[Race: Demon]
[Level 15]
[Health: 50/50]
[Strength: 15]
[Agility: 15]
[Defense: 15]
[Tails: 0.5]
[EXP: 200/500]
[Ability: None]
Adam's eyes snapped open at the sound of knocking on his door, his body still groggy from the unsettling events of the previous night. The memory of his parents' lifeless bodies was still fresh, and the strange hunger that had forced him to feed gnawed at his insides. But now, there was no time to dwell on that. The military had arrived.
He rubbed his eyes, trying to shake off the exhaustion, and opened the door to find a man in dark sunglasses standing there, looking like he had stepped right out of a government spy movie.
"How long have you been waiting?" Adam asked, his voice rough from sleep.
"Not long," the soldier replied, his tone businesslike, though a tension lingered beneath it.
"Adam Foster, as a 16-year-old, you are required to report to military school to train for the war against the other races," the soldier continued, reaching toward Adam's head, clearly attempting to knock him out.
Without thinking, Adam activated his system. "System, let him knock me out."
[Health: 0/50]
A sharp pain struck his skull, and Adam slumped against the doorframe, unconscious.
When Adam regained consciousness, he found himself on a train filled with sleeping passengers. Their faces were pale, eyes closed, and a faint hum in the air made everything feel surreal. The train jerked to a halt, and a voice crackled over the intercom.
"Everyone, we've arrived at Military Base One. Please exit the train to your left."
Adam, his head still pounding from the sudden knock-out, stumbled off the train onto the concrete platform. Massive, intimidating buildings loomed over him, the air thick with the scent of iron and anticipation. It was clear: this place was no ordinary military base.
A few minutes later, Adam met a guy with brown hair and gray eyes, about the same height as him. The guy gave him a wink.
"Hey, I'm Shawn. Nice to meet you," he said, offering a handshake.
"Adam. Nice to meet you too," Adam replied, slightly taken aback by Shawn's easy confidence. He seemed like the kind of person who could talk his way out of anything.
As they walked side by side, Adam felt an odd sensation in his eyes, as if they were sharpening. His system buzzed to life, and suddenly, he could see Shawn's stats in his mind.
[New Skill Unlocked: Devil's Eyes]
[Devil's Eyes lets you gather information about anyone or anything. You can see their abilities and stats in real-time.]
Adam blinked, his gaze lingering on Shawn's profile. He could see Shawn's ability—metallic manipulation—displayed right before him.
"So he has a metallic ability," Adam muttered under his breath.
"Everything alright?" Shawn asked, turning to him with a curious look.
"Yeah, just… tired," Adam lied, quickly shaking off the odd feeling.
Just as they were about to continue walking, an announcement boomed over the loudspeakers.
"Everyone, gather in the center of the courtyard for your ability tests. Groups of five will be called. Pay attention to your names."
Adam's stomach tightened. Tests? Abilities? He wasn't even sure what his was yet. The only thing he knew for certain was that something inside of him had changed, and he wasn't sure he could control it.
The recruits gathered in a large circle, tension thick in the air. Some were eager to show off their powers, while others, like Adam, were less certain. The first person to step forward was Shawn.
"My ability is metallic," Shawn said confidently.
He held out his hand, and within seconds, a shimmering liquid metal gathered in his palm. It morphed and swirled in the air, forming sharp blades that hovered around him like dangerous butterflies.
"That's insane!" one of the soldiers called out. "How does that even work?"
Shawn grinned. "Just like it looks. I control metal, and it listens to me."
Next up was Elizabeth, the girl Adam had seen earlier. Her icy demeanor matched her power. She stepped forward and raised her arms. Instantly, the temperature dropped, and a towering block of ice shot up from the ground, forming a massive wall that loomed over the recruits. With a flick of her fingers, smaller ice sculptures began to dance around her.
"Ice," she said, her voice sharp like the frozen air she controlled. "Cold as my heart."
Max went next. He raised his hands, and a crackling surge of plasma energy shot into the air, illuminating the entire circle. It swirled around his hands like fire but carried an electric intensity. The air itself seemed to hum with power.
"My ability's plasma," Max said nonchalantly. "I can shoot blasts of it, shape it, whatever."
Tyler, the last to demonstrate, stepped forward. A brilliant flash of light erupted from his body, blinding everyone for a moment. When it faded, he stood surrounded by glowing beams of light that bent and pulsed with energy.
"Light," Tyler said, smirking. "I control it. Pretty flashy, huh?"
The recruits murmured in awe as others demonstrated their powers, but when it was Adam's turn, the air grew thick with tension.
The government official looked at him expectantly. "Adam, your turn. Show us your ability."
Adam hesitated, glancing around at the others. His heart pounded. He didn't have a known ability—his demon power wasn't something easily explained.
Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward. Dark flames flickered to life around his body, his feet lifting slightly off the ground. The energy felt raw, untamed, yet somehow natural.
The official overseeing the test narrowed his eyes. "Adam Foster... Step forward for physical combat evaluation."
The recruits were led to an arena-like training ground, where the next stage of testing began. The first test was endurance—running laps under increasing gravity pressure. Next came the strength test, where they had to lift and hold progressively heavier weights. Then came the agility test, dodging moving obstacles at high speeds. Finally, the blocking test involved facing off against an instructor who launched blunt projectiles to measure reflexes and resilience.
Adam felt every muscle in his body burning as he pushed through the trials, but he refused to be outdone. His demon instincts sharpened his movements, helping him react faster than ever before. The agility test was especially intense—he weaved through an unpredictable maze of moving barriers, his reactions growing sharper with each step.
By the end, the recruits stood panting, waiting for their evaluations. Adam knew one thing for sure—this was only the beginning. The hardest challenges were yet to come.