Today marked the long-awaited biennial Monster Extermination Exam. Before sunrise, crowds had already gathered outside the Monster Extermination Training Facility. Students, veterans, and desperate dreamers stood shoulder to shoulder, all waiting for their lives to change.
This year, 1,000 applicants had registered the highest number ever recorded. Only 100 would pass.
Humanity was plagued by otherworldly beings known as monsters. In recent years, their attacks had worsened, plunging the world into constant fear. No one truly knew where they came from. Some believed they descended from the heavens. Others whispered they were divine punishment or weapons created by the wealthy.
No one agreed on the truth.
But everyone agreed on one thing.
They had to be eliminated.
Despite the danger, life went on.
"Tch… I missed the taxi," a young boy muttered while running down the street. "Now I'll be late for the exam."
"I told you not to help that old lady cross the road," his friend snapped. "Come on!"
A large holographic screen flickered above a nearby building.
THE MONSTER EXTERMINATION EXAM BEGINS TODAY.
BECOME AN EXTERMINATOR.
PROTECT HUMANITY.
A man standing below scoffed. "Are Exterminators even doing anything? Attacks haven't stopped. Just a waste of my tax money."
A woman beside him frowned. "Watch your mouth. They've saved millions of lives."
Applicants poured into the facility until the massive hall overflowed. Voices echoed against steel walls as nervous chatter filled the air.
"Phee! This place is huge," someone whispered.
Excitement, fear, and desperation mixed together.
Near the back of the hall stood a scruffy-haired man, a cigarette hanging loosely from his lips. He took a long drag, then glanced sideways.
Beside him stood a young boy sharp-eyed, long-haired, arms crossed, irritation written plainly on his face.
"Mmm." Smoke spilled from the man's mouth.
"Aren't you a little young to be here, kid? How old are you?"
The boy shot him a glare. "What's it to you, old man? I could ask the same. Aren't you too old for this? Go home and take care of your kids."
The man's brow twitched.
"…Huh?"
In a blur of motion, his boot slammed into the boy's ribs.
Gasps rippled through the hall as the boy skidded across the floor, coughing.
"Tch." The man clicked his tongue. "He blocked it with his arm. Not bad."
A nearby applicant grabbed the man's shoulder. "Hey! That's enough he's just... "
The scruffy man twisted, grabbed the arm, and flipped the speaker over his shoulder. The man crashed to the ground with a groan.
Panic erupted.
"What the hell?!"
"This guy's insane!"
The boy pushed himself up slowly, clutching his ribs, breathing hard. He raised his fists, eyes burning with anger.
The scruffy man stepped forward. "Didn't anyone teach you respect? I ought to... "
"HEY."
A sharp voice cut through the hall.
Black-clad guards rushed in, weapons raised. Their boots echoed as they surrounded the two men.
One guard glared at the scruffy man. "This is a controlled facility. Violence before the exam is prohibited."
The man smirked and raised his hands. "Relax. Just testing the kid."
The guard's finger tightened on the trigger. "You're one step from disqualification."
The boy straightened, wiping blood from his lip.
"Stand down," another guard ordered. "Both of you."
The tension lingered but no one moved.
Then someone shouted, "Look! The stage!"
All eyes turned to the podium.
A tall man in a fitted black suit stood beneath the lights, dark sunglasses hiding his eyes.
"Good morning," he said calmly. "I am your examiner for today."
The hall quieted.
"This exam will be conducted in two trials, each with its own grading system. These trials will simulate real extermination conditions."
Murmurs spread.
"Why change the format?" someone shouted.
"We trained for the old system!"
The examiner paused.
"This time," he said, "you will face real monsters. Captured directly from active battlefields."
The hall exploded into chaos.
"WHAT?!"
"I didn't sign up for that!"
"I'M OUT!"
Applicants rushed for the exits, overwhelming guards.
The examiner reached into his pocket and lifted a small disk. It unfolded, reconstructing into a mask over his mouth.
He spoke into the microphone.
"Freeze."
Instantly, bodies locked in place. Arms froze mid-swing. Legs buckled under invisible weight.
"Release."
Movement returned. No one dared breathe.
The examiner removed the mask.
"The monsters are evolving," he said.
Silence fell.
"Autopsies show thicker hides. New predatory adaptations. Attacks can now occur anywhere."
Fear spread like poison.
"If you wish to leave, do so now," he continued. "Once the exam begins, there is no turning back."
A few more left.
Most stayed.
"In that case…"
"I declare the Monster Extermination Exam officially open."
A massive steel gate rumbled open. Engraved upon it was the Exterminator emblem an X crossed with an M.
Men in black suits stood beside tables lined with metal boxes.
"Lose your tracker, and you fail. Immediately."
He gestured to the tables.
"Step forward and claim them."
The crowd moved forward in nervous waves. Despite nearly half the applicants quitting, the remaining group still felt enormous.
"Ah! Sweet, the bracelets are green!" a cheerful voice shouted. "I love green!"
A boy with dark-green hair and faint blue markings spiraling around his arms hurriedly strapped the bracelet onto his wrist.
Someone beside him frowned. "What could you possibly be happy about? We're about to face monsters. No one should be excited about that." The boy grunted and clenched his ribs.
The dark green hair boy simply grinned. "Hey! You're about my age. I'm Ash. How old are you?"
The other boy sighed. "I'm Agnar. Eighteen. Are you always this loud?"
"Haha! we're the same age! You're the first person I've met that's my age. That means fate wants us to be friends!"
A deep, gravelly chuckle came from behind them.
A bald, scarred man stood behind the two boys.
"Ah... youthful." He sighed. "You boys shouldn't be here. Don't throw your lives away. I'm sure you haven't seen what those monsters can do to a man. Just maybe your green haired friend won't be all that cheerful."
Ash blinked with a smile on his face. "Geez... thanks, old dude."
"Also, he's not my friend." Agnar responded.
"That's cold! I thought we were getting along." Ash replied.
Agnar wasn't interested in what the bald man had to say and certainly didn't want Ash hovering beside him, but he couldn't seem to shake either of them.
Once everyone received their tracker, a heavy silence settled. The mood shifted from anxious to deadly serious.
The examiner stepped forward again.
"This was the final prerequisite. When the exam ends, those who pass will receive their Extermination license. Good luck to you all."
The gates opened, and the much anticipated exam started.
The first trial awaits.