The recruitment hall was suffocating. Hundreds of hopefuls crammed together, all dressed in standard-issue combat gear, their voices a mix of excitement and anxiety. Some had trained their entire lives for this moment. Others were desperate, willing to throw themselves into the lion's den for a chance at glory.
Noah Carter stood among them, his fists clenched tight. This was it.
He had spent the last seven years surviving in the ruins of Aremire, fighting for scraps, dodging death at every corner. Ever since The Last Cascade stole everything from him, he had no home, no family—only a burning desire to never be that helpless again.
He was here for one reason: to join OASIS—the military's most elite fighting force.
His target? The 1st Infantry—The Vanguard. The first into battle. The last to retreat.
> "All recruits, silence!"
A booming voice cut through the noise like a blade. A towering officer in a pristine black combat uniform stepped onto the elevated platform at the front of the hall. His military insignia glowed faintly under the lights—Vice Captain of the 4th Infantry.
> "You are not soldiers. You are not warriors. You are recruits—cannon fodder until proven otherwise. If you think this trial is a game, leave now."
No one moved.
> "Good." He sneered. "Let's see if you're worth keeping alive."
The Trial Begins
The candidates were marched into a massive combat simulator—a steel-clad dome stretching a quarter-mile wide. Thick, reinforced walls lined with shock-absorbing plating hinted at what was to come.
Large mechanical doors slammed shut behind them.
Overhead, an intercom crackled to life.
> "This is a live-combat trial. The creatures you face today are real. They are bred for combat. If you hesitate, you die."
A holographic display flared up, showcasing the three objectives.
1. Survive for 30 minutes.
2. Reach the first checkpoint.
3. Eliminate at least one D-Class threat.
> "If you are injured, press the emergency button on your collar to signal surrender. Otherwise, fight or be slaughtered."
A low growl echoed through the arena.
Noah's stomach twisted. They were here.
The First Kill
The first three creatures lumbered into view—D-Class threats, Breakers
Seven-foot-tall beasts resembling mutated bears with razor-sharp claws capable of cleaving steel. Their glowing red eyes locked onto the recruits.
> "Move as a unit!" Someone shouted. "Don't break formation—"
One of the recruits, a cocky, muscular guy, charged in alone.
> "Watch me handle this!"
With a battle cry, he swung a combat blade at the nearest Breaker
His weapon barely scratched its hide.
The beast roared and struck.
In a single, brutal motion, the creature's claws slashed across his chest—armor shattered, blood sprayed.
He hit the ground, screaming.
> "MEDIC! MEDIC!"
> "He's out!"
A flash of red light marked his elimination as the emergency signal on his collar activated.
> "Dumbass," Noah muttered, gripping his weapon tighter.
Two other recruits panicked and ran.
The Breakers pounced.
Their screams were cut short.
> "Focus up! Don't break formation!" A recruit—Ethan, a lean but sharp-eyed fighter—shouted.
The remaining group spread out in a semi-circle, keeping the beasts in their line of sight.
Noah exhaled, adrenaline surging through his veins.
> "Screw it."
He charged in.
Ducking under a wide swing, he drove his combat knife into the creature's side, but he just scratched the skin and cut away its fur, he immediately pivots and drive the blade across the same spot he just cut across end and this time, it made a cut
The breaker roared in fury, backhanding him across the chest.
The impact sent him flying. His body crashed into the dirt, breath knocked from his lungs.
Pain exploded through his ribs.
> "Not enough."
Gritting his teeth, he forced himself up.
> "Hit the joints!" He barked to the others. "Go for the legs!"
Ethan and another recruit synchronized their attacks, slashing at the beast's knees while Noah threw his entire weight onto its back, stabbing downward.
The Breaker staggered. Then collapsed.
> "Kill confirmed!" Ethan shouted.
A green light flashed on their HUDs.
They had taken down their first enemy.
Noah wiped blood from his lip, heart pounding. They could win this.
Then, everything went to hell.
The Fall
A fourth Breaker burst through the side gate—larger than the others.
A mutated variant.
Before anyone could react, it lunged at the group, swiping a recruit clean off his feet and slamming him into the ground.
> "SCATTER!" Ethan roared.
Panic erupted.
The group fell apart.
Some ran. Some fought. Most were torn apart.
Noah saw a young recruit—barely 17—frozen in place.
> "MOVE, DAMN IT!" Noah shouted.
The kid couldn't react in time.
The mutant Breakers claws descended.
> "No!"
Noah threw himself forward, tackling the recruit out of the way.
Pain.
White-hot agony ripped through Noah's back.
He hit the ground, blood pooling beneath him.
His vision blurred. His limbs felt heavy.
> "Damn it… is this it?"
The last thing he saw before darkness took him was a silhouette stepping between him and the beast.
A single, devastating blade strike tore through the creature.
Then, everything faded.
The Aftermath
Noah woke up to the smell of antiseptic and sterilized metal.
His entire body ached.
His vision adjusted, revealing an infirmary—dim lights, white sheets, bandages wrapped around his torso.
> "Well, you sure know how to get yourself nearly killed."
Noah turned his head.
A note sat on the table beside him.
> "Thank you for saving my son. – Duke Reinhardt"
His stomach dropped.
The General?
The legendary commander of OASIS himself?
> "I didn't… make the cut, did I?"
A nurse beside him sighed.
> "No. The 1st Infantry was beyond your level."
His heart sank.
Everything he fought for… and he still wasn't good enough.
> "…But you did make the 6th Infantry."
His eyes widened.
> "Welcome to OASIS, Cadet Noah Carter."
Silence.
Then, Noah laughed. A pained, exhausted laugh.
He was still alive.
And his journey was only beginning.
End of Chapter One