I gripped the shotgun tighter, my fingers turning white against the cold metal. The chill felt like ice sinking through my skin, sharp and biting. My heartbeat pounded, filling my ears and almost drowning out the faint rustling in the shadows. The walls around me shifted with twisted shadows that clawed at the air like skeletal fingers. Tall trees loomed overhead, their branches creaking like they carried secrets. They twisted together in the darkness, reaching out as if trying to trap me.
Then, a growl started low, rising from the earth, filling the air like a thick fog. My pulse quickened. Every muscle tensed as the silence pressed in, heavy and suffocating. It was as if the darkness itself was alive, watching me, waiting for me to slip.
A chill crawled up my spine. Something massive lurked behind me—I could feel it. Turning slowly, I spotted it emerging from the shadows: a monstrous creature, twisted and fierce. Its head was that of a wolf, red eyes blazing, muzzle peeled back to show fangs wet with saliva. A bear’s massive body, rippling with muscles, radiated raw strength. A serpent’s tail whipped through the air, its scales glinting with a sinister sheen, hissing like it had been waiting just for me.
My heart thundered in my chest, louder than the creature’s growl. The rancid stench of its breath washed over me, almost making me gag. It crouched, ready to pounce, savoring my fear. The serpent’s tail lashed the ground, kicking up dirt and leaves in a wild, swirling frenzy.
I raised the shotgun, hands trembling as I tried to steady myself. "This is my chance," I thought. "I need to prove myself to them,"
Taking a shaky breath, I squeezed the trigger. The blast shattered the silence, and the recoil slammed into my shoulder like a sledgehammer. But the shot went wide. The creature lunged.
I stumbled back, tripping over a root. The shotgun slipped from my hands and landed just out of reach. My lungs burned as I scrambled up, eyeing the beast as it advanced, every step shaking the ground. What if I fail? What if they think I’m not good enough?
The creature’s jaws snapped near my face, missing by inches. I glanced at the shotgun lying nearby. It seemed close, but in that moment, it might as well have been miles away. Even if I could reach it—would it be enough?
---
In the observation room, Mr. Lawton watched the screen, his jaw tight, concern etched on his face. His fingers tapped the console rhythmically, betraying his tension. Beside him, Ms. Carmen stood, her expression cool and unreadable. Her long white hair framed her face as she observed Rei’s desperate fight.
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“Ms. Carmen,” Lawton muttered, barely containing his frustration, “was it really necessary to send a Lycoberus against him?”
She raised an eyebrow, but her eyes never left the screen. “Why? Do you think he can’t handle it?”
Before he could respond, Vanessa, standing behind them, crossed her arms, her eyes narrowed. “It’s not fair,” she said, her voice hard. “We give him a shotgun he’s barely used, then throw him in against a creature built to hunt.”
Carmen’s lips curved into a faint smirk. “Is that what this is about? Fairness?”
“More like setting him up to fail,” Vanessa retorted, frowning. “If this is supposed to teach him something, don’t make it impossible. How is he supposed to learn anything?”
Carmen finally looked at Vanessa, a glint of amusement in her pale eyes. “He’s still standing, isn’t he?”
Lawton shifted, worry mixed with admiration. “He’s giving it everything he’s got… but at what cost? Pushing him to his limits like this—it might break him instead of building him up.”
Vanessa’s face hardened, her gaze fixed on the screen. “We’ll see if he can pull through,” she murmured, tension thick in the room. Carmen’s voice was a low whisper, almost to herself. “Show us what you’re made of, Rei.”
---
Back in the field, I sucked in air, my whole body screaming with exhaustion. “Persistent, aren’t you?” I muttered, locking eyes with the Lycoberus as it stalked closer. Its tail flicked, fangs glinting as it hissed. I knew I had to come up with something fast.
Then, a faint glow caught my eye—something behind its left ear. An opening? There was no time to think; I just acted. When it lunged, I rolled to the side, its hot breath skimming my neck. I scrambled to my feet, heart hammering as I spotted the shotgun nearby.
I dashed for it, the Lycoberus charging after me. “Come on… that’s it, keep coming,” I muttered, adrenaline giving me a burst of energy. My right eye began to glow with a golden aura, and I heard a faint ticking, marking each second. This is it, my one chance.
The phantom trail appeared, showing me the Lycoberus’s next move. Its tail shot forward, fangs bared. I ducked, grabbed the shotgun, and aimed at the glowing spot. “This is for you, Lawton,” I breathed, and pulled the trigger. The blast ripped through the air, obliterating the snake’s head in a spray of dark mist.
I leaped back to my feet, squaring off against the beast. “You’re next,” I said, voice shaking but determined. It charged again, and I used the shotgun to pushed myself off the ground, evading its snap. “Checkmate.” I fired once more, hitting the mark behind its ear.
The Lycoberus crashed to the ground, its body going limp as the forest melted away into the blank white of the training room.
[Assessment Test Complete]
The sterile brightness of the observation room washed over me as I heard a faint hum and saw part of the wall slide open. Carmen entered, her footsteps echoing. “Impressive, Rei,” she said, clapping her hands. The sound was hollow, bouncing strangely off the walls.
“Uh... thanks?” I mumbled, still catching my breath.
She extended a hand, her smile edged with something I couldn’t quite place. “Welcome to WEO, Esper Rei.” I took a deep breath, trying to shake off the lingering fear. “Who… who are you?”
Her smile was sharp, almost daring. “I’m Carmen, vice chief of WEO."
My hand met hers, but my grip felt weak, like every ounce of energy had been drained from me. I looked at her, at the quiet authority in her eyes, and felt a new wave of pressure settle over me. There’d be more tests, more fights. I needed to prove I could handle it, to show Mr. Lawton—and everyone else—that I belonged here.
Because if I couldn’t… what was the point?
[End of Chapter]