Rylan's hand hung in the air for a moment, waiting for Soo-Min's response. But instead of taking it, she crossed her arms and gave a polite but firm smile.
"I'm Soo-Min," she said evenly, "and this is Hyun-Jae my partner."
The way she said partner carried a subtle confidence, It Hyun-Jae's chest tighten with surprise. For a brief moment, he wasn't the confused, low-ranked E standing next to her he actually felt like he belonged there beside her.
Rylan withdrew his hand smoothly, pretending not to notice the rejection, though there was a flicker in his eyes that betrayed his pride taking a small hit. "It's nice to meet you both," he said easily, his tone polished, professional. "We were thinking it'd be smarter to form a group before the trial starts. Strength in numbers, right?"
He looked between them expectantly. "Would you two be fine with sticking together with us?"
Soo-Min turned to Hyun-Jae. "What do you think?"
Hyun-Jae hesitated. His instincts told him this might not be the best idea something about Rylan's calm confidence made him uneasy. But with everyone else already forming alliances and the clock ticking, refusing didn't seem like an option. "...Yeah, sure," he said finally, forcing a small smile.
"Perfect," Rylan replied, nodding approvingly.
Behind him, Mira, an upbeat girl with short auburn hair, offered a friendly grin. "Welcome to the team," she said warmly.
And Daesung, a broader, quiet man with an unreadable expression, simply gave Hyun-Jae a respectful nod.
As the five of them stood there, the room's buzz of conversation grew heavier, the five-minute mark creeping closer. And though Hyun-Jae tried to look calm, a faint pit of unease stirred in his stomach, something about this group didn't sit quite right.
Aureon's image flickered back onto the hovering screen, his expression as unreadable as ever.
"Your next trial," he began, his voice echoing through the massive room, "is simple in design, but far from easy. Each team will be teleported to a different location, each designed to test your adaptability and survival instincts. Your objective" he paused for a moment, as though to let the weight of his words settle over them, "is to survive for twenty-four hours."
Before anyone could raise a hand or shout a question, the world around Hyun-Jae twisted. A sudden rush of air hit him, his vision blurred, and then solid ground returned beneath his feet. The sterile light of the celestial facility was gone, replaced by the golden rays of a foreign sun and the rhythmic crash of waves.
They were standing on an island.
The air was humid and heavy with salt, the sand stretching out toward a dense wall of forest. In front of them lay a set of weapons scattered on the ground, almost like offerings left by unseen hands.
Rylan stepped forward first, calm and confident. Without hesitation, he picked up a sleek sword that shimmered faintly under the sunlight. "This will do," he said, testing its weight with a practiced swing.
Daesung followed suit, gripping a heavy iron mace that looked almost too large for anyone else to carry. He gave a short grunt of satisfaction.
Mira crouched beside a long, elegant bow with strange markings along the wood. "I've always preferred a little distance between me and danger," she said lightly, slinging the bow over her shoulder.
That left only two items a small blade, and a leather-bound book with runes glowing faintly across its cover. The three others turned expectantly toward Soo-Min and Hyun-Jae.
Soo-Min's eyes darted between the two weapons, but Hyun-Jae already knew. He didn't even bother pretending to think about it. The book radiated energy Etherea something far beyond what he could handle right now. If he tried, it would probably reject him completely.
So, before anyone could say a word, he stepped forward and picked up the small blade. Its weight felt manageable, familiar even. "I'll take this one," he said simply, forcing a calm smile.
Soo-Min glanced at him knowingly but didn't argue. Instead, she reached for the book, the runes flaring briefly in recognition as her hand touched the cover.
Rylan gave an approving nod. "Good. Everyone's armed. Now let's make sure we stay that way for the next twenty-four hours."
Hyun-Jae glanced at the dense treeline ahead, the shadows seemed to shift even without wind. Whatever this place was, it wasn't going to make surviving easy.
After a short moment of silent observation, the group exchanged uneasy glances. The island stretched endlessly in every direction, open sand near the shore, and beyond that, the looming treeline that seemed to whisper in the wind.
Rylan was the first to speak. "Standing around here's a bad idea. If this is some kind of survival test, staying in one place just makes us targets."
Daesung nodded, gripping his mace and scanning the horizon. "Agreed. We need higher ground or cover. Anything that can give us a view and keep us out of sight."
"Then we move," Mira said, already adjusting the strap of her bow.
The group started walking inland, their boots sinking slightly into the damp sand as the sound of the ocean faded behind them. The forest ahead looked ancient, thick roots pushing through the soil, the air heavy with moisture and the distant hum of unseen creatures.
As they made their way through, Hyun-Jae kept glancing at the others, watching how natural they seemed to be in this kind of situation. Rylan took point, alert but steady. Daesung followed close behind, keeping his mace ready at his side. Mira occasionally paused to scan the surroundings, her sharp eyes darting between the trees.
Hyun-Jae felt the small blade at his side and tightened his grip. He didn't want to slow them down.
But then Mira suddenly stopped, raising a hand. "Wait."
Everyone froze.
A shadow flickered above the treetops, followed by another, and another. Within seconds, they could all see them clearly: bird-like creatures circling in the sky. Their wings were wide and angular, feathers glinting like metal under the sunlight. And they weren't just flying by, they were descending, fast.
"Are they heading toward us?" Soo-Min asked, squinting at the sky.
"Looks like it," Rylan said grimly, lowering his stance. "Everyone, stay sharp."
As the creatures drew closer, a sharp, piercing cry echoed through the forest, shaking the branches above.
Hyun-Jae's pulse quickened. The test had already begun.
The C-ranks instinctively formed a defensive circle. The air filled with the shrieks of the oncoming birds — sleek, sharp-beaked creatures with talons that gleamed like blades.
Soo-Min immediately stepped forward, shielding Hyun-Jae without hesitation. The motion was so fluid it was almost instinct, her stance firm and protective. Hyun-Jae felt his stomach twist at the sight — the fact that he was the one being guarded again.
He gripped his short blade tighter. I can't just stand here like dead weight.
The first of the birds dove from the canopy, wings slicing the air with a metallic hiss. Mira loosed an arrow in one smooth motion; it struck the creature mid-flight, pinning it to the dirt with a shrill cry.
"Two more, left side!" she called out.
Rylan spun, sword flashing as he cleaved through one of the diving shapes. Daesung swung his mace with a brutal crack, sending another bird crumpling to the ground. Feathers scattered like shards of glass in the sunlight.
But more came.
Hyun-Jae stepped forward and swung his blade, clumsy but desperate, managing to cut one of the E-rank birds across the chest. It screeched, twisting in the air before hitting the ground. The effort burned through his arm, but he forced himself to keep his guard up.
These things weren't strong. For the C-ranks, this was manageable. But for him… every exchange felt like a gamble.
He glanced back, Soo-Min stood behind him now, flipping open the strange book she'd chosen earlier. The pages glowed faintly, symbols shifting across them like they were alive. But no matter how much she focused, nothing happened.
"Tch, why won't this thing work?!" she muttered, frustration slipping through.
Hyun-Jae barely had time to respond before another bird swooped toward him. He ducked too late. Its talon grazed his shoulder, tearing through his sleeve and leaving a stinging cut.
He hissed in pain, clutching his arm.
Soo-Min's eyes widened. "Hyun-Jae!"
"I'm fine!" he shouted back, forcing himself upright. "Just, focus on them!"
But the truth was, the cut burned deeper than he wanted to admit. His breathing quickened, and that old familiar thought pressed in again that he was dragging them down.
Still, he lifted the blade again.
He wouldn't let it end here.
Hyun-Jae blinked as the pain in his arm faded, the stinging warmth replaced by a soothing glow that pulsed faintly over his skin. He looked down to see the wound stitching itself shut, the blood drying almost instantly.
He turned toward Soo-Min, eyes wide. She stood there with the book open, a faint green aura circling her hands. Her expression had gone from intense concentration to pure relief when she noticed his arm fully healed.
She exhaled, a small proud smile curling at the edge of her lips. "Finally," she said softly. "It actually worked."
Hyun-Jae flexed his arm, the cut now completely gone. "So it's a healing book, huh? Guess you don't even need to study to be a doctor anymore."
Soo-Min froze for a moment, then smirked and gave him a light punch on the shoulder. "Ha-ha, very funny," she said, but her cheeks colored just a bit. "You're welcome, by the way."
Before he could respond, Mira called out from ahead, lowering her bow. "All clear! I think that's the last of them."
Feathers littered the dirt around them, the air still humming faintly from the energy of the fight. Daesung leaned on his mace with a grin. "Not bad for a warm-up."
Rylan nodded in agreement but kept scanning the skies. "Yeah, but if this is just the start, I don't want to see what the next twenty-three hours look like."
Hyun-Jae let out a slow breath, glancing at Soo-Min beside him. She was still holding the glowing book, her eyes bright with quiet confidence now.
He smiled faintly. "Guess I really should stay by your side after all."
She looked at him, caught off guard, before turning away quickly. "You better," she muttered.
And for the first time since arriving, Hyun-Jae actually felt like they might stand a chance.
They began moving again, stepping carefully through the thick undergrowth as the forest slowly gave way to rocky terrain. The air grew cooler, and the sound of the wind against stone echoed faintly in the distance. After about twenty minutes of walking, Mira pointed ahead.
"There," she said, lowering her bow slightly. "A cave. Might be a good place to rest."
The group approached cautiously. The entrance was wide but shallow, framed by jagged rocks and a faint shimmer of moss that glowed in the shadows. Hyun-Jae peered inside, blade in hand, expecting something to lunge out at them but nothing did. The interior was still, quiet, and empty.
Daesung stepped forward and tapped his mace against the ground. The echo rolled deep through the cave, uninterrupted. "Seems clear," he said. "No movement. No sound. I say we take it."
Soo-Min nodded, her voice calm but tired. "Yeah, this should work for now. We can keep watch in shifts."
Hyun-Jae glanced around, running a hand along the cold stone wall. "Feels… too quiet," he muttered. "Almost like it's waiting for something."
Rylan gave a small smirk as he set his sword against the wall. "Then let's make it wait a little longer. We'll rest, eat, and plan our next move."
Mira began bringing meat of the creatures they had just slain. Soo-Min sat near the entrance, still holding the book on her lap, and Hyun-Jae took a seat across from her, keeping an uneasy eye on the cave's mouth.
For the first time since being thrown into this trial, the air felt still, not peaceful, but like the calm before a storm.