The Awakening Test Incident was one of the pivotal events in the early chapters of <Doomed Academdy.>

On that fateful day, students entered the tower for their awakening tests, blissfully ignorant. 

By dusk, several groups remained missing — specifically, those testing in the cave. 

A search team was deployed, and they discovered a scene of horror: goblins feasting on tens of mutilated bodies, all of which were so mangled so bad that they were unidentifiable. 

Investigation revealed ‘an unexpected rift,’ also called an Outbreak, occurred in the test grounds – unleashing a massive wave of monsters. 

Though eventually contained, the casualties were devastating: 51 dead, only 9 survivors. 

The public erupted in anger. 

— How could an outbreak occur inside the tower?  

— How did high-ranking Hunters fail to prevent this tragedy?  

— What happened to the barriers and security protocols?

Outbreaks were typically predictable, yet there had been no warning signs. 

Besides, testing grounds were supposed to be impregnable, protected by multiple barriers. 

Yet, 51 students perished. 

The government’s explanation that it was an “unexplained accident” only intensified public fury.

—‘Unexplained’? How can anything be unexplained in this day and age?  

—What are they hiding?  

—We have a right to know!  

—How can we trust the government with our children after this? 

“Unexplained” fueled mass speculation.

Soon, people start crafting elaborate conspiracy theories — suggesting the incident was staged to mask a political kidnapping; claiming the Phoenix Guild diverted funds, etc. 

Those theories spread rapidly, and sparked activist demonstrations at the City Hall. 

Soon, protesters camped outside the Seoul Plaza, transforming the plaza into a camp site, inadvertently boosting the stocks of camping equipment companies. 

But that’s beside the point.

The core issue? 

Parents across the nation started to boycott the Awakening Test altogether. 

Consequently, enrollment at the Hunter Academy dropped to an all-time low. 

Suspicious?

Indeed. 

It turns out, this was all part of the villain’s plot. 

As the novel unfolded, the monster population continued to surge while the Hunter population dwindled. 

Celebrity Hunters kept dying under mysterious circumstances, while promising young rookies meet met similarly brutal ends. 

Each semester at the Academy brought fresh carnage, further deterring new enrollments. 

Thus, civilization crept towards extinction. 

All starting with today’s carnage.

#

I’m on my way to the Awakening Test site — the very place where doom begins. 

This thought alone is enough to make my head spin, but I forced myself think. 

Calm down, focus. 

There’s no guarantee the outbreak will happen today. 

The Awakening Test runs from December 15 to January 15, and the incident happens only on one day – January 11. 

First, I need to figure out what day it is.

I turn to Juwan, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Juwan, what day is today?”

“Today? January 11.”

January 11.

My breath stopped, but I tried to keep it together. 

Stay calm. 

The event happens in the tower, so all I’ve got to do is not enter the tower. 

Plan A: Escape.

Cowardly, perhaps, but I’m no hero. 

I can’t kill monsters – I mean, I can’t even kill mosquitoes. 

I’d be a deadweight in the midst of an outbreak. 

“You okay? You really do look a bit tense.”

Juwan is watching me with genuine concern, his gaze so warm that my knees almost give out. 

Without thinking, I closed my eyes, and started to just… collapse. 

“Hey, Sora!”

Juwan caught me just in time, before I hit the ground. 

“Yeon Sora! Open your eyes!”

I didn’t. 

I felt a twinge of guilt for leaving Juwan to face this trial alone, but he’s guaranteed to survive. 

After all, he’s one of the main characters. 

Me? I’m expendable. 

“Miss, can you hear me?” 

Someone else came by and tapped my cheeks, but I kept my eyes sealed. 

Nope, not waking up today. 

“I guess we need A1039.”

I sensed someone rolling up my sleeves and pressing some cold, damp cotton against my skin. 

Then, a piercing pain shot through my arms. 

An injection? 

It hurt like crazy, but I still refused to open my eyes. 

Opening them meant certain death. 

“No response?”

“No. Try the eyes.”

What? 

I sensed the cold alcohol swab brush against my eyelid. 

That horrible pain was about to pierce my eyes. 

“I’m fine!” 

I threw in the towel, opened my eyes to find a white-coated woman smiling down on me. 

“Ah, awake at last.”

Before I could react, she shove a long metal instrument into my mouth.

“Vitals: ‘Healthy +++’. Just a case of anxiety, I’d say. The relaxant should help. Any other issues?”

“I can’t breathe.”

“I could give you another shot, but it has to be administered to your eyes. It may sting…” 

This lady, she’s a master at detecting deception. 

She saw through my ruse. 

“No, I don’t need another shot.” 

“Good. Then let’s get you on your feet before anyone mistakes you for a test-dodger.”

Right… I’d completely forgotten. 

In this world, Awakening Tests are mandatory for everyone. 

Upon graduating from middle school, every student, male or female, has to take the test. 

If you refuse, it’s five years in prison.

This is practically child abuse! 

The protest died in my throat. 

Such words only meant something after the tragedy, when Seoul plaza became a camp site. 

For now, everyone thinks it’s fine. 

Nothing happenned… yet.

The bottom line: my escape plan failed.

#

“Please collect your Tower Entry Forms, fill them out, then proceed to the inspection desk!”

I hadn’t devised my next strategy, but I was already standing at the Tower’s checkpoint. 

It looked like airport security, and was mandatory for all Tower entrants. 

The form itself was similar to the customs declaration form, save for the stark warning beside the signature: 

“I understand there is a risk of death, and still voluntarily choose to enter the Tower.”

Voluntarily, my ass.

I muttered internally, while still trying to calculate an escape route. 

“I don’t want to die — not like this!”

I was ok with dying with coughs. 

But faced with a goblin stabbing death, my survival instincts kicked in. 

I rummaged through my memories, recalling the novel’s beginning. 

The Awakening Test comprised of fifty zones. 

Carnage struck only one, the cave zone. 

Simple: avoid the cave. 

“Taking the test, are you? Best of luck,” the inspector said, cheerfully stamping my hand with the number ③.

“This is your assigned test area. Please wait in the designated lounge.”

Was this the cave? 

I don’t know, since the number of the test area was not written in the novel. 

‘This author is cruel.’ 

Some authors are willing to share text files with their readers from the outset, but not mine! 

I shook my head to brush off all negative thoughts. 

It’s ok. I don’t need a text tile.

If I don’t know, I can always ask.

“Excuse me, do you happen to know if my test area is set in a cave?”

“The locations are assigned randomly, and this information is not provided in advance.”

“It’s just… I have severe claustrophobia. Enclosed spaces trigger panic.” 

“No concern. This cave is actually quite roomy. Next!”

The inspector promptly dismissed me.

# 

The chairs in Waiting Room ③ were plush, but that didn’t comfort me.  

That earlier exchange with the inspector…. Was that a death flag? 

Perhaps not. 

There could be multiple cave test sites, right? 

They never specified there was just one! 

As I wrestled with doubt, Yeom Ju-wan was observing me, worried. 

“You really do look unwell. Are you sure you’re okay?”

Even now, Yeom Ju-wan’s face is radiating beauty. 

“No fever…” 

As he checked my temperature, I continued to rack my brain. 

Yeom Ju-wan is a major character, who survives until the story’s end. 

He must survive today’s catastrophe. 

Perhaps because he wasn’t in the cave? 

But I can’t be sure.

There were 9 survivors from this incident, and only 4 of their names were revealed. 

All I know is that Yeom Ju-wan survives. 

If I cling to him like glue, maybe my chances will improve too.

“Need water?”  

Nod. 

Thankfully, Yeom Ju-wan is sticking by my side without me even asking. 

How close are these two, anyway? 

If they’re this close, why was Yeon So-ra never mentioned in the story?

Then— 

A sharp creak sounded as the door opened, admitting dozen students. 

I examined each of the newcomers.

Phew… No one familiar.

I barely let out a sigh of relief before focusing my vision on the door again. 

You see, I have my reasons. 

The protagonist was in the midst of the outbreak. 

If he steps through that door, that means this entire group is heading towards catastrophe. 

Creak.

No, he’s not here.

Creak.

Safe!

Creak. 

Still alive!

Each time the door opened, my heart jumped. 

But the protagonist never appeared. 

Slowly, I started to think perhaps I’m being just a bit paranoid — that is, until I spotted an unmistakable face.

Luminous silver-white hair. 

Blue eyes that shift to gray in the light. 

Wolf-life features with a tough of dignity. 

The novel likens him to a Siberian Husky, and aptly so. 

Not the protagonist, but his illustration used to decorate my photo album.

That was Ki Hyun-min.  

Trait: Regressor.  

He is the one character who witnessed the world’s end seven times. 

Ki Hyun-min settled in the corner, head bowed, and closed his eyes. 

Me? 

My world began to spin. 

You see, Ki Hyun-min was at the outbreak carnage. 

This was my second death flag. 

Am I dying today? Death by goblins?

Creak!

Before panic consumed me, another person entered the waiting room. 

Gleaming black hair, eyes narrowed and ruby-bright. 

Another familiar face.

Gyun Jun-hwi.  

He is the first reader to transmigrate into this book, and the true protagonist of <Doomed Academy.>

And… my third death flag.

Because you see, he was definintely right in the center of the outbreak.