The New Era Project 5 A Gathering Of Talents

Feng Ye feels that this doesn't suit as he follows the staff member deeper into the attached building that looks supposedly apart of the examination centre. He notices that the security is strengthened as he walks further in. "Have I been found out?"

Feng Ye is slightly worried.

The staff member and Feng Ye arrive at an elevator that looks quite technologically advanced. The staff member walks towards the elevator's closed entrance and presses the b.u.t.ton with an arrow pointed upwards. After a minute wait, the elevator doors open. Feng Ye and the staff member enter.

Feng Ye notices there are 10 floors that can be accessed with this elevator. "Do you know where we are going?"

The staff member smiles and replies as he presses the b.u.t.ton indicating the 10th floor, "Yes, as you have scored within the top 10. There are additional benefits that can be gained. However, now is not the place and time to discuss it. All your doubts will be addressed after we arrive at our destination."

After hearing this response, Feng Ye's anxiety disappears. He hadn't been found out.

With a ding, the elevator stops its ascent and its doors open. In front of Feng Ye, is a row of windows which show a panoramic view of the Aven metropolis from above. Feng Ye takes a step forward and looks at such wonderful scenery. Many individuals below are bustling about either walking or lining up to take designated metro lines. There doesn't seem to be many vehicles that are utilized, Besides a few which drive along the somewhat empty roads, most commute via the metro.

The staff member guides Feng Ye to a conference room where there seems to be nine other students. The conference room consists of a centre table with a projection of the layout of the rankings slowly spinning 360 degrees. If one looks closer at the projection, it is specifically only the top 10 rankings which are showing. However, in addition to the normal rank list details, it also has a headshot photo that was taken during registration of each examinee who scored in the top 10. The owner of these headshots are all present in this room. In addition to the centre table, there exists around twenty office chairs around the table. Each is separated by around a fourth of a metre of s.p.a.ce leaving plenty of room between each seat. The nine students already in the room consist of six females and three males.

Feng Ye realizes these individuals may be the other students who have achieved the top 10 rankings. It seems that he is the last to arrive due to his conversation with Haruta and the others which had delayed him from reaching the registration area earlier.

The staff member hints for Feng Ye to enter the conference room and takes his leave.

As Feng Ye enters, he feels nine lines of vision centred on him. The atmosphere seemed to be quite solemn as Feng Ye starts sizing each one up.

Feng Ye suspects these nine individuals are Tsubaki Aki, Tsunade Ren, Chu Feng, Wu Ya, James He, Akame Rin, Yun Che, Alyssa Wu, and Diana Smith. Of the six females, three seem to be of j.a.panese descent, two of Chinese descent, and one of European descent.The three males present consist of three of Chinese descent.

"Only one foreigner?" Feng Ye thinks to himself.

"Are you Feng Ye?" One of the males of Chinese descent walks forward and inquires. He is around 5'6 feet tall and thus, slightly shorter than Feng Ye. He has black hair and looks similar to Bruce Lee in his young days. Bruce Lee, from Feng Ye's world, was also known as Lee Jun-fan and was a Hong Kong and American actor, martial artist, and film director. He is known as the founder of the martial art Jeek Kune Do.

"Yes, I am. And you?" Feng Ye replies.

"I am Chu Feng."

He refers to the nearby two other males. One who is leaned back on an office chair who also seems to be have Chinese descent has a pair of circular gla.s.ses and a face which looks similar to Jeremy Lin from Feng Ye's old world. Jeremy Lin, from Feng Ye's world, was a famous Chinese professional basketball player from his old world. This individual seems to also be quite athletic and has a build that is similar to a basketball player's.

Chu Feng continues, "This is James while the other is Yun Che." The one who looks like Jeremy Lin, stands up and comments. "Yes, I am James. Nice to meet you." Feng Ye notices that this individual named James is quite tall. He is 5'10 and taller than Feng Ye. The one referred to as Yun Che nods towards Feng Ye.

Yun Che is around the same height of Feng Ye at around 5'8 feet. His hair seems to be brown though which may be dyed. Yun Che is a rather peculiar one as he has blue pupils instead of the black or brown pupils that are seen on Feng Ye, Chu Feng and James He.

Feng Ye nods towards them and takes a seat at the conference table. The six girls in the room take their vision back and also take their seats. James He sits back down, while Yun Che and Chu Feng randomly occupy seats nearby. From the rotating projection, Feng Ye sees the names a.s.sociated with each individual in the room.

Across from him, he sees a girl of Chinese descent who should be named Wu Ya according to the projection. She seems to be a calm and reserved individual who would commonly be found reading at a library. Her dyed hair forms a contrast with her calm personality. She has some streaks of red hair with her original black hair which form quite a contrast in colors. Her hair is quite long and reaches her shoulder blades.

Two seats to her left, is one called Diana Smith who is ranked 10th. An European foreigner who has brown hair that is down to her shoulders. She has brown eyes and pale skin. She notices Feng Ye's vision and nods towards him.

Three seats left of Diana Smith is rank 2 Tsubaki Aki. She seems quite aloof. She has straight brown hair down to her shoulders, a pet.i.te looking face and eyes that seem to spark intellectual curiosity. Her indifferent manner forms quite a contrast with her appearance. Beside her is Tsunade Ren, one who tied for rank 3 with Chu Feng. They seem to be quite familiar which each other. Tsunade Ren has long silver hair and is of j.a.panese descent like Tsubaki Aki. A striking difference between them is that Tsunade Ren's silver hair is braided. She has more militant look and seems to be also indifferent to her surroundings. Akame Rin sits besides Tsunade Ren. She is also of j.a.panese descent. She has short black hair and rectangular gla.s.ses. She silently sits on the office chair with no words as she surveys the other examinees.

Alyssa Wu sits besides Chu Feng and is sizing up the rest of the individuals present. She is of Chinese descent with caramel blonde hair. Her hair is quite long which matches her eyes that contain brown pupils.

As each individual is sizing up each other, near the entrance, particles of light seem to start aggregating together. A figure forms from the scattering of light and he takes a step forward giving a smile to the astonished vision of the examinees. He is wearing a labcoat, a pair of gla.s.ses and has his hands behind his back. He looks quite like a scholar. He also seems to be of j.a.panese descent.

"Congratulations, future students. You are the top of the crop this year and are referred to as this year's Elite 10. This also means that you ten exceed your peers in regards to your potential. We hope that you continue to be diligent and perhaps, in the future your ten will be leaders of your generation. I am Hira Zento, one of the professors of Aven Inst.i.tute of Technology."

He gestures to the projection at the middle of the conference table. "As you seem to have recognized and got to know each other, we no longer need this." With a wave, the projection vanishes. "I am here to explain to you all the additional benefits and programs which are offered to the top 10 ranking students."

"As each of you are considered the ones with the highest potential in awakening your abilities, the Aven Inst.i.tute of Technology has a separate lodging for only those ranked in the top 10. You all will share a floor in the Aven Inst.i.tute of Technology's residency and transportation directly to your secondary education campus of choice will be arranged everyday. Each of you have an allowance of $500 USD per week and a meal card that allows you to access all food offered on the Inst.i.tute grounds. Please take the time now to select which campus you wish to attend on the screen in front of you."

Projections of screens suddenly appear in front of each at the conference table. Feng Ye takes a look and sees the five different campuses. Without hesitation, Feng Ye selects the Kami Inst.i.tute.

After everyone has completed their selection, Hira laughs. "Interesting." The screens in front of each individual disappear and at the centre of the table, it shows the registration of each individual and the campus selected.

"It seems like the next two years will be quite lively. I am surprised there is such a distribution this year. I had thought that the majority of you all would have gone to either Kami Inst.i.tute or Toukai Academy." On the centre table, the five campuses are listed.

Rank/Name/Campus Selected

1/Feng Ye/Kami Inst.i.tute

2/Tsubaki Aki/Toukai Academy

3/Tsunade Ren/Toukai Academy

4/Chu Feng/Kami Inst.i.tute

5/Wu Ya/Kami Inst.i.tute

6/James He/Serin Inst.i.tute

7/Akame Rin/Houtei Academy

8/Yun Che/Houtei Academy

8/Alyssa Wu/Toukai Academy

10/Diana Smith/Fito High School

"After looking at the distribution, it seems that this year will definitely be lively. Especially, since the compet.i.tion between campuses is intense as each strive to best the other for more resources allocated from the main campus." Feng Ye thought to himself.

"Although, you all will be on the same floor, you should consider each other compet.i.tors if you are from different campuses. Compet.i.tion between each is fierce as the top of the pack gain resources, while the bottom feed on the remainders. Very nice, now time to move to the final topic." Hira continues.

"As the younger generation, you all will perhaps be the cornerstone of the Aven Inst.i.tute of Technology. Thus, you will have required protection that you are not permitted to opt out of. On the same floor that you all will reside in, there will be students from the student enforcer team that will be paired with each of you. These students are older than you and are enrolled in the post-secondary education at the main campus. Each is an esper at the B rank. Feel free to consult them if you have any issues, but don't annoy them. They will be responsible for your protection when you return for the night after cla.s.ses or school activities. There is no worries in regards to when you each commute to and from the campus. Nor are there any issues when you are at the campus as there are no potential dangers that occur. This program is to ensure that each of you are able to quickly familiarize yourselves with the campus and lifestyle while preventing any external influences from affecting your studies."

"You will each be a.s.signed to a member of the student enforcer team as their roommate. Each of you will essentially have your own suite shared with the senior. Naturally, in each suite there are separate rooms in which you will have to yourselves. Your a.s.signed room will be shown on the tablets provided to you from the registration booth. Good luck and I look forward to seeing what changes you all will bring forward to the Aven Inst.i.tute of Technology."

With that, Hira turns around and opens the door of the conference room exit. He remembers a something he had missed and turns around slowly. "By the way, in around 15 minutes there will be staff that will a.s.sist you to your residency and rooms."

"A roommate?" Feng Ye thought. "This may be a bit troublesome. Especially, as they are rank B… Isn't this trolling me. However, as my performance was too noticeable, other influences may be ready to make trouble in which having a nearby 'ally' would be beneficial."

"Aiyah, so little registration in Kami Academy. James and Yun Che, why choose other inst.i.tutes? " Chu Feng comments as he takes a look at the others, thus, breaking Feng Ye's chain of thought.

The one called James smirks, "Wouldn't it be interesting to compete against each other? What's the point of staying in the same campus. Perhaps, we'll just limit each other's growth."

The others give a nod of approval.

"I see. Interesting." Chu Feng also gives a grin. He turns and faces Feng Ye and Wu Ya's direction. "Well, it seems like we will be fellow cla.s.smates. Let's bring some more prestige for our Kami Inst.i.tute and topple these challengers."

The indifferent Tsunade Ren comments at this time, "Don't be too overconfident."

As these words fall, the sounds of an elevator opening and footsteps can be heard.

"It seems that the staff are here. Let's see this residence. It sounds quite comfortable." James comments.

A staff member walks into the conference room. "h.e.l.lo, your transportation has been arranged. Please follow me."

The group follows the staff member and exits the conference room.