The Ultimate Test of Endurance

The instructor led them to a towering building adorned with ropes hanging down its sides. An air of tension permeated the air as the applicants received weights, their anticipation palpable. Sweat began to bead on many foreheads as they comprehended the challenge ahead.

"Listen up, applicants. This building behind me will be your test. In groups of 10, you'll climb it to the top with the weights I just gave you. Reach the summit, and you pass. Failure means you fail," the instructor announced. Rex, eyeing the daunting 200-meter structure, raised his hand. The instructor nodded in acknowledgment. "Yes, go ahead, Rex."

He voiced his concern, "What if one of us falls? Will we be disqualified, or can we retry?"

"A good question. The test lasts an hour for each group. If you fall and believe you can make it with another attempt, you're free to do so. Now, who wants to climb first?"

All eyes turned to Rex, the top-ranked applicant. Taking a deep breath, he approached the building. Both his friends hurried to join him, forming a determined trio. They exchanged nods, testing the ropes' sturdiness before embarking on their climb. Rex and Rebecca surged ahead, their movements almost simian in their agility.

"What the hell, are they monkeys?" Yuha exclaimed as he lagged behind. Observers, including the instructor, were astonished at Rex and Rebecca's rapid ascent, their 10-kilogram weights seemingly inconsequential.

"That doesn't seem fair," one applicant murmured, eyes wide with disbelief.

"That boy again. Is he good at everything? And who is that girl?" the instructor pondered, checking the girl's name on her clothes and consulting his list. "Rebecca. Ranked last on the first day, 10th in today's race, and 5th in the written test. Interesting."

A surge of applicants rushed at the building, ropes quickly occupied. Some struggled under the weight, while others scaled with surprising speed, matching Rex and Rebecca's pace. After 20 minutes of arduous climbing, Rex and Rebecca neared the summit, looking down to see a substantial gap between them and their competitors. Smiles exchanged, they pressed on, and within another 10 minutes, they reached the top. Collapsing in exhaustion, they panted heavily.

An instructor appeared, offering them water. "Impressive, applicants. I didn't expect anyone to reach here so swiftly. You two just set a record," he commended. They exchanged a triumphant high-five, their exhilaration echoing in his enthusiastic exclamation, "YEEEAAH, WE ROCK!!!" His shout reverberated through the air, reaching the spectators below. Rebecca simply smiled, and he, catching his breath, sat beside her, his eyes filled with admiration.

"I knew you had something special about you; you are really strong," he complimented, his eyes filled with genuine admiration.

She blushed, her cheeks tinged with a rosy hue. "Thank you for believing in me. If it wasn't for you, I would have been really lonely and probably just gave up." She beamed, giving him a cute smile that made him blush in return. He shifted his gaze away, clearing his throat awkwardly. "Ehem, it's not a big deal. We are friends now, so don't worry about people ignoring you. Actually, now that they know you're strong, they will probably start being nice to you."

"I hope so," she replied, a hint of uncertainty in her voice.

Yuha arrived, visibly out of breath, and stared at both Rex and the Rebecca in disbelief. "What the hell, guys? Why are you both so strong?" Confused, they exchanged glances before shrugging their shoulders. Yuha received some water from the instructor and settled down beside Rex.

Slowly, more people managed to reach the summit, and to everyone's surprise, no one from the first group failed. The group descended back into the building, heading to the dining hall to refuel before the next set of tests. After hours of climbing, the fourth stage came to an end, leaving only 2,100 out of the initial 2,900 applicants standing.

Following the meal, they gathered in the dining hall for the last test of the day. It was nighttime, and anticipation hung heavy in the air. A lady instructor named Lorisa, with a commanding presence and a hint of allure, entered the hall. The male applicants were captivated by her presence.

"Hello, everyone. My name is Lorisa, and I'll be your instructor for the final test of the day. This test might prove to be much harder than you think, even though it sounds simple. The test is... staying awake all night."

A stunned silence fell over the room as they processed her words. Lorisa seemed taken aback by their lack of reaction. "You people seem really boring. Anyway, all you have to do is stay awake in here until 6 am, and you pass. Note that I will be watching you all, so don't fall asleep. Well, good luck."

After Lorisa left the hall, the room remained eerily quiet. Four hours passed, and Rex observed that many applicants appeared visibly tired. He understood that this test would challenge their mental and physical endurance. Determined to stay awake, he spoke up, breaking the silence.

"Hey, guys, we need to stay active. Let's do some exercises or something to keep ourselves awake." His suggestion hung in the air, hoping to rally the group and keep them alert through the night.

Yuha regarded him skeptically, his tired eyes reflecting disbelief. "Are you serious? It's already midnight; we won't make it until 6 am."

Rex shook his head, determination glinting in his eyes. "We can do it; we just need to keep ourselves moving. Come on, let's do some push-ups or something."

Rebecca chimed in, her smile lighting up the dim room. "That's a good idea; let's do it."

They began doing push-ups, sit-ups, and various exercises, their movements filling the room. Slowly, other applicants joined in, and soon, the hall buzzed with the sounds of determined effort. He scanned the room, finding a sense of satisfaction in seeing everyone awake and active. His encouragement had worked, at least for a while.

Hours passed, and exhaustion began to weigh on them again. Some applicants, unable to keep their eyes open, succumbed to momentary lapses of rest. Rex noticed their struggle and approached them. "Don't give up now; we're almost there. Just keep moving, and we'll make it through this."

Despite his efforts, fatigue prevailed. One by one, people succumbed to sleep, their bodies betraying their determination. His frustration grew as he surveyed the room, witnessing the inevitable surrender of many.

Finally, the clock struck 6 am, and Lorisa reentered the room. Her disappointed gaze swept over the exhausted applicants, many of whom were now asleep. "Disappointing. I thought at least half of you would be able to do it." She checked off the names of those who failed and left the hall, leaving behind a mix of relief and disappointment.

Rex exchanged glances with Rebecca and Yuha, realizing the toll the night had taken. "Dammit, we lost way too many people." Those who had succeeded trudged back to their rooms, each one expressing gratitude to him for his support.

He stumbled back to his room, his eyes barely open, a fatigued but proud smile playing on his lips. "Hehe, I passed again." Collapsing onto his bed, he succumbed to the darkness, finally finding the rest he had earned.