The moment the gate closed behind them—
The world shifted.
Not violently.
Not loudly.
But completely.
The Survival Domain stretched endlessly.
A forest, yes—
—but not one that belonged to Earth.
The trees were taller, their branches glowing faintly like veins of energy running through them. The ground carried a soft shimmer, like something alive beneath it. And above—
The sky wasn't right.
Stars.
Clear.
Visible.
Even though there was no night.
Mountains stood far in the distance, unmoving, watching.
Everything felt… placed.
Designed.
Luciferus rolled his neck slightly, taking it all in.
"…Yeah."
He glanced sideways at Serenity.
"This place is weird."
Serenity didn't deny it.
Her gaze moved slowly across the horizon.
"…It feels connected to something else."
Luciferus smirked.
"Exactly."
A pause.
Then he turned slightly toward her.
"Sis."
She looked at him.
"It won't be fun if we fight together, you know?"
That small smile appeared again.
"I was already thinking that."
She crossed her arms lightly.
"I've got my own work to do."
Luciferus grinned.
"Good."
She stepped back, eyes sharpening just a little.
"But be careful though, bro…"
A pause.
"…this place isn't just an exam."
Luciferus didn't even hesitate.
"I got you."
He turned, already walking away.
"You be careful too. I'll see you back at the entrance."
Serenity nodded once.
"…Don't take too long."
Luciferus laughed.
"No promises."
And just like that—
They split.
Two different paths.
Two different storms.
Serenity moved quietly through the forest.
Each step was controlled.
Measured.
Her presence didn't disturb anything around her.
The air felt heavy—
But not threatening.
Not yet.
"…Let's see what you're hiding."
She whispered it softly.
And kept walking.
Elsewhere—
Mystic and Camry moved together through the trees.
Camry looked around, alert.
"This place sure is big…"
Mystic stretched his arms behind his head, yawning.
"I just wanna get this over with."
He glanced up at the strange sky and sighed.
"It's so tiring."
Camry immediately grabbed his shirt and pulled him forward.
"Come on!"
He stumbled slightly.
"Oi—what—"
"We have to kill monsters and collect cores," she said firmly. "Our mission is to survive for one hour, but I'm sure everyone here is going for cores too."
Mystic scratched his head.
"…Yeah, I know."
But his eyes sharpened slightly.
He wasn't careless.
Just… relaxed.
At the edge of a massive cliff—
Riven and Daxen stood side by side.
Looking down.
Below them—
Movement.
A lot of it.
Riven cracked his neck slowly.
"Well…"
A grin spread across his face.
"Let's warm up, shall we?"
Daxen didn't respond.
He just stepped forward—
—and walked off the cliff.
Wind rushed past him.
His body dropped fast.
Hands still in his pockets.
No fear.
No tension.
A few seconds later—
He turned mid-air—
—and landed.
BOOM.
The ground shook beneath his feet.
The moment he landed—
Everything noticed him.
Dozens of massive serpents lifted their heads.
Their bodies towered high.
Their heads were spherical, lined with tendrils and six glowing blue eyes.
"Spheres…"
Daxen muttered.
"…Figures."
He already understood.
Four hearts.
Extreme regeneration.
Kill all at once—
Or don't bother.
And there were more than forty of them.
Riven dropped beside him.
Lightning cracked across the ground instantly.
"Oh yeah…"
He smiled wide.
"Now we're talking."
Daxen raised one hand slowly.
Above them—
Massive fireballs began forming.
Dozens.
Burning intensely.
Controlled perfectly.
Riven rubbed his hands together once—
—and lightning spread everywhere.
Across the ground.
Through the air.
Into the sky.
The Spheres attacked.
And both of them smiled.
Farther into the forest—
Zayfer walked ahead in silence.
Behind him—
Borin followed, already irritated.
"Hey… where are we going?"
No answer.
Zayfer kept walking.
Borin frowned.
"Hey, I know you heard me."
Still nothing.
Borin clicked his tongue.
"Yo—Zayfer—where are we—"
Zayfer suddenly stopped.
"…Can you stop being so loud?"
Borin blinked.
"What?"
"I'm trying to scan the environment."
Zayfer didn't even turn.
"You're messing it up."
Borin scoffed.
"Oh, so now it's my fault?"
Zayfer turned slightly, irritation clear.
"Yes. It is."
Borin stepped forward.
"You tryna say something?"
Zayfer's hand moved to his sword.
"Yeah. Be quiet."
The air shifted.
Both of them froze.
"…You feel that?" Borin muttered.
Zayfer didn't respond.
His eyes were already locked forward.
A shadow fell over them.
They looked up—
—and saw it.
A giant.
Towering.
A single eye glowing in the center of its face.
A Chaos Titan.
Its presence alone made the ground feel heavier.
Borin grinned.
"Well…"
Zayfer slowly drew his sword.
"…Here are the monsters."
Before they could move—
Another presence appeared.
A second Titan.
And in the distance—
A massive explosion of fire lit up the horizon.
Zayfer exhaled slowly.
"They came to greet us."
Borin cracked his knuckles.
"Good."
He stepped forward.
"Let's not disappoint them."
Deep within the domain—
Luciferus walked alone.
Hands in his pockets.
Completely relaxed.
"…Kinda quiet."
He tilted his head slightly.
Too quiet.
Then—
He stepped forward—
—and dropped.
Landing smoothly near the entrance of a cave.
Dust shifted lightly beneath his feet.
"…Now this looks interesting."
He glanced around slowly.
The cave was dark—
But not empty.
He could feel it.
Then—
A vibration.
Subtle at first.
Then stronger.
The ground trembled slightly.
Not from fear—
From weight.
Luciferus turned his head.
"…Oh?"
Behind him—
Something stood.
A massive figure.
Towering.
Elegant.
Powerful.
A Qilin.
Its presence alone distorted the air slightly.
It stared at him—
Not mindless.
Not wild.
Aware.
Like he had stepped into its territory.
Luciferus looked at it.
Then smiled.
Slowly.
"…Guess I found something fun."
The Qilin lowered its head slightly.
Watching him.
Judging him.
And the air between them—
Tightened.
The exam—
Had just begun.