[AOTFL] Chapter 7: Compatibility Test

Seidoukan Academy's equipment department was located beneath the academy buildings.

Even though it was described as being underground, it would have been more accurate to say it was underwater.

It was only natural.

Asterisk was, after all, an artificial island floating on a crater lake, so there wasn't exactly any underground—only underwater. However, since there wasn't a single window in sight, walking in gave the same feeling as stepping into a basement, which was why the area was simply referred to as the underground section.

Anyway, it was close enough and wasn't something worth nitpicking.

As Zexuan walked down one of the hallways with Claudia, he very much wanted to bring up something else.

"Your popularity is seriously no joke. Everyone in our class totally freaked out."

Zexuan spoke to Claudia beside him in a tone that hovered somewhere between a complaint and a remark.

"Did they?" Claudia looked as if she had no idea she had just done something outrageous, wearing her usual pleasant smile. "Maybe they were just being polite? I don't think I'm all that popular."

'You're calling that crowd of people screaming their heads off and staring with eyes as big as dinner plates polite?' Zexuan couldn't help but roll his eyes. 'Maybe you've seriously got a messed-up idea of what politeness means.'

"Did I cause you trouble or something?"

Claudia asked Zexuan with a completely innocent expression, making him sigh.

"Don't know if it's trouble yet, but I do know this—right now, news about you personally coming to my classroom to get me has probably already spread across the entire high-school division of Seidoukan. Maybe even to the other divisions. I bet my profile views are skyrocketing, and there's probably already some random rumors popping up online too."

In other words, Zexuan, who used to be practically invisible, had now likely caught the attention of a lot of people.

And the fact that he was brought to the equipment department by the student council president herself, through a request to borrow an Orga Lux, definitely wouldn't go unnoticed by those paying attention.

"Well, that can't really be helped..." Claudia said lightly, still smiling. "Even if today didn't happen, the moment you successfully borrowed an Orga Lux, your profile would've gone public right away. People were going to notice you no matter what."

Information about students borrowing Orga Luxes was generally made public.

As soon as someone successfully borrowed one, the data showing that they were an Orga Lux user would be immediately posted online and displayed for students from other schools to see as well.

In conclusion, even if Zexuan wanted to stay under the radar, that probably wasn't going to be an option anymore.

Of course—

"Still, the condition is that I pass the compatibility test first, right?" Zexuan said flatly.

It had already been mentioned before—Orga Luxes possessed self-awareness and chose their own users. Only those who could draw out a certain level of power from them, people the Orga Luxes approved of, would be granted permission to use them.

What Zexuan meant by compatibility was the degree of resonance between a Genestellar and an Orga Lux—how much of its power they could trigger and how well they matched with it.

Needless to say, the higher the compatibility rate, the more suited the Genestellar was to that particular Orga Lux, and the more of its power they could unleash—allowing them to exhibit even greater strength.

On the other hand, if the compatibility rate fell below a certain threshold, even if the Genestellar could barely use an Orga Lux, they wouldn't be able to draw out much power. If the rate was too low, the Orga Lux might even reject them, go berserk, and attack those around it.

For this reason, compatibility tests existed to determine whether a Genestellar could safely use a given Orga Lux. If the rate was too low, even if it didn't go out of control, the academy still wouldn't lend it out.

For one thing, a low compatibility rate meant that the Orga Lux's abilities would be wasted on the user, so lending it to them would only squander a precious resource.

For another, the Integrated Enterprise Foundation only loaned out a portion of its Orga Luxes to students in order to gather usage data. If someone couldn't draw out enough power, then they wouldn't produce any valuable data either.

In other words, to successfully borrow an Orga Lux, passing the compatibility test was a must.

However, the standards for this test varied between schools—some had higher thresholds, and some had lower.

"We only lend out Orga Luxes at Seidoukan Academy if the compatibility rate is over 80%. If it's lower than that, even if the academy wants to loan it out, the Integrated Enterprise Foundation behind us won't allow it."

With Claudia leading the way, she and Zexuan stepped into the elevator that led to the deepest part of the equipment department.

While the elevator descended, their conversation continued.

"By the way, Seidoukan currently has twenty-two Orga Luxes in total—the most out of all six schools. Seven of them have already been loaned out, but Aoran, you still need to choose carefully."

Claudia turned her head to look at Zexuan's face, smiling as she reminded him.

"You only get one attempt at the compatibility test. If you pick an Orga Lux that doesn't really work with you and fail the test, you'll have to wait until next time to apply again."

Even if there was a highly compatible Orga Lux among the remaining ones, if the applicant didn't choose it, the test would still end right there—they wouldn't get to test a second one.

Such a fact alone showed just how difficult it was to borrow an Orga Lux.

However, if someone did manage to get one, it was like a complete transformation.

At Seidoukan Academy, among the top twelve students, four of them were Orga Lux users, making it clear just how much of a boost having an Orga Lux could give.

"Hope you'll end up being one of us too, Aoran."

Right as the elevator reached the deepest level and came to a stop, Claudia said something that carried a deeper meaning.

Zexuan didn't respond, silently looking ahead at the gradually opening elevator doors.

As the elevator doors opened completely, the two of them stepped out and entered a wide, enclosed chamber that resembled an underground laboratory with a high ceiling and all kinds of equipment surrounding them.

One wall on the side was partly lined with glass, and beyond that glass was another room, packed with even more equipment.

Many people in white lab coats moved around inside that room—some operating instruments, others pointing at things and rushing back and forth.

Evidently, they were the personnel in charge of the compatibility test.

Zexuan could see that the room was completely sealed off from this side, where even sound didn't pass through, so he had no idea what they were saying. He could only vaguely see that they were staring at him like he was a lab rat, which made him furrow his brows slightly.

"They're all set over there."

Claudia told Zexuan as a virtual screen opened in front of her, seemingly communicating with the test personnel, and when she noticed him frowning, she tilted her head slightly and smiled.

"Don't mind them. It's not like they get to decide anything. You just need to do what you're supposed to do."

Claudia explained the necessary operating procedures to Zexuan, and then, as if her job was done, she stepped back and quietly observed from the side.

Seeing this, Zexuan had no choice but to push aside the unnecessary thoughts, take a deep breath, and walk toward the empty chamber ahead.

Beep! Beep!

As soon as Zexuan reached the center, several virtual screens unfolded around him.

Displayed on them were weapons completely different in appearance and color from standard Lux—each one unique.

'Hmm, these are the Orga Luxes of Seidoukan Academy?'

Zexuan was immediately drawn to the sight and couldn't help but start playing around with the screens out of curiosity.

Each Orga Lux on the screen not only had a visual display but also detailed explanations of its functions, performance, abilities, and various combat stats.

Additionally, there were all kinds of weapon types—swords, daggers, spears, axes, and more. Beside them, there were even naginatas, war hammers, and gauntlets with designs that were flashier one after another.

However, a few of the images were shown in gray, which meant those particular Orga Luxes were already in use—borrowed by someone else.

Now, Zexuan had to choose one from among them for the test.

If he passed, that Orga Lux would become his.

If he failed, he would have to leave immediately.

Suddenly, Zexuan fell into hesitation.