The searing pain started to jolt through my legs. The pain of falling three stories finally caught up to me, my adrenaline gone.
The beetle stood there. Not moving. It's robotic sounds still ringing in our ears.
Frank stepped forward.
Heavy boots crunched against broken concrete, his massive steel-coated form casting a shadow over the monster.
"This is it?" He scoffed, rolling his shoulders as if warming up for a casual workout. "A beetle? They send a Code Red for this?"
The gray beast stood motionless. Its exoskeleton gleamed under the pale moonlight filtering through the crumbling remains of our school.
Frank smirked. "Figures. It knows it doesn't stand a chance."
None of us moved. None of us spoke. We just watched, our bodies frozen between hope and horror.
Frank took another step, raising a fist wrapped in iron. "This'll be over in seconds. You all might wanna start clappin' now—"
He stopped.
His body jerked.
A wet, sickening gurgle came from his throat.
Frank's mouth opened— blood poured out.
His steel-clad fingers twitched, reaching for something.
Slowly, he looked down.
A razor-sharp appendage had impaled him straight through the gut. The beetle's spiked foreleg was now dripping red, glistening beneath him.
For a moment, everything went silent.
Frank's lips trembled. His eyes—those same arrogant, sneering eyes—were wide with shock. He tried to speak, but all that came out was a choked gasp.
Then, with terrifying ease—the beetle kicked him aside.
His massive steel-covered body hurtled through the air, crashing into the rubble at our feet like a lifeless puppet.
A groan escaped his lips. His breathing was ragged, shallow. He was alive—but barely.
A slow, crackling hum filled the air.
The holographic face of the unknown man flickered above us, his expression twisted into something... delighted.
"Well," he mused, voice smooth and sickeningly entertained, "that was disappointing." His eyes glowed red, flickering with static hunger. "Who's next?"
My stomach twisted.
This wasn't just an attack.
This was a game.
For the first time, I understood the depth of our situation. This wasn't some training exercise. This wasn't just another drill.
We were meant to die here.
The realization hit like ice in my veins. My hands trembled as I looked around at my classmates, my friends—each one frozen in terror.
Benny's usual cocky grin was gone, his face pale as he stared at Frank's unmoving body. Kenya gripped her headphones so tight her knuckles turned white. Toma's eyes darted to the walls, searching for an exit that didn't exist. Paul, Montiro, Emi—none of them moved.
No one volunteered.
The beetle clicked its mandibles.
The holographic man's smirk widened. "Come now," he cooed. "If you wait too long, I'll just pick for you."
I clenched my fists.
The world blurred.
Threya was still in my arms, trembling. Her breath was uneven, her body shivering. She had never looked this fragile before.
I could still hear Frank's shallow breathing beside us. Any second now, that monster could finish him off—could rip through him, through us, before we even had a chance to react.
If no one stepped forward... we were all dead.
I knew what I had to do.
I let go of Threya.
And I stood up.
A sudden stillness fell over the group.
Benny reacted first, grabbing my arm. "Akio—what the hell are you doing?!" His voice was urgent, desperate.
I pulled away.
Threya stared up at me, eyes wide with something I had never seen before—pure fear. "You can't," she whispered. "You don't even have powers yet. Akio, you'll die."
I swallowed, but my voice didn't waver.
"I won't."
I took a step forward.
No one stopped me.
I didn't look back.
I couldn't.
If I did, I might hesitate. I might realize how stupid this was. I might see the looks in their eyes and lose the resolve I needed to move forward.
So I didn't stop.
I walked past Benny. Past Kenya. Past Montiro and Emi.
Past Frank, who lay on the ground, barely breathing.
I stood before the beetle.
Its cold, alien eyes focused on me, legs shifting, preparing to strike again.
The holographic man grinned. "Ah... interesting. A volunteer."
I exhaled, steadying my stance.
I don't have powers.
I don't have weapons.
But I have no choice.
I raised my fists.
The beetle twitched.
The fight was about to begin.