Chapter 00111000

Bellona and I spent most of the night by the fire while Geb was cowering away from Leroy. It was really funny to be honest. The last day here and the two people who hadn't ever picked a fight with each other were beating on each other like they were two pinatas. Geb somehow always ended up as the loser at the end of every one of them despite using some of his abilities at times. Making himself heavier so Leroy couldn't lift him or making a wall of stone to keep them separated. Leroy somehow always got the upper hand. It was a little intimidating to be honest.

But in the end it was still the last day. As a group of close to 70 people trudged over to the arena entrance.

For some reason being told to do something versus doing it cause you want to is a lot more energy draining. I went ahead though to see if there were any more enemies to take out or whether they were all gone. I didn't see a single one which made me slightly sad. No more kills to get last second points. But I guess that didn't matter. We got to get out of this place. When we arrived at the large doors that led us into this place we ended up sitting around the entrance in horseshoe shaped groups. I was slightly on edge due to every day here being something trying to kill you vs having time to relax. In the end not a single virus showed up though.

We all heard a rumble pass through the ground as we waited. After the rumble came a hiss and a door appeared as we all rose to our feet. Then came a sight I didn't want to see for a while. It was Ares in his red armor. He had no swords, spears, shield, or even a helmet. The helmet had covered a up a face that would have given any child nightmares. His hair was copper like fire and his eyes were red like Blood. His face was scarred in so many places he looked like he had more scars than skin.

He looked through our group and saw that not a single one of us was scared of him. Not even the fairies. He suddenly hauled out a spear from his breast plate and threw it at Leroy. My eyes sharpened as my reflexes from the past 2 weeks took over. One of my chain blades shot over and intercepted the spear knocking it away from Leroy as he breathed in deeply and exhaled a storm of snow and ice that coated the ground in a cone toward Ares. I glared at Ares as my blade retreated to my arm but the sickle still hung from my hand.

"Not bad reflexes rookies! You've formed alliances, friends, and protectors. That's good. But the next part is the hardest. You have to go live out there in the real world now. I merely helped you get used to being in a combat simulation. Now you guys are ready for the big leagues. Sprites, Fairies, and Production based beings with no capacity for fighting! I want you on the left side.! Combat based forms remain on the right! Once we exit You will assume your civilian forms! Go! go! go!" He shouted.

Everyone started milling about. I found myself between a guy who stood 3 feet shorter than me made of gold and a massive 10 foot tall beast that looked like a manticore. As we made our lines we made sure to give each other space. A few feet between each of us. Ares watched like a sergeant looking over new recruits. He nodded solemnly once we were done and turned around military style. "Follow me!" He marched through the door.

As soon as he passed through it his form changed. He turned into a normal 5'6 humanoid in camo attire. He had on a military cap that had a sword, Shield, and spear emblazoned on it. His face still had large white lines racing across it still.

As we passed through the archway all of us changed. My previous form came to my mind much easier now and the transformation flowed more. Many different styles of dress and many different types of people. As we were all unique. My scarf seemed to drift slightly from a breeze that appeared from nowhere. I turned to see another door that was filled with light.

Ares noticed where I was looking. "Ladies and gentlemen. You did well. Just pass through that door there and you'll be in your new home. I wish ya the best of luck. And do your best. Maybe one day you'll make it up high enough to fill my shoes when I retire from this." He saluted us all before walking through the white door.

One by one we followed. The production based people going first. Combat followed last. Bellona and I waited close to the back with Geb and Leroy. "This will be weird." I said as we approached the door. "Yeah... but at least the worst is over." Bellona said. She couldn't have been more wrong.

As we passed through the portal another conversation was taking place in a different place. "Your certain about this Major?" A steely female voice asked. "Yes Ma'am. One person made it through the training without dying. I've never heard of this happening before." Said the person covered in camo which was obviously Ares civilian avatar.

A metallic tapping echoed from the other side of the room which was covered in shadows obscuring the person within. "Show me the file. I want to see what happened and how they could have survived the terrain and viruses. Nobody is supposed to be able to make their way through training without experiencing death at least once." She said coldly.

Ares pulled out a chip which he handed over to an android. It quickly inserted the chip into its chest plate. From there a hologram appeared showing who they were talking about. "Edgar G. Blackwood. What makes you so special?" The woman said as a pair of serpentine eyes reflected the light of the hologram.

I felt a chill run down my spine as I sneezed. Can I still catch a cold in this place? I shook myself and rubbed my arms a bit as I moved forward. We were on a raised hexagonal dias that led toward the ground with big steps leading away from the door we just went through. The streets below were filled with people.

I looked around and I realized we had been let out into what appeared to be the public's main area. I looked at the crowds of people as our little group ventured closer. The people were divided if only by a slight amount. When I noticed the division I noticed the banners and flags. A skull, A sword, A shield, and finally a Hammer. The biggest section of people was divided between the sword and shield groups though. And everyone seemed to be on edge and roaring at us individually to come over and join their group.

I took a couple steps back and Bellona noticed it. She stopped with Geb not far behind. Even Leroy noticed. They looked at me as I inspected everybody. "You alright bra?" Leroy rumbled out. I shook my head a little.

"I don't like large groups. Never have. And by the looks of things this place is split into factions. The smallest is the skull faction with what seems to be 4 people. Next is hammer but they already seem to outnumber skull by a hundred or so. Then sword and shield." I said nervously.

"So what? We all have to get over our fears at some point." Bellona said as she grabbed my arm and started hauling me forwards. I reluctantly let her drag me down to see them all.

"We want the best warriors!" Shouted the Sword faction. "We are accepting all Tanks or Guardians!" The shield faction shouted. "Come one and all who have the ability to build. Put your skills to the test with the builder faction!" Shouted the hammer faction.

As I heard them all shouting I couldn't help but be drawn to the skull faction. They were quiet. Not a peep. I saw every person wore black and were silent as people in church.

I tapped on Bellona's shoulder. Perhaps I should just call her Bell? I pointed at the skull faction as I spoke. "I'll check them out!" She nodded as she let go and tried listening to people. I weaved through the crowd of my peers of the past couple weeks till I stood in front of the skull faction. I sighed as I finally got out of the stuffy crowd. I finally got a good look at the people before me. Two females and 2 males by the looks of things.

"Hey kid." One of them said. His body was coated in a cloak of shadows and his voice was like cracking ice when you step onto frozen grass. It was actually kinda cool to listen to.

" You don't want to be here kid. We're the death hunter faction. Might be best to pick one of the other ones." He said in a way that got on my nerves a little.

"Henry be nice! Our faction won't grow with your attitude!" Said one of the girls. Her way of dress was what looked like pants with a flowing top. She had a white scarf that was kinda the opposite of my own. White and flowed around her like the wind. On her right shoulder sat a skull with flowers sticking out of it. "Persephone... am I right?" I said as the myth entered my mind. The goddess of fertility who was stolen by the God of death to be his wife.

The girls face showed shock and amusement. " Yes indeed my battle form is that. What gave it away?" She asked. I pointed at her shoulder with the skull and flowers. "Ahh. That would be a pretty good indicator. Though I want to push that deductive ability further. What are those 3?" She asked as I looked at her fellows.

It took me a few moments to think of what they all were. The one had a cloak that just screamed reaper about it but only a few death gods wore cloaks. I pointed at the guy in the cloak. "The Grim Reaper." I said and the guy smiled. "Not bad rook." I looked at the next one. His body was normal but his neck had a necklace with wings. On the wings were engraved a scythe and a sword. It actually took me a moment to guess that one. "Thanatos." The guy stayed silent as the girl nodded.

I moved to the last one. A little girl. About 4 feet tall with white hair. Her body had a small dress on it and sandals with what looked like toes sticking out. She had a slight amount of dust on her shoulders though which was slightly off putting. Her face was extremely pale compared to ours. Her figure was small, but at the same time it screamed of misery. "Achlys." I said hesitantly as the name clicked into my mind. The girl sighed. "Yeah unfortunately I got the saddest god in the book. But don't think I can't be happy." The little girl shook her fist at me. Her voice was like a squeak toy. Kinda funny considering her god.

I heard clapping behind me. "Not bad. Not bad. Anubis surely hasn't lost his touch after all these years." Persephone said. I raised an would-be eyebrow. "The ears." She said pointing at my head. I chuckled.

"Your welcome to join us if you like. Not many can guess Thanatos. And most just make it to Grim Reaper. But extremely few can guess Bethany's battleform. In reality nobody wants to be hers. But few have the history of Anubis. A healer and a killer. Very few have his abilities." She patted me on the shoulder. "Welcome to the Death Hunters. We'll treat you right" She said as suddenly a warm sensation filled my chest and smoke filled the air.

I looked down. And there, Sitting on my chest, was a brand. The skull of a jackal with a winged scarab for an eye sat there emblazoned in gold above my heart.