"Chen Ran, you're also participating in the martial arts exam, so does that mean you've given up your school's recommendation quota?"
Fang Wen was genuinely surprised.
If it were him, he would have directly accepted the recommendation and wouldn't bother with the college entrance exam.
"Not exactly, I just wanted to give it a try," Chen Ran replied.
Fang Wen's mind was quick, and he instantly thought of a possibility, his eyes widening, "Don't tell me you want to get into the three major Knight Academies?"
Hmm... why not?
Chen Ran instinctively wanted to answer that, then involuntarily thought of a certain "Decade."
Hiss, better not.
He nodded slightly.
"Man of courage!"
Fang Wen gave Chen Ran a thumbs-up.
There was no sarcasm.
No negativity.
Only the encouragement of a friend.
Those who are not content with the status quo and strive with all their might to pursue their dreams are always worthy of respect.
Chen Ran smiled and said nothing.
Some things didn't need to be explained too clearly.
He was a transmigrator.
He had a system.
Ever since he embarked on this extraordinary path to become a Kamen Rider, he was destined to be different from ordinary people.
He couldn't be measured by common sense.
Breaking conventions, that's what a protagonist does, right?
"Hey, hey, Chen Ran, look, Goddess Mu is coming over!"
Fang Wen said with sudden excitement.
Chen Ran followed his gaze.
A graceful figure was slowly approaching.
Mu Qingzhu!
She was also the female lead Chen Ran confessed to at the Knight Awakening Ceremony. She was wearing a beige polo shirt and light-colored jeans, her dark hair tied into a ponytail. Energetic and lively, even without dressing up, her natural beauty still made her the school beauty that everyone admired.
"Alas, it seems Goddess Mu is indeed coming for you. Good luck with the exam, I won't disturb you."
Fang Wen sighed deeply, patted Chen Ran's shoulder, and said earnestly.
Then he quickly walked into the examination hall.
Chen Ran: "..."
To be honest.
He was a little bewildered too.
After all, even on the day of the confession, he and Mu Qingzhu hadn't said anything, let alone been busy preparing for the college entrance exam in the past two days.
Mu Qingzhu coming for the martial arts exam today did surprise him.
Is this some kind of unspoken affection?
"Classmate Chen Ran."
Mu Qingzhu's voice was pleasant. As she approached, Chen Ran could even smell a faint scent of lilies.
She was indeed looking for him.
Because... Decade?
In the world of Kamen Riders, Decade and Kivala had a close relationship. But in this world of spiritual energy resurgence, which was derived from the Kamen Rider universe, even different Rider forms were divided into different awakening sequences. The relationship between Riders shouldn't be generalized.
However, he didn't run away.
Instead, he remained calm and composed.
He was secretly pleased and a little proud that the goddess was looking for him.
"Classmate Mu, is there something you need?"
Chen Ran asked as if nothing had happened.
Although he was attracted to her.
The confession that day was indeed forced by circumstances.
Chen Ran blamed the damned system!
He wore a composed smile, polite and dignified.
Being a simp was impossible!
There was no game of playing hard to get either.
What was the point?
Chen Ran's reaction did not surprise Mu Qingzhu.
She had specifically learned about Chen Ran's past.
Perhaps this was his true nature.
Like a gentleman.
The sudden confession at the Knight Awakening Ceremony that day was somewhat out of character.
But even that was within an acceptable range.
Youth is meant for wildness!
"Classmate Chen Ran's goal of continuing to take the college entrance exam should be for the three major Knight Academies, right?"
She answered Chen Ran's question and posed a new one.
"Yes, the three major Knight Academies are places that all students in Great Xia dream of, aren't they?"
"That's true..."
She agreed and nodded.
"Then, Classmate Chen Ran, I'll be waiting for you in Shenjing!"
"Okay."
"It's a promise..."
With that said.
Mu Qingzhu left. As a true genius who awakened her Rider Driver at the age of thirteen, she didn't need to take the college entrance exam. As long as she awakened, she already had the qualifications to enter the three major Knight Academies.
This situation wasn't called a recommendation, but rather... a special recruitment!
"This is so random."
Chen Ran muttered softly, but didn't think much of it.
He turned and walked into the examination hall.
What he wanted now was to become stronger.
Only by becoming strong could he control his destiny and protect everything.
Women... would only affect his transformation speed!
He would consider matters of romance after he became stronger.
The martial arts exam was not held in classrooms, but in the indoor stadium of Jiudu High School, which was built to be very spacious, capable of accommodating tens of thousands of people.
Unlike exams in classrooms where each room would have two invigilators and additional roving invigilators.
In the stadium where the martial arts exam was being held, there were no separate examination rooms.
Therefore, the invigilators were dispersed by area to maintain order.
Chief Examiner Ling Mo stood on the stage.
Behind him was a tall, special machine, entirely blue, with only the turbine in the center flashing red.
"Examiner Ling, the machine is ready."
An invigilator wearing glasses stepped forward and said.
Ling Mo nodded, "Understood, prepare to open the secret realm."
"Yes!"
The bespectacled teacher nodded and went back to operate.
Ling Mo looked at the students participating in the martial arts exam below, his expression unreadable.
He slowly said:
"Quiet!"
The slightly noisy venue immediately fell silent.
After a pause, Ling Mo continued, "This year's Knight Martial Arts Exam will continue the assessment method from last year."
"See the giant instrument behind you? That is the achievement of the Knight Equipment Center Research Institute. Through this instrument, a special secret realm can be opened, filled with various monsters."
"Monsters of different strengths represent different points."
"Your task is to enter the secret realm, hunt monsters, and earn points. The time limit is three hours. Your performance in the martial arts exam will be judged based on the total points you accumulate."
"Your admission ticket will serve as your pass to enter the secret realm and also as a tool to record your points."
"Also, remember one thing: candidates are forbidden from harming each other. All your activities are under surveillance. If you are injured, you can also call for help using your admission ticket, and someone will come to your rescue. However, at that moment, it will mean the end of your martial arts exam..."