The sun barely peeked over the horizon, bathing the port in a gentle golden light as the massive ship finally docked. Its colossal shadow stretched across the docks, creating a solemn atmosphere amplified by the morning's silence.
A man of average height, about 1.75 meters tall, descended the ship with grace. His short black hair framed a face marked by a thin mustache that accentuated his serious demeanor.
Dressed in an impeccably tailored black suit, he moved with an almost aristocratic confidence. Each step was accompanied by the faint rustle of his clothing, breaking the ambient stillness.
He approached Miguel, the port guard, who seemed slightly surprised to see him.
“Well, well! Dear Dôma, you're kicking off the exams this time?” Miguel said, crossing his arms with an amused smile. “The poor candidates are in for a tough time.”
The man, named Dôma, adjusted his cufflinks with a faint smirk.
“Still the same as ever, I see. It’s been a while, Miguel. I’m here to pick up the last supplies for the ship, and I suppose you’ve got no one for me this year, as usual.”
His gaze swept over the port before he continued, “Not that it’s a problem. There are plenty of candidates for this session already.”
Miguel shook his head slowly.
“Well, you’re wrong. This time, I do have someone for you.”
Dôma raised an eyebrow, slightly intrigued.
“Oh? After more than ten years of barely recommending anyone? What’s so special about this one?”
Miguel didn’t respond immediately, then simply said, “Well… he got here by crossing the forest.”
The examiner’s interest was piqued, and he nodded, clearly intrigued.
“Really? Now that’s something worth noting.”
Miguel turned toward the docks and called out firmly, “Ikku!”
Without delay, a young man appeared, walking quickly toward them. He bowed respectfully before the examiner.
“Pleased to meet you. My name is Nemuri Ikku, and I wish to join Nexus.”
“Raise your head, young man,” Dôma replied. “Welcome. You may board the ship right away. Once inside, you’ll find a reception area to your left where you can register. You’ll then be assigned a badge and a room to rest in.”
“Understood. Thank you,” Ikku said, bowing again.
He walked toward the ship, his heart pounding with a mix of excitement and anxiety. As he reached the top of the gangway, he turned back one last time to look at the forest that had been his home for over a year. Every tree, every shadow, every whisper of the wind reminded him of Jack’s teachings and the painful memories of his past life with his family.
With a final sigh of determination, Ikku raised his arm to wave at Miguel, a gesture of gratitude for the warm welcome. Then, taking a deep breath of the fresh morning air, he stepped inside the ship. The grand vessel, with its polished wood and bright interiors, awaited him, ready to carry him toward his destiny.
As soon as Ikku stepped into the ship, he was struck by the elegance surrounding him. The walls were adorned with refined woodwork and luxurious fabrics details he had never encountered before. For a moment, he felt out of place, but he was also captivated by the beauty of it all.
To his right, he noticed a reception desk where a charming woman awaited him. Ikku approached, a mix of hesitation and curiosity in his eyes.
“Hello, I’m here to register,” he explained.
The woman handed him a paper to fill out.
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“This is a document to sign. It states that you waive your right to sue anyone in case of serious injury or disability and that you understand the risks involved, including the possibility of losing your life.”
Ikku nodded, understanding the gravity of what was being asked of him. He carefully read every line, filled out the document, and handed it back to the woman. She offered him a round badge, about the size of an apple.
“Keep this badge pinned to your clothing at all times it’s very important,” she explained, her serious tone emphasizing its significance. “You are the last candidate accepted for this session. Your number is 456, meaning 455 others came before you.”
Ikku felt a mix of excitement and anxiety at being the last one.
“Your room is number 418, located to your left at the end of the hallway,” she added.
She paused before continuing, “Due to the large number of candidates this session, you’ll be sharing your room with two others.”
With the badge in hand, Ikku took a deep breath, ready to face the unknown.
Ikku walked toward his room, wondering what kind of people he would meet. After all, he wasn’t very sociable, and the only person he had spent significant time with was Jack. When he reached the door, his badge lit up, unlocking it with a soft click.
Inside, the room felt spacious, though the lights were off. There were four bunk beds, with the top two already occupied. The people in them appeared to be asleep, which made sense given the early hour. Ikku lay down on one of the lower bunks, his mind swirling with uncertainty about the trials ahead.
Suddenly, he heard movement and an enthusiastic voice shouting near his ear:
“HIIII THERE!”
Ikku jumped, turning to see a head hanging upside down, its upper body still on the bed above. The stranger had a round face, mid-length blond hair dangling toward the floor, and bright golden pupils that seemed to glow in the dim light.
“I’m Yumé! Nice to meet you!” the stranger said, reaching out a hand to Ikku.
However, lacking a proper grip, Yumé promptly fell headfirst off the bed.
After a brief silence, Ikku couldn’t hold back a laugh. Yumé got up, laughing as well.
“Sorry,” he said, scratching his head with an ever-present smile. “I’m pretty clumsy.”
His little stunt completely eased the tension in the room, sweeping away Ikku’s anxiety.
“I’m Nemuri Ikku,” Ikku introduced himself, smiling in return.
“Nice to meet you, Ikku! You seem to be my age,” Yumé said curiously.
“Well, I’m 17,” Ikku replied.
“Wooooow!” Yumé exclaimed, his eyes wide with excitement. “Exactly the same as me!”
The room’s lights turned on, and a deeper, calm voice spoke, though not loudly:
“You two are so noisy,” said a third person in the room, evidently woken up by Yumé and Ikku.
Sitting up on his bed, the newcomer rubbed his eyes. He wore simple shorts and a tank top. Unlike Yumé’s pale complexion, he had a tanned, bronze skin tone. His well-defined muscles and shoulder-length braids added to his relaxed demeanor. His eyebrows were neither too thick nor too thin, and his rounded nose gave his face a friendly look. However, his gaze, while casual, held an undefinable quality.
“Looks like we’re the youngest on the ship,” he continued. “I’m 19. Name’s Kenny. If you’re both here, you must have something special too.”
“Special?” Ikku thought. He didn’t feel special in fact, he was desperately trying to become something more.
“Why do you want to join Nexus?” Yumé asked.
“For me,” Kenny answered, “I want to become a great warrior. I know that joining Nexus will make me stronger. I want my name to echo across the world and my strength to surpass that of the Conquerors!”
“Wooooow! Now that’s an ambitious dream!” Yumé said, his eyes filled with admiration.
Ikku seemed confused, unable to grasp what Kenny was referring to.
“The Conquerors?” he asked, perplexed and curious.
“You’ve never heard of the Conquerors?” Kenny said, surprised.
Ikku shook his head. Kenny let out an exasperated sigh.
“The Conquerors were the most powerful people to ever live,” Kenny began. “Two hundred years ago, the world was plunged into chaos. Countries waged war for decades. These unending conflicts gave rise to six incredibly strong warriors. Hard times create strong men, after all. Initially enemies, they eventually united to end the wars.”
“These six people stopped a world war that had raged for decades all by themselves?” Ikku asked, visibly shocked by the story.
“It’s no wonder they’re called the Conquerors,” Kenny continued. “Each one of them could single-handedly bring down an entire country.”
Ikku was amazed by the tale of the Conquerors. He hadn’t imagined that such powerful figures could exist in history.
Lost in thought, he wondered what truly awaited him. But before he could dwell on it further, a voice suddenly rang through the cabin’s speakers:
“Attention, please. All participants are to gather at the front of the ship. The examiner awaits you there.”
Ikku exchanged glances with Yumé and Kenny, and all three understood that the time had come. The trials were about to begin!