Afternoon. 1:00 PM sharp.
Tachikawa Base Second Ground Training Field. Before towering painted metal gate—over a hundred examinees looked up. Discussed upcoming test content.
Soon—purple-haired Hoshina appeared before them. Black Defense Force coat. Eyes narrowed—watching examinees.
"Every Defense Force member's responsibility and mission—fight kaiju. Behind me in the training field—thirty-seven kaiju contained. One is the alpha."
"Next test content—enter training field. Fight kaiju. We'll score based on your performance."
Hoshina spoke. Gaze swept across front-row examinees.
Serious tone: "This is actual combat. In actual combat with kaiju—casualties unavoidable."
"We'll provide treatment after injury and elimination. But I hope you remember... dead people—cannot be revived."
"If anyone wants to withdraw—still time now."
Words fell. Examinees—discussion sounds again.
Some—hearing test content—fear appeared on faces. Obviously didn't expect facing living kaiju immediately.
But more people—excitement appeared on faces.
Those choosing Defense Force—mostly prepared for life-or-death battles with kaiju. Current situation—suited them perfectly.
"I... I withdraw!"
"Perfect—just what I want!"
"I joined Defense Force—to fight kaiju!"
Few fearful ones withdrew. Remaining—all prepared to face kaiju.
"Good. Those participating—head to that prep room."
"Next they'll take you to get your weapons. Humanity's... true armament against kaiju."
Hoshina clapped. Accompanying soldiers led examinees toward prep room beside training field.
So-called true armament—Defense Force Suit G-X4552. Fully activates human potential. Grants superhuman power.
This test—higher Combat Power Release—easier to pass.
"Kaiju side—no movement yet?"
"I recall today was high probability for attack." Hoshina returned to monitoring room. Looked at technicians before computers. Asked aloud.
"No seismic activity detected yet." Round-glasses technician turned around. Reported.
Hoshina rubbed chin. Looked at floral-shirt man in monitoring room.
"Think Dr. Connie's prediction accurate?"
He was among few knowing the inside story.
"Who knows? But better safe than sorry." Natsuki watched screen—examinees undergoing Combat Power Release testing. Replied.
"If massive kaiju appears you can't handle—I'll intervene."
He'd monitor this entire test. Prevent mass casualties.
"Sometimes hard to imagine someone unreliable like you has such power." Hoshina also came to screen. Watched examinees' performance. Complained.
"When you reach my age—you'll understand." Natsuki—lips curved upward.
Prep room filled with tech equipment.
Examinees changed into dark green Defense Force Suits with silver-white armor. Stood before instruments. Testing data.
"Iharu Furuhashi—Combat Power Release 14%... Aoi Kaguragi—Combat Power Release 15%..."
Technician's announcements echoed in room. Declaring their Defense Force Suit sync ratio. Their releasable combat power.
These suits—made from kaiju muscle fibers. Wearing them—like having another skin layer. Could draw out powerful strength from their bodies.
In corner—two men around twenty-seven or twenty-eight whispering. One blonde short hair. One brown short hair.
"Reno Ichikawa's performance exceeded expectations. But Kafka Hibino's situation still stable. Physical test—poor performance."
"Next—after passing Defense Force exam—find way to approach them." Blonde man looked at those two. Told brown-haired man beside him.
Riding coattails—their core strategy this time.
Once Kaiju No. 8 grows—definitely top-tier combat power in this world. Successfully riding coattails—still hope of winning.
"I recall Reno Ichikawa's Combat Power Release—8%. Kafka Hibino's—0%. Like us two single-digit releases—all similar." Brown-haired man also looked at those two. Organizing intel while speaking.
Normal development—those two's Combat Power Release would be these numbers.
Everyone's weak—easier to build relationships.
"Kafka Hibino—Combat Power Release... 1%." Technician's announcement gave Kafka's data.
Hearing this data—golden twin-tailed Kikoru instantly turned around. Looked at Kafka. Though didn't speak—expression said everything.
This old man... real talent.
This 1% Combat Power Release value—rock bottom in Defense Force history.
"This... is this data wrong?" Kafka looked at instrument before him. Receiving surrounding examinees' gazes—face flushed red.
Admitted without transforming—bit weak. But shouldn't be this weak...
Disaster. Really embarrassing now.
"Next—Kikoru Shinomiya. Combat Power Release... 47%!" Suddenly—technician announced data making all examinees' eyes widen.
"What!?"
"Really? I'm only single digits."
"This is Commander Shinomiya's daughter?"
Simultaneously—monitoring room—Hoshina seeing this data—couldn't help praising.
"Each year's selection exam—Combat Power Release above 10%—at most one or two. This year so many appeared. Even... 47% genius."
"Already completely squad captain level."
Hoshina mentally prepared for Kikoru's excellence. But still underestimated her. This child... might eventually surpass both parents.
"Ordinary-born Reno Ichikawa—no prior Defense Force Suit contact. Even with excellent physicals—impossible to have high Combat Power Release initially."
He looked at Natsuki. Smiled with narrowed eyes.
"Looks like—this bet—I won."
Wait to be eaten back completely!
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