MTLNOVEL Chapter 14: The Results No One Expected
If Derek ever found out about such a competition, it would destroy everything Steven had planned. So, Steven made sure to block any access to information, both regarding Derek's school and anything that could reveal his genius.
Two weeks had passed, and Derek had been preparing intensely for the so-called competition. He had also been asked by Miss Alison to take an IQ test, just for record-keeping purposes, though she had her own reasons for asking.
Lucy had gathered only limited information about the competition, and what she did know was confidential, so she couldn't access the full details. The structure, however, was becoming clearer. Ten participants would be selected from each continent, based on their IQ scores. For example, if 200 students across Europe chose to participate, only the 10 highest IQ scores would be selected. This would bring the total number of participants to 70.
But that's where the problem lay—everything else about the competition remained a secret. Lucy had been working harder than ever to boost her IQ, but the uncertainty about what would come next kept her on edge.
Finally, after two weeks, it was time for them to retake the dreaded IQ test. The last time they took it, Lucy had scored 156, which was impressive, her mom had been shocked. A score of 156 signified a high level of skill, but Lucy knew she had to work harder if she hoped to compete with the true geniuses.
Derek, on the other hand, had scored a total of 197. That wasn't surprising, as he was undeniably a genius.
"We'll start with Alison," the math teacher announced, gesturing for Derek to step aside. Derek silently left the room.
Mrs. Alison and Mr. Austin, the math teacher, followed suit, leaving Lucy alone with the IQ-testing robot.
As soon as the room emptied, the frequency was adjusted to 12 Hz, initiating the theta brainwaves, which could induce hallucinations. Lucy was supposed to stand still for at least five minutes, allowing the theta waves to fully take effect.
Soon, the effects kicked in, and Lucy began the test, seeing objects that didn't exist in the real world.
Taking a deep breath, she whispered to herself, It's now or never.
---
Outside, Miss Alison paced nervously. She understood the system well. The robot sent electromagnetic waves to the brain, which indirectly formed the images and puzzles the test-taker saw. The robot's role was simply to decode those waves and assign a score.
It was simple in theory: if a test-taker took longer than expected, it meant their IQ had either increased significantly or decreased.
Soon after, Lucy emerged, looking exhausted but still running to Derek and hugging him tightly.
"Thank you so much," she whispered before falling asleep in his arms. Over the past two weeks, Lucy had learned so much from Derek, and she couldn't help but wonder if this was the same student who had once been expelled for a lack of academic brilliance.
Derek gently carried her into Mr. Austin's room, which was directly opposite Miss Alison's office. Afterward, he prepared for his own test. Although Mr. Maxwell thought it was unnecessary given his high IQ score, Miss Alison still insisted it was important.
Soon, Derek entered the low-frequency room. After what felt like an eternity, the theta waves began to take effect, and Derek began to hallucinate, just as expected.
But this time, Derek was tense. He had spent countless hours preparing, and he didn't want to disappoint her. Clenching his fists, he stared as the first real images began to form in his mind.
"It's not going to end here," Derek muttered to himself, determination burning in his eyes.
---
Miss Alison paced outside the office, her nerves getting the better of her. She knew Derek's IQ wouldn't fluctuate drastically, but she couldn't shake the anxiety building inside her.
Mr. Austin found her restless behavior amusing but couldn't quite figure out why she was so agitated. He assumed it had to do with her role as Derek's homeroom teacher.
An hour passed, and Derek still hadn't emerged. Miss Alison's anxiety grew. Could Derek's IQ have decreased significantly? She tried to calm herself, refusing to believe it.
An hour and ten minutes later, Derek was still inside. Miss Alison was on the verge of panic. She began to pray quietly, hoping that Derek's IQ hadn't taken a sharp decline. Just as if her prayers were heard, Derek finally walked out.
Derek looked drained, barely managing to say, "I'm sorry."
Miss Alison rushed over to him, her heart pounding, but Derek collapsed before she could reach him.
---
Derek slowly awoke from a deep sleep. The first thing he remembered was hearing the question, "How did the test go?" before everything went black.
As he regained his senses, he noticed Lucy was awake, smiling at him. He was confused at first but soon came back to reality.
"What's my IQ score? Tell me what I got!" Derek demanded, nearly shouting.
"Calm down, kid," Mr. Austin said with a reassuring smile. "The robot isn't going anywhere. You slept for so long we decided to let you rest before checking the results."
Mr. Austin walked over to the robot, and after a brief processing time, the results were displayed. He took one look at the papers and was utterly shocked. Miss Alison's heart skipped a beat as she rushed over to grab the papers from his hands. She was equally stunned by what she saw.