As the new day began, it felt like judgment day for the students. As usual, everyone got ready, and at the designated time, the instructors led them to the training ground. When all the boys and girls had gathered, they realized that every instructor was present—a rare occurrence. The air was tense, and the atmosphere was far more serious than usual.
Then, the head instructor, Oliver, stepped forward to deliver a speech.
"Good morning, everyone. As you all know, today marks the first two-month interval exam. From the very beginning, this was never meant to be a simple skill-learning camp—it is a rigorous training ground that teaches you how to survive in the dark and achieve greater goals. But to accomplish great things, one must endure hardship, persevere, and make sacrifices. I hope the best among you prevail."
With that, he stepped back.
Next, Instructors Charles and Stane, who were responsible for the morning exercise classes, stepped forward. Stane spoke first.
"The first exam will test your physical fitness. We will assess three key aspects: strength through push-ups, upper-body endurance through pull-ups, and overall stamina with a race. The exam will be straightforward—each test will be scored out of 60. The top performer will receive full marks, while the last-place student will receive only one point. Charles and I will serve as the head examiners, while the other instructors will assist in assessing the results."
Charles then stepped forward to explain the first task.
"For the push-up test, students will be divided into groups of six, with ten instructors overseeing them. You will have ten minutes to complete as many push-ups as possible. Your scores will be determined based on your performance within this time."
Upon hearing the details, Ryan sighed in relief. At least I should be able to land somewhere in the middle, he thought.
The students quickly formed groups of six and moved to their designated instructors. As they spread out across the training ground, the head instructor signaled the start of the test by activating the timer.
Ryan, along with the others, dropped into position and began doing push-ups. Some students started with explosive bursts of energy, trying to get as many repetitions in as possible. Others took a more measured approach, pacing themselves to last the full ten minutes. Ryan chose the steady movements.
As the minutes passed, those who had exerted themselves too quickly collapsed, exhausted. Some students lacked the stamina to continue, while others managed to maintain a steady pace. Among them were a few exceptional individuals: Addison, the undisputed top performer in physical training, remained consistent. Adrian, the second-best, kept pace beside him. Then there was Ellis, a seemingly ordinary girl who, surprisingly, kept up with the two top contenders. These three were the elites of the camp, excelling in all physical exercises.
Meanwhile, Ryan noticed Finn—the student who had given him a tour of the camp—struggling to keep up. Bill, who had started aggressively, was already lying on the ground, unable to continue. Ryan himself was beginning to feel the strain.
As the timer hit ten minutes, the instructors marked down the students' final push-up counts. The highest scorer would receive 60 points, while the others were ranked accordingly. Nearly every student lay sprawled on the ground, gasping for breath.
Then, Instructor Oliver stepped forward again.
"You will have a 20-minute break before the pull-up test begins. We don't care how you spend this time—drink water, eat, or even sleep on the ground—but everyone must be ready for the next test."
Ryan and the other students took the opportunity to rest. As time passed, they prepared for the pull-up test.
At the far end of the training ground, a long pull-up bar stood waiting. The students positioned themselves beneath it, while the instructors took their places.
At Oliver's signal, the test began. Just like in the push-up test, each student approached the challenge in their own way—some starting strong, others taking a slower approach. Ryan, opting for consistency, followed a steady and controlled rhythm.
As time passed, many students dropped from the bar, exhausted. Some gave up entirely, while others took brief breaks before resuming. By the end of the ten minutes, only the top three—Addison, Adrian, and Ellis—remained consistently pulling themselves up, sweat pouring down their faces. The rest had either collapsed or struggled to continue.
Once the test ended, the instructors recorded the results. The students, even more exhausted than before, sat on the ground, breathing heavily.
As Ryan rested, he noticed Bill and his group pointing at him. Bill spoke loudly, drawing the attention of both students and instructors.
"Let's see if he can survive the death spar in this exam," Bill sneered.
The surrounding students turned to Ryan with a mixture of disdain and pity. Even some instructors glanced at him as if expecting some sort of entertainment.
Ryan clenched his fists. He knew exactly what Bill was trying to do—draw attention to him and gain favor by stirring up drama. But Ryan had already made up his mind. I won't go back on my words.