Chapter 29: An Idiot and The Ruins

The loud blare of a horn cut through the murmuring crowd, signaling the end of the ten-minute preparation period. Students shifted uneasily as the man who had addressed them earlier climbed back onto the platform at the front of the group. His commanding presence silenced the crowd in moments.

He cleared his throat, his voice booming across the assembly. "Now that you're all grouped, let me explain the nature of your test. You are tasked with hunting tier-one beasts and retrieving their soul crystals. The minimum requirement to pass this test is three crystals per team. However, the more you bring back, the better your evaluation will be. Remember, this is not a simulation. The beasts are real, and so is the danger."

The crowd erupted into murmurs again, but the man raised his hand, cutting through the noise with ease. "Each team will be provided with a map and a device." Behind him, other teachers and soldiers began distributing the items to each group. Kaden accepted their team's map and device, glancing at it briefly before passing it to Jace.

The man continued, "The map outlines the permitted hunting area. Do not venture beyond it. If you find yourselves in danger or unable to continue, press the button on the device. It is equipped with GPS, and the nearest teacher will come to your aid. Use this only in emergencies."

The seriousness of his tone wasn't lost on anyone. Some students exchanged nervous glances, while others clenched their fists, determination written on their faces.

"Finally," the man said, "you will have 30 minutes to get to know your team members' abilities and strengths. Use this time wisely to plan your route. The test will begin when the signal is given. Good luck."

With that, the teachers stepped back, leaving the students to huddle in their teams.

Kaden, Jace, and Lira moved a little away from the crowd, settling near a large tree. Kaden took a moment to observe his teammates. Jace, nervous, this was the first time he'll encounter beasts, he shuffled awkwardly with the map in hand. Lira, on the other hand, leaned casually against the tree, her silver hair catching the sunlight.

"Well," Jace began, clearing his throat, "I guess we should start by introducing our abilities. I'll go first. My ability is transformation. I can transform into things I've killed and stored in these." He pulled out a set of cards from his pocket, fanning them out for the others to see. Each card had a unique symbol etched onto it.

Kaden raised a brow. "How many things can you transform into right now?"

Jace hesitated. "Less than ten," he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. "The strongest is… a bull."

Lira crossed her arms, her brow furrowed. "Why can't you transform into something stronger like a beast?"

"Well, I'd have to kill one first," Jace replied with a self-deprecating chuckle. "And I don't see how that's gonna happen when all I've got are insects and a bull."

Kaden smirked. "We'll figure it out."

"Your turn," Lira said, her icy gaze shifting to Kaden.

"Strength," Kaden said simply. "My punches pack a lot. That's about it."

Lira sighed. "Great. So none of us use weapons or have long-range abilities."

Jace, clearly picking up on the unspoken cue, turned to Lira. "What about you? What's your ability?"

Lira hesitated for a moment before answering. "I can turn my tears into abilities. The potency depends on how strong my emotions were when I shed them. Right now, I have two types of tears stored—one that produces a fire attack and another with a healing ability."

Kaden nodded slowly, processing the information. "That's… interesting."

Lira's expression turned sharp. "Now you see why you're an idiot."

Kaden blinked, confused for a moment, before the realization hit him like a punch to the gut. "Oh. That night in the testing dojo… Lira's brother wasn't just abusing her for no reason. He was trying to make her cry, to fuel her power. Damn. I'm really an idiot."

Jace broke the awkward silence. "That must be why you always carry that gourd on your back," he said, gesturing to the container strapped behind her. "It's for storing your tears, right?"

Lira gave a small nod but didn't elaborate further.

With the introductions out of the way, the trio turned their attention to the map. They studied the layout carefully, tracing the boundaries of the permitted hunting zone. The map highlighted various terrains—plains, rocky areas, and a dense forest.

"We should head to the forest," Lira suggested. "The trees will give us cover and make it harder for beasts to ambush us."

Kaden and Jace exchanged glances before nodding in agreement. "Sounds like a plan," Kaden said.

They spent the remainder of the time plotting a route through the forest, marking areas they thought would be ideal for finding tier-one beasts while avoiding any areas that seemed too risky.

When the thirty minutes were up, a loud whistle signaled the start of the test. The instructor's voice rang out one last time. "You have five hours. Good luck."

The massive gates of the shelter creaked open, revealing the vast wilderness beyond. The landscape stretched out endlessly, a mix of rolling fields, jagged rocks, and the shadowy outline of the forest in the distance. The air was thick with tension, every rustle of the wind a reminder of the dangers lurking ahead.

"Let's go," Kaden said, leading the way. The trio followed the flow of students pouring out of the gates, though the groups quickly began diverging in different directions.

The three of them stopped just outside the gates, scanning their surroundings. The dense forest loomed to the east, its twisted trees casting eerie shadows even in the midday sun.

"Which way?" Jace asked, clutching the map.

Kaden pointed toward the forest. "There. Better to stick to cover than wander out in the open."

Lira didn't argue, and the three of them set off together. As they walked, Jace couldn't help but glance nervously around. "So, uh… anyone here actually know what we're doing?"

"Survive, kill a beast, and take its core," Kaden said bluntly.

"Right," Jace muttered. "Easy."

As they made their way toward the forest, they passed through an eerie landscape. Ruins—broken stone walls and crumbled buildings—littered their path. The once grand structures were now overtaken by vines and moss, their purpose long forgotten.

Jace stopped, staring at the remnants of civilization. "What happened here?"

Lira glanced around, her voice soft. "It's one of the strange things about these planets. Everywhere, there are signs of past civilizations, but no people. Just ruins... and beasts."

Kaden raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean, no people? Where did they all go?"

Lira shrugged, her eyes scanning the ruins with a touch of curiosity. "There are theories. Some say the beasts wiped them out. Others believe that they were driven to extinction by their own technologies or wars. A few even think the people disappeared into another dimension—maybe a portal opened, and they were sucked away."

Jace shook his head. "But there's no evidence of that, right?"

Lira shook her head. "Exactly. Just the ruins. The past is gone, like it never existed." She paused, her voice almost a whisper. "But there are those who think the people knew something, something about the beasts that we don't."

Kaden frowned, glancing at the ruins once more. "Great. More unanswered questions."

"Yeah," Lira said, her gaze distant. "But I guess that's what makes these places so interesting. No answers, just more mysteries."

They shared a quiet moment, the weight of the empty ruins hanging in the air.

"Let's move," Kaden said, breaking the silence. They quickly disappeared into the forest, the shadows closing in behind them.