Chapter 53: Chapter 53 – Synchronization Test [2]
To find out that synchronization rate, in short SR, a 10-minute test needed to be done within a specialized VR Capsule that had no limit. It was slightly dangerous if something went wrong, so someone needed to oversee it.
"Are you ready, Flexy?"
"Anytime, Mr. Taka."
Hearing Mr. Taka\'s voice from the microphone of the overseer\'s room, Flexy answered confidently. He stepped toward the pure white cubic room without anything but a blue platform in the middle.
His avatar\'s appearance resembled his real self, as the test was done with the latest scan of one\'s original self instead of another avatar, like what Knight\'s Journey used, to achieve the best result.
Max excitedly watched the screen that showed a third perspective of Flexy\'s test. He wanted to see how a person who achieved 92% synchronization rate was doing in the test.
\'It\'s harder than it sounds. I wonder how Flexy will deal with it.\'
Inside the VR testing chamber, Flexy nodded at the camera, gesturing that he was ready to start now. He even flashed a smile and put a thumb up before the scenery around him changed.
The synchronization test was composed of various obstacles and in a different setting. There were a total of 10 types of tests, which would be harder as it progressed. The 10-minute time would be reset each time one finished a course.
The first test was simple. It was an obstacle run.
A track field appeared in the virtual space, replacing the white room.
Flexy\'s clothes also changed into a short and a simple shirt, orange in color. There were many obstacles on the track, including a pit filled with sand that he needed to jump over with a rope, a tall wall, and a wire trap he needed to crawl over.
The timer was floating in the sky, showing 00:10:00. It would start to decrease once Flexy crossed the start line.
"We are already recording. You can start anytime." Mr. Taka instructed through a microphone, gaining a soft nod from Flexy.
At that moment, the energetic streamer started to run at full speed.
Watching the first test, Max leaned against the soft sofa and relaxed his body.
\'He\'s pretty fast.\'
The first test was almost nothing for Flexy. Thanks to his agility and good control, he could jump over the pit and the wall easily. He struggled a bit in the crawling test but finished in under 3 minutes.
\'He\'s good. But the synchronization test isn\'t just about fast. It\'s about how well we move and how well our avatar responds to our brain command.\'
There was indeed a record of the fastest finish of the synchronization test, which was held by a professional gamer called Puppeteer. He finished all tests in 16 minutes 32 seconds and recorded his name on the Hall of Fame.
Not only that, he also boasted a 98.3% synchronization rate, the third highest in the whole world. Only two anonymous people who didn\'t want to disclose their identity had a higher synchronization rate than him.
Max\'s goal was to beat Puppeteer\'s time and set a new record. The reason was simple.
\'I need to finish this new quest.\'
He had gotten a new quest when he entered this room.
<Quest:
- Set a Record
You said you wanted to be a famous streamer?! Without having your name known by the whole world, that would be a dream!
Set a record time in the synchronization test! Shock the whole world!
Progress: 0/1
Reward: Latest VR Capsule
Deadline: 1 Try
Failure to complete this mission will make your body sluggish and limit your synchronization rate to 80% for a week!>
\'I will get that latest VR capsule that allows me to use all my capabilities!\'
The old VR Capsule in his room currently only maxed at 95% synchronization rate for safety purposes. If possible, Max wanted to get the latest technology available to draw all his potential.
In fact, he already planned to buy one with his pay when it was enough. However, the system once again helped him to get it. So he was thankful.
Still, even if the reward wasn\'t a VR capsule, Max couldn\'t afford to fail the mission.
The punishment for failing the quest indeed had changed, and it didn\'t threaten with uninstalling the system anymore, but having his SR limited to 80% for a week will be detrimental to his streaming. He wasn\'t sure how it would affect him, but it sounded bad.
"16 minutes, huh?" He muttered in a low voice.
But the girl, Lily, who sat beside him, heard it.
"What 16 minutes?" She asked curiously as she looked at him. "Do you want to finish the test in under 16 minutes?"
Due to her voice being loud enough to be heard by everyone sitting around, Max became the center of attention at once. They ignored Flexy, who tried to look good on camera while doing his second test.
Smiling wryly, Max scratched his cheek.
"I just remembered the record held by Puppeteer. Of course, I want to beat his record. Everyone is. But all I can do is to do my best."
Appearing to be humble was important as he was still a newbie. Also, it wasn\'t Max\'s style to show off his skill in a place like this. He would only do it when streaming or in the right place.
Lily nodded, satisfied with his answer.
"Un. Beating the record sounds fun."
She looked away, returning her attention to the screen. The other streamers said nothing and watched Flexy struggle to pass the third test.
After he barely passed, the scenery changed into a flaming ground, and he needed to step quickly to avoid his feet getting burned.
However, as he had finished the test many times before, he managed to finish it rather quickly. The fourth to ninth tests were also easy for him, as they were mostly just obstacles like before.
But his speed decreased considerably in the tenth test. It was the hardest one, and he needed to be careful not to take a wrong step, or the trap would kill him and return him to the start.
Finally, after struggling for exactly 25 minutes and 54 seconds, Flexy arrived at the finish and pressed the finish button.
"Hahaha! I am 20 seconds faster than before! Did you see that?!" He shouted loudly while raising his arms proudly.
At that moment, three numbers, glowing in gold, appeared on top of Flexy\'s head. It was written \'92.6\', which showed his synchronization rate. It wasn\'t different from his last test.
Everyone clapped hands to congratulate him. Even Mr. Taka clapped his hands.
Then, the marketing team leader pushed his glasses and turned to the newbie streamers.
"That\'s the test. Are you ready?"
"I am."
"Un."
"Anytime, Mr. Taka."
Everyone answered immediately. The other two, besides Max, seemed to have a reserved personality and didn\'t speak too much even though they were streamers.
\'Well, that\'s why we are called newbies.\' He thought as he saw Mr. Taka looking back at him.
"Alright. Then let\'s start with Breeze, shall we? I believe everyone is curious how he, who is rising due to his strange movement skill, will fare in this test."
Hearing Mr. Taka\'s words, Max couldn\'t help but wince. What kind of reasoning was that?
Still, it wasn\'t a problem. It was probably for the promotional video.
Besides… The faster he finished this, the easier it got.
\'Well then, let\'s do this.\'