The room of candidates was enveloped in a heavy silence, broken only by the sound of nervous footsteps and rapid breathing. The dim lights cast long shadows on the walls, creating an oppressive atmosphere that seemed to suffocate even the most confident. Seraphina, still disguised as Choi Eun-kyung, sat in a corner, her eyes watching every movement around her. She scanned the other candidates with a trained eye, seeking to identify potential threats or allies. There was a striking variety of people in the room, from battle-scarred ex-military men to hackers who seemed more at home in front of a screen than on a battlefield. Some chatted in hushed tones, exchanging information or trying to form alliances. Others stood in isolation, like her, observing and calculating. Seraphina noticed that while many of the candidates were impressive in terms of physical and mental abilities, they were still far from the level of the members of the Remnants of the Ruins. She saw a muscular man lifting improvised weights with ease, a woman with sharp eyes who seemed to memorize every detail of the room, and a young man manipulating an electronic device with impressive dexterity. They were strong, yes, but Seraphina knew that if she had to, she could outmaneuver them.
"They're good," she thought, "but they're nothing compared to ours."
Suddenly, the lights in the room flickered, and a low rumble echoed off the walls. All eyes turned to the center of the room, where a raised platform began to rise from the floor. Standing on it was Ethan, his signature smile plastered on his face, but his eyes glowing with a dark light.
"Welcome, candidates," he said, his voice amplified by an invisible sound system. "You are here because you have been chosen to join the Order of Erebus. But know that only the strongest, the smartest, and the most determined will survive."
The room fell silent, the tension in the air almost palpable. Seraphina watched Ethan closely, trying to decipher his intentions. He seemed different, darker and more calculating than she remembered. It was as if he had transformed into a colder, more ruthless version of himself.
"The first phase of the trials will now begin," Ethan continued, his voice now filled with a seriousness that made even the most confident of people shiver. "This phase is designed to test your physical abilities, your mental toughness, and your ability to think under pressure. But know that this is only the beginning."
He paused, his eyes sweeping the room as if assessing each candidate. "There is no room for weakness here. Here, only the strongest survive."
Seraphina felt a chill run down her spine, but she did not allow fear to overcome her. She knew that no matter what Ethan and the Order of Erebos threw at her, she was ready.
Ethan stepped forward, his posture now more imposing. "The first phase will be divided into three parts. Each part will test a different skill, and only those who complete all three parts will advance to the next phase." He raised his hand, and a hologram appeared in the air, showing a detailed map of an area that appeared to be a dense and dangerous forest. "The first part of the trial will be an obstacle course. You will be taken to a secluded area, where you will have to navigate a course filled with traps, physical and mental challenges. The goal is simple: reach the end of the course as quickly as possible." Seraphina watched the hologram intently, her mind working quickly to memorize every detail. She knew that in a trial like this, every second would count. "The second part will be a test of endurance," Ethan continued. "You will be placed in an extreme situation, where you will have to survive with limited resources. Here, your ability to think quickly and adapt will be crucial." He paused, his eyes glowing with a dark light. "And the third part will be a combat test. You will be pitted against each other in direct confrontations, where you will have to prove that you are capable of facing any threat." The room fell silent, the tension in the air almost unbearable. Seraphina felt a lump form in her throat, but she did not allow fear to overcome her. She knew that no matter what was to come, she was ready. As the candidates were led to the starting area for the test, Seraphina continued to observe the other participants. She noticed that many of them were nervous, their hands shaking and their eyes full of doubt. Others seemed overconfident, as if they underestimated what they were about to face. She approached a group that seemed to be forming an alliance. They were talking in low voices, planning how they would help each other during the test. Seraphina listened intently, but did not join them. She knew that in an environment like this, trusting strangers could be dangerous. "Aren't you going to join us?" asked one of the candidates, a tall, muscular man with a scar on his face.
Seraphina looked at him, her eyes shining with quiet determination. "I work best alone."
The man laughed, but there was something dark in his expression. "Good luck, then. You'll need it."
Seraphina didn't answer, but the look in her eyes said it all. She wasn't here to make friends. She was here to complete the mission.
When all the candidates were ready, Ethan appeared again, this time on a raised platform that gave a panoramic view of the starting area. He looked down at everyone with a dark smile.
"The test begins now," he said, his voice filled with a seriousness that made even the most confident of them shiver. "Remember: only the strongest survive."
A beep echoed, and the candidates set off toward the forest. Seraphina ran with determination, her eyes fixed on the horizon. She knew that no matter what lay ahead, she was ready.
Seraphina and the other candidates set off into the dense, dangerous forest. Tensions were high, and the mystery of what lay ahead created an oppressive and exciting atmosphere.
Chaos reigned in the Order of Erebos' death race. Bodies fell along the path, swallowed by hidden traps or cut down by relentless competitors. The number of candidates had already dwindled dramatically, and the brutality of the test intensified with each kilometer covered. Seraphina moved with surgical precision. Her body was an extension of her will, gliding through the debris and rubble while her eyes scanned the terrain ahead. Any hesitation was a death sentence, and she had no intention of being eliminated. All around her, candidates used every strategy possible to gain an advantage. Some formed temporary alliances, while others ambushed rivals, throwing them into the traps strewn along the path. A group of three runners tried to surround her, but before they could act, Seraphina leapt backward, spinning in the air and throwing a metal shard into the knee of one of them. He screamed and fell, being immediately trampled by other competitors. It was then that she noticed someone staring at her. A tall, slender man with disheveled blond hair and a cold smile was running a few meters behind her. Unlike the others, he didn't seem out of breath or desperate. There was something about him that Seraphina recognized immediately: he wasn't just a candidate. He was a hunter. "Finally someone interesting," the man said, his voice thick with irony.
Seraphina didn't respond. She just quickened her pace, feeling the battle instinct awaken within her.
The man followed close behind her, easily dodging traps and ignoring the other competitors. If he wanted a duel, she was more than willing to accept it.
The air was thick with the metallic smell of blood and gunpowder, while screams of pain became distant echoes in the vastness of the proving ground. The sun hid behind heavy clouds, casting a gloomy gloom over the scene of death. Only 9,738 candidates remained.
Seraphina walked forward, her sharp senses tracking every movement around her. Her golden eyes scanned every detail of her path, while her legs moved with surgical precision between debris and hidden traps. Each step was a dance between life and death.
The suspension bridge that stretched out ahead seemed like the greatest challenge yet. Rusted metal plates swayed over the abyss, while sharp wires and hidden sensors awaited any careless movement.
But that wasn't what made Seraphina's heart beat faster. It was the presence that hovered in the shadows. Vladimir Kaine.
He watched her, always a few steps behind, with that cold smile carved into his pale face. Like a predator toying with its prey, testing how much she could take before pounced.
"Are you nervous, Shiny Girl?" His husky voice cut through the silence, low enough for only her to hear. "Or are you saving the best for last?"
Seraphina didn't respond, keeping her eyes fixed on the platform ahead. "Be careful," Kaine murmured, a slight smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "The best often comes when no one expects it."
He laughed softly, the sound almost gentle but filled with a veiled threat, the tension between them palpable even amidst the chaos of the race. They both knew this confrontation was inevitable, but for now, the game continued.
Time seemed to distort as the finish line approached. Every meter gained came at the cost of lives. Candidates were torn apart by hidden traps or pushed to their deaths by desperate competitors.
Seraphina glided across the bridge with fluid agility, dodging hidden blades and projectiles fired from the sides. Her body glowed with shimmering reflections as her skill began to manifest, leaving a faint trail of light behind her.
But Vladimir Kaine followed close behind, his footsteps silent, his movements calculated, he seemed not only to avoid traps but to anticipate them. Seraphina could feel his presence getting closer and closer.
"Aren't you going to tell me your name?" he teased, leaping over a crevice while dodging a hidden laser with almost inhuman precision. "Would you rather I engrave it on your tombstone after this is all over?"
Seraphina smiled, even as sweat dripped down her forehead. "I'd rather you remember it when you're on the ground, begging for your life."
His eyes glinted with amusement. "Then come make me mark you on the head."
The final confrontation was about to explode, but before either of them could strike, a metallic roar echoed across the field. The platforms began to destabilize, while attack drones appeared from the sky, firing volleys at the survivors.
The race would not end with just a victor, it would end in a massacre. Seraphina and Kaine looked at each other for a brief moment. Their battle would have to wait, at least for a few more minutes, the hell was only beginning.
The battlefield transformed into a hellish sight, with bodies falling all around and the screams of those fighting for survival mixing with the roar of the killing machines. Seraphina ran, her legs burning with exhaustion, but her mind remained sharp. Every fiber of her being was focused on a single goal: "survive and win."
Vladimir Kaine remained at her side, like a disturbing shadow, matching her every move. Neither dared to move away, knowing that the slightest mistake could cost them their lives. The last few hundred meters unfolded like a deadly dance. Each step was a silent contest, an exchange of glances filled with hostility and mutual respect. They dodged attacks, pushed other candidates out of the way, but never took their eyes off each other. When the finish line finally came into view, they both sprinted with all their remaining speed. The world around them became nothing more than a blur of chaos and destruction. Each heartbeat felt like an explosion in their ears. In the final meters, Seraphina channeled the last spark of her strength, her feet barely touching the ground as her shimmering energy enveloped her body. But Kaine was there, right next to her, the final moment a flash of pure tension. They crossed the line at the same time, the automated system signaling the result, a draw. Silence hung over the field for a few seconds, drowning out even the distant sound of death. Seraphina was breathing heavily, her eyes fixed on the holographic screen that displayed the results. Kaine broke the silence with a slow, cold smile. "It seems that the Shiny Girl can run after all." Seraphina glared at him, still trying to control her breathing. "And you're not as fast as you think, Dark Predator." The tension between them intensified. This contest was far from over. But now... they both knew. The real battle was just beginning. The race had turned into a killing field. The last leg of the race revealed its true face: it wasn't just about speed or endurance, but about control, instinct, and above all... intimidation. Armed drones chased the survivors through the sky. Platforms crumbled under the feet of the slowest ones. Explosions opened craters and threw bodies into the abyss. But in the center of it all, two figures advanced like gods at war. Seraphina shone with her calculated elegance. Her movement was like a beam of light, cutting through the air with deadly grace. Beside her, Vladimir Kaine looked like a shadow that moved with predatory perfection, shaped to kill, but holding the blade just for the pleasure of dancing a little longer. The finish line, a black steel gate with the symbol of the Order of Erebus carved on top, loomed in the distance. But fate, as always, had its fun before the end. Five candidates armed with stolen equipment and hungry eyes appeared from the flanks. Dirty, exhausted, desperate… but dangerous. They had observed the two leading and decided to bet everything on a final offensive. "If we take down one of them, the spot is guaranteed!" one of them shouted, twisting an electric current around his arm. "They're distracted by the race, they won't expect an attack now!" Seraphina and Kaine stopped almost at the same time. The five advanced, three focusing on Kaine, two on Seraphina. "Enough of this," she muttered, her eyes still hidden beneath the platinum bangs of her disguised identity.
"I'm tired of clowns," Kaine said, cracking his neck.
And then, they both spoke at the same time, in chilling synchrony. "Don't get in the way of our race!" The course exploded in a whirlwind of light and violence.
Kaine moved like a serpent made of steel and fury. His blows were too fast for the common eye. Bones broke, bodies were thrown against the walls of the platform. Blood dripped from one of the attackers, who screamed with his collarbone crushed.
Seraphina, for her part, didn't even stop. With a single turn of her body, she dodged the attacks as if she knew in advance where they would come from. A precise kick sent one of the candidates unconscious, while the other was knocked down with a single punch wrapped in her ethereal shimmer.
The five of them were left on the ground, unconscious or unable to continue. "Amateurs," Kaine said, picking up his pace. "Too slow," Seraphina added with a slight gasp. They looked at each other. The distance to the end was only two hundred meters. Then they ran. There was no one between them and the gate. No obstacles. No sound other than the thud of their own footsteps. Seraphina picked up her speed. Kaine kept up. She spun to avoid one last trap. He jumped at the same pace. She slid through a crevice. He stepped over it.
The two of them walked through the gate together. The counting system flashed above the entrance: "APPROVED CANDIDATES: 8,573"
They were tied. Both were panting. Both were surprised. Both were... furious.
"That was... annoying," Kaine muttered, staring at her with wide eyes of disbelief.
"You... kept up with me," Seraphina replied, her voice low, her eyes twitching slightly for the first time in years.
The tension between them thickened like a storm before lightning. But there was a difference there. Respect. Reluctant, uncomfortable, but real.
"I hope the next test separates the best from the rest," Kaine said, stepping away.
"It will," Seraphina muttered, still disguised as Choi Eun-kyung, before turning away.
They both knew it wouldn't end there. The silent war between two monsters had begun.