Slowly, Experiment 545 and the other ninety-nine silhouettes stepped into the light.
Excitement and a strange unfamiliarity stirred in 545 as he took in the sight of the outside world—for the first time since he had been bought.
A scientist's voice rang out: "Everyone, go to the center."
From the crowd, a figure from another laboratory moved forward. His clothes were torn and wrinkled, his skin a web of scars. Yet his presence was oddly calm, almost gentle.
He tapped Experiment 545 on the shoulder.
Experiment 545 turned around to defend himself, then froze when he felt that the hand belonged to someone who did not threaten him.
The man from the other laboratory said, "So you're the one they call a monster? Maybe you're the friend I need to survive this hell."
Experiment 545 acted nonchalant and ignored him.
"Relax. I'm just another specimen—from Laboratory Twelve. I'm not your enemy. Right now, I think we need each other."
"I'm Odysseus. They broke me too, Experiment 545. Different labs, same chains."
"I don't want the crown or whatever. I just don't want to die alone."
"By the way—do you have a name? What's your real name? Have you ever thought of one?"
For the first time in his life, Experiment 545 froze. Silence stretched long. All his life he had been called a number—no nickname, no name of his own. No one had ever asked him this. Not his father. Not the scientists. Not even his cellmates.
But now someone asked. Someone cared.
He glanced at Odysseus, the first person he would tell.
"My name is… Nexar."
A loud ringing sound cut through the moment.
The scientists made an announcement.
"Attention, surviving candidates—specimens. Everyone has passed Phase One of the experiment."
The scientists were pleased; they celebrated with cold, clinical pride.
"We want to acknowledge that you are not ordinary survivors. Each of you standing here has faced the apex predator of your laboratory…and slain it."
"Every scar, every broken bone holds meaning. Your bodies are proof—proof that you defeated the strongest beasts in your cages. That is why you are here."
"We will assign all survivors to dormitories and rooms. We will choose which dorm each of you will occupy. Each dorm is your base. Consider your dormmates your teammates."
The scientists divided the survivors into their dorm assignments.
"Surviving specimens. You will not fight in this field. Instead, you will be reassigned and grouped. Five members per group—that will be your current team. Each dorm will contain four groups, and there will be five dorms in total."
"From this point forward, your value will no longer be measured individually. From now on, it will be measured by how you function as a group. You will eat together, sleep together, take breaks together—or even kill each other. A result is still a result. We do not care how you get it."