I’ll be the Red Ranger
Chapter 108 – Leaderboard Update

"What do I do? Think!" Oliver's mind raced, the situation's urgency pressing in on him. "Improvise!"

[Prometheus]

Without hesitation, Oliver positioned himself directly beneath the room that held the Orb. Summoning every ounce of his strength, he activated his ability, channeling the entire flow of Energy into his right arm.

‘Damn. This is going to hurt,’ he thought, gritting his teeth.

He drove his fist upward with all his might. Concentrating his Energy into a single, focused point, his uppercut unleashed a devastating force straight above. The impact detonated like a bomb, blasting through the ceiling and obliterating the rooms on the two floors above him. Wood splintered, dust and debris filled the air, and fragments of furniture rained down like lethal confetti.

Pain shot through his arm—a searing, all-consuming agony. His hand throbbed violently; it was obvious he had rendered it useless. He could feel the sickening grind of shattered bones, and warm blood seeped inside his armor's gauntlet, pooling around his fingers.

But there was no time to dwell on his injury. The colossal noise of the explosion had alerted every robot in the facility. Oliver could hear the whirring of servos and the clanking of metal converging on his location—from above, from the floors below, all zeroing in on him.

As the last of the debris settled, a pulsating glow caught his eye. Amidst the wreckage, he sensed the unmistakable Energy signature of the Orb. Pushing aside chunks of wood with his good hand, he finally grasped his objective. The Orb was cool to the touch, a smooth sphere emitting a soft yellow luminescence that seemed to resonate with his own Energy.

‘Alright. Time to get out of here,’ Oliver thought urgently.

He turned to make his escape, only to find two black sentinel robots blocking his path. Their impressive human-like exteriors and the air around them seemed to crackle with latent power. The ominous red glow of their eyes fixed on him, assessing, calculating.

The aura they emitted left no doubt—these were elite units far beyond his ability to confront in his current state.

‘No. I'm so close. I can't give up now,’ Oliver steeled himself. Every second counted; the robots were closing in, their frames moving with unnerving smoothness.

His mind raced, scouring for options. With his right hand incapacitated, direct combat was out of the question.

[Insight]

Locking his gaze onto the robots, Oliver tried to absorb every piece of information he could about them—anything that might prove helpful, no matter how insignificant.

‘Programming: immobilize targets. Weapons: none. Okay, what else?’ he thought, his mind racing. ‘Battery life: twenty minutes. There's got to be something.’

[Skill Obtained: Robot Maintenance - Pawn]

‘Maximum jump height: 1.5 meters. Right, I can work with that!’ Oliver realized.

Cradling the Orb in his injured arm—pain pulsing through his shattered hand—he gripped his Energy Pistol tightly in his other hand. Tension coiled within him as the two black sentinel robots closed in, their footsteps a metronome counting down the seconds. He steadied his breathing.

‘Almost there. Just a little longer,’ Oliver told himself, standing his ground as he waited for the robots to make their move.

The instant both robots lunged towards him, he snapped into action. Leveling his pistol, he unleashed a rapid barrage of shots—not at the robots themselves, but at the floor beneath them. He didn't care how much Energy he expended; his sole focus was on causing maximum destruction.

The floor beneath the robots cracked and splintered under the assault. With a loud roar, the ground gave way, sending the machines plummeting into the sublevel below. The crash of metal on concrete echoed up, followed by a momentary silence.

‘I’m not sticking around to see how quickly they recover,’ Oliver thought. ‘With a maximum jump height of 1.5 meters, they'll have to use the stairs to get back up.’

Seizing the moment, he sprinted into an adjacent room. Without hesitation, Oliver aimed his pistol directly ahead. Channeling his remaining strength, he fired several concentrated shots, weakening the wall's structural integrity. Then, summoning every ounce of power, he hurled himself against it. The wall buckled under the impact, exploding outward as he burst through the side of the house.

Oliver tumbled onto the side lawn, debris raining around him. Covered in dust and bruises, he didn't pause for breath. Adrenaline surged through his veins as he pushed himself back to his feet, fully sprinting toward the arena's exit.

Out of the corner of his eye, he glimpsed the robots he'd evaded inside, now pouring out from windows and doorways, relentlessly pursuing him.

[Prometheus]

Drawing deep from his reserves, Oliver channeled Energy into his legs, feeling a power surge propel him forward. The world around him blurred as he accelerated, the wind whipping past his face. Ahead, combat robots moved to intercept him, forming a barrier between him and the exit.

Lowering his head, Oliver barreled forward, weaving through the mechanical gauntlet. Laser fire scorched the air beside him, but he didn't slow down. He ducked under grasping arms and leaped over obstacles, his focus narrowing to a single point—the treeline marking the arena's boundary.

The alarms crescendoed, signaling his unauthorized approach to the edge of the simulation. His lungs burned, and every muscle screamed in protest, but he was close.

Just a few more steps.

With a final burst of speed, he plunged into the forest. The cacophony of the arena faded behind him as he crossed the designated finish line.

A sharp tone sounded, signaling the completion of the trial.

| Leaderboard Update

| #103 — Oliver Nameless

| Time: 02:25

Oliver staggered to a halt just beyond the trees, gasping for breath. The Orb was still clutched tightly in his injured arm, its glow a stark contrast against the grime covering his suit. His heart pounded in his chest, each beat echoing the rhythm of his footsteps moments before.

He turned to see the combat robots halting at the forest's edge, bound by the exam parameters. For a moment, he allowed himself a triumphant smile.

Still reeling from what he had accomplished, Oliver stood frozen in place, his gaze fixed on the notification flickering across the arena's vaulted ceiling. The enormity of his achievement was only beginning to sink in. He had done it. He had completed the mission.

The muffled sounds of the arena buzzed around him until the armored doors slid open with a hiss. Soldiers approached, their footsteps echoing as they came to escort him out of the simulation chamber.

As Oliver stepped outside, the cool air hit him, and the chaotic energy of the military base washed over his senses. Waiting eagerly were Isabela and Katherine, their faces alight with exhilaration. The moment they spotted him, they rushed forward.

"That's it! You did it!" Isabela shouted, practically bouncing with each word.

"Nice work!" Katherine exclaimed, her eyes wide with admiration. "That was genius! How did you know they wouldn't be able to climb back up?"

Oliver managed a modest smile, still catching his breath. "I have good eyes," he replied enigmatically. Both girls knew his Boon was linked to his vision, but he hadn't shared all the nuances of his abilities. And even if he wanted to, now wasn't the time or place—not with so many ears listening.

"Amazing!" Katherine shook her head in disbelief.

"You're ranked 103rd! Do you realize that?" Isabela beamed. "If the exam ended today, you'd qualify to become a Ranger!"

The weight of her words settled over him. The possibility was thrilling, almost surreal. But as their excitement bubbled over, it became clear that not everyone shared their enthusiasm. Murmurs drifted from the nearby clusters of recruits waiting their turn, laced with skepticism and envy.

"What are they so excited about? It was pure luck," someone muttered.

"Exactly. 103rd place isn't that impressive. He'll drop down soon enough," another scoffed.

"Now that everyone knows the black robot's weak point, it's only a matter of time before others surpass him," a voice snickered.

Oliver could have ignored the whispers, but the rush of his recent victory still coursed through him. Instead of brushing it off, he decided to confront the doubt head-on. Turning slightly, he projected his voice just enough to be heard over the din.

"And this isn't even my limit," he declared, his gaze sweeping confidently over the crowd. "Tomorrow, I'll take first place. I'll complete the mission in under fifty seconds."

A hush fell over the onlookers as his bold proclamation hung in the air. Then, scattered laughter and incredulous remarks rippled through the group.

"Get out of here, you're crazy!" someone jeered.

"Just because you managed to get on the leaderboard, now you think you're hot stuff," another sneered.

"But is it even possible to do it in less than fifty seconds?" a recruit whispered to his companion, skepticism tinged with curiosity.

Oliver met their skepticism with unwavering determination. The adrenaline was still pumping through his veins, and he felt an unshakable confidence in his abilities.

"Wait and see," he said calmly.

The only thing that made Oliver step out of the line was that his arm was still dripping blood inside his armor. However, he already had a clear plan in his mind. Tomorrow, he would climb the rankings.

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