The Night Before Reuniting

Ryan took a small sip of water and leaned against a section of stone wall.

The water in his canteen was almost gone. The icy liquid slid down his throat into his stomach, slightly easing the dryness in his chest.

He had very few supplies and had never expected the tower to have dedicated supply stations.

If there really were any inside the main examination area, they should have been set up for examinees who had advanced smoothly to the designated regions and needed to pause briefly while waiting for their next orders.

No one had ever considered people like him, who traveled along backup passages and abandoned side corridors.

He did not need much food.

Under stressful conditions, humans could survive for several days on sheer willpower and a small amount of energy. Especially in an examination site as carefully designed as the Hunter Exam, the examiners would have made certain that no one could sit down comfortably and leisurely arrange three meals a day.

Water was the key.

Water kept the brain clear, allowed the body's lubrication mechanisms to function normally, and kept thought, perception, and reactions from collapsing.

Ryan licked the corner of his lips and slowly stood up.

The ground beneath his feet was made of rough stone tiles. Many sections had already cracked, exposing the gray-white filler within. Rusted support frames lined the walls, along with sealed pipe connections that gave off a faint metallic smell. He walked slowly along the wall, testing each step with his toes to make sure it could bear his weight before placing his full foot down.

The passage ahead narrowed.

The walls on either side nearly closed in to shoulder width, while pipes overhead hung like dangling spider silk, brushing against his shoulders and hair. The air grew increasingly