Miles looked at the people staring at him. They are all examining him to see if he was any different. After all, every one of them had been tested before they were taken into the shuttle, while Miles walked in without being tested.

“Do you reckon he is someone important?” At the end row, a person asked. They were talking quietly lest they offended Miles.

“Idiot.” The one sitting next to him rebuked. “Since when Beast Breeding Academy cares who you are.”

“What is so special about him then?” Another asked.

“How should I know, we should learn soon.” Said the one answered before, but she too looked at Miles with a curious gaze but couldn’t see anything. The only thing unique about him was the wristwatch on his arm. It was golden in color with black markings.

After the shuttle flew for more than an hour, it slowed down.

“Why are we slowing down? Don’t we still have an hour to go?” A person looked outside of the window and realized it was slowly descending.

“Why are we descending here?” Another asked.

“This dead world is filled with brutal monsters, walking dead and mutated animals. Why is the shuttle landing?” Chaos descended into the shuttle, but no one explained what was going on. Miles looked outside and when there were only ten meters to ground he unbuckled and stood up.

“Height is good?” The same Clerk who registered him asked.

“Hmm.” Miles nodded.

“Alright, see you in the academy.” The clerk said and opened the door of the shuttle.

“Oh, I will definitely see you there.” Miles grinned and jumped out of the shuttle. After falling for about a second and a half, he landed on the ground. He looked up and grabbed the bag Clerk threw after him.

After making a signal to wish good luck, the Clerk closed the door and the shuttle moved once again. Miles looked at the plateau in front of him. He was standing on top of a small mountain. Beneath him was a giant valley stretching out to a giant mountain range in the distance. It was at least 500 kilometers away from where he was, and the plateau beneath him was covered with monsters, mutated animals, and the walking dead.

The alternative entrance test to the Academy was walking this distance.

————

After Miles jumped out of the shuttle, the applicants looked at the Clerk and the opened door with dumbfounded expressions.

“Did he do something?” One of the teens asked in fear. If that person had committed a crime that deserved to be dropped in the middle of nowhere, he would do his best to not commit the same crime.

“Hmm? What do you mean?” Clerk asked with confusion.

“Why have you abandoned him to death?” The same person asked.

The clerk looked at the teen and looked at others. “Is there anyone who can explain?”

More than 500 of them raised their hands. The clerk nodded his head and said, “AI, record those who raised their hands. Rest are eliminated.” The clerk sentenced them brutally.

“What? You can’t do that.” One of the hotblooded teens raised on his feet and shouted.

“Oh, but I can. The third phase of the test is knowledge, yet you don’t even know why that person left. How can you pass the knowledge test then?” Clerk asked.

“Sir, all due respect, but I knew the reason, just didn’t feel like raising my hand.” Another one said.

“You are eliminated because of insubordination then.” The clerk said, and his gaze changed. All of a sudden an authoritative aura descended on teens in the shuttle. “Where we are going is the best military academy on Earth. And every tutor and Clerk there is military personnel. We are your superiors and our words are your orders you have to see through with your lives.”

“Yes, sir.” 500 teens who raised their hands shouted together. The rest looked dumbfounded.

“Stop the shuttle.” The clerk shouted and the shuttle came to a stop.

“As for that young man, you explain.” The clerk pointed at the closest person who raised her hand.

Girl saluted from where she was sitting and shouted, “Yes, sir.” Then turned and looked at the person who asked the question.

“There are two ways to enter the academy. The first one is the test we are taking, the second is walking to the academy from where that young man dropped. It is 500 kilometers walk filled with walking dead, mutated animals and monsters.” Girl said.

“But, but, that is impossible. He is not older than us. No matter how strong he is he can’t walk that cursed valley alone!” One of the teens looked down and shouted in distress.

“It is impossible, true.” The clerk grinned and looked at the applicants. “No one ever achieved that, and there is no point in doing it.”

“Then why?”

“If there is a person dissatisfied with our rules, they can disprove us by walking the valley. If they can reach the academy, they will be enrolled. No question asked. Including you 300. Now that you are eliminated, is there anyone who wants to take the second test?”

"No one? That is a shame. Seems like we have to drop you back." The Clerk snorted as he signaled the pilot to return to the city. The teens wanted to object but they couldn't do anything about it. Whom could they go to complain? The academy was independent. They would answer to no one.

While everyone was looking at those who haven't raised their hands in pity, one person looked below in excitement. He too wanted to take the alternative test but his family didn't allow him. After all, he could enter by normal means and he didn't have to risk his life, but what was the point of living if he couldn't risk his life and do things others deemed impossible.

'I should have done it!' He exclaimed in his heart.