Chapter 100 - Uncertain Future

Thirty minutes later, Aldrin finally lost against them by holding back at the last minute. He decided that there's no point holding someone else as a hostage again or damaging their Metadome heavily just because it could be repaired in time for tomorrow.

His purpose to spar with them was clear. To gauge their abilities. That way, he could act out his role, if need be, for tomorrow.

They had certainly improved in the way that Aldrin found it harder to sneak in. Besides, an Energy Refiner's Concept, after being channeled to the Metadome, couldn't be fully replicated.

The fact that it's considered as a specialized vehicle remained.

The Shadow Clone of his Metadome was a lump of imperfections. Although it could perform what he intended for it, its overall prowess was only around 50% of its original.

With Aldrin's request done, Janet took back the helm as the hailed Instructor of their group.

She returned to the topic of their evaluation.

The means to change it was presented to them.

"It's great that you got a little bonding time through Aldrin. However, stop forgetting that this is your last day for this lesson. I'll thoroughly change your perception to how easy you all had it for the past week." declared Janet.

At every word that she said, the pressure she was radiating increased.

And by the time her last word reached Aldrin's ears, he saw a wide Spatial Pocket or rather a Spatial Storage manifesting behind the woman.

From inside that storage, a crimson-red Metadome was pushed out. It's not the same as their standard models. From the knowledge Aldrin acquired, the crimson Metadome that's at least 7-meters tall was part of the Grade 2 Models.

It's created by a harder but lighter metal alloy, a sturdier and more efficient engine, and lastly, a wide array of modules that could be installed on it.

"Hold onto your jaws and keep them in place. I'm not flaunting my 'better' Metadome. This is a necessary procedure for your final evaluation as Metadome Operators."

Although she said that, Janet had her chin raised as she was clearly amused at their reactions, especially Aldrin's.

"That's right. I'll be using this one this time. However, if you're thinking I will spar against you… You best drop that notion." Janet climbed up in her Metadome and seconds later, the hulking crimson-painted 'specialized vehicle' woke up and stood tall before them.

"Just in time… These dividing walls that separated you from the rest of the groups will be removed. Stop dawdling and get back to your Metadomes!"

Janet's voice rang out, awakening all five in their sudden stupor.

From what was listed in the Idle Shopping, that Grade 2 Metadome Model that Janet produced was called AF2-8 or in how it's commonly called, the 'Armada'. It's a model specializing in close-ranged combat.

Although every model was capable of being used in long or closed range, the manufacturers and Metadome Architects would naturally draw up different types of them.

Despite being considered a 'specialized vehicle' Metadome was a necessity for every Energy Refiner.

Naturally, the higher the grade, the better the performance.

If Janet truly sparred with them using that, they'd be defeated in no time. Janet was already ahead of them in terms of Energy Refiner progress, if a better Metadome was factored in then… that's game over.

A while later, the five who once again jumped inside their Metadomes lined up behind Janet's Armada.

Following that, they watched as the walls that were put in place lowered, revealing the wide field once more.

And as Aldrin had expected, the other groups were the same as them. Eyeing the number of standard models that come in different colors, those operating a better model were the Instructors of each group.

Along with Janet's lead, they marched off and approached the nearest group. The ones from Block I.

"… Ugh. Armada, huh? Isn't this unfair?"

The voice of the Instructor from that block depressingly asked. His Metadome model was clearly inferior to Janet's.

"You should've asked your organization for a better pay, you know? Besides, how can you cry unfair when we're just flaunting what we have." Janet replied in kind, her voice somewhat laced with slight elation.

As Aldrin heard that exchange from them, he finally guessed what they're about to do.

It wouldn't involve them fighting Janet. Instead, they're going to test their mettle against the neighboring block's trainees.

And sure enough, after a small bantering between Janet and the Block I's Instructor, Janet called on them as she boasted about their prowess. Likewise, the trainees from the other side were lifted up by that Instructor's words.

Following that, the expected naturally happened.

Aldrin's decision to polish their cooperation came in handy.

As it turned out, a lesson about cooperation was intentionally not taught to them.

The final evaluation was supposed to be the stage for that.

Pitting the group against another group, they're expected to learn and polish their cooperation to best their opponents.

The result easily became obvious.

With Aldrin's lead, Block J easily triumphed against Block I whose cooperation was primitive.

The Block I Instructor called foul but with a simple playing of a recording which showed Aldrin's request to spar against the four cleared them of that.

In that way, Block J's evaluation rose from Satisfied to Excellent. Netting them a fairly useful advantage for tomorrow's next stage of the Training Camp.

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Later that night, Aldrin returned to his room after sending Irina to hers. The girl began capitalizing on their 'fake' relationship, using that to get closer to Aldrin.

In any case, despite Aldrin noticing that, his mind was occupied by a lot of things. Even Renissa, who he couldn't contact yet, rarely came up in his mind for the past few days.

There are the last 2 Dungeons, the fate awaiting him after Conquering that Lower Dimension. The middle-aged man Carlos and his plan to take him down. And lastly, the uneasiness in his mind concerning the likeliness of a disaster striking them once more.

"Really, I stepped foot in this World, hoping to change my life but I feel like I'm being dragged to a deeper hole that I never knew existed… Will I survive all of this?"