The air in the hospital room seemed to still for a moment, thick with the weight of Ophelia Everhart’s declaration. The title ‘Inheritor of Life’ hung between them, an invisible yet palpable force that demanded recognition. Ethan, his anger momentarily forgotten, stared at Ophelia, his mind racing to piece together the puzzle of this enigmatic savior standing before him.
Evelyn, sensing the shift in atmosphere, released her tentative hold on Ethan, her gaze flickering back and forth between him and Ophelia. There was a reverence in her eyes, a soft glow of gratitude that spoke volumes of the miracle she had been granted.
Ophelia, her arms still outstretched in a flourish that seemed to echo the grandiosity of her name, allowed a small, self-assured smile to play upon her lips. She let the silence stretch a moment longer before she lowered her arms, the golden halo above her head shimmering slightly as if in approval of the awe she had inspired.
Finally, she spoke, her voice a melody that seemed to weave vitality into the very air, "I see my reputation precedes me," she began, her tone light but edged with an undeniable authority. "As much as I'd love to stay and chat. I have more pressing matters to attend to."
Ethan, his senses slowly returning from the initial shock, straightened up in the bed. His voice, once hot with confrontation, now carried a note of curiosity. "Pressing matters?"
"Indeed," Ophelia affirmed with the ghost of a smile, her fingers brushing against the door handle. "There is an Inheritor whose delusions of grandeur need to be shattered." Her voice carried the soft but unmistakable promise of an impending storm, a tempest of life about to break upon a shore too weak to hold it back.
She turned the handle with a grace that belied the finality of the gesture, the click of the latch sounding like the closing of a book filled with unwritten fates. "I have a pretender to humble," she added, the smile on her lips blooming into a confident, predatory grin, a silent testament to the power she wielded and the purpose that drove her.
With a flourish that seemed to stir the very air, she pulled the door open, casting a lingering glance over her shoulder, her azure eyes alight with the fire of her conviction. Then, she stepped through the threshold, her figure framed for an instant in stark silhouette against the light of the corridor.
The door swung shut with a gentle but firm thud, sealing away the Inheritor of Life's departing figure, her presence still resonating in the room like the afterglow of the setting sun. Ethan and Evelyn were left in the quiet aftermath, the weight of Ophelia's words settling around them like the calm that follows a storm's passing.
⁂
"So, Ethan lost to Ajal?" Lucius said, licking his paw.
The principal's eyes held a glimmer of intent as the projections fizzled away, the light flickering out and casting the room into a contemplative dimness. "That battle," she began, her voice steady and deliberate, "what did you think of it, Miki?" She paused, allowing the significance of the battle to permeate the silence. "At the outset, Ethan's candidacy for our institution would seem beyond dispute. However, having observed that fight, what conclusion do you come to?"
Miki’s gaze fell to the floor, her thoughts churning like leaves in an eddy. "It's not entirely clear to me, Principal. Despite the outcome, Ethan's potential is still palpable, like a seedling in fertile soil. I am of the opinion we shouldn't have put him in a position to be eliminated by Ajal."
The principal nodded, acknowledging her insight, yet steering her perception deeper. "His potential is not in question. But there's a finer point you're missing."
Miki's eyes, still anchored to the ground, voiced a silent plea for enlightenment. "What then, am I supposed to see?"
"Consider his own words during the confrontation," the principal urged, his voice sharpening like a blade honed for a finer cut. "He professed a lifetime of training. A lifetime, Miki, set against Ajal's mere seven months. Inheritor or otherwise, the scales should have tipped in favor of Ethan's seasoned prowess. And yet, he was not just defeated—he was unraveled, thread by thread."
In the room's shadowed corner, Fil's presence was as unobtrusive as a whisper, yet his words carried the weight of judgment. "In short, the kid has the potential, but his path to unleashing it is a slow-burning fuse. Contrast that with Ajal and his team—they seem to have been born with innate skills that let them skyrocket their potential. Either way, principal, I think it's important to note just who trained Ajal."
The principal chuckled then, a soft sound in the quiet room. "Yes, Kaito's name might scare some of you, but let me tell you something as his old teacher. Kaito, being Ajal's mentor, is more of a hurdle for Ajal than anything else. Kaito's not cut out for teaching. What Ophelia and Ajal have achieved, they did that on their own. Trust me on that."
The principal's face was half shrouded in darkness, but a smile played on her lips. "Miki, your importance to our school is unequivocal, but that's why we must also recognize where you're lacking. We must not settle for potential. We must only pursue perfection. The world is counting on it."
"Ok, I'm projecting the next round now." Garth chimed in.
Garth's eyes took on a spectral hue, the blue glow casting an otherworldly light upon his features. With a subtle gesture, the space before him flickered and buzzed with the birth of light and pixels, coalescing into a clear, sharp projection that hung in the air like a window into another world.
There, displayed within the luminescent frame, were the eight remaining teams, each represented by a set of icons arranged strategically across the digital representation of the new area. The projection was detailed and precise, a meticulous recreation of the vast urban jungle that would serve as their next proving ground.
The arena lay before them like a silent giant, its vastness echoing with the ghosts of the city it once was. Buildings, now mere skeletons of their former selves, stretched towards the sky, their broken bones cloaked in the relentless embrace of nature. Vegetation had claimed the concrete and steel, weaving green through the gray in a display of unyielding life amidst decay.
It was a battleground littered with the carcasses of high-rises, their shattered windows like the vacant eyes of a forgotten time. The streets, cracked and overrun with weeds, snaked through the desolation, leading to nowhere and everywhere all at once.
As the teams made their approach, the air was thick with anticipation. This abandoned city, a relic of a bygone era, promised a challenge not just of strength and skill but of strategy. The once bustling metropolis was now a maze of ruin, providing endless hideaways and sniper nests, making it a perfect chessboard for the cunning and the brave.
⁂
Ajal and his teammates from Team Z paused, their eyes sweeping across the unfamiliar landscape that now surrounded them. The stark contrast between their previous location and their current one was disorienting. Moments ago, they were shrouded in the dense, verdant canopy of the forest, the air thick with the scent of earth and leaves, the sounds of wildlife a constant, ambient murmur.
Now, they found themselves standing amidst the desolation of an urban graveyard. Towering structures that once might have kissed the sky lay crumbled and defeated, their steel bones exposed to the harsh elements. Nature, in its relentless march, had begun to reclaim the city, with wild foliage entwining the fallen concrete, a vivid reminder of the impermanence of human constructs.
Yumiko's voice cut through the eerie silence, tinged with a mix of confusion and disbelief. "How the hell did we get here?" she questioned, her gaze darting from one ruined building to the next. "One second we were in the forest, walking through some tacky arch, and now..." Her voice trailed off as she took in the panoramic view of devastation that stretched before them. The city, or what was left of it, was a stark canvas of greys and browns, the once vibrant life it held now reduced to whispers of wind through broken windows.
The rest of Team Z stood in a tight cluster, their expressions a mirror of Yumiko's bewilderment. The sudden transition from the lush, living forest to this ghostly urban sprawl was jarring.
"Wait a sec," Jean interjected, his voice cutting through the group's confusion. He squinted into the distance, pointing towards a particular structure that jutted out amidst the sea of ruins. "This... this looks like a destroyed version of Arkphis city, or what's left of it. Look over there," he urged, his finger directed at a distinctive shape in the landscape.
The others followed his gaze to see a partially demolished sports dome, its once proud and domineering structure now a skeletal echo of its former glory. Its torn facade and collapsed sections stood out starkly against the backdrop of devastation, a silent testament to the calamity that had befallen the city.
Arc, her expression thoughtful, mused aloud, "So this is just another stage for the final round." She rubbed her chin thoughtfully between her thumb and pointer finger, her eyes scanning the horizon. "But where exactly are we? An area this massive couldn’t have gone unnoticed in Arkphis, and the arch didn't appear as a portal of any sort."
Ajal cut through the speculation. "Doesn't matter where we are, right?" he said decisively. "We're still in the middle of the test, so let's just go pass it."
With a determined stride, he started walking, his boots stirring up clouds of dust from the debris-strewn ground. His figure seemed to slice through the heavy air of the desolate city, a lone sentinel against the backdrop of ruin.
Jean called after him, his voice tinged with frustration, "You can't just charge ahead like that! We don't even know what we're up against yet!"
Ajal's retort floated back to them as he continued forward, "And yet, here I am, walking."
Jean exhaled a heavy sigh, his voice a mixture of resignation and annoyance. "It's like trying to reason with a toddler," he muttered under his breath, but nevertheless, he followed.
Arc and Yumiko exchanged a glance, a silent agreement passing between them before they too fell into step behind their teammates. The four of them moved through the ghostly streets of the ruined Arkphis, their presence a ripple of life in a sea of desolation, each step taking them deeper into the unknown challenges of this final, unforgiving arena.
After a moment, the voice from the start of the exam returned to their head. "Apologies for the delay, examinees. I am here to explain the rules for the final test."
"See?" Ajal said. "Just gotta trust the process, Jean."
The voice continued, very clearly reading from a script. “Welcome, examinees, to the final phase of your entrance exam. This is your ultimate test of strength, strategy, and survival. Your objective is simple: claim and defend one of the three Keystones scattered throughout the battlefield. Each Keystone has a timer, and when the timer goes off, whoever is in possession will obtain the points. Points are also obtained by defeating other contestants. The three teams with the most points at the end of the exam will pass.”
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Ajal furrowed his brow, watching the shimmering map that materialized in front of him. Small, glowing dots marked the general locations of the Keystones, scattered across the sprawling urban wasteland. Yumiko leaned in beside him, the faint jingle of her bell breaking the tense silence. “Only three teams pass, huh? Sounds cutthroat already.”
The voice continued. “To claim a Keystone, your team must physically place your emblem, which is located on your arm, on its energy core, activating it. Once activated, the Keystone will emit a signal visible to all other teams on the holographic map. Defend it well, examinees. For once it is claimed, it and you will become a target.”
“So, once we claim one, everyone’s going to know exactly where we are,” Jean muttered. “They’re setting us up for a full-on siege.”
The voice didn’t relent. “Keystones are powered by durable divinity cores, capable of sustaining significant damage before being destroyed. A destroyed Keystone will nullify the ability to gain points from it. However, they can also be stolen if another team successfully replaces your emblem. Victory requires not just offense, but tactical defense.”
Yumiko crossed her arms. “Great. So, it’s a free-for-all, and we’re basically painting a big bullseye on ourselves. Lovely.”
“To pass this test you must survive, adapt, and Become Limitless. The match will end when only three teams remain, or when time expires."
Yumiko slightly titled her head in thought. "It kinda looks like they are giving us options. So, we going after other teams or the keystones?"
Jean furrowed his brow, his skepticism evident as he weighed their options. "You heard what the examiner said—we're up against all the other teams and the clock. And we still have no idea where our final teammate is. Hiding out and snatching Keystones at the last second might be our safest bet," he proposed, his tone laced with a strategic, cautious edge.
Yumiko, however, shook her head, her disagreement clear. "Playing it safe is fine, Jean, and I won't stop you," she replied, her voice steady as she locked eyes with him. A hint of mischief played at the corners of her mouth. "But think about the risk in waiting until the last moment. Besides," she added, a playful smile now fully forming, "missing out on all the action doesn't sound like much fun, does it?"
Arc, deep in thought, lightly scratched her cheek with her pinkie, considering their predicament. "There's a way to balance both approaches," she finally said, her voice calm and reasoned. "Our priority should be finding our last teammate. Along the way, we deal with any enemies we encounter. And if we happen upon a Keystone, then that becomes our focus."
"I'm on board with that plan," Yumiko quickly agreed, nodding her approval.
Jean sighed, a reluctant acceptance in his posture. "It's a bit of a loose plan, but with time not on our side, we can't afford to keep debating." He looked around at his teammates. "Any final suggestions, Ajal?"
Ajal, his gaze distant as he surveyed the city, shrugged nonchalantly. "Nah," he replied, his voice carrying an easygoing confidence. "I'm good with whatever."
United in their resolve, Team Z advanced into the heart of the desolate Arkphis City. Their journey was hindered by the remnants of urban decay, with every step a challenge against the relentless march of nature and the ruins of civilization. Buildings, once symbols of human achievement, now stood as jagged monuments to destruction, their skeletal remains creating an obstacle course of concrete and steel.
The city, overtaken by wild growth, presented a surreal landscape. Vines and foliage clung to and wound through the fractured facades, draping over edges and spilling onto the streets, a green tide swallowing the city's past glory. The once bustling roads were now but labyrinthine paths, choked with debris and the encroaching embrace of the earth.
An oppressive silence hung over the area, broken only by the muffled sounds of their movements–the soft crunch of gravel underfoot, the occasional shift of rubble–and the distant, faint echoes of conflict, hinting at the presence of others in this forsaken arena.
The stark, quiet desolation was almost a living entity, its breath a cold whisper against their skin, its gaze following their every move. The air was thick with the weight of unspoken stories, each ruined building a chapter of a narrative long silenced.
It was within this heavy atmosphere that Team Z suddenly found themselves face to face with an unexpected encounter. Emerging from a narrow passage between two crumbled edifices, they came upon the ruins of a once-majestic highrise, now nothing but a pile of rubble and twisted metal.
At the base of this fallen giant, an extraordinary scene unfolded. Dominating the space was a creature of immense size, its form casting a daunting shadow across the broken ground. It towered over four smaller figures, their bodies dwarfed by its massive stature. The creature, an amalgamation of raw power and primal fury, stood like a sentinel from a bygone era, its presence a palpable force that seemed to resonate through the very ground.
Even from their vantage point, Team Z could feel the aura of menace emanating from the beast. Its eyes, dark and hollowed by shadows, gazed unseeing into the distance, its maw parted to reveal rows of jagged teeth, like the blades of ancient swords worn down by years of carnage.
The creature's form, reminiscent of an ape, yet warped and mutilated beyond comprehension, stood in stark contrast to the fragility of humanity. As Team Z cautiously observed from their position, the creature shifted, its movements deliberate and heavy. Its massive head swung from side to side, nostrils flaring as it sniffed the air, as though scenting for something unseen. The motion was primal, reminiscent of ancient predators whose domain was unchallenged.
For a heart-stopping moment, the beast seemed to be merely part of the desolate scenery, an oddity in the landscape of ruin. But then, abruptly, its head snapped up, its eyes locking onto Team Z's location. The shift in its demeanor was palpable; it transformed from a creature passively surveying its territory to one that had identified something of interest.
Its gaze, intense and unsettling, bore into them, piercing the distance with a predatory focus. The creature's eyes, deep-set and keen, held a glint of intelligence that belied its brutish form. It stood perfectly still for a moment, as if calculating, assessing the threat or opportunity that Team Z represented.
The air seemed to thicken with tension, the silence now charged with a new, electric quality.
"It's an avatar." Arc explained. "The master is the boy on its right."
"Very perceptive, but I can tell you are an Avatar yourself." The boy responded. "Though not nearly as intimidating."
Arc rolled her eyes and looked over at Jean.
"Shall we?" Arc asked.
"Might as well." Jean replied. "Don't take too long, remember we have a time limit."
They both moved out into the clearing together, drawing the attention of the monster to them as they prepared to fight.
"Ajal, why don't you stay back with Yumiko? After we take care of this, I have an idea on how to find our last member." Jean stated as they approached the group.
Ajal paused, "You sure you can take that thing? It's pretty tough looking."
"They'll be fine." Yumiko reassured him. "Let's take care of the other three."
Without a moment's hesitation, Jean and Arc surged forward toward the daunting creature before them. Their movements were a blur, a testament to their agility and speed, carrying them across the ravaged landscape in mere moments. The air itself seemed to part for them, their approach as swift as a falcon's dive.
Before their adversaries could even register their approach, Jean was already in the thick of battle. His fist, coiled with pent-up energy, rocketed forward, striking with the precision of a seasoned warrior. The impact against the lean youth was thunderous, resonating through the air like a drumbeat of war. The youth's body was propelled backward with such force that he became a fleeting shadow, crashing into the gnarled trunk of an ancient tree with a bone-jarring crunch.
Meanwhile, Arc's assault was a dance of deadly grace. She aimed a high, arcing kick at the monstrous avatar's leg, a strike meant to cripple and incapacitate. However, the creature, unfazed by her speed, countered with a swift, brutal swipe, its massive limb connecting with her abdomen. The impact sent Arc tumbling across the ground, a whirl of motion, but she turned her momentum into an opportunity, springing back to her feet with feline agility.
As Ajal and Yumiko engaged the other enemies, Arc's battle with the behemoth raged on. She leaped into the air, narrowly evading the creature's sweeping tail, her body twisting elegantly in mid-flight. The monster reared to strike once more, but Arc's reflexes were quicker. She spun, a cyclone of force, and delivered a crushing heel kick to its jaw. The blow landed with a sickening crack, forcing the creature to stagger back, its balance wavering.
Team Z watched, a mixture of awe and anticipation in their eyes, as the gigantic foe teetered precariously. Arc, relentless in her attack, bombarded the creature with a barrage of kicks and punches, each strike a blur of speed and power. Finally, under the relentless onslaught, the beast crumbled to its knees with a ground-shaking thud, defeated.
Arc paused, her breathing steady despite the fury of her assault. Her eyes then shifted to the creature's master, a cold determination in her gaze.
"Wait!" Jean's voice cut through the tension as he approached the boy sprawled on the ground. "What info can you give us?" His tone was firm, demanding, as he leaned in closer.
The youth, struggling for breath, managed a weak response. "About what?"
"Anything – the keystones, our missing teammate, other teams," Jean pressed, his eyes searching the boy's face for any hint of deceit.
Ajal and Yumiko, having overcome their own opponents, joined the pair. Yumiko's voice dripped with disappointment. "You got knocked out by Jean with a single punch. How did you even pass the first round?"
"Hey! My Right Jab of Power is considered one of the Epochal Tenets!" Jean protested, puffing his chest out with pride.
Arc looked at him, her expression unchanging. "Master Jean, such grandiose claims are not becoming."
"Why can't you ever back me up?" Jean complained, throwing his hands up in exasperation.
Ajal, interrupting the banter, asked, "What are Epochal Tenets?"
Arc responded, her voice calm and informative, "They are ten legendary skills known for turning the tides of history. They're incredibly powerful, not something you'd use in a standard entrance exam."
Ajal pondered aloud, "Interesting. I wonder if he has a skill on there."
Yumiko leaned in closer to Ajal, her curiosity piqued. "Whose skills are you talking about?"
"My teacher. He's a kinda strong, so I figured he might have one of these Epochal Tenets."
The youth's voice, laced with a mix of fear and annoyance, cut through the air sharply. "Hey!" he called out, his tone demanding attention. "Are you going to finish me off or what? Your banter is driving me nuts."
Jean, his focus snapping back to the captive, fixed the boy with a steely gaze that brooked no argument. "Spill what you know then, or I might just have Arc read you the entire 'Divinitas'," he threatened, his voice low and unyielding, hinting at a consequence far worse than physical harm.
The boy's eyes widened, a flicker of genuine panic crossing his face as he weighed his options. "Okay, okay, no need for drastic measures! Look, the nearest Keystone is southwest from here, in a collapsed subway system," he blurted out, his words tumbling over each other in haste. "We just came from there."
Jean's eyebrows rose in suspicion. "You were there but didn't try to claim it?" he probed, his tone skeptical.
"With that monster guarding it? No chance," the boy replied, a shiver running through his frame at the memory.
"What monster?" Jean pressed, his curiosity piqued.
The boy opened his mouth to reply, but was abruptly silenced by a swift chop to the neck from Yumiko. His body slumped, unconscious but unharmed.
Jean let out an exasperated sigh, turning to face Yumiko. "Really? Was that necessary?" he chided, a hint of frustration in his voice. "He might have had more to tell us."
Yumiko simply offered a shrug, her smile suggesting innocence, but her eyes twinkling with mischief. "He gave us everything we needed," she retorted nonchalantly.
Ajal's grin widened at the idea of a new challenge. "Sounds like we're going monster hunting then," he declared, with a hint of excitement in his voice.
Jean surveyed the group, his gaze lingering on each member before he gave a slow, decisive nod. "Alright, we have a destination. Let's get moving, team!" His voice carried a note of leadership.
"Master Jean, I would advise against assuming you're the leader of this group," Arc interjected, her tone even but firm.
"How am I not the leader? I'm the strategist, and you three are the muscle!" Jean retorted, a touch of defiance in his voice. "That's how it works in video games. Everyone knows that."
Arc let out a heavy sigh, her patience wearing thin. "You do realize that not every situation parallels a video game, right?"
Yumiko piped up, "Shouldn't Ajal be the leader, though? Being an inheritor and all, it kind of makes sense."
"His status as an inheritor has nothing to do with—" Jean started to argue but was abruptly cut off.
Without any warning, an object rocketed towards them at breathtaking speed, narrowly missing them before crashing into a nearby pile of rubble. Dust billowed into the air as a figure emerged from the debris. "I'm going to kill that bitch," he muttered, his dog tags jangling noisily around his neck as he stood up. He shook off the dirt and rocks, fixing his gaze on the group with a look of sheer contempt.
"And just who the hell are you guys?" the newcomer demanded, his voice laced with hostility.
Ajal, undeterred by the aggression, smiled at the man. "Dude, nice shoes! I have a pair just like those back home!"
"Yeah, it's really impressive how you kept them so clean during the exam," Yumiko added, eyeing the newcomer's footwear.
Jean, however, was visibly worried and quickly ushered Ajal and Yumiko back. "Ajal, Yumiko, don’t just approach aggressive strangers like that!"
The figure paused for a moment at the mention of Ajal's name. In a swift motion, he shattered the glasses that rested on his face, revealing a gun which he promptly aimed at Ajal's head. "Ajal?" he sneered. "Damn, guess I owe that lizard a favor. The name's Ezekiel, remember it, Reaper." His voice was cold, and his intent deadly clear.