NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 8: Before the Awakening
Date: 11/03/2020
Time: 12:10 PM
Ankush stepped out of the exam center, the cold air of Kolkata hitting him like a wave. The sensation of the test dungeon's white void was still fresh in his mind, lingering like an afterimage that refused to fade.
The outside world felt too loud, too real in comparison.
The courtyard was bustling with students talking in hushed whispers, some in excitement, others in despair. Teachers and exam officials stood at a distance, their expressions unreadable. The tension was palpable.
But strangely enough, no one was looking at him.
No one had noticed how many questions he had answered.
To them, he was just another ordinary student who had failed early.
> "All students who completed the exam, please collect your results."
Ankush barely reacted as a mana-infused panel materialized in front of him.
Instead of a congratulatory message, a single line of text flashed across the screen.
> "Do not be discouraged. You have done your best. Keep working hard."
Ankush almost laughed out loud.
That's it?
He had solved 600 questions. He had reached the pinnacle of human intelligence.
And yet, all he got was a pat on the back?
At his side, Soymojit let out a long sigh as he checked his own results. "Man… 15. I got 15 questions right."
Ankush turned his head slightly. "That's actually really good."
Soymojit scoffed. "Yeah, for a government school student. But look at those private school kids."
Ankush followed his gaze and saw a small group of students dressed in high-quality uniforms, standing off to the side, discussing their scores.
> "I barely managed 18… at least I got an F talent."
> "Tch. Only 12. That means I'm stuck with an F talent."
> "I got 19, so at least I get an F talent, but I really wanted to break into E-level."
> "19! Damn, I just missed it… If I had gotten one more right, I'd have a solid F+ talent."
Ankush watched them calmly.
15 was a great score for someone from his school. The highest in Jadavpur Government High School's history was 16, meaning Soymojit had almost broken the school record.
But compared to students from private academies, it was just above average.
Soymojit sighed again. "I knew those questions were gonna be hard, but I didn't expect them to be that bad. I got stuck at 16, and I panicked."
"You did better than most people here," Ankush said. "15 is a solid score. That means you got an F talent, right?"
His friend gave him a side glance. "Yeah? What about you?"
Ankush hesitated for a fraction of a second before shrugging. "Didn't do great."
Soymojit chuckled. "Yeah, I figured. You walked out way too early. Thought you were one of those guys who couldn't even get past five."
Ankush smiled, but he said nothing.
No one knew what he had done.
And somehow, that felt incredibly freeing.
---
12:30 PM – Outside the Exam Center
His parents were waiting for him near the entrance, standing among the crowd of anxious families.
The moment his mother, Monika Halder, spotted him, she rushed forward.
"Ankush! Are you okay?"
She grabbed his arms, inspecting him as if he had just returned from war.
His father, Ramesh Halder, stood beside her, his usual calm demeanor in place. "You came out early."
Ankush gave a small nod. "Yeah. Didn't go too well."
His mother frowned. "That's okay, beta. Not everyone is good at exams. These things don't define you."
If only she knew.
"I know, Ma."
His father gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "You'll do better in the Awakening Dungeon."
Ankush forced a smile. "Yeah. Let's hope so."
---
12:40 PM – Preparing for the Awakening
As Ankush walked through the city streets, he took in the sight of mana-powered vehicles, floating holographic advertisements, and towering buildings infused with magical architecture.
Everything about Kolkata was the same, yet different from the world he once knew.
The fact that no one realized how advanced his mind had become only made him feel more detached from it all.
"Hey," Soymojit nudged him. "You okay? You've been quiet."
Ankush exhaled. "Just thinking."
"About what?"
"About how unfair this world is."
Soymojit didn't reply immediately. After a moment, he let out a small laugh.
"You just realizing that now?"
Ankush smirked. "No. Just… experiencing it differently."
---
1:00 PM – The Awakening Dungeon
As they approached the Awakening Dungeon, Ankush saw hundreds of students gathering at the entrance.
This was it.
The real challenge.
The Awakening Dungeon was the place where every 18-year-old stepped into the unknown.
> Inside, they would unlock their talents.
> Inside, they would receive their true path.
Soymojit stretched. "Alright, let's get this over with."
Ankush nodded. Whatever happened next, he was ready.
The massive gates of the Awakening Dungeon pulsed with mana as they stepped forward.