"The difficulty… is black." Lila shuddered.
"HO HO! Taken aback?! How enthralling!" The Announcer ascended, further dramatizing this performance.
"King, I thought we were no longer implementing this difficulty." Two asked.
"And who told you to think?" King replied sternly.
"My apologies…"
"There are a few diamonds down there, drowning in a sea of coal. Only with this amount of pressure can we make them evolve, or they'll die trying." King stared at Kori who from the looks of it was returning the favor.
"It was him! He did it on purpose!" Kori gritted her teeth.
King slightly smiled seeing her plight from a distance. "That Bastard!" She added, his expression angering her further.
Suddenly the rune shaped scar on Kori and Kei's hand started to leak a black ooze that stretched to their knuckles like a glove before retracting itself to their wrist. Soon it began to shift into a black band.
It all happened so fast they couldn't even react.
'This is it. The reason I stepped foot in this city willingly and started this path of my own volition, due to this scar. To this device.' Kei thought as the black band pulsed, coiling tight around his left wrist like a second skin.
Blue ripples in the sky not too far above the heads of the participants began to open up. Through them more participants fell.
"Hey! That's the last of them there, huh! Prospects who tried to skip out on the Selection. Shame on them!" The announcer yelled.
The thought that ate at him, forcing him, finally jumped to the forefront of his mind. 'I saw a glimpse of it... I would've wound up here anyway.'
"Being a prospect isn't a small thing right?! It means you're chosen by the top houses, it means they put their trust in you! They see you have potential to take the world back from the Zeytians and the corruption! It's your duty to participate!" As the Announcer continued to fire up the crowd, the cheering got louder and louder.
The King motioned his hand to halt the announcer's performance causing him to speak in a tone more serious.
"Ahem. This year's trial will be Corruption cleansing. Although this trial contains a concept that may be new to participants it is very much possible." The announcer stated.
"As many know, due to the corruption many beasts spill over into our world. What you don't know yet, is to cleanse an area you must first clear the area of the beasts that have spilled over to roam it. Once you do that you will feel the area you are trying to cleanse open itself to you. It could be a light, it could be a random fire, it could be a tingle on the back of your neck, either way it's a sign and that sign will be your 'Entrance' into the heart of the area you're trying to cleanse. Once you enter, break the source of corruption."
"Question Sir?!" A participant yelled.
"Yes?" The announcer descended a little to hover above him.
"How does one enter with their house?"
"Don't focus too much on the entrance itself. Ones in the area can see the same 'sign' as you or their own individually. But they only show up once the exact area you are trying to cleanse is clear of any corrupted beasts, so think of it more as a gateway. If the members in your house decide to accept the sign and enter, you'll face the source of corruption together."
"What happens to our bodies once we try to cleanse the area?" The curious participant went on to question.
"If you are asking if your physical body enters the area, it does not. We call it the purgatory world, you will be able to feel, but your body there, will only be a manifestation of your spirit. You will not be defenseless in the physical world as no time passes while in the purgatory world as well."
"Thank you sir!"
The participants all murmured amongst themselves. Kei, Kori, Lok, and Lila were all still on edge and to them no new information or tips would ease that.
"To beat this trial you must do two things. Cleanse the entirety of the area we assign, and place a total of three settlements there."
"What?! Do we have to build these settlements ourselves?" A participant murmured.
"This seems really hard… are we going to be ok?" Another voice can be heard.
"We're really going to cleanse and fight corrupted beasts as participants? I thought only the Salvation Army does that type of thing."
"It may sound hard but it can be done. We've even arranged rewards for those who triumph. We're not only giving coins, Spirit Essence, and special items but also Spirit Essence Gauntlets otherwise known as S.E.G's, which is the most powerful 'spell mechanism' to date, the ones the prospects have on their wrist right now. All you have to do is contribute to the objective and your rewards will be given based on that."
A portal opened up in the arena behind the announcer. Some participants were ready for this, some of them weren't, but their heart skipped a beat all the same. It was their lives that were about to be on the line at this point after all.
"At five separate locations there will be one suitcase. All you have to do is infuse them with your essence and a timer will begin. When the timer is complete and the case is left unbothered it will expand into the settlement, such is possible due to the marvelous beauty that lies in the capabilities and utilization of Spirit Essence." As the announcer gave the last portion of the rules the portal behind began to pull participants in.
"Shame, this generation only seems to have a very few worth noting, well… How about some in-game review." The announcer's lens shuttered ominously.
The group tried to hold off as much as they could. "Lok! If you see something, anything! You run or you hide! Do not fight ok?! Just find me!" Kei yelled.
Lok had never seen this sort of desperation on his brother's face. It was a look that was unlike burden, something he couldn't find described in the books he read. "I'll find you!" Lok responded.
"Stick to the plan we made for the deathmatch I'm sure it'll fit the most!" Kori fought against the gusting winds, participants flew past her into the portal left and right.
"Kori!" Lila cried out. Kori didn't realize why but she found her feet not planted on the ground. She wasn't going into the main portal, but a separate smaller one created by her S.E.G. In a blink, she was gone.
Lok reached out and tried to warn Kei but the same happened to him. Now there was just Lila and Lok and the few who managed to not get pulled in so far.
"Take my hand! We'll make it back to Kori and Kei together! I won't let anything happen to you!" Lila yelled out with conviction grabbing a hold of Lok as their feet ascended from the ground.
"Ok! We'll find them together-" Lok tried to respond but at the next instant a participant came barreling towards Lila making her lose her grip of Lok.
"NO!" Lok yelled before a participant flew into him as well. Upon being hit his eyes began to slowly close while he and Lila drifted into two different ends of the portal.
***
"Damn it! It wasn't supposed to be like this!" Kei cursed as he fell from the sky. Wind howled in his ears. Sweat flung from his face. He thrashed, failing to steady himself.
"Why the hell is it never in order?! What's the point of these glimpses if I can't tell exactly what happens next?!"
He fell through the air damning himself and the power that took hold of his mind. If others knew they may have thought it was a blessing to see the future, but to Kei it was a curse.
[Danger to user detected]
Words appeared from the S.E.G on Kei's wrist, stunning him. Quickly approaching the ground Kei braced himself.
[Landing safe]
[Vitals fine]
[Map 'Bermuda Triangle: Home of The Fallen'' recognized]
[Suitcase hotspots located]
[2,500 meters away from suitcase hotspot]
Nothing had happened, it was as if a pillow of air had saved him from his fall. Now that he could get a good look around it wasn't the ground he landed on but the old broken down roof of a semi tall building.
If he looked further out he saw trees. They were unlike the forest he lived in. The forbidden forest near Utopia had been cleansed by the Salvation Army, so its trees remained green. The forest surrounding this destroyed settlement, as the rest of the world's land and seas… were red.
All of it. Seas, Grass, Trees, and if it wasn't red it was worse, Black. The color symbolizing that 'Calamity' or 100% of the corruption had taken effect, those areas birthing the strongest monsters to human knowledge right now, besides Zeytians of course.
[Would you like to name your spirit companion?]
"What the hell? I don't have time for this. I need to find Lok, the others will come after. I don't fully know how this house thing works, but I know they're alive. I can feel it, I just need to figure out where they are."
[Maps of local terrain can be formed through scanning. Would you like to name your spirit companion?]
"A map? Good! Can you scan for any nearby entities, human or non-human? I need to find my brother!" Kei urged as his hopes rose.
[The period of awakening is closing. Within one minute if you choose not to awaken your companion through naming I will remain a program focused simply on your safety.]
"What's the difference? Hurry up and give me the map damn it!"
[Gauntlets contain the soul of a past soldier. Awaken that soul to be your guide, they can give opinion, feedback, and can fully express emotion for deeper companionship. If not awakened I will remain a program focused only on your immediate survival and enforces your survival only.]
"Alright fine if this helps create the map faster then so be it. I don't know, Arthur?"
[15 seconds. Your gauntlet contains the soul of a female soldier, will you still name her 'Arthur'.]
"Damn it! Sophie, then."
[Your companion will awaken in 10 seconds.]
"Finally… don't worry Lok, I'm coming soon."
{Run Away}
"What the hell!" Kei, taken aback, searched his surroundings only to find no one there, yet someone or something had just spoken directly into his head.
Even if it startled him it was almost as if he heard that voice before but never as loud. The voice he had always heard when beasts were close.
[It was Eden.]
"What?"
[It's called 'Eden's Final Gift'. It's a warning.]
"A warning of what?"
[Eden can see outcomes. Her voice alerts you whenever a being that has the intent and has killed you in 70% of those outcomes gets near. The more you hear it, the closer the being is, but the louder, the louder means the outcome of you dying goes beyond 70%.]
"Right from the start, this place is hell, just like every glimpse appeared to be. What should I do?" Kei muttered to himself.
[What else? Run away, duh.]
Kei's eyes twitched after reading it. He was on the roof of a random building with no idea how to get off at all.
[Unknown life within vicinity]
[User is in danger]
[Unknown life approaching]
The sky was dark, he was unable to see very far, not to mention the bottom of the building, he could only see about five stories below him while looking over the edge.
Seeing there was no door to go down on the roof and no way off he readied himself mentally for whatever approached. Then it came.
A corrupted beast. With its sharp claws it jumped from the side of the building to part of the roof opposite of Kei.
{Run away}
{Leave}
{Don't Fight}
"What is this thing?" Kei said his eyes locked onto it, for the first time ignoring the soothing whispers in order to focus on the danger ahead.
[That is a Standard Trifled beast. It has only just been born recently or has not absorbed much corruption. Either way it is too much for a single participant to handle. You have an approximate 48% chance of surviving this encounter if you jump off of the roof this instant.]
"It'd just jump down after me." Kei said his mind only focused on getting back to Lok. In the waiting room Kei could not choose what weapon he wanted to get. All he knew was that he had good instincts and good eyes.
He made a makeshift one in the forbidden forests of the outskirts before, even if it was clumsy he learned to hunt with it all the time. The weapon that asked to be wielded by his hand the most was none other than the bow.
He drew his bow circling the beast as it also circled him both waiting for the slimmest opportunity to kill without hesitation.
The beast had the head of an old folktale dragon but a body type akin to a grizzly bear. Instead of fur it was covered in metal spikes with a mace-like weapon at the end of its long tail.
The beast had lost its patience, sure it could beat Kei, It roared angrily before rushing in. Kei did not falter, even while knowing the odds. He rushed in still aiming his bow.
The creature raised it's sharp claws ready to strike but Kei slid underneath, his eyes didn't miss a beat. Seeing a spot unprotected by the metal he released his arrow, impaling the beast.
[You idiot. You only made it more angry, jump off the roof now or you'll die.]
"If it can bleed it can die. I'll make it to Lok, and I'll make sure this thing doesn't follow me to him." Just then Kei had a look in his eye one couldn't explain, a man with only one thing left to protect. He drew his bow once more, "Not one soul on Earth will bring harm to my brother…"
Roar!
The beast ran at him again but this time it had lowered it's body, as if it had adapted to Kei's last move.
'By the way you circled me, I can tell, these creatures aren't just beasts, they're intelligent. It did that to measure me, test my fear, reflexes, if I had wavered on anything it would've attacked sooner.'
Kei leapt, taking an arrow from his quiver while straddling the beast. He planted it directly in the thing's right eye.
Although his strategy worked he didn't account for the sheer strength the creature wielded. It threw him off in an instant.
[Dodge!]
As Kei landed the beast swung its tail hitting him directly in his ribs. The boy yelped in pain as what initially hurt quickly became anguish.
From a singular hit his ribs were broken leaving him struggling to stand. Luckily he was hit far enough away to recover his footing.
[Your chances of survival just lowered to 28%. You can trust in my judgment. I will aid you in your quest to find your brother but first you have to be safe. Jump now while you're close!]
Kei held his abdomen, his hand full of blood, looked at the band on his wrist then at the beast and accepted Sophie was right.
Drawing the bow once more Kei had shot at the beast's other eye and jumped from the roof immediately.
"Let's call it a draw." Kei said weakly.
Roar!
Suddenly huge collisions could be heard coming down the side of the building.
"Relentless hardass." Kei cursed the beast as he looked up to see it falling towards him.
It immediately shot it spikes forward at Kei, though a few grazed him he did not get hit vitally by using his quick reflexes to use the small touch of the building while falling to avoid any major damage.
'Was it toying with me? Since when the hell could it shoot?'
The creature gained on him, making him pull back the string of his bow once more, but it simply bounced off the beast's metal fur. As it approached it was met with a kick which it retaliated with a claw to Kei's stomach.
No matter how strong Kei was he couldn't help but succumb to the pain and let out a blood curdling scream.
Even though Kei kicked it a few feet away this left the beast within range to strike him once more with its tail, hitting him in the back, his face bounced against the building.
Kei's scream turned into a silent inhale while his body tried to search for a breath.
In a bid to end Kei the beast shot the last of it's spikes but to no avail. The ground right under them, the landing made the beast miss all but two spikes which had landed in Kei's shoulder and leg.
A huge rumble could be heard from a block away, the beast crashed while Kei's band expanded back into the fingerless gauntlet and landed just as he did earlier, with the help of Sophie.
[Idiot.]
Kei was alive but unconscious, but Sophie could barely get any readings on the corrupted creature. It was alive, the outcome of this battle seemed to depend on who would wake up first.
The corrupted beast arose first. Slowly it crept towards Kei, its body damaged from the fall. All of a sudden his arm began to rise, air blew from his gauntlet, causing Kei's face to scrape along the ground as Sophie forced his body down the street.
[Spirit Essence 2/100.]
[Wake up you dunce!]
Kei's body stopped moving and his arm fell. Using the last of her Spirit Essence, Sophie sent a small electric current through Kei's body in a bid to wake him up.
[Spirit Essence 0/100]
The gauntlet immediately retracted back into a band around the wrist.
[Shit!]
The corrupted monster approached. Now standing over Kei it opened its mouth to his exposed back and torn clothes preparing itself for its meal.
Bam!
Kei's body twisted, backhanding the beast while slowly rising from the ground. The creature was confused as it thought that Kei was surely dead.
As he rose his moon behind him shined brightly and his cloak fell from his body. His mouth was agape as if he was searching for a breath yet his eyes rolled back, as if a trance had taken him.
Appearing with a perimeter of fire, a small circular tattoo of a raven found itself on the left side of Kei's neck that slid into feathers on his left arm down to his S.E.G. His eyes fell on the corrupted creature.
It hesitated, but Kei pressed towards it. He pulled the spikes from his body rushing to the beast. That moment of hesitation was all Kei needed. Dodging the beast's claw he stabbed into its ribs forcing the creature to fall on it's back.
He took the last spike he had and drove it into the beast's chest, over, and over, and over.
Kei's clothes were torn, blood filled his mouth leaving a metallic taste, his lungs burned, and when he came to he was not only covered in the beast's blood, but also his own.
"Death's come for me many times now. It's come for me again tonight, and I won. Not only for me, but I'll never lose again." He panted before falling onto the chest of the beast.
Hovering above, a being's presence was masked by the night sky. Dressed in a suit and tie with their hands calmly placed behind their back. "So the boy lived after all. The King makes questionable choices. Leaving the half breed alive when it was hunted to die. I won't broadcast your identity yet, only when viewership peaks will the rest of the world know. I will continue watching, Zeytian, there are other stories I must share."
[Battle State Acquired: Raven's Perseverance.]
[Spirit Essence of 'Standard Trifled Beast' absorbed.]
[Rank up acquired: 'Unawakened' to 'Low Purified'.]
[Cleanse your spirit to further evolve.]
[Spirit Essence restored: 100/100.]
[Enhancing healing capabilities.]
[Spirit Essence is being used: 99/100.]
[Spirit Essence is being used: 98/100.]
[Congratulations idiot. You lived.]