Axel was still in the lab 8B-2 participating in the next test. It was a simple mathematics test, not unlike what they had in school.
The major difference would be the lack of seats.
Axel and the other Researchers continued to solve under the scrutinizing gaze of Miss Cayenne.
She walked around slowly and made some commentary on the work.
"Make sure you understand the question properly before attempting to solve." Her voice whipped through the air as her eyes were looking at someone's paper.
The poor boy panicked and started second-guessing himself. She was about to make a comment when the air suddenly changed.
Space flickered and Mr. Stone appeared in the middle of the lab.
He fell on his knees and coughed up blood.
"Cayenne. It's worse than we thought." His tone was manic.
"Shut up!!" He yelled at the Researchers even though their mouths were shut.
'I know who he is but no one else does. They must have many questions in their heads. Questions that come as thoughts. He can hear them.' Axel adjusted his glasses.
"Everyone let's leave." Waving his hand, he claimed the attention of everyone and they promptly left.
Mr. Stone watched Axel leave and nodded at him. This didn't go unnoticed by Miss Cayenne, but it would be investigated later.
"What are you on about? And you know you aren't meant to show your existence until the recruits know of Beast Infusions."
She wanted to continue rambling but his words shut her up.
"Sharon is dead."
For the first time, her cold expression broke and panic was revealed within.
"How? How is this possible?"
"A dimensional gate, unlike any other, has opened. It is one of the intersections of dimensional anchors." Mr. Stone sat on the floor.
"You mean to say?"
"Yes."
"Then there's only one thing to do."
_________
Every recruit was gathered in the auditorium once more but this time, neither General Leo nor General Osen was there. Instead stood a man in a silver battle suit.
This time, all four categories filled the auditorium, not just Researchers and Soldiers.
"I am Lieutenant General Stone and as of this moment, you are going to undergo a crash course on how not to die."
Miss Cayenne stepped forward and tapped on her tablet. "After this briefing, go to your rooms. There are 'special' gifts waiting for you."
Mr. Stone cleared his throat to get their attention.
"A large dimensional gate has torn open. It's sealed up… for now but the seal is weakening every second." He took a pause to let them process what he was saying.
"You will be trained. The time for incompetence is long gone. No time for frolicking. We have only one mission; to survive." Veins bulged on the side of his head.
"So some of you are thinking about going rogue?" Some of the recruits went pale.
"Well, guess what?! You can't leave the military until you kill at least a hundred beasts."
Axel was deeply confused about his behavior at the moment. He had met Mr. Stone and he wasn't originally like this.
'What happened?' He couldn't help but wonder.
'The world is at a greater risk now than ever.' Mr. Stone answered him in his head. Axel shook slightly at having his mind violated.
"You'll be addressed accordingly on what needs to be done." And with that, Mr. Stone walked out.
Kale and Axel met up and started walking off when three people joined them.
Kale recognized Ian and Ming Lee, but not the last girl, while Axel knew Judith and Ming, but not the boy.
"Umm Axel, this is Ian." Kale chuckled lightly.
"And this. This is Judith." He waved at his stalker.
Kale stretched out his hand for a shake but she ignored him.
"Axel, I think it's best that we head to our rooms rather than spend time socializing."
The latter stared at Judith before ignoring her.
"So Kale, how was your test?" At the mention of the test, Ian, Ming, and Kale flinched.
Axel and Judith looked at each other.
"It was fine." Kale smiled it off.
The five of them spent a while talking before going to their separate rooms.
Inside, Kale saw a metal box waiting for him on his bed.
"This must be the special 'gift' that Miss Cayenne was referring to." Kale opened it and saw a sword.
He lifted it above his head and swung it down.
It had a sleek and thin design with grooves and lines running across its dark silver surface.
Looking into the box again, he noticed what appeared to be a handle. He brought it out and further examined it.
The thing in his hand was the handle of a sword.
"A spare handle, maybe?" He rotated it in his hands and noticed a small button on the guard.
He pressed it and a laser blade shot out and nearly cut his throat.
Kale let go of the blade and only the hilt landed on the ground.
Only after picking it up and pressing the button did the laser blade appear again. He used it a couple more times and got the hang of how it worked.
The military had given him two swords. A normal one and a laser one.
He was excited to give them a try but worried about what they were going to face.
The military had given those to him because it was the bare minimum required to survive.