Jace flung himself out of bed in a panic. Of all days to oversleep, this was the worst. He had just ten minutes to get to Lazarus HQ, which was at least a 30-minute walk. In a frenzy, he tore off his clothes, tossing them haphazardly across the room, and grabbed a dark blue t-shirt. After a quick sniff, he decided it had one more wear in it. He slipped on a pair of black tech cargo pants and jammed his feet into the nearest trainers. Snatching his bomber jacket from the door, he dashed downstairs.
“Shit, shit, shit!” Jace muttered under his breath as he sprinted for the front door, only to be blocked by his mother.
“And where do you think you're going without saying goodbye?” Mani stood with her hands on her hips, an annoyed expression on her face.
“Mom! Not now, I’m late!” Jace groaned, trying to sidestep her.
“What happened to keeping your promise, hm?” She glared at him, arms crossed.
Jace sighed, knowing he couldn’t win. He stopped in his tracks and gave her a quick but tight hug. “Fine. Goodbye, okay? Can I go now?” he asked, rolling his eyes.
“Not quite yet.” Mani pulled a black rose from behind her back and handed it to him. “Something to remember me by if you get too busy to visit your poor, old, lonely mother,” she teased with a smirk, though her eyes betrayed a deeper emotion. “And don’t forget—good luck.” She kissed him on the forehead before stepping aside.
Jace, taken aback, smiled as he accepted the rose, blushing slightly from the kiss. “Thanks, Mom.” He inspected the flower for a moment. He had never seen a black rose before, but there was something oddly beautiful about it. He pocketed it, wanting to protect the delicate bloom—and the gesture behind it.
“I know you’ll do great,” she said with a warm grin. “You won’t need my luck at all.”
Before Jace could respond, he heard a honk from outside. He waved goodbye and stepped out to find Orion, sitting on his hoverbike, a blue helmet in hand.
“Orion? What are you doing here?” Jace asked, surprised, as he made his way over.
Orion chuckled. “You think I don’t know you by now? You’re late for everything. I figured you’d need a lift—and I wanted to see you one last time before your big day.”
Jace grinned, taking the helmet from him. “Thanks, old man. Let’s see if you’ve still got it. Or are you too rusty to keep up?” he teased as he slipped the helmet on.
“Oh, I’ve still got the skills, alright,” Orion replied with a grin, revving the bike before taking off. Jace clung to him as the wind whipped violently against his face, threatening to tear it off. The force of acceleration pushed him back as Orion sped up, weaving between cars and taking sharp turns without slowing down. Jace opened his mouth to speak, but before he could get a word out, a fly flew straight in, causing him to sputter and cough, gagging slightly.
Suddenly, the hoverbike veered sharply to one side, causing Jace to grip even tighter. Orion had drifted into a narrow dead end. Before Jace could fully recover, he noticed they were speeding toward a gap—one that seemed far too wide to jump. The inner city sprawled out on the other side, but the distance looked impossible to cross.
“Orion, we’re not going to make it!” Jace shouted over the deafening wind. Either Orion didn’t hear him or he chose to ignore the warning completely. Instead, he grinned, pushing the hoverbike to go even faster.
“Orion, STOP!” Jace screamed in a panic, but the bike didn’t slow down. Realizing there was no point in yelling anymore, Jace gritted his teeth and buried his face against Orion’s back, bracing himself for what was sure to be a fatal crash. He felt the bike lift off the ground, the sensation of weightlessness taking over as they soared through the air. This was it. He was going to die, and he hadn’t even accomplished anything yet.
Then, with a gut-wrenching drop, the bike began to fall. CRASH. The hoverbike hit the ground with a bone-rattling impact. Jace tumbled off the bike as it skidded to a smoking halt.
Orion burst out laughing, clearly exhilarated. “Now that was a rush!” he cackled, getting off the bike. “I haven’t felt that much adrenaline since my days in the corps!” He doubled over, hands on his knees, still laughing.
Jace, however, was not amused. He ripped off his helmet, glaring at Orion. “What the hell were you thinking?!” he shouted. “Were you trying to get us killed, you maniac?!”
“Oh, calm down,” Orion huffed, waving a hand dismissively. “It was just a bit of fun. If you can’t handle that, how do you expect to survive in the corps? They’ll put you in situations way worse than this.”
Still fuming, Jace got up off the ground and dusted himself off, struggling to shake off the adrenaline. Orion, on the other hand, was already checking his watch.
“Look at that,” he said with a smug grin. “I got you here with five minutes to spare.” He glanced up at the building they had crashed in front of. “Haven’t been back here in ages.” His eyes gleamed with nostalgia as he stared at the familiar structure.
Jace turned to follow Orion’s gaze. They had arrived. Before them stood the Lazarus HQ. The building wasn’t as tall as a skyscraper, more like the height of a large shopping mall. Its most striking feature, however, was its immense width—so vast it almost resembled a massive freight carrier. The front facade was a sleek expanse of one-way glass, gleaming under the sunlight. At the very top of the building were five distinct emblems, each representing one of the corps:
On the bottom left was a golden lyre with an arrow threading through its strings. Beneath it, in ornate gold lettering, were the words “Apollo Company.” Next, a crossed Warhammer and Sword, with the words “Bastion Company” written in bold black beneath them. On the bottom right, a pink heart entwined by a red snake, its fangs bared. Below it, in bright pink letters, was “Lustre Company.” At the top left, a phoenix with upturned wings, flying in front of a golden sun and encircled by a laurel wreath. Beneath this fiery emblem, “Solis Company” was written in bright red, the letters appearing almost ablaze. Finally, on the top right, a black circle with a silver halo around its edge, the words “Eclipse Company” inscribed below in gleaming silver.
As Jace's eyes landed on the Eclipse emblem, a flicker of memory flashed through his mind. He was certain he'd seen that symbol before, but he couldn’t recall where or when. Frustrated, he gave up trying to place it.
The five emblems were arranged in a circular formation, their designs radiating from the center. At the middle of this formation, above all others, was the most prominent emblem. This one immediately caught Jace’s attention.
At its centre, a pair of majestic wings stretched outward, the metallic feathers gleaming as if catching the light. Behind the wings, radiant beams burst in a star-like pattern. Encased within was a brilliant star, framed by a circular insignia. The words “Supreme Commander” were inscribed at the top, while “Tempest Guard” was written below, bordered elegantly and surrounded by five smaller stars.
Jace stared in awe, his mouth slightly open. “Those emblems…” he whispered, mesmerized. “They’re all so cool.”
Orion chuckled and clapped him on the back. “If you stand here all day gawking at them, you’ll never make it into the corps. You’ll have plenty of time to admire them once you pass. Now, get going!” He gave Jace a gentle push to get him moving.
Snapping out of his daze, Jace nodded and headed toward the entrance. He turned back briefly to wave at Orion before the doors slid open, allowing him to step inside. He approached the front desk, where a bored-looking receptionist sat. Her ginger hair caught the light, but her blue eyes were fixated on the floating holographic screen in front of her, barely acknowledging his presence. Jace looked around as he walked towards the reception desk. The inside looked extremely clean. Every surface his eyes latched onto either sparkled or showed his reflection. It was all so immaculate and uniform exactly what you’d expect of a military base. Jace couldn’t see beyond the reception desk due to a wall which blurred the contents. On the left and right of him were elevators guarded by two soldiers each in a different Lazarus Corps uniform. Jace finally made his way to the reception desk and prepared to talk despite his nerves.
"Um... Hi, I’m here for the recruitment test," Jace said nervously.
The receptionist lazily shifted her eyes from the screen to glance at him before returning her focus. Her fingers immediately resumed typing. "Name?" she asked in a monotone voice, clearly uninterested.
Jace cleared his throat awkwardly. "Jace. Jace Kess."
At the mention of his name, the receptionist's expression flickered—just for a moment. She looked him up and down, a faint, almost imperceptible smirk appearing on her lips. Unless you were standing close to her, you wouldn’t have noticed. Her fingers flew across the holographic screen once more.
"Jace Kess, huh?" she repeated, her voice carrying a hint of curiosity. "You wouldn’t happen to know Arkhan, Nathan, and Junah Kess, would you?" There was a glint in her eye now, and she raised an eyebrow as she waited for his answer.
Jace felt a cold shiver. Why did everyone mention his father’s name so casually, as if they all knew him? Even this receptionist seemed to know more about his family than he did. "Yeah... that’s my dad, brother, and sister," he muttered quietly, his voice laced with reluctance.
Both of the receptionist's eyebrows shot up this time. Her expression, though subtle, carried an air of superiority that was starting to irritate Jace. He opened his mouth, ready to say something, but before he could, she cut him off.
"Here’s your badge with all your information for the test," she said, her voice as bored as ever. She slid a metal card across the desk. "Take a left, and you’ll be sorted into your testing chamber. Good luck," she added, before refocusing on her holographic screen without so much as a glance back at him.
Jace grabbed the metallic badge, exhaling deeply as he did. His nerves were already on edge, and he couldn’t afford to let anything rattle him before the test. Following her directions, he headed down the hall.
This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
As he walked, the hum of chattering voices grew louder, coming from a doorway ahead. An armoured officer stepped out in front of him just as he approached. The man had tired brown eyes, scruffy brown hair, and stubble that suggested long hours. He looked as worn out as the receptionist.
"Badge, please," the officer said in a gruff, deep voice.
Jace handed over his badge, silently noting how exhausted everyone seemed here. Was the Lazarus Corps really this rough? His thoughts started to spiral, feeding his anxiety. If everyone was so miserable, what did that mean for him?
The officer glanced at the badge, then smirked. "Kess, huh?" he remarked, handing it back.
Jace’s stomach twisted. First the receptionist, now this guy. Why did everyone react so strangely to his name? Was there something about the Kess family that he didn’t know? Did his family have a bad reputation he wasn’t aware of? He shook his head, trying to push the thought aside. He couldn’t let this get in his head, not now.
He walked into the large chamber and froze, taken aback by the sheer number of people inside. There had to be at least three hundred candidates, all gathered for the recruitment test. The room had three white walls, rising only a few feet high, giving way to a ceiling so far above it seemed to touch the sky. The walls surrounded him on the left, right, and in front, clearly set up to conceal the testing areas from the examinees.
Jace scanned the room. Groups of candidates were chatting among themselves, some forming tight-knit circles. He stood there, alone, feeling an odd sense of isolation amid the crowd.
Jace noticed a large group gathered in the middle of the chamber. Curiosity getting the better of him, he moved closer for a better look. Thanks to his height, he didn’t need to push his way through. At the centre of the crowd, he saw a brunette girl with bright blue eyes and a cute, round face. She was smiling, surrounded by people, all vying for her attention.
Next to her stood a blonde girl, also blue-eyed, but her expression was far less welcoming. She looked irritated, her fingers flicking across her holophone as if bored by the whole scene. Despite her annoyed look, she seemed accustomed to the attention. She was probably the brunette’s friend.
The brunette, though overwhelmed by the crowd, kept her smile, turning her head from person to person as they spoke to her. Jace couldn't help but admire her—it reminded him of his mother, always smiling, no matter what. He blushed as he continued staring at her, captivated by her features.
"Who... is that?" he muttered to himself, barely realizing he had spoken aloud.
A voice from behind him answered, startling him. "That's Thalia Pryce, one of the most talented examinees here," the voice said in a slightly smug, enthusiastic tone.
Jace turned around to see a boy about his age, with brown hair and fair skin, grinning as he extended a hand. "I’m Max Voss. Nice to meet you."
Jace shook his hand, still a bit confused. "Jace. Nice to meet you," he replied, awkwardly.
"Just Jace? No last name?" Max teased with a playful smirk.
"For now, yes," Jace said, smiling at the joke. "Voss? I’ve heard that name before... Voss Technologies, right?" He tried to recall where he had heard it.
Max nodded, though his expression dimmed slightly. "Yeah, that’s me," he said, the enthusiasm fading from his voice. Sensing the shift, Jace decided to steer the conversation in a different direction.
"So, how do you know that Thalia girl?" Jace asked.
Max’s face lit up again, clearly thrilled by the question. "Oh, I like to do my research on potential opponents. She was easy to find—Thalia’s considered a strong talent and a genius. She’s in this book," Max said, holding up a small holo-guide. "It’s full of upcoming stars of our generation! I’ve heard of most people here, or at least the schools they trained under, but you, Jace... I haven’t heard of and don't recognize you."
"What do you mean, schools? Did people really train their Tion in schools? I never went to one if they did" Jace asked, genuinely curious.
Jace couldn’t help but wonder why Max looked so surprised. “No school?” Max asked, his voice trailing off. Jace frowned, unsure if he’d said something wrong.
“Are you serious?” Max added, disbelief clear in his tone. Jace tried to brush it off, but the question lingered in his mind. Did it really matter that much? He had to prove himself, no matter his background.
His mother had kept him away from the tightly controlled Tion system. Whether it was for protection—so she wouldn’t lose another person to the Lazarus Corps—or out of bitterness at how everyone had grown distant, it didn’t matter. What mattered was that he’d still trained with Orion. And now, he was here.
The world of the Lazarus Corps had always felt like a distant dream to Jace. But now that he was standing in it, he couldn’t shake the feeling of being out of place.
Max stared at him as if he’d just said something unbelievable. "Have you been living under a rock?!" he exclaimed, a little too loudly. Heads turned briefly as the room quieted, but Max quickly lowered his voice. "Tion schools are where people train to join the Lazarus Corps or private militaries. It’s a big deal. I can’t believe you don’t know this!" Max shook his head in disbelief. "Most candidates here trained under prestigious Tion schools. Without one backing you, it’s nearly impossible to get accepted. You must be either confident in your abilities or had a personal Tion master if you made it here without official training."
Jace raised an eyebrow, listening intently. Max continued, oblivious to Jace’s growing discomfort.
"Thalia trained at one of the best schools in the country. The same goes for most of the other favourites here. They’re super rookies, already set to join the corps. She’s even listed as a ‘super rookie’ in this handbook!" Max rambled, flipping through the guide again.
Before he could dive into a list of other potential rivals, a large holographic screen appeared in the chamber. The chatter in the room instantly died down. On the screen stood a composed woman with long, wavy black hair and pale skin. Her striking blue eyes seemed to pierce through the screen as if staring directly into the souls of those watching. She coughed slightly, commanding silence before she spoke.
Her dark red lipstick made her expression difficult to read—Jace couldn’t tell if she was strict or indifferent. Behind her stood two men. One was younger, the other older, with streaks of grey in his hair and a beard to match. Despite his age, the older man exuded strength and authority. His tanned skin and brown eyes were familiar to Jace, and then it hit him—this man was his father, Arkhan Kess.
Jace’s heart raced. His eyes darted to his father’s uniform, where the Eclipse Company emblem gleamed as a shiny badge. That’s where he’d seen the symbol earlier—outside the building. Eclipse Company. And that’s where he would aim to go. He wanted to be part of that unit, to be close to his father.
Max, who had noticed the resemblance, grinned widely and turned to Jace, but Jace shot him a sideways glance, silently pleading for him not to say anything.
The younger man on the screen had curly blonde hair that fell to his neck, a sharp jawline, and piercing blue eyes. All three individuals were dressed in formal, coloured suits, each with overcoats draped around their shoulders. Arkhan wore all black, save for a silver tie and overcoat. The younger man was in gold, and the woman, in a striking pearly white outlined with light blue, with a matching light blue overcoat.
“Welcome, young examinees. It pleases me to see so many hopefuls in the testing chamber,” a booming voice echoed through the room. “I am Supreme Commander Vega, and I run the Lazarus Corps. Behind me are Commanders Apollo and Arkhan. Also present, though not visible on the screen, is Commander Saryn. Unfortunately, Commanders Trim and Kaelis could not attend today’s ceremony.”
She paused for a moment, letting the weight of her words settle.
“Regardless, we expect you to give your best effort throughout these tests. Many of you come from prestigious schools, but let me make something clear—none of that matters here. Reputation means nothing on the battlefield. I’ve learned that firsthand. What truly matters is determination and strength, and we hope to see both from you today.”
She scanned the room, her piercing blue eyes demanding attention.
“Those who prove themselves with skill and resolve may be accepted into the Corps, even if you fail certain aspects of the tests. You may also be fortunate enough to be personally selected by one of the commanders here—an honour, as you can imagine. We will be watching you closely from the sidelines, so give it your all.”
“The test you are about to face has three stages,” she continued. “First, you will complete an obstacle course, where your task is to destroy as many targets as possible. There is a minimum point threshold you must reach to advance to the second stage.
“The second stage is a 30-minute survival test against phantom strains and fellow candidates. Be aware that while the phantom strains can harm you, we will monitor your condition, and you will not die. However, if a supervisor is forced to rescue you, it will result in immediate disqualification. I advise against forming alliances—survival sometimes requires betrayal.”
The room had grown even quieter, tension building.
“Phantom strains carry different bounties. Stronger strains yield more points. At the centre of the maze, there is a special phantom strain worth ten times more points than the others. It’s incredibly powerful, so only the strongest candidates should consider hunting it. Like the first stage, there is a points threshold you must meet to pass.”
She shifted her gaze across the room.
“The final stage is a tournament against the remaining candidates in front of the Corps. It will take place in an arena. Don’t be disheartened if you fail to reach this stage. Many will fall due to injuries or other circumstances along the way.”
Her tone softened slightly. “Good luck to all of you. We’ll be watching. I hope to see some of you on the other side.” Vega’s lips curved into a small smile before the holographic screen blinked out.
As soon as the screen turned off, the room erupted into chatter. Some examinees looked anxious, while others, heeding Vega’s advice, distanced themselves from those around them.
Max nudged Jace with a grin. “So… you’re Commander Arkhan’s son, huh?”
Before Max could start rambling, Jace spun around, clamping a hand over his mouth. “Shhh! Are you trying to attract attention?” he hissed, his eyes darting around. Max nodded apologetically, raising his hands in surrender. Jace slowly lowered his hand, letting out a sigh.
“Sorry,” Jace muttered. “I just don’t understand why everyone reacts like that when they hear the name Arkhan Kess or anyone connected to him. I’m not on good terms with him right now… My whole family joined the Corps and became distant from me and my mom. It’s the only reason I want to join—to get close to them again. I was hoping no one would notice,” Jace admitted, looking down.
Max’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Are you kidding me? Arkhan Kess is a hero! He’s more than that—he’s a legend! Some of the things he’s done… they’re beyond belief, even by Tion standards as we know them!” Max gushed, clearly starstruck. Jace couldn’t help but smile at Max’s enthusiasm.
“People respect him,” Max continued. “And even joke about his crazy adventures, but they only ever say good things. He’s one of the greatest to ever do it. Commander Arkhan and Commander Kaelis are pioneers of this era. Heroes, Jace! And you’re his son!” Max’s excitement was palpable.
Jace felt a sharp pang of sadness. His father was a celebrated hero—a man admired by strangers and revered by people he’d never met—yet Jace hardly knew him. It hurt to realize how distant their relationship had become. But now wasn’t the time for self-pity. The path to his father was right in front of him, and he had to face it head-on.
“All examinees, quiet!” a stern voice barked from the front of the room. A man with slicked-back black hair and thick eyebrows stepped forward. “I am Sergeant Lynx of Apollo Company. I will be your supervising officer for today’s test. All examinees, make your way to the starting station of your choice. The tests will proceed exactly as Supreme Commander Vega explained. Now, move out!”
As he finished speaking, the three walls began to slide open, revealing the start of the obstacle courses. They all looked identical.
Max scanned the room in a panic. “Oh no! All the super rookies I wanted to watch are going to different stations! Which one do I choose?” he wailed dramatically.
Jace raised an eyebrow at him. Max was a unique character. “Come on, let’s just go to this one,” Jace said, heading toward the left chamber.
“B-but—” Max stammered, still torn.
“Are you coming or not?” Jace asked, cutting him off. “We’re not supposed to make alliances, remember?” he added, his tone serious.
Max, realizing he had no other choice, hurried after Jace with a resigned sigh. Jace cracked his knuckles, determination setting in. He was ready to prove himself—to earn the respect and attention of his father once and for all.