I’ll be the Red Ranger
Chapter 111 – The Third Stage Begins

- Oliver -

In the aftermath of Oliver's record-shattering performance, the atmosphere within the base was electric—charged with a volatile mix of awe, disbelief, and simmering resentment. It was as if a shockwave had rippled through the corridors, leaving chaos in its wake. Screens throughout the facility flashed his unprecedented time.

Some notifications were beeping in the corner of Oliver’s vision, but he couldn't find time to read them.

| Traits Unlocked

| Maze Finisher

| Complete the maze in under 3 minutes

| +1 Energy Point

| Maze Master

| Complete the maze in under 1 minute

| [Locked Reward - Become a Ranger to unlock]

Whispers echoed in huddled clusters; some recruits stared at the display with narrowed eyes, while others gesticulated wildly, their voices rising in agitation.

"Did you see that? No way he did it without cheating."

"He found two weaknesses? It's impossible!"

"Someone must be leaking information!"

The murmur grew into a cacophony. Accusations flew, and the tension thickened like a fog.

Katherine found Oliver amidst the turmoil, her expression grave. She pulled him aside into a quieter alcove away from prying eyes and curious ears.

"It's better if you stay in your dormitory for now," she advised, her voice low but urgent. "Things are getting... intense out here."

Oliver met her gaze, seeing the concern etched within. He gave a silent nod. "Alright," he agreed. "I'll keep a low profile."

As he retreated to the solitude of the dormitories, the reality of the situation settled around him. For the rest of the week, Oliver confined himself to the dormitory, venturing out only for meals and his attempts at the arena. The corridors seemed to bristle with unspoken hostility.

But beyond the walls of the base, in the boundless realm of the NET, a different narrative was unfolding. The digital universe buzzed with activity centered around him. The skeptics who previously doubted his skills were now glued to their screens, eager to see what he might do next. Speculation ran rampant—would he uncover yet another flaw in the system? Those who had already been cheering for him became fervent supporters, their voices amplifying in the vast echo chamber of the network.

Yet, with fame came impersonation. Dozens of accounts sprang up overnight, each claiming to be the real Oliver. Some mimicked his exploits; others twisted them, spinning fabrications that ranged from harmless exaggerations to damaging lies.

Oliver scanned each headline:

"Mystery Prodigy Breaks the Arena—Again!"

"OliverNameless: Hacker or Hero?"

#OliverUnleashed #NamelessNoMore #OliverTheEnigma

Even before Oliver could fully grasp what was happening, Isabela had already stepped in to help him. "Trust me, you should create an official account, or this will get out of control. People will start making up lies pretending to be you, or worse, they'll come up with nicknames."

Oliver couldn't tell if the last part was meant to be serious or a joke, but judging by Isabela's expression, it seemed serious.

Creating an account was easier said than done—every variation of his name seemed to be taken. Finally, after an hour of trial and error, he settled on a handle: OliverTheNam3l3ss.

Moments after activating the profile, notifications began to flood in. Follower counts skyrocketed by the second, climbing into the tens of thousands, then hundreds of thousands. He hadn't even posted anything yet. Shaking his head in mild disbelief, Oliver decided to share clips of his official runs—unembellished, straightforward records of his performance.

The response was immediate. Comments poured in beneath each video.

"Can't wait to see what you do next!"

"Prove the haters wrong, Oliver!"

"You’re an inspiration for every Nameless."

Despite the swell of support, a nagging concern gnawed at him. The day after he had secured first place, the arena had undergone adjustments. The most significant change: the timer now started the moment the doors opened, eliminating any advantage he might have exploited previously.

Soon, everyone at the base received the official notification from NEA stating that they were investigating. Therefore, the record was on hold until a final decision was made.

Subject: Examination Review Notice

Dear Recruit Oliver Nameless,

Please be advised that your recent performance in the Level Two Arena Examination is under evaluation to verify compliance with all testing protocols. You will be notified of any findings or required actions upon the completion of this review.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Sincerely,

NEA Examination Committee

Even as the final day of the examination approached, Oliver persisted in refining his performance, determined to secure his place in the third stage. With his previous strategies no longer viable due to the NEA's adjustments, he focused on optimizing his time using the standard approach. Despite his relentless efforts, the best he managed was a time of 2 minutes and 2 seconds, placing him at rank #6,121.

"Don't be so hard on yourself," Katherine tried to console him, her eyes filled with empathy. "They might still approve your earlier time."

She herself had clocked in at 1 minute and 41 seconds, securing the #5,122 spot. It was a stroke of luck, really—she'd taken a chance by using the second entrance, something Oliver regretted not having the opportunity to explore thoroughly. Had he had more time to test the robots guarding that entry point, he might have shaved off at least ten seconds from his run.

Isabela, meanwhile, experimented with various new strategies, but none surpassed her initial performance. Though she'd slipped from the top ten, her impressive time still kept her among the elite few. Less than 200 recruits had managed to complete the course in under a minute, and Isabela held strong at rank #178.

The three of them sat together in the dormitory waiting anxiously for the official announcement. While throughout the entire base, although the number of recruits still present had significantly decreased, there were still several who clung to hope. After all, with the controversy surrounding Oliver's time, perhaps there was a chance that other results might be reviewed and adjusted.

| Exam Conclusion: 15:00

Oliver paced nervously across the room, his footsteps echoing softly against the floor. The last fifteen minutes stretched out like an eternity. ‘I can't believe I might have to go back to the Academy,’ he thought bleakly. The prospect weighed heavily on him—a return to square one after coming so far.

Katherine and Isabela exchanged worried glances. They had tried their best to lift his spirits, but now all they could do was wait alongside him.

A few minutes later, a familiar static crackled through the air as the holographic displays flickered to life. All around the base, screens synchronized, shifting to a live broadcast.

As the image sharpened, a figure materialized—an imposing officer significantly older than any Oliver had seen before. His silver hair was neatly combed back, and a pair of deep-set eyes peered out from behind thin, wireframe glasses. A caption floated beneath his stern visage: General Wiz – Blue Ranger Division.

"Congratulations to all of you who participated in this stage," General Wiz began, his voice resonating with authority. "Two weeks ago, we commenced this phase with over sixty thousand recruits. Now, approximately ten thousand of you remain—those who pushed yourselves to optimize your results until the very last moment."

Wiz paused, allowing his words to sink in.

"However, even though the examination period has concluded, we have some matters to address before proceeding to the third stage."

As he spoke, footage from Oliver's infamous exam attempt began to play beside him.

"In recent days, a considerable discussion has unfolded regarding the validity of this particular record," General Wiz continued, his gaze unwavering. "Due to its unconventional use of the resources provided within the arena. After extensive deliberation, and despite acknowledging that no explicit rules were broken, we've determined that the methods employed do not align with the intended parameters of the examination. Therefore, the results of this attempt will be nullified."

The words struck Oliver like a physical blow. His legs felt weak, and a numbness spread through him. ‘From first place to disqualified.’

"But," General Wiz's tone softened slightly, "this was not our only decision."

Wiz continued, "This week, we've faced challenging times on the battlefront. Details will be disclosed in due course, but for now, it is imperative that you understand—we require more top-tier talent to aid us in the coming wave."

The holographic images shifted to reveal a vast warehouse filled with luminous crystals of various colors, piled high in an impressive display.

"Fortunately, the NEA has just acquired an additional one thousand Z Crystals, ready to be harnessed by Rangers. As a result, we've decided to increase the number of candidates advancing to the next stage. Given our usual acceptance rate of fifty percent in the third stage, we will be raising the number of qualified recruits from six thousand to eight thousand."

Wiz allowed a moment for the information to register before concluding, "No one is required to participate. As of this moment, each of the qualified holds the rank of officer and may choose which officer training program you wish to pursue. However, if becoming a Ranger is your goal, this final stage will start immediately."

The displays transitioned to live feeds of the arenas, their gates open and waiting.

"The arenas are now prepared to begin assessing your connection with the Z Crystals," General Wiz announced.

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