404 Monstrous

"Hmm, that's probably the case, he gave up. He's one to know his limits. Honestly, it'd be a lie if I said I didn't see this coming." Shaking his head, the invigilator shared the same opinion.

03:59

'But why isn't he telling me to stop the test? I'm not really allowed to stop the process without the participant's permission. Either that… or the balls needs to hit him.' 

04:00

Swish! A ball went past Virus's face, yet he didn't even flinch.

"Ahhh… why isn't he moving! The ball's about to hit him!" Screamed Abby in horror. She was truly afraid for him now.

'Ah, there's no way he'd be able to dodge the next ball now!' Calculated the invigilator after sensing the next incoming hardball. He knew it was too late to even try now.

And indeed, just as he had sensed and predicted, from one of the pitching machines, a ball that was sure to hit him was released as it got closer and closer to his current position. In fact, everyone was still hoping that, in order to try evading the balls, Victor might start running around again.

However, against everyone's expectations, the baseball continued drawing near his figure while he remained unfazed, refusing to move. But that was only the case until at last, when the hardball was just a few inches away from him, while everyone was thinking along the lines of, 'he's done for', 'this is over', or 'he's being silly', he actually moved!

No, in fact, it wasn't correct to say that he moved. The right description would be to say that only the upper half of his body slightly leaned forward while the rest of his figure was still nailed to his last known location.

Fwish!

Instantly, with the gap of a single inch, the ball went past him.

"…"

"…"

"…"

…

Nearly everyone's eyes were gaping now. They were beyond speechless at this point. 

"He… actually dodged?" Murmured the invigilator briefly. Of course, that was followed by another notion, 'No, the fact is, he was lucky that only one of the ten balls shot in his direction. He won't get that fortunate with the next wave of balls.'

Precisely at that second, the next wave of ten balls hurled from their respective machines.

'Seven of them are rushing toward his current position! This time, it's unmistakably over.' Calculated the overseer once again. 

Meanwhile, sensing the incoming balls from seven different trajectories, a distinct grin formed on Virus's face. Subsequently, his body promptly took a very bizarre yet robotic posture while he remained in that pose.

Swish! Swish! Fwish! Phwish! Swish!...

Following that, much to the stupefaction of everyone, not a single ball actually connected to his body.

"W-what?! H-how?"

"Am I seeing this?"

"Urgh, is this even something a human being is able to do?"

"What… the… fuck!"

Anyone could hardly believe he had actually dodged every seven balls in that weird position without even moving!

No one could even understand how he had done that in the first place. It just didn't make any sense.

Nonetheless, the dome wasn't going to wait for anyone to snap out of their shocked state as it continued shooting more balls at Virus as the timer continued increasing.

Meanwhile, in the middle of the dome, a man was seen making very awkward poses at nearly every second before it was followed by tens of balls going past him.

Nearly everyone had long lost their bearings while watching Virus' weird motionless movements. Of course, that was the case until Lydia finally checked the timer as she exclaimed in disbelief, "T-the timer… the timer's at seven minutes already! He's even surpassed the invigilator now! T-three stars…" 

Just as to prove them that wasn't enough, Victor continued enduring within the ring until the time finally arrived at the eighth minute.

The 8th minute!

By now, the number of balls thrown at the same time had already surpassed twenty while only the word 'terrifying' could describe their speed and momentum.

However, none of these mattered. What mattered was the fact that when the timer reached the 8th minute, even a more startling change took place!

Swish! Swish!...

As the twenty balls were darted at Victor, everyone noticed that each ball was now moving in various ways!

While some were curving, some were spiraling, twisting, coiling, arching, or still moving in a straight line.

However, what was even more disturbing was the fact that Victor still managed to evade them!!!

"AH!... He…"

Not only was everyone feeling beyond dumbfounded at this point. The look in their eyes was as if they were staring at a monster!

"H-he's a monster! No, a demon! How can he still do that?" Lydia's figure was shivering as she refused to even blink, afraid she might lose the sight of this mighty monster.

In fact, even Anastasia's eyes were gleaming somewhat as Virus's figure was being reflected with her bright eyes. She seemed impressed.

…

After that, a minute passed. Although it was just a simple minute, to all the bystanders, it felt like a very long time before the minute was gone indeed.

"Four stars!!!" Gasping sounds could be heard roaming around the representatives' area.

In the meantime, some droplets of sweat were rolling down the invigilator's face as he felt ridiculous about the entire situation. 'I can't believe I tried showing off in front of this monster… he's… he's something else. Even I, with my sensory trait, still can't do this… but he... oh, wait, could he possess an even stronger sensory trait than mine? No, no, no… that's impossible, if that was it, his body wouldn't be that strong! His trait definitely has something to do with strength and muscle.'

…

Finally, as if he had suddenly lost all interest, now that he had achieved four stars, Virus signaled the overseer to stop the test.

….