"Onilia, you blue-skinned witch..."
Zane wanted to scream it aloud, but he knew better.
Saying that now would only earn him a one-way ticket to the afterlife—courtesy of her sword.
She stood still, watching him with those piercing sapphire eyes as she lowered her blade. Her expression was unreadable as always—somewhere between boredom and focus.
"If you can't continue," she said, her voice calm but firm, "then we'll pick it up after the second test."
Without waiting for a reply, she turned and walked away, heading toward the gravity ropes.
The red one had already been yanked five times that day—each time intensifying the pressure of crushing gravity around them by multiple times.
She gave the blue rope a sharp pull. A low hum echoed in the air as the oppressive weight surrounding the training ground instantly lifted. It was like a blanket of iron had finally been peeled off.
Zane let out a deep breath, his muscles relaxing involuntarily. His body still hurt, but at least now he could move without feeling like his bones were about to shatter.
Onilia left without another word, her figure disappearing into the darkness.
Zane remained lying flat on his back, staring into nothingness. He was looking but he saw nothing. It was as if his mind's eye was focused on something else. His chest slowly rose and fell as exhaustion pulled at him like invisible chains.
The air carried that familiar metallic tang, sharp and biting, while the planet's heavier gravity pressed gently against Zane's shoulders as he lay on the training ground, his body aching from Onilia's relentless sparring. His chest rose and fell, his breath steadying as he stared into nothingness, his mind drifting. 'Onilia, I don't forget my debts—or those who owe me,' he thought, a quiet resolve settling in. 'Without you, Zoic would've been a nightmare. One day, I'll repay your kindness a hundred times over. And of course Mario and the others—they'll settle their debts too, with interest.'
His thoughts shifted to the next test, the duels looming like a storm. 'Wonder what tomorrow's challenge will be. Onilia's got nothing to worry about, being Apex-ranked and all. But a Nay (those unawakened) like me? If it's out of my league, I'm in trouble.' He pushed himself up, the cracked earth cool under his palms. 'Still, I've been preparing like crazy. I should be okay.' He stood, brushing dust from his clothes. "Time for bed," he muttered, heading toward the bathroom for a quick shower. The warm water eased his sore muscles, but he avoided thinking of Ariel—her face, her golden hair, her sharp blue eyes. Those thoughts only made his chest tighten with worry, and he had no way to check on her from Zoic.
Onilia had been a lifeline, sharing bits of knowledge that kept him grounded. She'd explained the Geminis—beings of all shapes and species, ranked not by kind but by power. A Whisperkin Gemini could be Elite, while another of the same species might be higher or lower. The strongest in each species often hit Demon Rank, a level that made Zane's skin prickle just thinking about it. But the Geminis were the least of their worries. Beyond them were Rankers, Players recognized by the Tower itself—powerful beings, some stronger than others. The Destroyer, a name that echoed in whispers, was among the strongest, a shadow Zane hoped he'd never cross paths with.
Showered and exhausted, Zane collapsed onto his cot, the mattress creaking under his weight. His eyes fluttered shut, and sleep claimed him instantly, pulling him into darkness.
A faint rustle snapped him awake, his instincts kicking in. He rolled to the side of the bed, the air hissing as Onilia's sword sliced through his pillow, missing his head by inches. Feathers drifted in the early light of the sun, and Zane sat up, rubbing his eyes with a wry grin.
"Good morning to you too, Onilia," he said, his voice groggy but amused. This wasn't the first time she'd tried to "wake" him with a blade. After multiple sleep-stabs—her first one straight through his heart without a flinch—he'd developed a knack for sensing danger, even in dreams.
"We have to use the fact that you can't truly die on Zoic to push your growth," Onilia had said that first time, her sapphire eyes unblinking as she pulled her sword free. Zane had tried to return the favor once, aiming for her in her sleep. She'd sleep-killed him instead, her blade faster than his reflexes.
Onilia yanked her sword from the pillow, her expression calm but focused, her blue skin catching the faint light. "We need to move fast," she said, sheathing her blade with a smooth flick. "Today's the duel test."
Zane nodded, swinging his legs off the cot and stretching, his joints popping softly. After a quick change, they headed out, the red-tinted sky glowing faintly as dawn broke over Zoic. The barren plain where they'd first arrived was already filling with trainees, their faces a mix of determination and nerves. Onilia stood by Zane, her presence steady. Nenis wasn't far off, a cloth covering two of her four eyes, her expression unreadable but tense. Nearby, Nolem, a broad-shouldered Apex-ranked trainee, stood with Oxin and Kael, their confident postures marking them as heavyweights in the group.
Instructor Marius appeared in a shimmer of air, his dark cloak settling against the crimson sky. "Attention, all trainees," he said, his voice clear and direct, cutting through the murmurs like a gentle breeze. "I'll get right to it."
The plain fell quiet, the red-tinted light casting long shadows as the trainees braced for what came next, the weight of the duels settling over them like Zoic's heavy gravity.
Instructor Marius stood at the center, his dark cloak a stark silhouette against the crimson horizon, his voice cutting through the murmurs with a clear, steady tone. "Listen closely as I explain the final test," he began, his hands clasped behind his back. "The last hundred trainees with the lowest combined points from both tests will be eliminated from the Master's training. This test offers a total of one hundred points. You'll each choose your opponent for a duel, but both sides must agree to the match."
A trainee near the back, his face pale from the orb chamber's toll, leaned toward his friend, his voice a hushed whisper. "What? That's not fair. What if one of those five monsters picks you?" His eyes darted to the Apex-ranked trainees—Onilia, Nenis, Nolem, Oxin, and Kael—whose reputations loomed like shadows over the group.
His friend smirked. "Right? I'm picking someone weaker, someone I can crush easily." His voice carried a hint of bravado, but his eyes flicked nervously toward Zane.
Another trainee, his arms crossed, muttered under his breath, "Everyone's gonna go for Zane. They all want to be the first to knock that cocky guy down a peg. Bet Onilia picks him, though, to keep him safe. Tch." His words dripped with resentment, his gaze fixed on Zane, who stood calmly, unfazed by the glares.
Marius continued, his tone even but firm. "The victor of each duel earns one hundred points and can award the loser up to fifty points—or none at all." He glanced at Zane, a flicker of relief in his eyes that no questions had interrupted yet. 'Finally, he's keeping quiet,' Marius thought, his lips twitching upward.
"Now—" Marius started, but Zane's hand shot up, cutting him off. The instructor's smile vanished, replaced by a faint sigh. "What is it, Zane?" he asked, his voice tinged with exasperation.
"He's at it again," a trainee grumbled, rolling his eyes. Others muttered in agreement, their glares sharpening as they turned to Zane.
Zane stepped forward, his posture relaxed, his sharp eyes meeting Marius's without a hint of fear. "I have two questions, Instructor," he said, his voice calm but clear, earning a fresh wave of annoyed stares from the crowd.
Marius raised an eyebrow, his tone patient but wary. "I'm listening."
Zane held up one finger, his movements deliberate. "First, can we choose not to fight if we're confident our points from the first test are enough to pass?" His question hung in the air, drawing gasps and whispers.
A trainee snorted, his voice loud enough to carry. "What a coward! He's trying to bail out!" His friend nodded, smirking, but others looked uneasy, wondering if Zane had spotted another loophole.
Marius shook his head, his cloak shifting slightly. "No, this test is mandatory. It won't affect the points you've already earned, but you must participate." His eyes narrowed slightly, a thought flickering in his mind. 'Is Zane really scared of facing the others? For the first time, I'm disappointed in you.' He pushed the thought aside, waiting for the second question.
Zane nodded, unfazed, and held up a second finger. "Is there a limit to the ranks we can choose? Like, can an Alpha challenge an Apex if both agree?"
Marius's expression softened, a spark of interest replacing his irritation. "No limit. An Alpha can challenge an Apex, or any rank, as long as both sides consent."
Kael, the broad-shouldered Apex-ranked trainee, raised his hand, his deep voice cutting through the murmurs. "Instructor Marius, what happens if the one we choose doesn't agree to fight?"
Marius turned to him, his tone matter-of-fact. "Then you choose someone else."
The plain fell quiet, the red-tinted sky casting a warm glow over the trainees as they processed the rules. Zane stepped back, his mind racing. 'Mandatory, huh?' he thought, his lips curving into a faint smile. 'Good thing I've got five hundred points in the bag. Still, picking the right opponent could make or break.'