The grand hall feels less like an auditorium and more like a subterranean vault.
Massive, concrete pillars stretched into the gloom overhead, dripping with condensation that hisses as soon as it hit the exposed steam pipe below.
Thousands of students stands in packed rigid columns, a sea of dark , utilitarian jumpsuits that absorbs the little light flickers from the high-voltage lamps.
The air is thick with the scent of ozone, damp stones and collective suffocating dread.
Min-sun stands at the back, her fingers clenched into tight fist to keep from shaking.
Every second on her feet is agony.
Her fractured leg throbbing with intense , blinding heat, the bone screaming under the weight of her body.
She is barely a to to stand, her vision occasionally blurring into gray pools.
Beside her, a familiar hand reaches out, catching her elbow with a firm supportive grip.
Min-sun looks over to see Hina smiling warmly, a silent anchor amidst the terrifying crowd.
Woth that quiet assistance holding her up, Min-sun manages to straighten her spine, locking her jaw to hide the pain.
Up on the elevated in stage, Principal Kenjiro stands perfectly still.
The harsh overhead spotlights catches the sharp angles of his charcoal suit, making him look like a statue carved from obsidian.
Standing slightly behind him is his secretary, Ms.Sato, her arms cradling a digital ledger like a shield.
Kenjiro steps up to yhe central microphone.
When he spoke, his voice didn’t just echo, it rumbles through the floorboard, cold and heavy with absolute authority.
“Welcome candidates to your new academic year,”Kenjiro begins, his eyes swepong across the sea of identical jumpsuits.”
You stand here because you survived the crucible of the entrance test.
For that, you are considered exceptional.
Some among you have proven to be far more exceptional than the others” he pauses letting the weight of his words sink into the silent assembly before shifting to a profound , formal announcement.
“You have stretched across a new threshold of a new world,”Kenjiro continues, his voice rising in an encouraging yet stern candence.” From this moment on, your only purpose is to train hard.
You must push your minds and bodies past their breaking points.
Prepare yourselves for the missions that will soon be assigned to you.
.
To survive them you must learn to work effectively with your teams and your designated leaders.
His tone suddenly drops, dropping into a guttural rumble thar makes a collective rumble run through the room.
“Hear me well.”Kenjiro warns leaning slightly forward.” Do not allow yourself to become low-ranking candidates.
In the school, low-rank is a death sentence.
The weak are nothing more than fuel for the strong.”
He turns his head slightly towards his secetary .” Ms.Sato tell them of the hierarchy they need to climb.
”
Ms.Sato steps forward, her voice amplified clearly through the intercom system.” The Academy operates on a strict five-tier ranking system.
Listen closely to the specialized upgrade un locked at each level.
She taps her tablet and a massive holographic chart flickers to life above the stage.
” At the baseline is Iron Rank ,” Ms.Sato announces.” Your upgrade consists of standard-issue jumpsuits reinforced with basic physical impact dampening, along side standard, low-yield physical stimulant rations.
You have no authority.”
The hologram shifts to a dull bronze glow:Bronze Rank” Ability to unlock basic spiritual weaponry, specifically standard-issue spiritual daggers capable of channeling raw energy, and introduces low-grade essence capsules to slightly accelerated muscles recovery after trauma.”
The chart brightens into a metallic hue:Silver Rank
“Silver Rank grants you access to medium yield elemental combat rings and mid-grade spiritual armor that deflects minor demonic projectless. At this tier , you receive specialized tactical hud visors for enemy scanning.”
A brilliant golden light fills the screen:Gold Rank
“This Rank elevates your stus to quad leaders. You unlock high-yield energy-burst gauntlets, forbidden tier-three combat techniques scrolls, and premium cell rejuvenation serums that can mend non fatal flesh wounds instantly.”
Finally, a blinding diamond-like reflection dominates the hologram.
Diamond Rank
“And at the the absolute peak is diamond Rank. This Rank grants unrestricted access to forbidden demonic soul-blinding weaponry, class A-tactical command authority over lower squads and infinte classified aura-replenishing cores. You only answer to the Board.”
She turns off the display with a sharp swipe.” Fail to rise, and remain at the bottom completely discarded.”
“The hierarchy is absolute.” Kenjiro closes, cutting a microphone with a wave of his hand.” Dismissed.”
The thousands of students begins to file out in silent, synchronized columns.
Min-sun deliberately lags behind waiting for the crowd to thin.
She wants to walk awy.
She needs the space, even if every single part of her body is aching eith a deep, muscular exhaustion.
As she limpsdown the long , cold corridors, her breath feels heavy, emerging as faint plumes of white mist in the unheated hall.
She drags her fractured leg, each step sending a jolt of lighting up her spine. The source of this chapter is g.com.
How did I even survive that Spiritual Assimilation? she wonders, her mind drifting back to the horrific darkness of the testing chamber.
What demonic entity took over my body back then?
She can’t remember the exact moment of the awakening of only the terrifying sensation of something ancient, cold and immensely powerful tearing through her viens.
Unbeknownst to her, three shadows detaches themselves from the stonework of an intersecting hallway.
Two boys and a girl wearing slightly advanced uniform trims, traps her limping figures with predatory eyes.
“That’s her,”one boy murmurs, his voice hush but venomous.” The freak from the red-level test.”
“I heard the rumors, “the girl whispers back,her fingers flexing.” They say she could be a Murozi. A rare bloodline.”
The second boy scoffs, his face twisting into a cruel sneer.” A Murozi?
In a green jumpsuit?
Don’t make me laugh.
But if she is, we need to take out the competition before she takes us out.
Let’s finish this now while she’s broken.”
Led by the first boy, the trio begins seeking up on her from behind, their boot making no sound on the cold concrete.
Min-sun continues to limo forward into the darkest stretch of the residential hall.
It was barely possible to see anything, the overhead bulbs spaced too far apart, casting long, overlapping shadow.
The air feels restless, vibrating with a tense static energy that makes the hairs on her arm stand up.
She paused abruptly.
Her good eye narrows as she glares into the darkness of the hall.
The ambient noise of the facility has died down; the sounding echoing through the corridor is distant, metallic thud of other students shutting the dormitory doors far ahead.
A sudden weight of regret washes over her.
She deeply wishes she went directly to her rooms with Hina instead of walking alone.
Before her eyes , she shadows behind her fractures.
Three figures launches out of the dark straight towards her, their faces illuminated by the harsh, violent glow of their energy-infused fists.
Min-sun’s eyes widens in sheer horror as the light rushes to consume her.