Today marked the long-awaited biennial Raiders' exam. Before sunrise, crowds had already gathered at the Raid training facility. Students, veterans, dreamers, all waiting for the chairman to address them before the exam began.
The chairman was a beacon of hope to humanity; revered, respected, and known widely as the strongest raider alive. An absolute legend whose countless exploits advanced modern medicine, artillery, and technology. Thanks to him, mankind evolved past its limitations.
This year, 1,000 applicants registered, the largest it has ever recorded, but only 100 would pass. The best of the best would earn the title of raider.
In recent years, monsters had begun crossing the Hakon trench, an event that plunged the entire world into panic. Not once, in the entire century, since Gull Island was discovered, had anything crossed that boundary. Yet monster sightings and attacks increased, and so did the demand for raiders.
The trench is an unnatural boundary that separated the two worlds. Preventing anything from crossing in either direction. The climate above the trench was unlike anything the world had ever seen. The skies thick with dark thunderclouds. Sandstorms spiraling from the ocean bed ripping through the skies. Magma sitting underneath the trench. Anything with life that tried to cross was ripped to shreds before reaching the other side.
Yet monsters still found a way.
Attacks continued at an alarming rate, leaving the civilians and government terrified. Despite the danger involved with the profession, or perhaps because of it, more people applied this year.
A scruffy haired man with patchy beard, and a cigarette hanging from his lips took a long drag before glancing sideways. Beside him stood a boy; young, sharp-eyed, long hair, arms crossed with irritation written plainly on his face.
"Mm." The man exhaled a plume of smoke.
"Aren't you a little young to be here? How old are you, kid?"
The boy glared. "What's your business, old man? I could ask you the same thing. Aren't you too old for this line of work? Go home and take care of your kids."
The man's forehead wrinkled in offense. "Huh?!"
The man swung his right leg and in a blur of motion. His boot crashed into the boy's ribs. Gasps rippled through the hall as the kid skidded across the floor, coughing.
"Tsk. He managed to block my attack with his arm. Those are good reflexes," the man muttered. "Not bad, kid."
Someone grabbed the man's shoulder. "Hey man, that's enough he's just a...."
In one swift motion, he grabbed the hand of the man and tossed him overhead. The victim groaned in pain as he hit the floor.
"This dude's nuts!" someone shouted.
The scruffy haired man turned back toward the boy. The boy was still on the floor, grimacing from the pain of the earlier attack.
The man reached into his back pocket and flipped open a folding knife.
"Didn't anyone teach you how to talk to your elders? I ought to slice that smug little face of yours."
The boy shakily stood up, clinching his ribs. He clenched his fists and took a fighting stance while breathing heavily.
"Hey, look!" Someone shouted. "Someone's going on stage."
Heads turned to the podium. On the podium stood not the Chairman but a tall man in a fitted black suit and dark sunglasses.
"Hello, everyone. I am your examiner for today," he announced. "I know you all expected the chairman, but we'll be taking a different approach this year.
Murmurs rippled through the crowd, but the man continued.
"The exam will be in two parts, each with its own trial and grading system. These trials will simulate the harsh environments of the Gull Island and the dangers you will encounter there."
Someone raised a hand. "Why are they taking a different approach this year? Most of us prepared for the previous format. "
"Yeah, they shouldn't keep us in the dark like this!" a woman shouted.
He paused before continuing. "This time, you will face real monsters. Captured directly from the island."
Panic erupted instantly.
"Real monsters?! I didn't sign up for that!" "No way! I'm out!" Someone shouted.
Chaos spread. Applicants stormed for the exit, overwhelming the suited guards.
The examiner reached into his pocket and brought out a small disk. He brought it towards his mouth. The disk reconstructed into a mask, surrounding just his mouth.
He gripped the microphone.
"Freeze."
Arms halted mid swing motion, legs instantly felt heavier to carry till no one could move a muscle.
"Release."
Gasps flooded the room as movement returned. No one tried to move a muscle.
The examiner removed the mask, he exhaled and paused before saying, "The monsters are evolving."
Silence deepened.
"Autopsies revealed their hide is thicker. We believe this is why they've begun crossing the trench."
Expressions changed, and fear crept in.
"If you wish to leave after hearing this, we will not stop you," the examiner said.
A handful headed for the exit. Others gave it some thought and then stayed.
"If anyone else plans to leave, do so now. Once the exam begins, there is no turning back."
No one moved.
"In that case..." He raised his hand. "I officially declare the biennial Raiders' exam open."
The ground rumbled as a massive gate opened. Engraved on the steel was the Raiders' symbol, an 'X' crossed with an 'R'. Men in black suits stood waiting beside tables lined with metal boxes.
"In these boxes are your trackers," the examiner explained. "Each bracelet contains an ID chip. We use them to track your progress."
His expression stiffened.
"Lose your tracker, and you fail. Immediately."
He gestured to the tables.
"Step forward and claim them."
The crowd moved forward in nervous waves. Despite nearly half the applicants quitting, the remaining group still felt enormous.
"Ah! Sweet, the bracelets are green!" a cheerful voice shouted. "I love green!"
A boy with dark-green hair and faint blue markings spiraling around his arms hurriedly strapped the bracelet onto his wrist.
Someone beside him frowned. "What could you possibly be happy about? We're about to face monsters. No one should be excited about that." The boy grunted and clinched his rib.
The dark green hair boy simply grinned. "Hey! You're about my age. I'm Ash. How old are you?"
The other boy sighed. "I'm Agnar. Nineteen. Are you always this loud?"
"Haha! we're the same age! You're the first person I've met that's my age. That means fate wants us to be friends!"
A deep, gravelly chuckle came from behind them.
A bald, one-eyed man stood behind the two boys. A jagged chain of scars ran down his neck like it was caused by a wild beast.
"Ah... youthful." He sighed. "You boys shouldn't be here. Don't throw your lives away. I'm sure you haven't seen what those monsters can do to a man. Just maybe your green haired friend won't be all that cheerful."
Ash blinked with a smile on his face. "Geez... thanks, old dude."
"Also, he's not my friend." Agnar responded.
"That's cold! I thought we were getting along." Ash replied.
Agnar wasn't interested in what the old man had to say and certainly didn't want Ash hovering beside him, but he couldn't seem to shake either of them.
Once everyone received their tracker, a heavy silence settled. The mood shifted from anxious to deadly serious.
The examiner stepped forward again.
"This was the final prerequisite. When the exam ends, those who pass will receive their Raid license. Good luck to you all."
The gates opened, and the much anticipated exam started.
The first trial awaits.