The Assessment Hall buzzed with nervous energy.
Hundreds of students filled the massive indoor stadium, screens floating above the arena floor.
Aarav stood still.
He remembered this day.
He remembered failing.
"Next batch! Step forward!"
He walked onto the platform.
And there he was.
Rohan Malhotra.
Bright smile. Confident posture. Natural leader aura.
The future hero.
The future traitor.
Their eyes met.
A flicker.
Just for a second.
Like recognition.
Impossible.
Then—
[WARNING]
Another Variable detected.
Aarav's heartbeat spiked.
Variable.
The word echoed in his mind.
Slowly, carefully, he glanced back at Rohan.
And saw it.
A faint translucent interface reflected in his eyes.
He wasn't the only one.
"Begin Probability Sync Test!"
A sphere of light descended over each candidate.
Aarav felt it.
Cold.
Scanning.
In the previous timeline, this was where he failed.
This time—
He focused.
[Minor Rewrite Available]
Cost: Emotional Stability -1%
He clenched his jaw.
Do it.
The world blurred for half a second.
He shifted a tiny variable—
A slip in timing.
A micro-adjustment in outcome.
The scanning sphere glowed brighter.
Gasps echoed around him.
Screen above updated:
Candidate: Aarav Mehta
Synchronization: 71%
Tier Classification: 1 — Editor
Murmurs exploded.
Last timeline, he had 32%.
This time—
He passed.
Across the arena, Rohan stared.
Not smiling anymore.
End Chapter 2