I couldn't stop thinking about it.
That word.
Test.
It stayed in my head all night. Every time I tried to sleep, it came back. Over and over.
A real one.
Not practice.
Not just some random fight in the yard.
Something bigger.
Something I probably wasn't ready for.
I sat up in bed, breathing slowly. My chest felt tight again, but not like before. Not panic. Just… pressure.
"…what kind of test is it?" I muttered.
No answer.
Of course not.
I ran a hand through my hair and looked down at my palms. Still rough. Still burned. But when I focused—
A small spark appeared.
Steady.
That part hadn't changed.
Good.
I got up earlier than usual. Couldn't just sit around thinking. That would make it worse.
The hallway was quieter today. Fewer voices. Less noise.
But the moment I stepped outside…
I felt it.
Tension.
People weren't just talking anymore.
They were waiting.
Groups of students stood around, whispering in low voices. Not laughing. Not joking. Serious.
"…it's today."
"You think they'll call names?"
"I heard it's elimination…"
My stomach dropped.
Elimination?
No…
No way.
I kept walking, trying not to listen, but it was everywhere now.
The word "test" felt heavier with every step.
By the time I reached the yard, it was already full. Way more people than usual.
Too many.
I froze for a second.
This wasn't normal.
Something was definitely happening.
I spotted the bully again. Standing near the front this time. Not relaxed like before. He looked focused. Serious.
He noticed me.
No smirk.
Just a small nod.
That… felt strange.
I nodded back.
My chest tightened.
Whatever this test is…
It's not a joke.
A loud sound cut through the yard.
CLACK.
Everyone went silent instantly.
A teacher stepped forward. The same one from before. Cold eyes. Sharp voice.
"Listen carefully," she said.
No one moved. No one spoke.
"You have all been training. Failing. Fighting. Learning."
Her eyes scanned the crowd.
"But today…"
She paused.
"This is where we separate those who survive… from those who don't."
My heart slammed.
"…what?"
I barely whispered it.
Survive?
The word hit wrong.
Really wrong.
"This test," she continued, "is simple."
Simple?
Nothing about this felt simple.
"You will enter the lower field."
Murmurs spread instantly.
Lower field?
I've heard that name before…
Bad things.
Dangerous things.
"…and retrieve a core."
Silence again.
Then—
"From what?" someone shouted.
The teacher didn't hesitate.
"From whatever you can survive."
My chest went cold.
That wasn't an answer.
That was worse.
A heavy feeling settled over the entire yard.
No one laughed now.
No one whispered.
Just… silence.
My hands started shaking.
Not from weakness.
From fear.
Real fear.
Not a fight.
Not a duel.
This… was something else.
The system suddenly pulsed in my mind.
[New Objective Detected]
[Enter Lower Field]
[Survive]
That last word…
It stayed there.
Survive.
I swallowed hard.
"…I'm not ready for this," I whispered.
But it didn't matter.
No one asked if we were ready.
Names started getting called.
One by one.
Students stepped forward. Some confident. Some shaking. Some trying to hide it.
My heart pounded louder with each name.
Then—
"Kai."
Everything went quiet in my head.
"…yeah."
My voice felt far away.
I stepped forward anyway.
Legs heavy.
Chest tight.
But moving.
Always moving.
I stood in line with the others.
The bully stood two spots ahead of me.
He didn't turn around.
But he spoke. Quiet.
"Don't die."
I blinked.
"…same to you," I said.
That felt weird.
But real.
The teacher raised her hand.
A gate behind her slowly opened.
Dark.
Cold.
Like it swallowed light.
That had to be the lower field.
My stomach twisted hard.
Everything in me screamed to turn around.
Run.
Hide.
Go back to being safe.
But I didn't move.
I couldn't.
Not anymore.
I looked down at my hands.
They were shaking again.
But when I focused—
Two sparks appeared.
Small.
Steady.
Alive.
I stared at them.
"…don't leave me now," I whispered.
They flickered.
Still there.
Good.
I looked back up at the gate.
Dark. Waiting.
My chest tightened one last time.
Fear.
Real fear.
But something else too.
That same feeling from before.
The one that kept me standing.
Even when I wanted to fall.
"I got back up," I said quietly.
So I'll keep going.
Even here.
Even now.
The line started moving.
One step.
Then another.
Closer to the gate.
Closer to whatever was waiting inside.
My heart was pounding so loud I could barely hear anything else.
But I kept walking.
Because stopping now…
Means going back.
And I'm not going back.
Not again.
I'm Kai.
Still weak.
Still scared.
Still shaking.
But I'm moving forward.
And whatever this test is…
…I'm going to survive it.