NOVEL NEXT Chapter 6: The Final Day Before Destiny
Date: 11/03/2020
Time: 6:00 AM
The morning air was crisp, carrying the usual hum of mana-powered vehicles as Kolkata awakened to another day. But today wasn't just another day.
For Ankush and every other 18-year-old student in the country, today was the Pre-Awakening Exam—the first and only opportunity to determine how much of an advantage they could gain before stepping into the Awakening Dungeon.
Lying in bed, Ankush stared at the ceiling fan, its blades moving at a steady pace. His mind, however, raced much faster.
This was it.
The day that would decide his starting point in this world.
He had already accepted the unfair reality of his school's situation—the lack of resources, the inequality between government and private schools, the massive head start that the rich had.
But none of that mattered anymore.
Because he had something no one else did—the knowledge from his past life.
He clenched his fists. This exam is mine.
---
7:00 AM – Breakfast with His Parents
As he walked into the dining room, his parents were already seated at the table.
His father, Ramesh Halder, sat with a cup of tea, his expression calm but unreadable. His mother, Monika Halder, was unusually quiet as she placed a fresh plate of parathas and sabzi in front of him.
Ankush sat down, sensing the tension in the air.
His mother finally broke the silence. "Nervous?"
Ankush hesitated for a second before shaking his head. "Not really."
His father chuckled, stirring his tea. "Good. Getting nervous won't change anything. Besides, it's just an exam."
His mother shot his father an annoyed look. "Ramesh, you say that so casually! The Pre-Awakening Exam is important. His entire life could be affected by this one test!"
His father sighed. "I know, Monika. But it's not like we can control the outcome. If it's meant to be, it'll happen."
Ankush took a bite of his food, chewing slowly. "I'll do fine," he said casually.
His mother studied him for a moment. "You're… unusually confident."
"I've been preparing," Ankush replied truthfully.
She nodded slowly, but he could see the worry in her eyes.
His parents weren't expecting much from him. After all, they knew how difficult the exam was, especially for students from government schools.
The highest record in his school's history was 16 correct answers—not even close to the global record of 20.
If Ankush even crossed 10, it would be considered a huge achievement.
But he wasn't aiming for 10.
He was aiming for all of them.
---
8:00 AM – Leaving for School
As Ankush stepped out of the house, the streets were already bustling. Students in his neighborhood were leaving for their respective exam centers, their expressions a mix of nervousness and determination.
The government had arranged special transport for students, but since his school was nearby, Ankush decided to walk.
His parents walked alongside him.
His father, despite his usual laid-back attitude, looked serious for once. His mother occasionally glanced at him, as if trying to memorize his face before he stepped into the dungeon.
As they walked, the reality of the day sank in.
Every few minutes, they passed groups of students discussing strategies, recalling last year's publicly available 14 questions, wondering what would come next.
"Will there be any combat-related questions this year?"
"No way. The system doesn't favor fighters or mages. It's always pure logic."
"But isn't that unfair? People who trained in magic their whole lives should have an advantage."
"That's the point. The system is neutral. It doesn't test your mana or sword skills. It tests your intelligence."
Ankush smirked slightly. They were right.
The Pre-Awakening Exam wasn't meant to test magical talent.
It was meant to test knowledge.
Too bad most students had no clue what kind of knowledge it actually tested.
---
8:30 AM – Arrival at Jadavpur Government Higher Secondary School
The school looked different today.
Large mana barriers had been set up around the school compound, glowing faintly with inscriptions to prevent any external interference.
At the entrance, government officials stood in formal robes, scanning the students with mana detectors before allowing them inside.
His parents weren't allowed past the entrance, so they stopped near the check-in gates.
His mother grabbed his hand, holding it tightly. "Do your best, okay?"
Ankush nodded.
His father patted his shoulder. "No pressure. Whatever happens, we're proud of you."
Ankush smiled. "I know."
He then turned and walked toward the school gates.
As he joined the long line of students, he glanced back one last time.
His parents were still standing there, watching him.
His mother had both hands clasped, her lips moving slightly—probably praying.
His father simply stood still, arms crossed.
Taking a deep breath, Ankush stepped forward.
---
9:00 AM – The Exam Center (Dungeon Entrance)
As soon as Ankush entered the school compound, he was guided toward the back of the building.
His school's Pre-Awakening Exam took place in a special system-generated dungeon—a subdimension connected to reality but controlled entirely by the Universal System.
The dungeon entrance was a massive stone gate, engraved with glowing runes, standing three stories tall.
Unlike combat dungeons, there were no monsters inside.
This dungeon had only one function—to serve as an examination hall.
Hundreds of students gathered in front of the entrance, waiting for their names to be called.
Ankush spotted Soymojit Halder standing near the middle of the crowd.
The tall, broad-shouldered boy was stretching casually, looking completely unfazed.
As Ankush approached, Soymojit raised an eyebrow. "You're calm."
Ankush smirked. "You expected me to be nervous?"
Soymojit shrugged. "I don't know. This exam is hell, man. But looking at you… it's like you've already won."
Ankush chuckled. If only he knew.
A voice echoed through the mana speakers:
> "Candidates will now be called in groups of 20. Please prepare to enter."
The crowd stirred as the first batch of students walked forward.
A few looked confident. Most looked terrified.
As they approached the massive dungeon gate, the glowing runes flared, and the first group vanished inside.
Soymojit sighed. "Damn… it's really happening."
Ankush glanced at the entrance, his expression unreadable.
This was it.
The real test was about to begin.