Chapter 31
Time passes
The dry scent of wood and sand mingled in the still air as IAM sat cross-legged on the top bunk. He closed his eyes, taking a long breath in, letting it fill his chest, then exhaled slowly. This quiet moment, rare as it was, allowed his nerves to settle and his thoughts to steady. The pressure in his chest began to ease. His mind was ready.
He tensed his body and began the process once more.
Pain—sharp and creeping—crawled over his skin like fire ants, seeping through every pore and those odd pore-like openings awakened only during this brutal exercise. He grit his teeth, trembling under the growing pressure, sweat rolling down his temples, his breath short and ragged.
"AAAAAAHHHHH!"
The scream echoed within the small tent as the attempt abruptly ended. IAM collapsed backward onto the thin mattress, chest heaving.
1 minute and 13 seconds.
It wasn't much, but compared to the six seconds he had managed during his first try, it was monumental. A small, prideful smile crept onto his face.
He took another breath—and began again.
.....
Elsewhere in the dome, Kepa strolled casually between rows of tents, his hand resting on a full belly, his expression dreamy. He had just obliterated two whole portions of hot cheese-loaded pizza and downed a tall glass of mango juice like a champion. He licked his lips, already fantasizing about what the next meal would be.
"This place is great," he muttered, weaving through the maze of tents. "Sure, we might die, and yeah, there's the constant threat of being mauled to death by freaks of nature .. but the food, man. The food."
Kepa's life hadn't always been like this. He'd grown up in Hope—just like Ryan. But after his mother lost her job and went bankrupt, they were tossed into Hope's End with the rest of the unwanted. His father was never around . When his mother passed, sick and old, Kepa was forced to survive on his own.
So when the war against Claw promised food, shelter, and the chance to walk the path of ascension—he didn't hesitate. He chose the Path of War, figuring the name alone made it the best shot for survival.
Kepa reached his tent and pulled the flap aside with a grin… which immediately vanished.
IAM was lying on the top bunk, motionless and drenched in sweat.
"IAM?!"
He scrambled up to the top bunk, leaned down, and shook his friend's shoulders frantically.
....
"IAM!"
IAM stirred with a groan, blinking slowly at the blur above him.
"…What?"
"Oh thank the—bro, are you okay? You were just lying there like a corpse!"
A lazy grin worked it's way up his face, he let's off a chuckle, and another before descending into mad laughter,Kepa leaned back slightly, concern returning to his face.
"…You're laughing?"
"Three minutes," IAM mumbled, wiping his face.
"What?"
IAM sat up slowly, that grin still stretching across his face.
"Three minutes. Twenty-seven seconds."
For someone who'd barely lasted a few seconds on his first try, this was a massive leap. The intense pain still lingered, but his was adapting. After attempts upon attempts he was getting closer to forming an Avien.
Time passed…
About a week and a half later, IAM had begun to settle into the rhythm of life within the Hold. Between classes, attempts at forming his Avien, and time with Kepa and Raj, several important developments had taken place.
One of the more significant was the emergence of a rebel faction among the volunteers. A loose group of troublemakers who wandered into restricted parts of the Hold, presumably driven by curiosity or sheer boredom.
Then there was Ryan.
His speech on unity, equality, and protecting one another had struck a chord with many volunteers. He'd quickly risen to an unofficial leadership position. They rallied around him—not out of fear, but belief. A self-proclaimed champion of the volunteers.
But not everyone followed him.
The same group mentioned beforehand , more independent and reckless, refused to align with Ryan. They preferred to explore, mess around, and test the boundaries of the Hold without needing anyone's permission.
Ryan was very aware of the threat they posed—not physically, but symbolically. Their independence proved that survival didn't require submission to his ideals. A fact that undermined his growing influence.
A cold, quiet war had begun—manipulated from behind the scenes by Ryan. Subtle tensions, minor conflicts, and whispered rumors all fueled by him, painting the other group as dangerous, irresponsible, and selfish.And IAM? As for him, due to the speech by Ryan about how close they were, regardless of his opinion, he was automatically put into Ryans group and by association so was kepa.
The day for missions officially being issued out was getting closer, which meant facing the deadline creatures was coming up very soon...
There was one more thing of note....
One afternoon, during Path Class, Bell's voice cut through the air, her tone as steady and intense as always.
"There is another application of path methods… " she said, pacing slowly before the students.
"Path Formations."
Her voice echoed as the class fell silent.
"A path formation can be created by one individual or by a group working in harmony. It allows the user—or users—to inject their understanding into an area. When that understanding links together correctly, it forms a powerful structure: a trap, a defense, or a continuous effect."
She spun on her heel and gestured with her hand.
"They can be extremely effective… they are considered to be more powerful than just a person using their path methods by themselves and can last a long time, however the demerits is that building a path formation can be quite complicated, to make one you must inject your understanding using mana into an area and ensure that it clicks with anothers or it will collapse, due to this, it could take a long time to set up, it cannot be moved, so if it is in the air, ground or walls it will have to stay there, so if it is being used, it would have to be a trap, that is if you are using it to attack and or for another purpose. But if used right, it is very effective. "
The moment the lesson ended, IAM bolted from his seat and dashed back to his tent.
The final thing of note was... He could feel it...Today… today was the day.
He could feel it—deep in his core. This was the day he would finally form an Avien....
....
Somewhere else in the dome…
In a sleek office filled with dusty light from filtered ceiling slats, Regina stood before General Hise, the 4-star commander of the Hold.
She finished her report. Silence followed.
Hise stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Ryan, was it? The one gathering the others under him?"
"Yes," Regina said, frowning. "He's persuasive."
Hise smirked. "He'll make a good puppet, then. We need a shepherd to manage the sheep."
"I question his intentions," she replied coolly.
He waved a hand. "Ambition's a tool, Regina. Let him build his following. We'll be watching."
Regina turned away with a sigh.
"…Okay."