The first training cycle began with a simple phrase projected onto the living walls of the Umbra Nexus: "The Blade that does not bend, breaks."
The words echoed like a sentence, and the new Shadow Rank agents were led into a vast hall, where space seemed to fold in on itself, defying all laws of physics.
Choi Eun-kyung the name Seraphina now bore, remained silent, watching. Beside her, like a shadow laden with tension, Vladimir Kaine kept his arms crossed, eyes alert to everything and everyone.
The other eight recruits were arranged in a wide circle. And it wasn't long before the first barbs began to fly.
"I don't know about you, but I'm already sick of seeing these two thinking they're better," growled one of the Shadow Rank members, a muscular young man named Rok, who frowned whenever he looked at Kaine.
"She didn't even sweat during the last exercise." muttered another, Dahlia, a sneer on her lips. "You made it sound like the system was on easy mode."
Kaine sneered. "Or maybe you're just weak."
"Or you two are just too pretentious for this place," Rok retorted, stepping forward. Before anything else could happen, the entire room froze.
Red lights ran along the living walls like illuminated arteries, and then the imposing figure of Specter appeared among them, his footsteps soundless, his presence weighing like gravity on everyone. "Internal disputes will be settled in the Spectral Arena. Not on this floor."
Everyone fell silent. Specter stared at them one by one before turning away. But something in his expression showed that he was… pondering.
Moments Later In the Inner Core of the Umbra Nexus
In one of the inner chambers of the base, protected by quantum barriers, Specter walked with respectful steps.
The room was shrouded in dense shadows, with golden circuits running across the surfaces as if they were alive. In the center of it, seated in a serene position before a translucent energy source, was one of the Four Primevals.
The figure was indistinguishable, hidden by a dark mist and gravitational vibrations that distorted his silhouette. But the presence was overwhelming. Even Specter, the second most feared name in the Order, bowed slightly. "Primeval... I hope not to interrupt your flow."
The voice of the being in the shadows was deep, vibrant, yet calm. As if it echoed through time. "Speak, Specter."
"Two recruits have distinguished themselves. Choi Eun-kyung... and Vladimir Kaine. Both have demonstrated abilities that exceed the expected parameters. However, this is creating instability among the others."
The Primeval remained silent for a moment. Only the sound of flowing energy filled the room. "And what do you propose?"
"I would like to request access to the Dark Sector of Lapidary for both of them. A training that separates them from the rest. That molds them even more."
The Primeval then, curious about Specter's request, asked, "Do you believe they would survive?"
"Honestly?" Specter said, slowly raising his eyes. "If there are two people who can do this... it is them."
The mist around the entity moved as if whispering forgotten secrets. "Granted, Specter," the Primeval declared. "But warn them: Lapidary is not just training. It is an arduous trial."
Specter bowed again. "I thank you, Lord, and do not worry, they will understand." And with a silent gesture, he withdrew.
Kaine was stretching, shirtless, his arms marked by old scars. When the door opened, she didn't look up. "If you've come to recruit me for some new provocation, choose another day, okay?"
Specter then began to speak, "You and Choi Eun-kyung have been summoned. You'll receive a... special treat."
Kaine raised an eyebrow, finally looking at Specter. "Is this some kind of trap or some kind of promotion?"
Specter then calmly replied, "Maybe both, it depends on how you do."
Meanwhile, in another wing of the base, Seraphina was observing a holographic file when she received the notification. A red symbol shone in the air, a vertical eye surrounded by flowing codes and a sentence: "You have been assigned to the Dark Stonecutting Sector. Report within 5 minutes."
She looked up, serious. "Stonecutting... so, the true tests of the Order of Erebus have finally begun."
She clenched her fists lightly, her heart calm as still water but her thoughts burning. "Oblivion Sage... I'm crossing the threshold."
The transport to the Dark Sector of Lapidary was eerily silent a metallic capsule shrouded in liquid darkness that passed through them as if piercing reality. Inside, Seraphina stood with her arms crossed, staring straight ahead.
Kaine, leaning against the wall, broke the silence. "You know this just proves we're better than those other pathetic worms, don't you?"
She looked away slightly at him, cold. "This just proves we're closer to death than the others also Kaine."
Kaine laughed, a dry, sarcasm-laden sound. "You say that as if this were some kind of novelty. The stronger you are, the greater the risks that will accompany you."
"For you to say something like that, you must have faced many risks, right?" she replied, with a defiant tone. "A sadist who kills with a smile cannot fear death, or anything else."
Kaine narrowed his eyes. "And you, with that martyr air, think you're any different from me? Let's see who breaks Choi first." Before the debate could get any more intense, the capsule stopped with a muffled sound. The door opened.
Inside the Lapidary Sector. The place was colossal. An infinite black chamber with training towers that projected like metallic spikes. The walls were made of nanoalloys that constantly reconfigured themselves. Red light towers ran across the ceilings, and hostile simulated human forms projected themselves in holograms for real combat.
In the center, a bright panel flashed with their names: Choi Eun-kyung – Authorization: Primeval. Vladimir Kaine – Authorization: Primeval
Seraphina frowned. The title "Primeval" still echoed like a warning.
Kaine, on the other hand, just whistled. "I guess someone up there really likes us, huh? To hand us an opportunity like that on a silver platter."
Seraphina then retorted, "Or do you want to see who survives this test the longest?" she replied dryly.
Suddenly, a message echoed in the air, with Specter's voice, in a firm tone: "Dark Sector activated. Each training session will evaluate combat, resistance, logic, emotional control and adaptation. Failure in any criterion will result in automatic physical and psychic punishments."
Kaine looked at Seraphina and gave a lopsided smile. "Do you know what's really curious about this moment right now, Choi?"
Seraphina, a little curious but maintaining her disguise, replied "I'm not interested."
Kaine, despite the answer, decided to say anyway, "The way you try to hide that you like all this too."
She stopped, her icy gaze fixed on him. "I don't like all this. I can handle all this, you understand?"
Before Kaine could answer, the platforms around him shook, and several hostile simulations began to materialize—monstrous figures, guerrillas, heavy robots, all with adaptive intelligence.
They were about to begin. While In Another Sector of the Base The other 8 recruits watched, in a translucent glass observatory suspended high above the base. The image of Seraphina and Kaine in the Lapidary Sector was broadcast directly.
"This is ridiculous..." Rok grumbled, clenching his fists. "Two favorites? Since when does the Order have favorites?"
"They're not favorites," Dahlia replied, her eyes fixed on the screen. "They're threats."
"Threats or... candidates for the Primevals?" suggested a third, Navid, the most calculating of the group.
"Let them enjoy themselves." Rok continued, his eyes filled with envy. "The Order will swallow them like it swallows everyone."
"Either they will become new weapons, or they will eliminate us." whispered one of the quietest recruits, Lyra, almost imperceptibly.
Back to the Lapidary Sector
The simulations attacked. The battlefield turned into a digital hell: missiles, blades, bullets and monstrous beasts appeared from all sides.
Seraphina moved with precision, dodging with minimal gestures, firing pure energy from her modified gloves. A robot advanced and she pierced it with a pulse of light.
"Behind you Choi!" shouted Kaine. She spun and hit a projected enemy with an energy blast. "You didn't need to warn Kaine. I had already noticed him a long time ago."
"I'm just doing my good deed for the day." Kaine replied with a provocative smile. "Save it. You'll need air to scream later." Seraphina retorted with disdain.
The two then jumped to opposite sides as platforms opened beneath their feet, revealing new levels with individualized challenges: a maze for Seraphina, a blood pit for Kaine. Before disappearing, he glared at her and shouted, "Last one standing gets to choose dinner, okay!?"
Seraphina, entering the maze, whispered, "Last one standing... gets to choose who dies."