The defense test took place inside a sealed room, its walls riddled with small openings.The moment a candidate stepped onto the designated marker, countless black spheres were fired from every direction, slamming into different parts of their body.
Meanwhile, the AI system measured the impact and calculated the person's defense stat based on how well their body endured the assault.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A series of heavy thuds echoed as the black spheres hammered into Natee.He didn't budge—not even a step—only his body trembling from the repeated impacts.
After a short while, the barrage ended.The results appeared on the display, instantly drawing gasps across the testing hall.
Defense Stat: 189
It was the highest score recorded this year.
This value wasn't just good—it exceeded even the maximum stat of Rank E Players, who capped out around 100.
Most Players needed years before their stats broke the triple-digit barrier.Many never surpassed Rank E at all.Yet here was Natee—barely nineteen—already possessing stats beyond an average Rank E Player.
It was obvious he had consumed large quantities of high-quality monster meat.
And that required immense financial backing.Just one meal of such premium monster meat cost more than what a laborer earned in an entire year.
His results were a reflection of his privileged background.
Other students from Asashi Academy weren't as dazzling as Natee, but their stats were still exceptional.Most scored above 90, and more than half surpassed 100.
The remaining three members of Natee's elite group all exceeded 150.
One of them—Somsak, a massive young man—recorded a defense stat of over 200.
Naturally, all eyes in the testing hall were focused on Natee's group.Even the media had shown up to report on today's examinations.
So when it was finally Nawa's turn, curious gazes immediately locked onto him.
His worn-out clothes made him stand out sharply among the Asashi students,
sparking a wave of whispers.
Some people began speculating that perhaps Nawa was some hidden prodigy from the academy,deliberately concealing his abilities and showing up today to humiliate the top students.
But the moment the test began, their assumptions shattered.
Bang! Bang!
The black spheres slammed into Nawa, sending him staggering like a drunk man.
He barely managed to stay on his feet.Had his knee touched the ground, the test would have ended instantly—and scoring below 50 meant immediate disqualification.
When the final sphere stopped firing, his result appeared on the display:
Defense Stat: 59A pass—but only by the slimmest margin.
Laughter exploded throughout the hall.
"Ha! He's definitely not an Asashi student. Why show up just to embarrass himself?"
"With stats that low? He wouldn't qualify as a labor-type Player! And he dared stand in the same group as the Four Heavenly Kings?"
The only person who didn't laugh was the female examiner in charge.
Instead, she exhaled in relief.She had personally allowed Nawa to continue testing despite the brain-scanner incident.If something had gone wrong with him, she would've been held responsible.
She walked over and whispered,
"Please… if you can't handle it, you should withdraw. Even if your brain activity passed the requirement, the Association won't approve you if your body stats fail. It's better to stop now while you're still uninjured, and come back another day."
"I'll be fine," Nawa said firmly, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth.
"I passed, didn't I?"
She looked disappointed at his stubbornness,but also couldn't deny the determination burning in his eyes.And if she wasn't mistaken…
Nawa even seemed to be smiling.
As though the ridicule around him meant nothing at all.
The next trial tested accuracy.
It resembled a game of whack-a-mole, as players struck rapid targets popping up in random positions.Nawa could clearly see each target—but lacked the physical speed to match his vision.
Still, thanks to his concentration, he scored 63.
But compared to the Asashi students—
especially Natee, who scored 200—
Nawa looked even more hopeless in everyone's eyes.
The next station was agility, similar to the defense test but in a much larger room.
Candidates had to dodge black spheres shot from all angles.
Truthfully, Nawa had once dodged the attacks of a Kabil Paksa in the Himmapan Forest—
a monster whose speed was hundreds of times faster than these spheres.
But again, his body simply couldn't keep up with what his mind could perceive.
His score: 69.
Then came the speed test, running on a treadmill.Nawa scored 55, barely scraping past the minimum.He had now earned the lowest scores in every trial so far.
Next was attack power, striking a testing pillar—the same type he'd used when applying for a loan at PlayForce Clash.This became his best performance yet, scoring 81.
But compared to Natee's 225,even this looked unimpressive.Before the final round began, the examiner stepped forward and addressed the candidates:
"First of all, congratulations. Since I began working here, this is the first time no one has failed. Many of you have average stats exceeding 100, and we even have someone who surpassed 200. As a Player—and a fellow Thai—I'm proud of our nation's new generation today."
Her tone shifted, becoming sharp and commanding.
"However, I must warn you—not to become arrogant from such small achievements. In the One-Ness, these numbers mean nothing. Out there are countless beings that can crush you as easily as ants. One mistake, one moment of carelessness, and your journey could end before you even realize it."
Thailand had about 100,000 Players.
Only 1 in 100 ever reached Rank C.
High-Rank Players numbered fewer than 100, and almost all of them were Rank B.
Only ten had ever reached Rank A.
The world of Players was vast.A Rank D Player was powerful compared to normal humans—but still considered low-rank, far below the High-Rankers whose stats exceeded 10,000.
Even compared to Singkhon—the pinnacle of Rank C—Natee was nothing more than a child.Becoming a Player was like rowing upstream.You had to keep improving without end.
The examiner continued:
"To grow stronger, eating monster meat alone is not enough. You must train your combat skills, as well as the skills that match your stat profile.
Those with high defense should train tank-type skills.
Those with high accuracy should develop into rangers or ranged attackers."
"You must also learn which monster meats suit your build.Each monster increases different stats.Some raise strength, some raise accuracy, and so on.
You can try to raise all stats equally, but you will progress much slower.
And Players can only consume a limited amount of monster meat per day.
Eating the wrong type wastes both resources and time.
Knowing what path suits you—
that is the most important first step."
The room fell silent as she paused briefly, then declared:
"And now… the final test.Skill Activation."
A skill, in its simplest form, was the act of using mental energy to enhance one's physical abilities, dramatically amplifying strength in an instant.
In many cases, a skill could be even more important than stats—because a good skill could allow a weaker Player to overcome someone far stronger.
The examiner explained the scoring system:
The test compared a candidate's base stats to their buffed stats when using a skill.
For example, if someone's base attack power was 100,
and they increased it to 250 using a skill,
they would earn 150 points.
Because this test was the true measure of a Player's potential,the Association offered special distinctions:
Those scoring 200+ points received the title "One to Watch."Those scoring 500+ points earned the title "Newborn Genius."
The hall erupted in excitement.
Player titles were badges of honor.They signified achievements, specialties, and status.
Players could display their titles through their Player Device,and the Association granted exclusive benefits to title-holders—discounts, special information access,and even priority opportunities for rare artifacts.