Transcendent Gene
Chapter 158: First Sequence [2]

Chapter 158: First Sequence [2]

Breakfast went well, but what came after was more exciting.

The Aptitude Test was a common tradition in both Arcadia and Elysium.

The First and Second Stratums operated on a selection system with tests based on different things, but when children of these Strata turned sixteen, they would have their aptitudes measured and their roles in society would be decided.

Most of them would be sent to a variety of schools ranging from those meant for future Sequencers to those meant for ordinary workers or even artists. Trade schools were also available in the selection for those who wanted to develop their Industrial Sequences.

Others were sent to work directly, indicating that their aptitudes were judged to be unfit for learning. The selection test created a hierarchy in an already social class-heavy society, but nobody could deny that the results were almost always accurate.

For people who knew they wanted to be Sequencers, the Aptitude Test was a defining moment.

If the test sent them into an ordinary job or told them they were unfit to be Sequencers, their dreams were crushed. Once the Aptitude Test had spoken, their fates were sealed.

Only in the rarest of cases would people be willing to look past the Aptitude Test’s results, and that was only if the young person in question was truly a genius.

Gio had never taken the Aptitude Test. It was unnecessary in the past, yet, in this life he was taking it a year early.

His father was actually the first to push him towards Sequencing back then, but he outright refused and said he wanted to work at a desk job in NEXUS, a coalition formed by members of all three Federations in Arcadia.

Kyrian’s position allowed him to reach such a position easily. It could be called nepotism, but he had the skills for the job, so nobody complained for long.

’I thought people usually had to go to testing centers for these things...’

That was what Gio had learned, anyway. Kyrian decided to prove him wrong the moment breakfast ended. After sending Adin and Isadora away, he took Gio into the mansion’s training hall.

"In most cases, you would need a full facility to be able to test aptitude, but it’s a bit different for big clans. We aren’t part of the 10 Great Clans anymore, but we still have some of the benefits of that era. One of them is our ability to do these tests and keep the results to ourselves."

Big clans naturally didn’t want their geniuses’ information to be readily available to the world. As such, they did Aptitude Tests within their own homes and submitted the information as they saw fit.

"I don’t think you have anything to hide, but it’s still best to be careful. Your Original Gene is enticing to certain groups, after all."

While Kyrian spoke, a group of butlers moved through the hall, setting up several different kinds of equipment.

"A lot of the tests we’ll run will be regular. We’ll run a physical to see how your body is doing the same way it would happen at the hospital. After that, we’ll take a separate blood sample to test your Sequence and a gene sample to observe your Gene Housing. We’ll be able to find out not only the grade of your Bloodline, but also the number of Gene Slots you have in your body."

Kyrian led him over to a treadmill and hooked him up to some machines that read his vitals before telling him to run.

As he started, Kyrian continued his explanation.

"If you have a good number of Gene Slots, your Original Gene won’t be an inhibitor anymore. That’s what we want to see. If we find that you have an optimal number of slots and your Bloodline is at a good level, we can skip the mental test. It’s only necessary for those who want to become researchers or scientists."

Gio listened silently and controlled his breathing as he ran.

Kyrian wasn’t completely correct. Actually, the mental test was one of the most important for Sequencers. It caused hallucinations in the mind that showed scenes of battle to people who hoped to enter the battlefield.

It was the first sight of blood most kids would see, and it was a key indicator of how one would adapt to a life of fighting. Skipping this step left a bigger possibility of weak and cowardly people becoming Sequencers who would flee when war became too treacherous.

’I’m not one of them, so this time isn’t really a concern. It’s different in almost every other situation, though.’

Gio went from test to test, showing off the physical fitness he worked so hard to maintain. He allowed his blood to be drawn several times and sat calmly as his pulse and other such things were checked.

When the final sample of his genes, which appeared in the vial as a clear and viscous liquid, was taken, he finally stood up and left the training hall with his father.

"We’ll have the samples tested as soon as possible. The results should come by tomorrow, so spend today however you wish and don’t worry about it. Regardless, the First Institute only starts accepting students at sixteen, so you have a little over a year before you can even attend."

Gio nodded, following Kyrian back into the main halls of the mansion.

"And if it turns out that you really are fit to become a Sequencer..." he said, opening the door and allowing Gio to walk in front of him.

"...then I’ll let you take your first Sequence from our clan’s vault. We have some real treasures down there."

Gio’s eyes lit up.

The vault had been raided and left empty after the attack on the estate. The first time Gio saw some of those Sequences again, they were being used against humanity.

Among them was one he had his eyes on. It was an ability he wanted even in the past when he wasn’t a Sequencer.

A day went by in a flash, and the next day when evening came, Kyrian paid a visit to Gio’s room.

"Can I come in?" he asked from beyond the door.

Gio opened it within a few seconds and allowed his entry. He sat down at a table in the corner and put a packet of papers on the table.

"I got your results back..."

He spoke with a troubled look on his face.

"Gio...just what have you been through?"

He turned to face his son with eyes that were somewhat lost.

He couldn’t understand the results he saw. Gio clearly looked like he’d trained to some extent and he walked around with a gait and gaze like he had seen the world, but...

These results were too good. It was to the point where they were better than some current Sequencers existing in the world.

And his Bloodline Sequence...

There was never a case of the machine returning an "Error" when trying to analyze something.

He knew some details of his son’s life through the words of his troops, but it wasn’t enough anymore.

He wanted to hear it all, from start to finish.

He wanted to hear it from the mouth of his son, the boy who could remember every second of his past without fail.

If he didn’t hear it this way, he felt like he’d never be able to understand his own child.