Episode 6: Team 1

In a black skyscraper in New York City, a man sits looking out of the top floor of a glass room.

The man sits smoking a large Cuban Cigar. His dark purple suit catches the city's light. The smoke from his cigar runs through his black curly hair with red tips. Two loud knocks break his peace. The man pulls his cigar from his scared lips and lets out a sigh that is accompanied by smoke. "Come in."

The door opens to show a large bald, muscular man. His black suit sat almost comically on his colossal frame. "Lord Travis Black, some of our volunteers have survived the experiment."

Travis inhales more smoke before releasing it with a sentence. "Did you find the location of the Inquisitor exam?"

The bald man pulls out a cell phone that looked entirely too small for his large hands. "Yes, my lord. We have deduced that this year's exam is taking place in Washington, D.C."

Travis smirks. "Then let us have a little field test before we offer them to our generous sponsor."

The bald man bows. " Right away, my lord."

The man hesitates nervously before Travis breaks it in an instant. "What is it, Grahm?"

Grahm quickly answers his master with no lingering thoughts of hesitation. "Young Lord Black is there as well, taking the exam."

A cold and dark silence falls upon the room. Then the glass window that Travis was staring out of cracks. "Is that so? Looks like the little punk is declaring war on me and the Union. I should've figured that all those attacks would've been by him. Our men looked mangled and destroyed by the time we found them. He killed them as I taught him, so I can't be too mad." Travis then stands up menacingly from his chair, putting on his black shades that couldn't hide his piercing purple glowing eyes.

Grahm felt cold sweat run down his face. "My lord, do you still wish to field test our experiment?"

Travis looked at his subordinate with cold, unfeeling eyes. "Grahm, did I stutter?"

The sweat that was running down Grahm's face had now fallen from his cheek, hitting the ground. "No, my lord."

Tavis then walked over to Grahm, who was still bowing before placing his hand on Grahm's bald head. Grahm's heart skipped a beat as he held his breath, thinking. 'I'm dead!'

Travis sighs before removing his hand from Grahm's head. "Just let experiment 2207 run a little rampant and see how long it lasts against the Inquisitors." Travis walked back to his seat. "Oh, and make sure that you record the fight. Our sponsor needs a demonstration for their product."

Grahm stood up from his bow. "Yes, my lord." Then turns around, walking out of the room.

Travis puts the cigar back in his mouth as he stares out the window. "That damned punk. Seems my punishment for him was too harsh this time. I still need him, but for now, I'll let him play outside for a bit. After all, he belongs to me."

At the Inquisitor exam stadium.

Sable laughs in pure joy. "See, I told you we have a lot of promising prospects this year!"

The Knights all look at Sable before Caleb regains his bearing. "Sable, I know you brought most of these applicants here, but did you know about that Ryan kid?"

Sable looks over at Caleb before rubbing the back of his head. "No, that kid took me by surprise, too." Sable then lets off an extremely satisfied smile. "However, I guessed he'd be at least this amazing. After all, the Red Wolf brought him."

The Knights all had a face of surprise before Caleb exclaimed. "The Red Wolf Loid Asher brought him?!"

Sable's smile curls mischievously. "I know right, well whatever, we got to move on to the next exam before it gets dark. Don't want them running around all night, do we? It's still the first day of the exam." Sable lets out a little cough. "Alright, all applicants, your results are in. I shall announce the teams."

All the applicants look stunned by what Sable had just proclaimed. Though the ones who looked the most stunned were Ryan and Don. Sable chuckles softly as he looks at the stunned applicants. "The teams we put you on will be essential for passing the exams. Those who performed the best will be placed on a team together."

Don was stunned to hear what Sable had announced. 'Those who performed the best on the same team? That means they guaranteed me and Ryan to be on the same team. That also means that the team we end up on will have a big target on our back. Is that Sable's plan? To use as a goal for the other applicants, to strive for.' Sable makes eye contact with Don before giving a mischievous smile. 'That bastard. It's exactly what he's doing. God, I swear to you when I get strong enough, I'll sock that bastard right in the face.'

Sable puts away his sadistic smile. "For Team 1, the five applicants will be first place, Ryan... Ummm, Ryan. For his skill and power. The second will be second place, Donaldo Espinoza, his speed a proficiency were the qualities we chose him for. The third will be the fifth-place applicant Nina Liakhovich. She defeated her prey with efficiency. That was the deciding factor for Team 1.".

The white-hair girl from earlier stepped up next to Don and Ryan with a carefree smile.

"The fourth will be the seventh-place applicant Mia Musashi. For the compassion to save other applicants and help them complete the point amount before she crossed the finish line. For these traits was she placed on Team 1."

Mia walked calmly toward the group, holding her sheathed katana tightly before bowing to the group.

"The Fifth and final member of Team 1 will be the tenth-place applicant Duke St.John. His ability to work in a team and take the least dangerous actions to achieve his goals has granted him the last place."

The dark-skin soldier with a buzz cut looked at his counterpart putting his fist up. "Let's both pass this exam and become Inquisitors Sir."

The blond man laughs as he fist bumps Duke. "There is no longer any rank between us Duke, no need for you to still address me as an officer. I'll see you at the end of this thing."

Duke then walks over to the group and gives them a simple nod.

Sable points to the exit. "Team 1, please head through those doors. Knight Silva will give you your next exam."

Ryan gives the group a look of displeasure as he thinks. 'This blows. I wanted to go toe-to-toe with these guys. Instead, I'm now their teammate. Fine, as long as they don't get in my way, I'll carry them to the finish line.' before he walked toward the exit. The group followed him.

Don spoke up as they walked. "Hey everyone, I'm Don and I'll do everything I can to make sure we all pass. So Ummm... nice to meet you all."

Duke rubs Don's head, messing up his hair. "Yeah, man, nice to meet you too."

Nina laughs, skipping next to Don and Duke. "I'm Nina. Just leave all the punching to me. I'll smash apart whatever we come across!"

Mai speaks up with a dignified voice that matched her beauty. "I swear on my sword that I'll support the team and make sure everyone comes out alive."

As the newly formed Team 1 walk towards their next hurdle to overcome, a dark force known as the Union makes their play.