The Assessment was divided into two major parts, Theory and Practical. The theory part was held like a normal exam way where students are quizzed upon what has been taught to them during their recruit term such as various herbs and their usage, poisonous and dangerous materials, tracking and so on.
It was a two hour long exam which was quite very boring but was much required so Kael focused all his attention on it to ensure that he can achieve the best score that he was capable of attaining.
After the given time for the exam was met, the examiner walked into the room and spoke "The time has reached. Recruits, stop writing, close your booklets and walk out of the hall. You will meet a staff member that will lead you to where your practical examination would take place. Please line up orderly and follow the instructions given," after hearing this, all the recruits stood up and in an orderly fashion, walked out of the hall.
As Kael was walking, he was approached by Lark and Monnae who were already waiting for him. "How was your test? I think I'll blast mine and get a very high score" Monnae said with enthusiasm as she waited for both Lark and Kael's answer. "I think it's best to wait for the results before making any grading. I believe that I have qualified with the theory but you can never say if there will be some sort of problems during the marking or the marker's marking criteria…" Lark said as he answered the question Monnae asked unti Monnae spoke up half cutting Lark's statement "Ugh, no one wants a full-on essay, Lark," Monnae interrupted with a groan. "Can't you just say, 'I did okay' and move on? You're killing the mood. C'mon, let's get to the fun part already." Monnae said as she picked up her pace and walked forward than Lark and Kael, leading the group.
Some Minutes Later
Location - Arena in Pioneer's Academy (Sanctuary Base)
"Now we will conduct the Practical Assessment which will determine if you get accepted into Pioneer. You will be paired with a holographic station which will simulate a Common Class Xion as your enemy. The grading requirements are based on how long you survive against the Xion, the tactics or plan used in killing the Xion, your battle intelligence and if possible, the time taken for you to dispose of the Xion" the staff member that lead the group of student into the arena spoke as the arena amplified his voice to ensue it was understood by the recruits.
"To ensure fair and unbiased results and exams, each recruit will be called in and take their exam privately and then be called out of the arena, so that means that each of you recruits have to depend on yourself on how to tackle this exam. Good luck to you all" the staff member said as he walked off the podium. Soon enough, names of different recruits began to be called as they went into the hologram room for their test.
"How hard do you think the test will be?" Lark spoke as he caressed his head, a habit of his when he was overthinking but unlike the response he expected from Kael, there was nothing but silence. Kael didn't respond to the asked question. He was trapped in his mind, with his fist clenched tightly together while small beads of sweat rolled from his skin. He kept mumbling some words under his breath and he looked absent. Monnae tapped him gently on his shoulders to gain his attention to which Kael responded violently frightened.
He responded to the touch and as he looked up, he seemed to be in a daze, unsure and unable to distinguish between reality and his own illusions. He looked lost.
"Your trauma is acting up again? I thought you had it under control." Lark said as he looked at Kael with concern etched on his face and his serious face showing his worry for his friend.
"I'm fine. Really." Kael said hoping to pry away their concern towards his health as nothing worth mentioning. "You don't look fine, Kael. You should speak up if there's anything wrong with you or if you need help. Both me and Lark are here, willing to help and listen to you should you need it." Monnae said as she looked at Kael, her eyes showing her seriousness and determination to help.
"I..I'm fine guys. Don't worry about me. We should start getting ready for the practical examinations soon." Kael said as he responded to their concern of him and easing their mind but also shutting down any room for more discussion about the topic. "Alright, Kael. It's our turn for the examination. Wish you guys luck on the exam, bye guys!" Monnae said as she walked towards one of the assessment rooms which called her name. Both Kael and Lark joined their individual rooms too after banding a short farewell to each other and giving encouragement.
Location - Holographic Practical Assessment Room
"I will start the hologram soon and all you need to do is to show off your skills and decision making here. Some points to note is that the hologram may feel too real but remember in the end that it is not but that doesn't mean the stakes are not there anymore. I implore you to see it from this perspective as you go through this assessment.
If you die while fighting a Xion in real life, it means the end and it is also the same here. If you fail this assessment too, it is also the end. All the hours that you have spent preparing and getting ready for this all become for naught, so please do try the best that you can. Commencing Holographic assessment for recruit Kael Levar. Simulation starts in three, two,…"
KAEL's POV
Those were the last words that I could hear from the test assessor before my vision became blurry and disoriented for some seconds and came back to function. When I opened my eyes, I was not met with the inside of the assessment room but instead, a dark forest with the only source of illumination being the moon light that shines a silvery colour from above.
I stood up from the ground that I found myself as I scanned the location with my eyes trying to pick up anything that could help in my survival. I looked towards the equipment that I have on me. A standard blade(sword), a tactical vest for defense and some other gears to cover some other body parts like ankles and legs. I also had a pair of night goggles, most likely added by the assessor to help increase the survival chance of the ruecruits and make it more fair. Quickly picking up the googles, I slipped it through my head and fixed it on my eyes to enable me to have better vision in this dark environment. Witha much better sight, I heightened my senses to pick up on minor disturbances that are too big enough to become a threat.
My training kicked in. Every rustle of leaves, every snapped twig, every distant animal cry could be a false flag or a genuine threat. I moved slowly and quietly making sure to check before taking each step and making sure to also measure each step. My breathing was shallow, controlled, allowing me to hear beyond my own body.
The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves, but beneath it, I picked up something else, something that felt too unnatural and out of tune with the environment. It was Xions scent. A strange chemical that can be easily picked up by most humans due to their unique scent. Many have theorized that it was an evolving mechanic the human body developed to try to give a forewarning of the danger ahead and make sure that they escape but I believe otherwise. It may be a true theory but I just believe that Xions are just so out of tune with this world and don't belong in it, that is why one can easily tell them apart.
I believe it was the world's way of helping to deal with these anomalies. My gaze swept the undergrowth and bushes, searching for movement. Common Rank Xions were often pack hunters, preferring to overwhelm their prey with numbers. They weren't intelligent, relying on primal instincts and raw force. I had to assume there was more than one.
A low growl rumbled from my right. My head snapped towards the sound. Through the enhanced vision of the goggles, I saw it:, a Common Class Xion, a hulking, grotesque silhouette with too many limbs and bone-like protrusions. Its eyes, even in the dim light, glowed with malevolent red. It charged, a blur of predatory hunger. My response was immediate. I made a feint. I lunged forward, blade raised, then twisted sharply to the left.
The Xion, relying on brute momentum, overshot its attack, stumbling slightly. This gave me precious breathing space and seconds. I drove my standard blade deep into its side, aiming for the cranial cavity, one of the most vulnerable points on a Common Xion, accessible just behind the rib cage where the rudimentary brain stem connected. The blade grated against bone, but the Xion bellowed, a sound of agony and rage, and swiped wildly.
I pulled away, narrowly avoiding a claw that would have opened me up. The Xion was wounded, its movements sluggish, but it wasn't down. And then, from behind me, another snarl. Two. Just as I'd suspected. The second Xion was a bit faster, lunging for my legs. I vaulted over a fallen log, using it as a momentary barrier. This bought me enough time to glance at the first Xion. It was bleeding, its form flickering slightly at the edges, a sign of the hologram's integrity failing and to help me keep to the fact that this was not real, but it was still a threat.
"Focus, Kael!" I muttered to myself. This wasn't just about survival; it was about efficiency and hunting. My father's words echoed: knowledge increases the chance of survival. It is a very powerful tool, Kael. I had to divide and conquer, or face a two-pronged attack that would quickly overwhelm my limited gear. The first Xion was closer, its growls growing louder. I ducked under a sweeping claw from the second Xion, then rolled, bringing me closer to the first.
It was enraged and began acting more on instinct and became less cautious and careful. I took this chance as my opening. This time, I aimed to limit their movements. Common Xions had surprisingly fragile limb joints, a known weakness exploited in Sanctuary training. I spun, bringing my blade down in a horizontal arc, targeting the joint of its front right limb. There was a sickening CRACK as the blade connected, severing tendons and cartilage. The Xion roared, its limb dangling uselessly, throwing off its balance.
It was a success but the second Xion was already on me in that timespan. It slammed into my side, sending a jolt of pain through my ribs. The tactical vest absorbed some of the impact, but I still landed hard, my blade skittering from my grasp. My vision blurred for a moment, the moonlight fading and becoming disoriented.
The pain, the guilt, the way those creatures fed on my parent's body as all I could do was watch. The memories flickered, a primal fear seizing me. My breath hitched. No. No. I screamed in my mind trying to break through the haze. Lark's words cut through the haze: "Store all this rage… so that when you need it… it can be easily reached." This wasn't just a test. This was my chance. My fists clenched. The pain in my ribs, the metallic taste of fear, it wasn't a weakness. It was my motivation, my fuel. The second Xion loomed over me, its foul breath hot on my face. It raised a clawed hand for a finishing blow. Instinct took over.
My hands scrambled in search of my blade, but it was too far. My eyes darted around. A sharp, jagged rock laid nearby.I lunged, not for the Xion, but for the rock. My fingers closed around its rough surface just as the Xion's claw raked across my arm. A sharp, burning sensation erupted, a fresh wound. With a primal scream, I plunged the rock into the Xion's eye. It screamed, a high-pitched shriek of agony, staggering back. This was my window. I scrambled to my feet, retrieved my blade, and lunged. No finesse now, just pure, unadulterated rage. I drove the blade home, again and again, targeting its center mass, its vulnerable neck, anywhere I could inflict damage.
The hologram flickered violently, then dissipated into shimmering particles. After taking some short break to catch my breath, I spun, blade ready for the first Xion. It was still struggling with its injured limb, trying to regain balance. My movements were fueled by adrenaline and the lingering echoes of fear and anger. I moved in, using the same limiting movement technique, but this time targeting its other front limb. As it crumpled, I delivered the final, decisive blow to its cranial cavity. The second Xion also dissolved into light.
I stood there, panting, my arm throbbing, the phantom metallic tang of Xion blood in my nostrils. My ribs ached and my body creaked due to the intense labour. But the Xions were gone. A voice boomed around the space sounding somewhat ethereal, "Simulation end. Recruit Kael Levar, please exit the module." As the familiar walls of the assessment room materialized around me, I saw the assessor watching, a subtle nod on his face. I managed to survive the test and prove that I was qualified to be a Pioneer. With this rage and anger I'm feeling, I'll focus it on the Xions that destroyed my life and took away my family.