I’ll be the Red Ranger
Chapter 91 – Arena 23

- Oliver -

"It's my turn," Oliver declared with determination. The boy waved quickly before heading toward the corridors of the second floor, his footsteps echoing softly as he advanced.

‘Arena 23,’ he repeated mentally, focusing on the objective as he searched for the correct entrance. Holographic signs floated along the walls, but the immensity of the base could be disorienting. Fortunately, some soldiers were strategically positioned along the way. One of them, noticing that the boy was seeking the arena entrance, promptly pointed in the right direction.

"Thank you," Oliver murmured, quickening his pace.

Upon reaching the competitors' entrance, a soldier with a firm posture intercepted him. He verified Oliver's identity through his gauntlet.

"Alright, Oliver Nameless. You may enter," the soldier confirmed, giving a brief nod. “Your position is indicated on your gauntlet. Remember, you need to be in front of your pillar."

Oliver nodded, feeling adrenaline coursing through his body. He took a deep breath before passing through the door with a soft pneumatic hiss.

As he entered the arena, he was enveloped by an explosion of intense lights that almost momentarily blinded him. His eyes adjusted to the dazzling brightness for a few seconds. Dozens of cameras floated around, capturing every angle and transmitting live to spectators throughout the empire.

The floor beneath his feet was polished metal, reflecting the lights above. A thin layer of sand covered the surface, adding unpredictability to the terrain that could either hinder or be used to his advantage. Ahead of him, a vast expanse of one hundred meters separated the pillar where he stood from the area where the opposing robots would emerge.

‘Just follow the plan,’ Oliver thought, seeking to calm his mind. He closed his eyes for a moment, feeling the rhythmic pulse of his heart synchronize with the energy flowing through his gauntlet. The device on his wrist glowed softly.

‘The first wave has twenty training robots; The second wave has thirty more training robots, and at the end, they send artillery robots. The third has mini mechas, and the final has real mechas.’ Oliver was recalling the order of the advances.

With a quick gesture, he adjusted the transmission on his gauntlet to tune into the commentator's channel for Arena 23. The animated voice of the narrator echoed in his ears.

"We haven't started the next exam yet, but we can already see the first recruits entering the field. Yes, it was surprising how the first group ended, but let's see if we can get to see the more advanced waves this time."

With his vision now fully adapted to the brightness, Oliver looked around, noticing the other competitors positioned in front of their respective pillars, each focused and prepared for the imminent exam.

Oliver fixed his gaze on the massive gate ahead of him, the exact place where the robots would emerge. His determined and attentive eyes missed no detail. He rested on one knee without diverting his attention; the boy adjusted his posture to obtain the best possible shooting position.

"Almost all competitors are on the field. Meanwhile, let's talk about those who have a high chance of being the champion of this group. I'd place my bets on two boys: Cole Thorne and Max Cruz," the commentator explained enthusiastically.

‘Hey! I'm the one who's going to take first place,’ thought Oliver, feeling challenged.

"Cole and Max both come from common Houses. However, they had great performances in the First Battalion. Cole has a pretty gross but powerful boon—he can control insects, his favorite being a giant centipede. On the other hand, Max can gigantify himself, becoming extremely strong when he enlarges his arms and legs," the commentator explained.

‘Alright. Which of them will try to fuck up with the others?’ Oliver thought, already preparing against strategies to destabilize opponents.

| All players are on the field.

The walls around the arena began to move, and massive gates slid upward, revealing the darkness beyond. The sound of activating mechanisms filled the air, and robotic silhouettes emerged from the shadows. The enemy robots advanced in formation, their red eyes glowing like embers, emitting a threatening hum.

The countdown appeared in his field of vision, projected by the gauntlet:

| 3... 2... 1...

An alarm sounded, marking the start of the test. Initially, the robots advanced at a slow and coordinated pace. Still, just like in previous tests, as soon as they passed the fifty-meter mark, they accelerated into a ferocious charge, making the ground shake under the weight of the machines.

Oliver acted quickly. With a single move, he activated his Ranger Weapon. The Energy Pistol materialized in his hand, emitting a bluish glow that contrasted with the yellow lights of the arena. He knew that weapon would be crucial at that moment.

He considered using the [Observation] ability, but it would be difficult to focus on a single target with so many opponents ahead. Oliver then decided to concentrate his energy on quick and precise shots, aiming to eliminate as many robots as possible before they got too close.

In the lower corner of his vision, the achievement he was tracking flashed constantly, reminding him of the goal he had set:

| ■■■■■

| Destroy 100 combat robots [02/100]

Some robots were now at a critical distance. Oliver adjusted his posture, took a deep breath, and continued to fire. Each shot emitted an energy beam that cut through the air with lethal precision. The closest robot fell as it was hit at the exact point that would cause an overload in its system. Then, a second and third robots met the same fate.

Some robots stopped running and raised their weapons, firing metallic projectiles in his direction. Those enemies had no intention of reaching the pillar but wanted to make him lose focus and let the others pass.

Oliver kept moving constantly, dodging with calculated spins and jumps, never staying in the same place for more than a second. With each dodge, he took the moment to hit the robots.

"Cole has started using his insects! They're coming out from inside his armor and clothes. Look at the size of that centipede—it's a monster! It's destroying each of the robots as if they were made of paper. On the other side of the map, Max is already over five meters tall, using his gigantic feet to crush the robots," the commentator announced.

But Oliver didn't let himself get distracted. He maintained absolute focus on his battle. A group of robots tried to flank him from the left. Anticipating the movement, he slid to the opposite side, firing at the vulnerable points of the machines. Explosions of sparks and metal fragments illuminated the arena around him.

The counter on his gauntlet updated:

| ■■■■■

| Destroy 100 combat robots [15/100]

‘This round is quite easy. But it confirmed my suspicions; even with the second wave, it's impossible to reach 100,’ Oliver thought, watching the numbers change in real time.

With only five robots equipped with long-range weapons remaining, Oliver concentrated his energy to ensure a precise shot at each. He hit the center of each robot's head with surgical precision, deactivating them instantly.

| ■■■■■

| Destroy 100 combat robots [20/100]

Finally, the first wave was over for him. However, the other recruits in the adjacent areas were still battling the robots. Seizing the opportunity, Oliver ran toward one of the side walls of his zone. With an agile leap, he climbed the metallic wall, positioning himself at the top without crossing the limits of his zone.

From his new elevated vantage point, he began to aim at the robots in the neighboring areas. Acting as a sniper, he eliminated the opponents' robots, stealing their kills.

‘It will help me both to complete the achievement and increase my points,’ he had planned this even before entering the arena. This way, he could decrease his competitors' points and increase his own without attacking them.

"What is this?! There's a recruit on top of one of the walls. Is he shooting at the other recruits? Impossible; he would have been disqualified," the commentator said incredulously. "No! He's shooting at the robots in the other areas!"

Oliver's shots were silent, barely audible amid the arena's chaos. Only the metallic sound of the machines being destroyed indicated his action. The other competitors' expressions of surprise were evident as their robots fell without explanation.

Quickly, the first wave was nearing its end. The counter on his gauntlet continued to rise:

| ■■■■■

| Destroy 100 combat robots [35/100]

"Who is this recruit?" It was possible to hear the commentator asking his assistants for more information.

Backstage, the commentator's assistants were scrambling to gather data about Oliver. Meanwhile, he maintained his strategic position, eliminating robots and accumulating points.

"Finally, all areas have finished the first wave!"

The siren sounded, announcing the start of the second.

"Alright. We have his name now. Oliver Nameless."

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