The chaos intensifies around me as I keep running, my eyes locked on the massive creature that's still emerging from the earth. Its form is like something out of a nightmare, yet something feels... off. I can't quite put my finger on it, but the closer I get, the more I realize it's not a real creature—it's mechanical. The movements are too precise, too calculated. It's as if the thing is... engineered, not born.

A part of me feels a strange relief—maybe I have a shot at taking this thing down after all. But there's no time for second-guessing. I can hear screams in the distance, people fleeing in panic, their voices shrill with terror.

I push myself faster, focusing on the task at hand, the ever-looming sense of danger pushing me forward.

But then...

A scream cuts through the chaos.

A girl. She's falling—no, she's tripping. I can see her in the distance, tumbling through the rubble in the middle of the street, completely unaware of the danger ahead. My heart skips a beat. The creature's massive head shifts, and it looks like it's about to make a move, but that's not my problem right now.

I don't think. I just act.

My feet pound the rooftop as I make the leap to the next building, running at full speed, my mind whirring. I spot her in an instant—she's too far out in the open, her leg pinned under a falling lamp post that's crashed down like a wrecking ball. She's struggling, but there's no way she's going to get herself out of this alone.

I can't just leave her there.

I run across the rooftops, closing the distance. I barely notice the roar of the creature behind me, focused solely on her. The moment I reach the edge of the building, I launch myself off it—no hesitation, no fear. Just the overwhelming need to help.

I land lightly on the ground with a roll, skidding to a stop as I quickly assess the situation. The girl's leg is pinned under the lamp post, but I can tell she's trying to free herself—she's struggling, but it's useless. She's hurt, and I can see the panic in her eyes. The machine is still looming in the distance, but I can't worry about that right now.

I scan the area, looking for anything, anything that might help.

I've got my own skills—parkour, agility, quick thinking. But I'm not strong enough to just lift this lamp post off of her. I've got to be clever. I can't rely on muscle, but I've got a brain.

My eyes flicker around the surroundings. There's debris scattered all around us, pieces of wreckage from the broken buildings. I spot a large metal rod a few feet away, half-buried under rubble, and I think fast. I make a quick dash for it, sliding under some debris, my fingers closing around the cool metal.

With a quick motion, I pull the rod free, testing its weight. It's heavy, but not impossible to move. I head back to the girl, assessing the situation one more time. The lamp post is still crushing her leg, but she's going pale, her breath coming in shallow gasps. It's clear that if I don't do something soon, she might pass out from the pain or worse.

Okay.

I set my feet firmly, placing the metal rod beneath the lamp post like a makeshift lever. I brace myself, feeling the strain in my arms and legs as I begin to push. The lamp post barely moves, and for a moment, panic bubbles up in my chest. But I don't stop. I dig my feet in, pushing with every ounce of strength I can muster. My hands slip a little from sweat, but I don't care. I have to get this off of her.

Then, suddenly, I feel a shift. It's not much, but the lamp post lifts just enough for the girl to jerk her leg out from underneath. She gasps, wincing as she pulls herself free, and I quickly throw the rod to the side and kneel down beside her.

Me: "Are you okay?" 

She nods, tears welling up in her eyes. 

Girl: "I—I think so... I—I don't know..."

I glance at her leg quickly, trying to assess if it's broken. It looks swollen, but I don't have time to really examine it right now. I lift her up carefully, trying to be as gentle as I can.

Me: "Stay with me! We need to get out of here before that thing decides it wants to stomp on us."

I don't know how long I can carry her, but I'm not about to leave her behind.

As I start moving, I hear the roar of the mechanical beast again, its monstrous head twisting in my direction. It's like the thing can sense movement, like it's actively looking for something to attack.

I don't have much time.

Me: "Can you walk?"

The girl nods again, this time with a little more certainty. 

Girl: "I—I think so."

I don't wait. I start moving faster, making sure to stay low, hugging the side of the buildings. My heart is still pounding in my chest, the adrenaline from saving her mixing with the rising tension in the air. I can feel the ground shake beneath me again as the creature moves, the rumbling growing louder.

I glance back toward the chaos, my eyes flicking over the scene. I can see people running, more robots scattered throughout the area, all of them trying to take down the people in their path.

But then I realize something. There's something off about all of it. It's not just the creature. There's a deliberate pattern to the attacks, like the robots are trying to herd the civilians... as if it's part of the exam.

That's when I hear Mic's voice again, booming through the chaos.

MIC: "LET'S GO! LET'S SEE WHO'S GOT WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE IT OUT OF THIS ONE! SHOW ME WHAT YOU'RE MADE OF, LITTLE LISTENER!"

I snort at the absurdity of it all, the stress of the situation momentarily lightened by Mic's over-the-top enthusiasm.

Thanks, Mic!

Just what I needed.

I keep running, the girl still in tow, until I reach a safer area—a secluded alleyway with fewer obstacles. I help her down, making sure she's settled against the wall.

Me: "You should be okay here. Stay hidden until the exam's over. They'll come for you."

She looks at me, her eyes wide with gratitude. 

Girl: "Thank you. I—I don't know what would've happened if you hadn't come."

I give her a reassuring smile, even though inside, I'm still freaked out.

Me: "Just doing what I had to. Stay safe. And stay out of trouble. I don't know what this whole exam is really about yet, but it doesn't look like it's going to get easier."

She nods, clearly still shaken, but she seems okay for now. I turn away, glancing one last time at her to make sure she's alright before I take off again.