After confirming his personal details, Adam was once again directed to the waiting area.
This time, it was for the Combat Evaluation.
The room was filled with anticipation.
Some people sat still, lost in thought, while others whispered to one another, discussing their awakening results or speculating about the upcoming test.
The mixture of voices and the sound of footsteps filled the space, but Adam barely noticed any of it.
His gaze drifted across the room until it landed on a familiar figure.
The older man was already standing, his eyes locked onto Adam with an expression that was difficult to read.
There was no excitement, no anticipation...
Only a quiet, heavy stare, as though he was waiting for an answer he wasn't sure he wanted to hear.
Then, after a long pause, he finally spoke.
"I've become a Stream Hunter."
The words felt heavier than he expected. Follow current novᴇls on novᴇl(ꜰ)ire.ɴet
His father straightened immediately.
The movement was sharp, almost reflexive, as if a part of him had been bracing for this moment.
But what followed was not the usual "congratulations"...
Nor was it the bright, joyful reaction most families had when they learned their loved one had awakened.
Instead, his father let out a slow, uneven breath.
His shoulders trembled slightly before he reached out, placing a firm hand on Adam's shoulder.
Just a strong grip, fingers pressing in as if trying to anchor something in place.
Adam didn't need to hear anything to understand what his father was feeling.
Had once again lost another loved one to the tower.
His father's eyes glistened, though he refused to let the tears fall.
Adam lowered his gaze.
He knew there was nothing he could say to make it easier.
There was no way to promise safety, no way to assure his father that he would return.
Because in the history of the tower, so many had made those same promises...
And so many had never come back.
The silence stretched between them, heavy and suffocating.
But then, after a moment, his father gave his shoulder one last pat before letting go.
"…Make sure you come back."
He finally said, his voice rough and quiet.
It was a simple answer, but they both knew it was a promise he couldn't guarantee.
A clear, mechanical voice said through the waiting area.
"Ticket F-42, please proceed to the Combat Evaluation Area."
Adam exhaled slowly, pushing himself up from his seat.
He could feel a few gazes shifting toward him, but he ignored them, making his way toward the designated area.
The hallway leading there was quiet, lined with thick, reinforced walls.
Every few meters, there were security cameras, their red lights blinking steadily as they monitored the flow of examinees.
It was a reminder... this wasn't just a formality.
The Combat Evaluation was serious business.
As Adam entered the evaluation room, he was greeted by the sharp scent of polished metal and sweat.
The walls were lined with reinforced glass, and a combat ring sat in the center, surrounded by a few seated examiners.
The floor was made of impact-resistant material, likely reinforced to withstand the abilities of awakened individuals.
A man in military fatigues stood at the center of the ring.
His stance was relaxed, but there was an unmistakable air of discipline in the way he held himself.
The man's voice was steady, professional.
Adam gave a curt nod.
"I'm Sergeant Cain. I'll be your opponent for this evaluation."
He gestured to the ring.
Adam obeyed, stepping onto the mat.
The cool material was firm beneath his feet, designed to absorb force.
Sergeant Cain stood firm in the center of the training ring, arms crossed as he studied Adam with a critical gaze.
"The purpose of this test is to evaluate your combat proficiency in terms of physical prowess. Do not use your abilities."
Cain stated, his voice steady.
"We're not here to win or lose. We're here to assess. Understood?"
Cain gave a small nod in return.
"Good. You can fight however you like, but remember, this is an evaluation. No unnecessary force."
He rolled his shoulders, settling into a ready stance.
"Whenever you're ready, you may begin."
Faster than Cain expected.
Adam was not ordinary.
Fifteen years inside the Tower of Yxthar had sharpened his instincts beyond what most people could comprehend.
He had fought creatures far deadlier than any trained soldier.
If he wanted to, he could end this fight in seconds.
...To which he planned to do right now.
In the blink of an eye, Adam closed the distance between them, his footwork seamless.
He launched a sharp front kick aimed at Cain's ribs.
The sergeant barely managed to block, his arms bracing against the impact as his feet slid back across the mat.
The moment his kick was blocked, he twisted into a spinning elbow strike.
Cain ducked, but Adam adjusted mid-motion, bringing his knee up in a brutal counter.
Cain barely managed to shift his body in time.
The knee grazed his shoulder, but the force alone was enough to break his stance.
Adam pressed forward, giving him no time to recover.
His fist shot forward in a precise straight punch, striking Cain's guard with a force that sent vibrations through his arms.
Cain grit his teeth, stepping back to create distance.
But Adam didn't let him.
Instead, he surged forward, his attacks did not pause even for a second.
His hands moved with practiced efficiency... Each strike calculated, each movement precise.
There was no hesitation, no wasted energy.
His blows struck with the weight of someone who had fought for survival countless times before.
Cain tried to counter, launching a sharp jab.
Adam weaved past it with ease, stepping inside Cain's guard.
He delivered a devastating hook to the ribs, followed by a sweeping leg kick that sent Cain off balance.
The sergeant barely caught himself.
Adam didn't let him recover.
His palm slammed into Cain's chest, sending him stumbling back.
Before Cain could react, Adam closed the distance again, pivoting on his heel and delivering a brutal spinning kick straight to Cain's stomach.
Cain hit the ground hard.
Silence filled the room.
The examiners exchanged glances.
Some of them leaned forward slightly, as if unsure of what they had just witnessed.
Adam stepped back, breathing steady, his stance still firm.
Cain exhaled sharply, pushing himself up onto one knee.
He placed a hand on his stomach where Adam's kick had landed, his expression unreadable.
Then, slowly, he let out a short chuckle.
"Well... that was something."
He rose to his feet, shaking off the tension in his muscles.
Despite the decisive loss, his gaze held a newfound respect.
Cain turned toward the examiners.
"That concludes the evaluation."
One of the examiners, an older man with sharp eyes, nodded.
"We'll finalize the results and notify you soon."
Cain turned back to Adam.
"For now, rest up. You've got more tests ahead of you."
Adam gave a small nod.
He couldn't hold back...
His father would worry enough as it was.
If he was going into the Tower of Yxthar, then he needed to prove that he was more than capable of surviving inside.