Chapter 81: Assembly

Eren, Ku’Vara, Pang Cai, and Magnus followed Kaiser down into the pit through the winding staircase, till they reached the bottom.

It looked much more spacious down here. But not as cold. In front of them was a broad ray of light. Its radiance almost made it seem like a solid pillar of luminescent lamp.

They stepped foot onto the only bright spot here in the Subterranean Burrows. Eren looked up, eyes squinting as his vision got used to the intense glare of the outside world.

It was well worth it. He saw the expansive blue skies above him. Clouds littered this field like cotton. He could even see flutters of birds soaring past from edge to edge of the pit.

He chuckled. They were literally like a frog trapped in a well.

"Finally, we’re all here. Can we get on with the assembly?"

Someone from the crowd of examinees gathered around the circle of light spoke up.

Eren noted that the groups were divided into three distinct sections.

I see... all the three sectors of the License Exam will participate together.

There were three ways to obtain a License.

The first, and most common, was to apply as a Hunter. It was the typical expectation of an Awakener; they’re the ones who hunt down Phantoms and save the world from extinction.

They occupied the larger slice of the circle here in the pit. Eren estimated there to be 6 divisions in the Hunter Sector.

After that was the Medical Sector. Awakeners who obtained this License would be allowed to work on hospitals like Dr. Reid and Nieve. Their Martial Manuals were less focused on offense, and more support-based.

The Medicinal Sector only had 4 divisions.

Lastly, there was the Academic Sector. Examinees who chose this path for a License were expected to use their skills to understand, decipher, and possibly solve the mysteries surrounding the Cataclysm and Psions in general.

Their Sector only had 2 divisions.

All in all, there were about 12 divisions, meaning there were 12 proctors including Kaiser.

Each division had a varying number of chosen leaders. Some had as many as 6. While there were only 2 chosen leaders in one of the divisions for the Academic sector.

All in all, there were 42 leaders. 42 people Eren had to compete with.

He scrutinized each of them. Looked at their posture, the slight movements in their body, what they were trying to hide, what they’re trying to present.

"Look closely," Kaiser muttered under his breath to the four of them. "All of the people here have been chosen because they passed the test and obtained a lootbox no normal person could acquire.

They’re powerful in their own right, even if they don’t have a Martial Manual that focuses on offense. It’s a rookie mistake to think that a doctor or a scholar can’t punch."

His warning went unheeded by most of the Hunter leaders in this gathering. Eren saw overconfidence flooding their bodies. As if they were certain they’d win this second test easily.

Eren shook his head. In a matter of a simple duel, someone with an offensive Martial Manual would win most of the time.

But this Second Test was anything but simple.

The United Governments were ruthless. But they weren’t unfair. And most of all, they weren’t stupid.

They knew the physical difference between a Hunter, a Doctor, and a Scholar. If one Sector were destined to win, the United Governments wouldn’t have pitted them all against each other.

Surviving this apocalypse needed all three types of Awakeners. They’d be shooting themselves in the foot if they culled all essential Awakeners such as the doctors and the scholars.

Eren figured that if there were leaders from the Medical and Academic Sector, then their skills would be enough to conquer a Territory.

Meaning, capturing a flag wasn’t just based on how hard you could punch a Concrete Wall. It must require various other skills.

That’s why we’re allowed to recruit members from different divisions, he realized. They want us to form a group with various skills to conquer the most Territories.

It resembled situations in the real world. Hunting Phantoms were rarely just about killing them.

One must be able to anticipate them, and survive the attack after. That’s where the Academic and Medical sector were most useful.

Eren inwardly nodded to himself. He’d deduced the true goal of this Second Test. It would do him well to prepare accordingly.

As his mind wandered through the possible scenarios and plans, his eyes inevitably veered towards a certain individual to his right.

Now that he was closer, he became a hundred percent certain of his suspicions.

Ms. Calliope.

She was his elementary school teacher, back when this place was still called Everossi’s School of Los Medes.

Her formal buttoned-down long sleeve shirt and tailored dress trousers marked her not as an examinee, but a Proctor just like Kaiser.

She stood at the front of the leaders in the Academic sector.

Prim pony-tail, soft features, Ms. Calliope looked almost the same as she did back in the days. Only more mature.

It staggered him for a brief second when he recognized her back at the cliffside.

He was unprepared to see someone from his previous life here. The lack of familiar faces made him feel as if he had come to a new Earth.

Ms. Calliope’s face made him realize this was the same place he’d been in before.

Does she still remember me?

For him, it had been a millennia since he’d last seen anyone from his past. But for Ms. Calliope, it had been only ten years.

It was only because of his photographic memory did he recognize her face despite such a long time passing in between. She had no such ability. At least, not that he knew of.

Kaiser then stepped forward, taking center point within the bright circle.

"Now that we have all gathered here, let us start the assembly."

His words caused Ms. Calliope’s eyes veer over in Eren’s direction.