Alex boarded the elevator, setting his destination for the 5th floor. After a brief journey, the elevator doors opened, and he found himself on the 5th floor.
Much like the floors from the 4th to the 10th, this level was primarily designated for the Hunter test.
As Alex stepped onto the floor, he observed a scene that was quite familiar from his previous experiences.
Hunter aspirants were lined up in front of various rooms, each corresponding to their assigned examinations. The first test in line was the theory test.
The theory test, in the grand scheme of things, held relatively low significance. Its purpose was simply to gauge whether aspirants possessed a foundational understanding of dungeons.
Alex felt a sense of ease regarding this initial hurdle. His knowledge in this domain was more than sufficient, and he had little doubt about his ability to breeze through the theory examination.
As a result, he approached the situation with minimal apprehension or tension.
Alex proceeded to the designated counter to confirm his assigned room number. Following a brief administrative procedure, he received a notification on his device detailing the specific room he was assigned to for the examination.
Without wasting any time, Alex made his way towards the room where the test was to be conducted.
His allotted exam time was set for 11:30 AM, and he was determined not to be late.
The distance between the counter and the examination room was somewhat substantial, necessitating a few minutes of brisk walking.
During this brief journey, Alex couldn't help but scan the faces of those around him, hopeful that he might encounter someone who triggered a sense of recognition.
Unfortunately, disappointment was the prevailing emotion as he found no familiar faces among the crowd.
Upon reaching the entrance of the exam room, Alex paused for a moment. He meticulously checked the room number to ensure that it matched the one provided in the notification.
To his surprise, it was indeed the same room he had encountered in his previous life.
A thought flickered through his mind, suggesting that if he not made different choices this time around, the events of his past life might repeat themselves in the present.
Although Alex was aware of this possibility, he couldn't resist the urge to double-check, an action driven by a mixture of curiosity and a desire for confirmation.
Alex entered the examination room and located his seat as indicated by the assigned seat number.
Before entering, the invigilator instructed him to surrender his electronic device to Robert, who was stationed at the front of the door to collect such items.
As he complied with the request and handed over his electronic device, he sat in his seat.
There was still 10 minutes before his exam and Alex's mind briefly drifted to memories of his past life.
In that moment, he began to formulate a plan for how he could alter the course of his life this time around. His thoughts centered on the key decisions he needed to make, the individuals he should forge alliances with, and those he needed to distance himself from or even eliminate to pave the way for his progress.
After ten minutes had passed, the invigilator made an announcement that jolted Alex out of his daydreams.
The invigilator sternly declared, "Any form of cheating or malpractice is strictly prohibited, and the consequences may result in disqualification from further exams."
Alex snapped to attention, fully aware of the gravity of the situation. It was a stark reminder that the path he had chosen demanded unwavering integrity and dedication. He couldn't afford to jeopardize his future with dishonesty.
The invigilator continued, "You will have one hour for your exam. The questions will be displayed on your desk via a 3D screen precisely at the designated time. You will have one minute to answer each question. Best of luck in your future endeavors."
Taking a moment to scan his surroundings, Alex observed that all the seats were now occupied.
Some candidates appeared to be in deep prayer, seeking divine guidance, while others engaged in hushed conversations with their fellow test-takers.
The atmosphere was charged with a mix of anticipation and nervous energy as everyone prepared to face the challenge of the impending examination.
Precisely at 11:30 AM, a holographic screen, measuring 14 by 14 inches, materialized from the desk's surface.
There was no need for candidates to enter their names or any personal information. The process was straightforward: answer the questions one by one.
Once a question was selected and answered, there was no turning back. It was a one-shot opportunity, and candidates had to proceed to the next question without the option to review or revise their answers.
Alex's eyes scanned the first question: "If a dungeon is on the verge of overloading, can hunters still enter the dungeon through the gate?" The choices were a simple "yes" or "no."
For someone like Alex, who had spent a decade raiding dungeons, this question felt like child's play. Without hesitation, he selected "no" and moved on.
The written exam consisted of a total of 30 questions, and in order to pass, candidates needed to correctly answer at least 50% of them, which meant getting 15 questions right.
On the surface, it seemed easy – just 15 correct answers out of 30 questions. However, many aspirants struggled because they lacked a fundamental understanding of gates and dungeons.
This was where a significant portion of candidates faltered, resulting in a high failure rate.
Alex, on the other hand, didn't need to ponder over the questions. With a decade of dungeon raiding experience under his belt, these questions were elementary to him.
Fifteen minutes later, Alex completed his exam. However, candidates were not allowed to leave the room until the designated time had elapsed.
For Alex, this meant waiting an additional 45 minutes before he could exit the examination room.
After the passage of 45 minutes, the holographic screen automatically dematerialized, signaling the conclusion of the first exam.
The invigilator made an announcement, "The results will be published in 5 minutes via notifications on your phones. If you pass, congratulations.
If not, you can try again next month on the same day. For those who pass, further notifications will be sent to your phones." With these words, the invigilator exited the room.
The role of the invigilator in this modern setting was quite limited. The entire examination process was meticulously monitored through motion-sensing cameras.
Cheating was virtually impossible, as any attempt to do so would be swiftly detected and penalized.
Alex left the examination room and took a seat on one of the benches nearby, awaiting the notification that would reveal his results. The future of his hunter journey hinged on the outcome of this first exam.