Morning came quietly.
Too quietly.
Kael was already awake.
Standing by the window.
Watching the sky.
It felt normal.
But it wasn't.
A sharp sound cut through the dorms.
BEEP
Then a voice.
Cold.
Clear.
Everywhere.
"All selected candidates report to Evaluation Chamber One immediately."
Silence followed.
Then movement.
Doors opened.
Footsteps filled the halls.
Ryden stretched as he walked.
"…they don't even give us time to breathe."
Mira didn't look at him.
"…this isn't school."
Kael said nothing.
Lyra walked beside him.
Quiet.
Holding his sleeve lightly.
"…are you okay?" he asked.
She nodded.
"…yes."
But her eyes—
Were distant.
They arrived.
A massive door stood before them.
It opened slowly.
Inside—
Light.
Cold.
White.
Fourteen of them stepped in.
They weren't alone.
Scientists stood ahead.
Dozens.
Watching.
Studying.
At the center—
A woman stepped forward.
Dr. Elara Voss.
"You are the fourteen selected candidates," she said calmly.
"No longer civilians."
Her eyes moved across them.
"Today, we determine what you are worth."
No one spoke.
She turned slightly.
"Begin."
The walls shifted.
The white light collapsed.
Darkness replaced it.
A ruined city formed around them.
Cracked buildings.
Broken roads.
Silence.
"…D2 combat simulation," another scientist's voice echoed.
"…each subject will fight alone."
"…your abilities, limits, and survival will be recorded."
A pause.
"…fail, and you will be removed."
The ground split.
Without warning—
They dropped.
Kael hit the ground hard.
He stood instantly.
The air felt wrong.
Heavy.
Watching.
Lyra landed beside him.
"…we're together," she said quietly.
Before he could respond—
It appeared.
A D2.
Tall.
Distorted.
Incomplete.
It stared at them.
"…anomaly detected…"
It moved.
Fast.
Kael stepped forward.
"…stay back."
"…no."
Lyra stood beside him.
The D2 lunged.
"…stop..."
The force hit it.
It froze—
Then forced itself forward.
"…adaptation confirmed…"
Lyra raised her hand.
The air crushed inward.
The D2's body compressed—
It screamed—
Then broke free.
Kael moved.
Void erupted.
Black energy tore through everything.
BOOM.
The D2 slammed into the ground—
Got up again.
---
Stronger.
---
Faster.
---
Then—
Something appeared behind Kael.
---
A presence.
---
A shape.
---
A Hybrid.
---
Faint.
Incomplete.
---
Watching.
---
Kael felt it.
---
But didn't understand it.
---
The D2 attacked again—
---
He didn't hesitate.
---
Void surged—
---
Controlled.
More than before.
---
He stepped in—
---
Struck.
---
Direct.
---
The D2 cracked—
---
Shattered—
---
Gone.
---
Silence.
---
The presence behind him faded.
---
But not completely.
---
---
Ryden landed in another zone.
---
"…finally."
---
Lightning burst instantly.
---
The D2 appeared—
---
He attacked first.
---
Fast.
Wild.
---
Lightning struck—
---
The D2 dodged.
---
Countered.
---
He barely avoided it.
---
"…you're quick."
It attacked again—
Faster.
---
He grinned.
"…good."
Then—
A voice.
---
*…focus…*
Behind him—
A figure.
His Hybrid.
Calm.
Watching.
"…don't rush."
He exhaled.
"…fine."
---
He slowed.
---
The next strike—
---
Clean.
---
Precise.
---
Lightning concentrated—
---
*CRACK.*
---
The D2 shattered.
---
---
Mira landed silently.
---
The D2 was already there.
---
She moved first.
---
Shadows surged.
---
Cutting.
Binding.
Striking.
---
The D2 adapted—
---
Faster.
---
Stronger.
---
It hit her—
---
She blocked—
---
Slid back.
---
Then—
A whisper.
---
*…don't hesitate…*
---
Her Hybrid.
---
Watching.
---
Mira's eyes sharpened.
---
"…I won't."
---
She moved again.
---
Faster.
---
Sharper.
---
She overwhelmed it.
---
Destroyed it.
---
---
All fourteen fought.
---
Fire.
Wind.
Force.
Speed.
---
Some struggled.
Some adapted.
---
All survived.
---
Barely.
---
---
The simulation collapsed.
---
They were back.
---
Breathing.
Shaken.
---
Then—
A sound.
---
*WHOOOOOOOM.*
---
Everyone looked up.
---
"…what is that?"
---
*THOOOOOM.*
---
Even the scientists paused.
---
"…all candidates," Elara said calmly,
"…step outside."
---
---
The doors opened.
---
Wind rushed in.
---
Then—
They saw it.
---
A massive aircraft descending.
---
"…who are those?" Ryden whispered.
---
It landed hard.
---
Dust exploded.
---
The doors opened.
---
Seniors stepped out.
---
Injured.
Calm.
Unbothered.
---
Hybrids followed behind them.
---
Walking beside them.
---
Equal.
---
Powerful.
---
Real.
---
Silence fell.
---
Then—
One of them stepped forward.
---
Relaxed.
Smiling.
---
"…new batch, huh?"
---
His eyes moved.
---
Stopped.
---
Lyra.
---
"…now that's rare."
---
He walked to her.
---
Touched her hair.
---
"…beautiful…"
---
"…I'd take you as mine."
---
*SMACK.*
---
Kael hit his hand away.
---
"…don't touch her."
---
The senior laughed.
---
Hands raised.
---
"…relax."
---
Then turned.
---
To Mira.
---
"…what about you?"
---
His voice changed.
---
Smooth.
Pulling.
---
Charm.
---
Some girls froze.
---
Mira didn't.
---
She knocked his hand away.
---
"…don't touch me."
---
He smiled.
---
"…interesting."
---
Mira stepped forward.
---
"…try that again."
---
He moved.
---
Fast.
---
She met him.
---
Shadows exploded.
---
*CRACK.*
---
They clashed.
---
Hard.
---
Fast.
---
Relentless.
---
This time—
She pushed him.
---
Forced him back.
---
Just once.
---
But enough.
---
His smile faded slightly.
---
"…not bad."
---
She attacked again—
---
"STOP."
---
Everything froze.
---
Instructors stepped in.
---
"That's enough."
---
The senior stepped back.
---
"…we'll finish later."
---
---
Dorms.
---
Quiet.
---
Lyra sat on the bed.
---
Two Hybrids behind her.
---
Gently brushing her hair.
---
"…it's really soft…"
---
"…and stable…"
---
Mira sat nearby.
---
Ryden dropped into a chair.
---
"…those seniors…"
---
"…they're on another level," he muttered.
---
"…for now," Mira replied.
---
Kael stood by the window.
---
Silent.
---
Lyra looked at him.
---
"…brother."
---
"…yeah?"
---
"…something is wrong."
---
He didn't answer.
---
Because—
---
He saw it.
---
Outside.
---
An instructor.
A cloaked figure.
An exchange.
Something small.
Important.
Then—
Gone.
Kael's eyes narrowed.
…and for the first time—
He didn't trust this place.
Not at all.