Astra sat quietly, inspecting the gun in his hand. He checked the weapon carefully, his fingers tracing the sleek surface as he ensured it was in working order. He wasn’t here by accident—there had to be a reason.

Why bring me here? What are they trying to achieve?

His gaze shifted to the room around him, filled with aliens of different species. The variety of captives didn’t sit right with him.

Where did they come from? Beings from different worlds? And why give us weapons if we're prisoners? What are they preparing us for?

The thought gnawed at him, but the answer felt just out of reach. He had seen prisoners disappear monthly, taken beyond those thick, steel doors. None of them ever returned. That much was clear.

They’re testing us. But for what?

The blue sphere embedded within the gun felt oddly familiar, though he couldn’t quite place why.

Suddenly, the overhead speaker crackled to life, and a voice began speaking in an alien language. Astra looked up, his attention shifting from his weapon to the speaker.

"In just a few hours, you will face a great challenge together. Beyond that door lies the path to your survival. Your task is simple: persevere through what awaits, and you will move forward. As you work through the trial, remember: success depends on your determination. At the end, three will carry the legacy, but all must contribute to the journey."

The room filled with a tense silence as the speaker's announcement echoed through the walls. Astra, not understanding the alien language, caught the intensity of the words through the reactions of those around him.

Among the prisoners, there are ten in total. Six of them appear to understand the language, while Astra and three others do not. Astra watches as one of the prisoners, Among the group, the alien with sharp teeth, four eyes, and long hair, steps forward. He wields a massive two-handed sword, its blade reflecting the dim light. His eyes sweep over the others, taking in their wary expressions.

"My name is Ejio. I'm sure that we are all strangers, but if we want to stay alive, we must work together, and with my guidance, we can overcome any problem."

The room buzzes with murmurs, a mix of skepticism and consideration. Astra remains silent, taking in the situation. His eyes flicker to the other prisoners who, like him, don’t understand what was said. They seem just as lost, watching the reactions of those who do comprehend the alien language.

Across the room, the pinkish alien girl stood alone, her stance relaxed but alert. Astra had seen her before, glimpsing her through the narrow flap of his cell door whenever a new prisoner was brought in. She seemed completely uninterested in what was being said.

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The towering humanoid eagle with brown feathers and a cold demeanor narrows his eyes at Ejio. His massive frame, holding an energy shield and with a hammer slung across his back, radiates a sense of intimidation.

"And why should you be the leader?"

Ejio, unfazed, meets his gaze with confidence.

"It's simple because, frankly, I'm just smarter and stronger than the rest of you."

The eagle-man takes a step forward, his massive frame casting a shadow over Ejio.

"Let's see if you can back those words with action."

Before the tension can erupt into violence, a soft, trembling voice cuts through the air.

"P-Please… we shouldn’t fight.”

All eyes turn to the source—a small alien girl with pale skin, two delicate horns, fangs, and large, pitch-black eyes. She steps forward hesitantly, drawing the group’s attention.

The eagle-man glares at her, unimpressed.

"Why should we listen to you little girl?"

The girl stutters, clearly intimidated but determined to speak.

“I-I’m a Genesis user… an arcane type.”

Astra, though unable to understand the language, felt the shift in the room’s atmosphere. The other prisoners fell into a heavy silence, their attention now fully on the small girl. Even the pinkish alien girl, who had seemed so disinterested, glanced at the girl, her expression unreadable, before turning away once more.

“A genii? You expect us to believe that? If you’re so special, why are you here trapped with the rest of us?"

Her hands trembled, but she didn’t back down.

“My ability… it’s for support, not fighting. I’m a Vigorize type. My power is called Blood Elixir. If… if you drink my blood, it can heal your wounds and make you stronger for a moment.”

"Prove it" the eagle-man demanded.

The small girl hesitated for a moment before reaching into her clothes and pulling out a small knife. She made a swift cut across her finger, and her eyes suddenly changed, the pupils narrowing into red slits. A drop of red, shimmering blood welled up. She held out her hand.

“T-Take it,"

The eagle-man shuddered involuntarily as he saw her pupils, a slight tremor running through him. The glowing red in her eyes compelling him to believe her. He nodded and he stepped back without a word.

Ejio, however, stepped forward, his eyes gleaming with curiosity.

“Let me be the one to test it.”

Without hesitation, Ejio took her hand and dipped a finger into the drop of blood. He brought it to his mouth, and after a moment, his posture straightened, his muscles tightening as if energized by a sudden surge of power.

"Well, it’s true. You are a Genii. But you’re still just a support type… let me lead, okay? You can be my second-in-command," Ejio said confidently.

The small girl smiled softly and replied, "I-I'm fine with that. I never wanted to lead anyway."

An older alien with a long white beard, one broken horn, and a wrinkled face, who had been quietly observing the exchange, stepped forward. He held a wand in his hand, his demeanor calm and wise.

"It appears the matter is resolved. It’s a pleasure to meet you, young lady."

"Nice to meet you too," she responded.

"Alright, enough with the formalities. Let’s focus on discussing our abilities. If we understand each other’s strengths, we’ll be able to work together more effectively." Ejio interrupted.

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