First Examination

Darius woke up before daybreak. He began studying, projecting his notes with his phone. When the star rose past the horizon the hologram began getting dimmer and hard to see. As such Darius decided to swing his fists around a bit, fighting against his own 'shadow'.

As he kept sparring against his own mind light rose past the horizon till it hanged up in the sky. Sweat dripped on the floor, like rain. Huff Huff

Darius looked up the time on his phone then saw it was 1030 he light yelped. Rushed in the bathroom washing himself hastily, wearing the uniform given him by Atlas, then rushing towards the testing facility on his floor.

Once he arrived there were only managers at the facility's doors. He stepped forward in order to enter, but the manager stopped him "Hey, you show me your identification!". Darius facepalmed himself realizing he forgot his dogtag in his room. He ran back to his room. The manager who asked Darius looked confused as she saw him run back. While the manager besides her shook her head intuitively guessing what happened, she looked down at the names written on her tablet. Indeed her guess was true, as she saw the youth reappear in the square in front of the testing facility. She looked at the clock it was 1058, then chuckled as she stared at the youth breathing heavily rushing in front of her, he extended his hand with his dogtag dangling. Grabbing it she announced "Darius Freeborn, Present" the manager besides her checked off his name on the tablet, then the door opened. "Thanks" said Darius as he entered the facility, with rough breaths.

He got greeted by a bodybuilder's dream sight many strenght training machines.

The referee which already began explaining the tests, quickly noticed he arrived late compared to his classmates. As such he thought -You punk are not taking the competition seriously enough-. "You, come here" The referee said pointing with his finger, Darius who was still panting grit his teeth and walked forward.

The students began bickering with each other, hoping Darius would score poorly.

"Now this Punching bag right here has sensors in it.You will be measured based on your maximum punching power." He then invited Darius to give it a try.

Darius breathed in, bent his knees slightly putting his left leg as lead leg. He closed his eyes focusing, His eyes shot open he began twisting his hips, he rotated with force while sighing out his held breath, BANG his fist hitting the punching bag sounded like a gunshot. The whole punching bag structure began swaying and making vibrating metal noises.

The referee and the whole classroom quickly quieted down after witnessing his strenght. -This boy's a natural- Dr.House thought with excitement.

Dr.House began testing all the students in the gym, as such the students began getting ranked based on their performances, their stripes lit after they got tested in all machines.

After leaving the gym House led them to a giant classroom. Each student sat at a desk and a personalized test would show up on the screen. As such many people which thought of cheating were left only twindling with their thumbs. Salvatore sat besides Darius, by the end of the test his suit which had a purple stripe added besides it a black one lit. While on Darius' suit a red stripe lit beside a black one. His academics tests left much to be desired, but he still managed to obtain a black strip in the phystical trials.

At the end of the trials it already neared sunset. The tired students slowly began dispersing after the end of the trials. Exept those who managed to get within the top 200 in either testting trials.

They all followed Dr.House to the floor where they would be fed the incredibly expensive resource of the current society. Food.

They got welcomed by a banquet were food was neatly divided in plates, maids and servers got appointed to each student, they would limit their choices to 1 plate or drink for each individual. The black stripes instead would be rewarded for their performance to chose both a plate of food and a drink.

Darius choosed a bowl of Kimchi Stew, while looking around trying to choose a drink, his eyes dropped on a transparent pot full of golden liquid. He walked over about to pick it up when at the same time him and another young man grabbed it. Darius said "Let go! I chose it first". The young man answered "Fuck you trash, Let go! I have way better rankings than yours you priviledged piece of shit!" It was at this moment that Darius noticed both a Black stripe and a Brown stripe besides it. But unwilling to yield he gripped the pot tightly.

The conflict between the two gathered a crowd, the spectators looking at them as if dogs barking at each other ready to dogfight. In the crowd Dr.House witnessed what was going on, after noticing where Darius' eyes were looking at he got an idea.

Making his way through the crowd Dr.House arrived in front of Darius. Darius looked at Dr.House like a kid who got wronged. House said "Both of you, let go of it, now!" Being commanded by a referee unwillingly they backed off.

"Since the both of you are black stripes i shall allow you to fight for this pot of tea. Each of you shall represent their school, if you win your school's rank will increase to Bronze(CuSn). Now decide are you willing to take resposibility and represent your schools?" Without a second thought both of them nodded confidently.

"Very well, everyone let's move to a more fitting place for a fight!" House announced with a smirk on his face.

Salvatore approached Darius "You really, really can't keep yourself out of the spotlight can you?"

Darius grunted "I was bound to fight for our school sooner or later anyways."

They took an elevator to a floor with a really high sealing which housed an arena within. Darius and the youth stood tall on the stage, thousands of spectators chearing them on.

A divide took place, the students from Vuilia cheered Darius, while the students who came from Zonia, they cheered "Goo, teach him a lesson!!", some students even began collecting bets "Who's voting for Darius Freeborn?! Who's voting for Marcus Riviera?!"

A Marcus' classmate "Goo Marcus show them that we're better even if we come from the poor lands of Zonia!!"

Dr.House walked on stage "The fight shall be with out the use of any weapons. The victor will be decided when either an opponent is knocked out or gives up!" Chopping with his hand downwards "Begin!"