Two hours later…
"Beep… beep… beep…"
A sharp alarm echoed throughout the room, slicing through the silence and signaling the inevitable. It was time.
'Time to go', Zephyr murmured inwardly, his voice calm yet laced with a quiet anticipation.
After preparing himself, he made his way to the lobby. His steps were steady, neither hurried nor reluctant. Upon arrival, he walked directly toward Lily without hesitation.
"Zephyr, the envoy is waiting for you outside," Lily informed him, her tone composed yet faintly warm.
"Thank you," Zephyr replied curtly before turning away. There was no need for unnecessary pleasantries they weren't close, after all.
"Good luck on your journey!" Lily called out, waving her hand with a gentle smile.
Zephyr gave a slight nod in acknowledgment before pushing the door open and stepping outside.
Waiting beyond the entrance was a man of average stature, roughly 6'1 feet, casually leaning against a sleek vehicle. His posture exuded confidence, as though he had been waiting for quite some time without the slightest hint of impatience.
The man's gaze immediately locked onto Zephyr.
"Boy, you must be Zephyr?" The man asked
"Yes, I am." Zephyr nodded his head.
"My name is Luke. You can call me Captain Luke" he paused
" Alright, let's not waste time." Without delay, he handed Zephyr a neatly folded suit.
"Wear this. It's part of the required attire for entering the training camp."
Zephyr nodded silently and took the uniform given to him.
A short while later, he emerged, now dressed appropriately. Compared to his previous worn-out attire, the uniform felt refined almost unfamiliar.
"Let's go," Captain Luke said.
They entered the vehicle, and soon after, their journey began.
"You can ask questions if you want, boy," Captain Luke began, his tone more conversational now. "But first, I'll give you an overview of the training camp's purpose and objectives."He paused briefly, glancing sideways at Zephyr.
"I assume you already have a general idea, right? Still, it's better if you hear the full explanation. It'll benefit you."
Zephyr remained silent, listening intently.
"The training camp exists to identify suitable seeds individuals with potential worth cultivating. It lasts for three days. During that time, newly awakened Wispers like you will be randomly teleported into a supervised zone."
He continued, his voice steady and informative.
"Within that area, beasts and fallen entities limited to thrall-level threats they are scattered unpredictably.Your objective is simple: accumulate points by eliminating them. Survival, however, is entirely up to you."
Zephyr's eyes narrowed slightly as he processed the information.
"The individual with the highest score will be rewarded handsomely. Not only that, but your ranking will determine your standing within the Academy a better rank, better resources, better training. Naturally, this pushes all awakened Wispers to strive harder."
'Hmm…'Zephyr muttered thoughtfully.
"So we're essentially forced to survive and compete. Higher rank means higher-quality instruction and access to resources." Zephyr asked confirming his speculations
"Exactly." Captain Luke replied directly
Despite the temptation to aim for the top, Zephyr understood his current limitations. He lacked foundation, experience, and strength. Compared to heirs and scions of powerful lineages, he was leagues behind.
For now… it's better to remain inconspicuous, he thought.
"You can ask questions now," Captain Luke added.
"Are we provided with weapons?"
Luke smirked slightly. "Good question.
Yes, you are. You'll be presented with a selection of weapons, and you can choose whichever suits you best."
Zephyr nodded.
"…Can we kill other awakened?" he asked after a brief pause.
Captain Luke let out a short laugh.
"Of course not. Why would the higher-ups allow that? Awakened individuals are rare—finding one requires strength, intellect, and sometimes sheer luck. They won't risk losing valuable assets over something so pointless."
Zephyr nodded again, understanding the logic.
"Hmm… I think that's all," he said.
"It'll take some time to reach the training grounds," Luke continued
"You should rest. If anything else comes to mind, feel free to ask."
*****
After several hours of travel, they finally arrived.
Before them stood a colossal wall, towering at least a hundred meters high an imposing barrier that seemed to scrape the heavens themselves.
'Another massive wall right off the bat' Zephyr thought, slightly astonished.
"Captain Luke," he spoke, curiosity creeping into his voice, "What's the largest Fallen ever recorded?"
Luke chuckled knowingly.
"Curious because of the walls, huh? That information is classified… but I'll give you a hint." His expression turned slightly serious. "The largest Fallen ever seen was at least a kilometer long."
Zephyr's eyes widened in disbelief.
'What the hell kind of monstrosity is that?!'His reaction was immediate and entirely natural.
Luke noticed and smirked.
"Your face says it all, boy. That's a normal reaction. Truth is, we don't fully understand the horrors lurking in this vast world. This world holds things far beyond human comprehension."
His tone darkened slightly."We humans… are far weaker than we'd like to believe. Remember that..."
He straightened up and gestured forward.
"Enough chatter. Let's move."They passed through the enormous gate.
The moment they crossed the threshold, everything changed.
The atmosphere itself felt different denser, heavier, almost surreal. It was as if they had stepped into an entirely separate world.
"This," Luke said, his voice carrying a hint of pride, "is the main core of the human domain. The training camp will be held here. It's also the safest place within our territory."
Zephyr quickly connected the dots...
'The Great Clans… the Council elders… they must all reside here, he realized. Which means the Academy is likely located within this core as well.
He couldn't accurately gauge the extent of humanity's territory, but it was clear—it wasn't insignificant.
The merging had transformed Earth into something unrecognizable. A boundless, enigmatic world filled with danger and wonder alike.
"The training camp starts tomorrow morning," Luke continued. "In a way, you're both lucky and unlucky."
He pointed toward a grand structure nearby.
It was built in a medieval architectural style, adorned with intricate patterns and elegant designs. The entire structure exuded an almost mesmerizing beauty.
"Those are the assigned quarters for awakened Wispers. Your room number is indicated on your key."
He handed Zephyr a small metallic key.
"Here. I've got work to do, so I'll be going now." Captain Luke said
"Thank you," Zephyr said sincerely.
Captain Luke waved dismissively as he walked away.
Left alone, Zephyr stared at the towering structure before him.
A new chapter was about to begin...and whether he liked it or not, he would have to survive it...