A bold declaration echoed across Japan:
"All trait holders are hereby invited to participate in the National Representative Test."
Ryu watched the broadcast from his room, eyes narrowed. The announcement was everywhere—from massive digital billboards to scrolling banners on every device. The time had come.
The Test Grounds
The venue was a massive stadium converted into a testing site. Soldiers, drones, and medics lined the perimeter. The Japanese Prime Minister addressed the hundreds of gathered players from a hovering podium:
"To rise in the Planet Games, we must choose only the best. Today's trial will measure your limits. There will be no do-overs. Succeed... or step aside."
The trial itself was simple—on the surface.
Sprint. Push-ups. Sit-ups. Vertical jumps. Reaction tests. Endurance laps. All designed to test raw physical aptitude.
Ryu, dressed in light training gear, cracked his neck. His body felt lighter than air.
"Let's see what this new body can really do."
The first test: a 100-meter dash. As soon as the gun fired, Ryu vanished from the starting block—leaving a gust of wind behind. By the time the second-fastest runner reached halfway, Ryu was already done, standing with arms crossed.
Gasps erupted in the crowd.
Push-ups? He did a hundred in ten seconds. Sit-ups? He needed only nine seconds. Vertical leap? He almost hit the stadium lighting.
The evaluators stared, dumbfounded.
Whispers followed him everywhere. "Is that him? The anonymous Number One?"
But amidst the nervous awe of the other contestants, two stepped forward.
The first was a tall, broad-shouldered guy with tanned skin and a confident grin. He plopped down beside Ryu after the final endurance run, panting.
"Man, you're a beast! I'm Hayato," he said, grinning. "Trait: Sturdy. Basically, I take hits like a tank. Doesn't matter if it's a punch or a meteor—I'm still standing."
Ryu chuckled. "Nice to meet you. I'm Ryu."
"Yeah, yeah. Everyone knows who you are," Hayato laughed. "Well, not really. But you're clearly Number One, right?"
Before Ryu could answer, a soft voice chimed in.
"Umm… hi."
A girl with short black hair and striking violet eyes stood nervously near them, clutching her clipboard.
"I… I'm Aoi. My trait is… support. I can temporarily boost physical traits of others."
Her voice faltered when Ryu looked at her directly. She blushed and looked down.
Hayato raised an eyebrow. "Yo, don't tell me our top support's gone shy already."
"I'm not shy!" Aoi protested, then immediately covered her mouth. "I mean—well—just surprised, that's all!"
Ryu smiled softly. "Support types are rare. Sounds like we'll make a good team."
Aoi's cheeks turned even redder. "Th-thank you."
When the results were posted, no one was surprised:
Top Three Representatives for Japan:
Ryu
Hayato (Trait: Sturdy)
Aoi (Trait: Support Boost)
The three stood together as the national flag was raised behind them.
Sparring of the Elite
The next day, Ryu, Hayato, and Aoi were assigned a training dome. They decided on a friendly three-way spar to test each other.
Ryu stood in the center of the ring, stretching. Hayato bounced on his feet, grinning. Aoi stood a bit farther, clearly nervous.
"Alright!" Hayato cracked his knuckles. "Time to see what we've got!"
"Go easy on me!" Aoi squeaked, channeling her boost into Hayato.
Ryu didn't draw weapons. Instead, he focused on footwork, control, and reading their movements.
Hayato charged like a boulder, fists swinging. Aoi supported from the side, her presence increasing Hayato's speed and strength.
But Ryu was a ghost.
He ducked, weaved, and lightly tapped Hayato's pressure points. With every clash, he never used full force—yet the results were undeniable.
After ten minutes, Hayato sat down, panting. "Man… I couldn't even touch you."
Aoi nodded, impressed and flushed. "You… you're really incredible, Ryu."
All around the dome, trainers and other representatives watched in awe.
"Even without going all out…"
"He's something else."
"Definitely our captain."
Back in the dome, Hayato grinned. "Yeah, no doubt. Ryu, you're leading this team."
Ryu scratched his head, a little embarrassed. "We all have our roles. Let's just get stronger together."
Aoi smiled quietly. "With him leading… maybe we really have a chance."
Elsewhere in the World…
In a sleek arena within the American continent, Zephyr Cain shattered a boulder with a casual punch. His trait, Amplify x10, made his strength monstrous.
As he passed the final test, he looked skyward.
"Whoever Number One is... I'm coming for you."
Meanwhile, around the world, the best of each nation rose:
Lena (Germany): Trait: Invisibility. She moved without sound, unseen by sensors.
Tariq (Saudi Arabia): Trait: Titan Strength. He could lift tanks with ease.
Mila (Brazil): Trait: Cellular Healing. She could regenerate from any wound.
Jiro (South Korea): Trait: Flash Step. Movement speed beyond human limits.
Military Preparation Begins
From the U.S. to India, Russia to Nigeria, the selected representatives underwent relentless training:
Weapons drills: Close combat, ranged shooting, elemental weapons.
Discipline routines: Wake up at 4 AM. 20 km runs. Ice water conditioning.
Trait refinement sessions: Learning how to combine traits with real-world tactics.
Japan's three reps were no exception.
Ryu trained with dual blades, adapting quickly. Hayato absorbed hits from training bots and kept standing, unfazed. Aoi worked with both, learning when and how to amplify their strength or speed.
During one training break, Hayato dropped onto the grass. "You guys are nuts. Ryu's like a machine. Aoi's power keeps making me feel like I could punch through walls."
Ryu tossed him a water bottle. "Get used to it. We're not playing games anymore."
Aoi nodded shyly. "We… we're a team now. Let's protect each other."
The Global Assembly Base
With the entire planet unified under the threat of the Planet Games, a massive neutral training facility was constructed on an isolated island. Every nation sent their representatives there to prepare.
Helicopters, planes, airships—all loaded with elite players—descended upon the base.
When Ryu, Aoi, and Hayato arrived, they were stunned by the scale. The base had training domes, virtual arenas, gravity chambers, weapon forges, and AI combat bots.
All representatives gathered in a massive hall.
Some smiled. Some nodded in greeting. Others eyed their competitors coldly.
A tall, armored man from Russia refused to shake anyone's hand.
Jiro of South Korea walked up to Ryu. "I watched your test footage. Impressive. Let's spar soon."
Ryu returned the nod. "Looking forward to it."
Zephyr Cain, too, was there, leaning against a wall with folded arms, golden eyes calculating.
"So… that's him." Ryu thought. "Number Two."
Elsewhere, in Shadows
A room cloaked in darkness. Only a round table with several silhouetted figures.
"We've identified the top 100 representatives from each country," one said.
"And the betting pools are already surging. The higher the death rate, the more we gain."
"What of Japan's Number One?"
"We don't know his full trait. But we'll ensure Blue Planet's odds drop."
"We'll sabotage the trials. We'll rig their fate."
Back at the Base — Ryu's Quarters
As the night deepened, lights dimmed across the facility. Snoring echoed down the halls. But Ryu sat cross-legged in his room, eyes closed in meditation.
He opened his system.
"Initiating Trait Game One."
He whispered:
"I need more. If I want to win against monsters stronger than humanity's imagination... I need to evolve again."
A flash of light engulfed him.
And thus, his second descent into the unknown began.