"Your two-month training term comes to an end today. You have all advanced significantly over the previous few weeks, and it is time to show off what you have learned". The long-haired instructor got right into her discourse.

We were directed to another room. It was a sizable hall with equipment attached to the walls to help create the feeling of limbo. There are also smaller tube-like chambers.

"There will be two criteria used to grade you. The first will be the amount of time you can sustain an enhanced state—and hence accelerate the speed at which oxygen flows in your body—before losing concentration and returning to normal. The second factor is the amount of sol you can pull from the atmosphere, which also determines how quickly sol moves through your body and how strong you become." She started

"If your score is A+D, it indicates that you can sustain an enhanced state for a reasonable amount of time but don’t get much stronger, and if it is D+A, it indicates that you can only sustain an enhanced state for a brief period of time but that your body will be significantly stronger than it is now."

"I’m afraid you’ll have to start this training over from the beginning if you don’t receive at least a B on any of these criteria. White-ticketed individuals in particular cannot just be sent there to perish." She finished

Then, we were instructed to enter the tube-shaped chambers with monitoring equipment attached. People began to enter them one by one in what was likely the first of the two exams, and I followed.

There it was. I focused on drawing the atmospheric sol towards my eyes, nose, ears, and mouth as I closed my eyes and cleared my mind. My moniker for the enhanced state the instructor was referring to was Zen, and I had attained it. My senses were becoming more acute as strength surged through me. I had to stay in this shape as long as I could.

Before I realised it, time had passed and I had lost concentration. I was then instructed to perform this action once more while keeping my eyes open, as being unable to see in a real-world battle would be extremely detrimental.

I had already prepared for this by anticipating it. With my eyes open, I found it much more difficult to achieve Zen. I tried to communicate to my body that my consciousness was in an empty room and that my body was somewhere else as I emptied my mind and focused on my surroundings. I had achieved Zen once more, but the duration was way shorter than when my eyes were closed.

As I made my way out of the chamber, I saw a digital board next to it that showed the time I had spent in the Zen state: one minute and sixteen seconds with my eyes open. This was the furthest I could go at this time.

After we had all completed the first exam, we were individually directed to a tiny room with iron logs that resembled punching bags hanging from the ceiling.

I tried to draw in more sol using Zen this time, but I stopped when I felt a burning sensation inside my body. In our training, it was explained to us that this feeling resulted from our sol channels not being used to having sol running through them at high speeds. We needed to reinforce our channels to make them resilient to this, and only then would we be able to become stronger.

When this didn’t work, I activated Zen once again, bringing in more sol as I grew stronger, but I stopped before I could feel the burning. I was at my wits’ end.

I stepped near the iron log and gave it a powerful punch. I began to feel afraid as it remained in place. The terror, though, was quickly replaced by satisfaction as I watched cracks start to form in the log’s centre and spread outward. Then it broke into pieces. There were maybe seven of them in total, large and small.

The test was finished. We were taken back into our circular room when we had all completed it, and the instructor showed up a while later.

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"Well done, everyone. I’ll now display your results." We got the impression that the instructor was speaking to her kids when she spoke. Soon after, I gazed upon the presentation that she started.

Each of our names, along with our respective grades, was listed. After searching for a while, I eventually located my name: [5:Wallace Garret: C+B]. It was the fifth rank out of nine. I had barely passed, but I was still relieved. I needed to train more to increase the duration of my zen.

Davy Robinson, a young boy, earned the top spot. He received an A+. I had conversations with him and others who held positions higher than mine. They all came from distinguished family lines of Venturers who had earned a name for themselves in the other compounds; thus, they had all been schooled about Sol since they were little.

I was rather proud of myself for being able to make such progress in only two months after starting from scratch, but I still had a long way to go. We parted ways after saying our final goodbyes because not everyone was going to jump into that lake at the same time, and everyone, including me, had other things to do first.

I was informed in advance that Gary would be paying me a visit today. He arrived in the evening after I had waited for him in my room.

"Congratulations on passing, young man! Initially, I had assumed that after less than a week of your stay here, you would ask me to take you home, but you proved me wrong. I then assumed you would fail the test and your spirit would crack, but that did not happen, therefore I was again proven wrong. Since you arrived here, I have continued to be in awe of your growth." He exclaimed with excitement.

"Even though you are not related to him by blood, you remind me of my friend Dexter," he continued.

"Who was my grandfather like as a person?" I asked

"Dexter was my closest companion while travelling in Compound 003; we experienced joy and sadness together and became paladins together. He made a fortune but donated it all to charity, even though life had dealt him the worst of times," he said, the excitement leaving his voice and sadness taking its place. "I decided to take command of H.A.D.E.S. because it is the Hall family that has been doing so for generations."

"What happened?" I asked, my voice tinged with worry.

"Your grandfather was in love with an earthly woman who developed a terrible illness. In an effort to find a cure, he spent all of his resources—including money and connections—to purchase a black ticket and enter Compound 003. She had already passed away by the time he returned after discovering the remedy. He decided to retire after this event."

I don’t know why, but I experienced melancholy and Deja Vu at the same time.

"Well, the past cannot be changed. You should not be concerned with the past; instead, you should concentrate on yourself. Ah, I forgot the main purpose for visiting you; I’m here to hand you the white ticket that will let you enter the lake.

In addition, I want you to know that H.A.D.E.S. will take care of your identity on Earth in case you return. We have connections all over the world, so Wallace Garret’s life will continue as usual on Earth while you are in Limbo. Are you ready?" He asked

"Ready as I will ever be," I replied with a sigh.

***

Today was finally the day I stepped into the first realm. Excitement and wonder swept over me as I was escorted to the mystical lake by one of Gary’s attendants. I could see a huge gate and people in line for a security check. There were people speaking different languages gathered here. The attendant said goodbye as he escorted me to the area.

I could see that there were also folks here with grey and black tickets. There were some individuals from China who seemed equipped for the first realm, carrying guns and wearing heavy armor. Gary had given me one more piece of caution, telling me not to do what they were doing. Why do I wonder?

I was given permission to enter the lake after presenting the officer with my ticket. I could see the lake humming with a purple glow from close up, and it was fascinating. No longer able to wait, I dived inside.

I soon lost all mental clarity. Suddenly, I was in a white room where I could also make out the heavily armoured and armed companions who had entered the lake with me. They were talking in Chinese. I suddenly became aware of a voice in my head.

Synchronisation will now begin.

After a brief period of time, a white light rushed over me and the people who were conversing with one another. When my vision returned, I could see that all of their armour and weapons had vanished and that they were all wearing simple clothing, just like me.

"What kind of bullshit is this?" one of them cursed

Wait a minute. How can I understand what they are saying? I thought

[Synchronisation is now complete.]

Realisation swept over me as I recalled the words of the first instructor.

There is no special treatment for anyone in Limbo.

So that’s what he meant. Well, at least the language issue is resolved. I thought.

[Now entering realm one: Robhurst Grove]

Soon, A white light enveloped the whole room.