Chapter 79: New tunnel

Eren emerged out of his room and immediately purchased a bucket of clean water to wash off the sweat, grime, and impurities in his body.

Then, he put on a fresh new black battle suit, ready for the next test to come. Even the injuries he sustained from his fight against Ormann had healed considerably.

One of the surprising side-effects of obtaining the Aspect of the [Primordial Fire] seemed to be an enhanced recovery rate. After all, in its purest state, the [Primordial Fire] was the very substance that created life itself. Healing a few surface-level cuts in a few days was nothing compared to what it could do.

"You look... different."

Celeste immediately noticed the subtle difference in his physicality. His muscles became toner. His height grew half an inch taller, as if he had another growth spurt in his twenties.

But perhaps the most noticeable difference was his posture. Eren was more relaxed. More confident.

"I’d really like to see what you do when you’re alone in your room," she said to him, a slight smirk in her expression.

Whatever double entendre she may or may not have intended, Eren didn’t notice.

"What happened while I was gone?"

Celeste wryly shook her head as his skillful change in topic. "Nothing much. People have been preparing for the next test like normal. I’ve been shoring up on our basics with Sierra and the others. You never know what kind of test they’ll put us through this time."

He agreed with her assessment. Soon, he joined the rest of the group in their own place in the campfire.

The kindling wood was basically ash at this point. Its flames billowed with soft vigor. The heat that had made this place a safe haven for the past two days had now turned subdued.

People huddle closer in the hopes of combating the biting cold of the Subterranean Burrows. They ate Skyward Herb soup, stocking up on Ræzoň as a precaution.

Looks like I just arrived in time. Kaiser’s going to arrive soon.

And just as he suspected, about half an hour later, Kaiser’s voice echoed throughout the entire cavern.

"I hope you’ve had your rest."

Like before, the red-haired brooding man arrived from the depths of the ceiling, walking on walls at a leisure pace.

Eren couldn’t be as nonchalant about his Negative Reinforcement as of yet.

Kaiser jumped down and faced the five hundred or so examinees remaining. He stared at them with his cloudy left eye before saying coldly: "Follow me."

Their proctor turned around and walked away, towards the sprawling cliff wall right next to the cooking stations.

His proximity activated something within the walls. Gears whirred and turned, before the walls parted ways, revealing a very large and spacious tunnel beyond.

This was the same place where those who failed walked shamefully up the stairs and into the outside world. But now, it was gone completely.

Kaiser walked through the tunnel. He didn’t wait for the others to follow him. If they didn’t they’d get left behind.

Eren, Celeste, and the rest of the group got up and followed the crowd. Everyone was apprehensive. Where were they being led to?

The tunnels were lit by torches placed at the walls. But they were too few and far in between that their light barely reached the examinees. No one dared to waste a sunspore though.

They walked for an hour straight, before they saw the light at the end of the tunnel. And sounds of chattering. Loud, numerous voices overlapping with each other in a cacophony of noise.

Once they exited out of their tunnel, everyone was stunned into silence.

Before them was an enormous tunnel. Much bigger than the campsite behind them.

And inside this gigantic tunnel were other examinees. Clumped into groups of five hundred people just like them.

All in all, there were thousands of them here. Each group had their own side they occupied in this spacious chamber. Some were down in the pit of the cave, while others were like them, perched atop a cliffside emerging from the walls.

In the middle of this large cavern was a hole in the ceiling illuminating the entirety of the cavern.

Eren, Celeste, and the others realized it wasn’t made out of artificial light. It was the ambient brightness from the outside world, seeping down into the Subterranean Burrows through that hole in the ceiling.

The air here was refreshing. It was still cold. But Eren could tell it was from the breeze brought on by the chilly morning outside.

"We’re the last ones here," Kaiser said. Then, he turned towards the examinees. "Before I explain the rules of the second test, I will first call upon a few people. If you hear your name, come forward."

Before anyone could voice out their opinion, Kaiser read the list in his hands.

"Magnus Lindberg."

The scion of the Lindberg family pushed aside someone twice his own size as he made his way towards Kaiser.

"Pang Cai."

The chubby youth walked forward, wiping beads of sweat off his face. Walking was an exercise for him.

"Ku’Vara"

Next, the monk emerged from the corner and silently took his place beside Kaiser. The honeycomb container he carried behind his back buzzed lightly with excitement.

Meanwhile, the speculation and murmurings amongst the examinees grew louder. Those were three big individuals called up.

Magnus need not be discussed. Pang Cai was impressive in his business acumen during the First Test. As for the monk, Ku’Vara, he was rumored to have completed one of the most difficult Burrows discovered! Even Magnus dared not to attempt it.

It was clear that Kaiser had called out the names who had performed exceptionally well in the First Test.

"And lastly. Eren Grasyon. Step forward."

His name left everyone confused. Who, they asked each other. Their heads whipped back and forth to see who had been called up.

"These four individuals have impressed the sponsors of this exam."

Everyone’s eyes widened. The sponsors were none other than the Prominent Families and Elite Awakener organizations who were watching over this exam in the hopes of recruiting a talented Awakener!