"Shouldn't the timer have ended with the defeat of this clone?" Rean thought.
"Oh, shit. We probably all have to clear them. I have to find a way to locate the others and help in whatever way I can."
"My mind is willing, but my body is weak. I seem to have depleted just about every bit of strength in that onslaught."
"Damn it."
His eyes losing their shine, everything goes dim until suddenly his vision is blinded by lashes closing in on themselves.
Buzz. An alarm sound goes on and on.
"What is that?" Rean shouted. He got up.
"Damn it, how long was I out for."
"Oh, shit."
"I didn't help out. Is it possible the others got to the next phase or something without me?" Rean panicked. He was visibly scared.
"Hey," Xander said to Rean. He extended his hand and thanked Rean for his efforts.
"We were successfully able to finish things here thanks to everyone. The timer is reading just 3 minutes to go," Xander stated.
"Just 3 minutes? You mean I was out for more than a whole day?" Rean thought.
"Despite our varying performances, it's safe to say that we wouldn't have been able to complete the task at hand individually. These results speak for themselves," Xander continued.
"Victor, a word," Xander said. He called Victor out to talk in private.
"Man, that was something," Zeus said.
"It really was," Rean said, looking up.
The null space was eventually peeled back, and the vessels were returned to the temple.
"You'll undergo more challenges. The null space test was the very first of many. You will exercise your rights as vessels, rank up, and then unleash your new selves onto humanity," the fifth seat member said as he received the group.
"Wow, so we're going to be here for about a whole week," Rean thought.
He looked at his palm.
"I can't believe it. I mean, looking at how much has changed in the past 48 hours, I'm a completely different beast."
"Since time worked differently in the null space, I take it the seven days aren't literal to the amount of time we will actually be spending," Rean thought.
7 days later
"Ok, so those of you that are already here, let's head out. We're going ahead to raid an A rank dungeon. Let's move, the others will join later," Captain Shom said.
Everyone was present but Rean and Porter.
"It's already been a full week. I would have expected Rean to be here earlier to get this started. What the heck could he possibly be up to right about now?" Michael thought.
The division loaded their extensions and gear into the bus and headed out.
"This is going to be our first A rank gate. I have been instructed to put my back into it. You will have to carry your own weight if you hope to accumulate any points."
"You won't just be sharing the field with peers anymore. This time you'll have a seasoned veteran on board. Try to keep up," Shom said.
"I finally get to test myself against the captain," Zeta thought.
"Ok, captain," Charles shouted enthusiastically.
They arrived not long after. They had spent just about 16 minutes on the road.
"Wow, look at the size of that thing," Lin exclaimed.
"So gate sizes vary with ranks," Miles thought.
"Ok. This isn't a simulation. This isn't a test. This is the real shit."
"Any slip, any case of indecisiveness could and will be fatal."
"These monsters aren't A rank for nothing."
"There's so much I could tell you. I could warn you with a lot of quotes. I could cite an infinite amount of references, but none of that would be enough."
"Just stay sharp. Keep your eyes up and on the rewards."
"Ok, let's move in," Shom commanded.
"Hey, when the other two get here, let them in without a moment's delay," Shom said to Carl.
The team entered the gate at 10:57 a.m.
"Order, please. The president will now commence the live feed."
"Those of you who objected to this new initiative for one reason or the other, your complaints have been heard, and now a conclusion will be reached based on this film."
"Should we continue the new source ranking-up division and invest resources there? Well, that decision lies not in my hands but that of its members."
"Show us your strength, Division Black," the president concluded before setting the live stream up and on to play.
"Dammit. Those association raids I have been taking have dealt quite a number on me. I got up way too late," Porter said.
He raced around his house. He brushed his teeth, then took his bath, and before long he had left the house.
"Ding—is that a notification?" he said.
"Oh, shit. Coordinates from the captain."
"It doesn't specify rank, so I guess it's business as usual—another B rank."
He got on his bike and made for the coordinates.
"I spent the last week pretending to be different hunters. I'm lucky they didn't catch on. I mean, since you get only three trials at raiding with the association, I had to train somehow. Shady as my process was, it yielded results," Porter said.
"I was basically in and out of select D rank and C rank gates. It's nice to be back on the real stuff."
"I hope I make it before Michael and Rean are done with all the action."
Back at the Black Cranes, with the big shots doing the evaluation.
A team manager questioned, "Why are there two members short? Correct me if I'm wrong, but I count only seven present, including the captain."
"Well, the other two were running late, and since it's an A rank gate, Shom couldn't stand to just wait idly till they showed up," Lola replied.
"Why is that one just standing?" another manager said as he pointed at Michael through the screen.
"Well, I need answers," he added.
Lola didn't have one.
"I invited you to this meeting to answer such questions. Now don't be quiet, Ridlus. We await your answer."
"Well, that's—Michael Lush, and he's..."