If you walk out, you’ll be blacklisted—sent directly to Hunter’s Continent.”

Murmurs froze.

“This isn’t an ordinary trial,” Daley continued coldly.

“You 99 recruits will be monitored—from this point forward.”

Recruit 55 clutched his head.

Blacklisted?! Hunter’s Continent?! I just wanted to be a hero…

Daley’s grin returned.

“And there’s no need to cower, weaklings. There’s a reason this year was chosen—”

“Isn’t that right… Number 1? Blessed son.

Heads turned toward Saki.

“Saki… did you do something wrong?”

“Blessed son?”

“You’re so cool and mysterious…”

Two recruits near the back whispered desperately.

“I can’t afford to leave—I need to become an officer to help my mom’s treatment!”

“I… have no other choice.”

Daley smiled.

“Patriotism at its finest.”

⸻

Kert’s Command

Kert stepped forward again.

“Recruits, please! Allow us to continue.”

“All questions will be answered later.”

The room quieted.

He glances foward at the recruits.

“Everyone… thank you for your patience.”

“I apologize for the burden we will all soon carry throughout this trial.”

He looked across the hall, voice steady.

“The first forty recruits who capture or eliminate the most F-Class members before dawn will advance to the final trial.”

“The remaining fifty-nine will be disqualified and sent home once the trials conclude.”

His eyes softened.

“For those labeled ‘weaker,’ now paired with the strong—do not be afraid.”

“Be courageous, even if the system stands against you.”

“Destiny is yours to choose.”

Recruit 55 sat trembling. Recruit 51 placed a hand on his shoulder.

“We also have families there. It’s okay.”

Recruit 53 added softly,

“Together, we’ll make sure they’re safe.”

“Thank you… guys…” 55 whispered, wiping his eyes.

Kert straightened, raising his voice.

“Now that you’ve been briefed, return to your rooms.”

“You’ll be called once preparations are complete.”

“DISMISSED!”

⸻

Aftermath

Recruits pushed back their chairs slowly.

In the background, Recruit 51 and 53 helped 55 walk out, arms under his shoulders.

At another table, Recruit 32 looked uneasy.

“Are you still gonna stay… after what they said?”

Recruit 33 sighed.

“I don’t think I have much of an option. None of us do.”

“Nobody wants to get blacklisted—or sent who knows where.”

32 lowered his eyes.

“Yeah… maybe when it starts feeling worse, I’ll stop. Even if it means being blacklisted.”

33 looked at him quietly.

“If it’s not worse yet… where do we draw the line?”

“I don’t know…” 32 whispered.

⸻

End of Chapter 2 — “The First Trial Approaches”