Chapter 18: (7)Survival Test
The sun rose on the third day of the Hunter Exam's impromptu endurance test. For the last time, William made his way stealthily to the northern edge of the testing grounds to check on his hidden water and belongings. As he went, William noticed the massive number of injured people—as well as those who were so still he couldn't tell whether they were just unconscious or actually dead.
'Last night was nothing but brutality,' he thought to himself. 'Thank God we don't have to go through it again tonight. At least, I hope not! Who knows what the testers have in mind?'
William knelt down, hidden by a broad tree trunk that was just inside the testing area, and pulled aside the frozen clumps of dirt which filled the hole he'd made during the previous day. It had taken quite a lot of work to use a pocket knife to stab and pry apart the wintery soil, especially without anyone noticing. Moreover, the bottles that he now pulled from the hole hadn't been left out, so they hadn't accumulated any more condensation.
In short, William had given up the chance to gain a little extra water in exchange for being as sure as he could that it wouldn't be taken from him when he needed it the most. The water in the bottles had frozen in the hard ground, so William tore the bottles apart, crushed the ice to pieces on a rock, and swallowed the ice chunks whole. He winced in pain each time he swallowed one, but he knew the hydration was worth it. 'At least I won't have to drink my pee...' he thought to himself.
***
Just like the day before, Omega arrived in the early morning along with two other examiners and several medical personnel. This time, the Hunter Academy's Medical Director also showed up.
Omega turned to the Medical Director as they surveyed the scene. "No doubt your cronies have told you all about the horrors I've forced this year's candidates to endure, Elizabeth. Well, now you see it with your own eyes. What do you think? Will they last another day?"
As he spoke, Elizabeth pressed a button on her tablet. A small drone detached from it and flew into the testing zone, scanning the vitals of various candidates.