📌 Disclaimer:
This is a work of fiction. All characters, organizations, events, and locations are purely fictional. Any resemblance to real persons or entities is purely coincidental.
The morning began with an ominous tone.
Raunak awoke to a soft chime from his System.
[Daily Briefing Initiated]
Event: The Faction Trials
Attendance: Mandatory
Arrival Time: 09:00
Penalty for Absence: Immediate Elimination
He sat up, rubbing his eyes. His muscles ached slightly from the previous simulation, but adrenaline quickly overpowered the fatigue. Today marked a decisive moment.
"The Faction Trials…" he whispered.
The door to his quarters slid open automatically. A small hovering drone waited in the hallway, leading him toward the assembly chamber.
The Assembly Hall
Hundreds of participants gathered in the colossal auditorium, far larger than the previous briefing rooms. Towering holographic screens displayed rotating emblems — each representing a global faction.
The emblems glowed:
The Order of Zenith (Japan) — twin katanas over a rising sun.
Crimson Talon (USA) — a bloodied eagle claw.
Silent Dawn (Korea) — a crescent moon with hidden daggers.
Iron Dominion (Russia) — an iron fist crushing a serpent.
Lotus Veil (India) — a blooming lotus surrounded by shimmering psychic waves.
The factions represented the highest tier of the global Ranker system. Only the most talented candidates would earn invitations.
A tall, imposing figure walked onto the stage — Director Verona, the head of Global Ranker Central.
"Candidates," her voice boomed across the hall, "you stand at the threshold of greatness. The world watches."
Her cybernetic left eye glowed faintly as she continued.
"Today's trials will determine your future affiliations. You will be judged not just by skill, but by compatibility. By leadership. By adaptability."
[Faction Trial Parameters Initiating...]
[Personalized Challenges Being Generated]
Raunak's System buzzed again.
[Faction Compatibility Detected: Lotus Veil (India)]
[Specialization: Adaptive Combat / Psionic Support / Tactical Leadership]
[Bonus Aptitude: 15% increased mental resilience in psionic fields]
Psionic? Raunak blinked. He hadn't even tapped into any psychic abilities yet. But the system was already evaluating potential based on his reactive instincts.
The Trial Format
Director Verona continued, "Each of you will face faction-specific challenges. Some of you may receive multiple invitations. However, factions reserve the right to reject unqualified candidates."
A series of platforms rose from the arena floor, each branded with the faction emblems.
Raunak's System guided him toward the Lotus Veil platform. His teammates from yesterday were also moving toward their respective trials:
Alexa heading for Crimson Talon.
Kenji stepping confidently toward The Order of Zenith.
Min-Joon calmly joining Silent Dawn.
Elena approaching Iron Dominion.
The team was splitting.
Raunak felt a surge of nervous energy. He had grown oddly attached to them in just one mission. But he couldn't afford hesitation.
Lotus Veil Trial — India's Secret Strength
As Raunak stepped onto the Lotus Veil platform, the world shifted once more.
He found himself inside a serene yet surreal environment: an endless garden bathed in soft light. Giant lotus flowers floated on crystalline water. The air was heavy with tranquil energy — but also something else… pressure.
An elderly woman sat cross-legged atop a floating stone platform in the center of the garden. She wore white robes, and faint waves of psychic energy rippled around her.
[Faction Master: Guru Ishani — Lotus Veil Grandmaster]
"Welcome, Raunak Virk," her voice echoed in his mind though her lips never moved. "You stand at the gateway of the mind."
A wave of invisible force pressed against him. His System flared:
[Psionic Resistance Test: BEGIN]
[Current Mental Fortitude: 38%]
[Target Threshold: 60%]
[Outcome: Failure will result in disqualification.]
Sweat beaded on his forehead as he struggled against the unseen force.
Guru Ishani spoke gently, "Fear, doubt, and anger weaken the mind. You must anchor yourself."
Raunak focused, recalling his parents' faces, his goals, his drive to grow stronger.
[Adaptive Combat (Lv. 1) triggers passive focus boost.]
[Mental Fortitude: 43% → 51% → 58%...]
The force intensified. Pain lanced through his skull.
I can't fall now.
Then, something strange happened.
A flicker of violet light sparked inside his mind. A dormant energy.
[Hidden Trait Activated: Latent Psionic Core (Tier-1 Awakening)]
[Temporary Boost: +15% Mental Fortitude]
The pressure vanished like mist.
[Mental Fortitude: 73% — PASSED]
Guru Ishani opened her eyes and smiled. "Very few awaken so early."
Raunak panted heavily. "What… what was that?"
"You have been gifted a seed, Raunak Virk. A seed of rare potential."
His System chimed.
[New Trait Acquired: Latent Psionic Core (Active Potential)]
The Second Trial — Real World Simulation
The scenery changed again. Now Raunak stood in a chaotic hospital scene. Alarms blared. Medical bots scrambled around. Several patients were screaming as enemy mercenaries stormed the emergency wing.
[Secondary Test: Crisis Management & Psionic Application]
Objective:
Prevent casualties.
Disable attackers using non-lethal methods.
Stabilize critical patients under psychic strain.
His vision blurred briefly as a faint energy halo appeared around his hands.
[New Skill: Basic Psionic Pulse (Lv. 1) — Unlocked]
A mercenary charged toward him with an assault rifle.
Raunak raised his hand instinctively.
Pulse!
A shimmering wave of energy burst forward, slamming into the soldier's chest and hurling him back into a wall.
He sprinted into the ward, quickly scanning the room.
Two patients were convulsing under neural overload. Medical bots malfunctioned due to EMP interference.
[System Interface Expanded: Temporary Medical Control Permission Granted]
He rerouted power to emergency life support, stabilized their vitals, and used focused psionic threads to shield their minds from collapse.
Gunfire continued behind him.
Two more attackers broke through.
He ducked behind a medical bed, then launched another Psionic Pulse. The bed lifted slightly, creating a makeshift shield as the pulse slammed into both enemies simultaneously.
[Non-lethal incapacitation achieved]
[Patient Survival Rate: 100%]
Completion
As the simulation faded, Guru Ishani's voice returned.
"You are adaptable. You have empathy. And you possess the rarest quality of all — untapped inner strength."
The Lotus Veil emblem pulsed brightly.
[Faction Compatibility: 97%]
[Official Invitation Offered: Lotus Veil (India)]
Raunak fell to one knee, overwhelmed.
His System displayed a congratulatory screen:
Congratulations, Raunak Virk
You have passed the Faction Trials — Lotus Veil Initiation Successful.
[Current Rank: Initiate Psion — Level 5]
[New Ability Tree Unlocked: Psionic Evolution Path]
Psionic Shield (Lv. 1) Unlocked
Pulse Manipulation (Lv. 1) Unlocked
Mental Clarity Boost (+10% focus efficiency)
Guru Ishani's projection bowed slightly. "Welcome to the Lotus Veil, Raunak Virk. Your real journey begins now."
Back in the Assembly Hall
One by one, candidates returned from their faction trials.
Director Verona announced:
"The first selection phase is complete. Many of you have found your place. Others will continue in general training until further evaluation."
Raunak exchanged brief nods with his former teammates.
Alexa looked thrilled with her Crimson Talon acceptance.
Kenji carried his Order of Zenith insignia with pride.
Min-Joon's Silent Dawn emblem shimmered on his chest.
Elena bore the iron badge of Iron Dominion.
They had all made it — for now.
[Faction Assignments Confirmed — Team 7 Disbanded]
Raunak couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness as the System dissolved their initial team bond.
Director Verona smiled coldly.
"Congratulations. You are no longer mere candidates. You are now officially Rankers."
The room erupted with cheers — but Raunak's mind burned with quiet determination.
This is only the first mountain. There's a whole world of Rankers out there — and hidden threats lurking in the shadows.
The world of WORLD RANKER had truly opened its doors.
End of Chapter 5