Chapter 114: And The Trial Had Finally Begun

Words : 1029 Updated : Sep 17th, 2025

Chapter 114: And The Trial Had Finally Begun Sera’s eyes narrowed. "So you’re here to spy on him." "Not to spy. But to watch," Mei corrected. "There’s a difference." Sera turned away, unzipping her jacket as well. "Not much of one." There was silence as the two girls changed, neither looking at the other more than necessary. Sera’s suit fit her like a second skin—tailored for speed and subtlety, designed with minimal noise and high shock resistance. Mei’s was more rugged—reinforced at the elbows and knees, built for close combat, with extra room for movement and impact dispersion. Once they were both dressed, Sera spoke again. "Just be careful," she said quietly. Mei raised an eyebrow. "Of Ethan?" "No," Sera said, looking up. "Of yourself." Mei blinked, unsure what she meant. But Sera didn’t explain. She turned toward the exit. "Let’s go. We’re wasting time." The screen over the door lifted with a quiet hiss, and the two girls stepped out into the hallway once again, both suited, calm, and quiet. The pod room was already filling with teams. Ethan stood near the third row, arms relaxed at his sides, gaze calm as the two girls approached. Neither of them spoke. They didn’t need to. All three took their places in front of the assigned pods, each shaped like a reclining capsule with soft lighting pulsing around the edges. A panel slid open beside each pod, revealing a simple control console and a wrist-linked interface module. "You ready?" Ethan asked, looking at both of them. Sera nodded without hesitation. Mei gave a shrug. "Sure. Let’s see what all the fuss is about." Each of them tapped the interface band on their left wrist. A small blue light blinked three times, then scanned the surrounding area. One by one, their bands synced. A quiet beep signaled that the trio was officially linked as a team. Ethan glanced at the interface inside the pod. At first, he assumed the system would group them automatically, but it didn’t. Instead, a prompt blinked softly on the display, waiting for him to select teammates manually. Of course. It made sense. The simulation was designed to let participants explore whether to stay as a team, split up, or try alternate routes. The system didn’t assume anything for them. Just like in the real world, connection was a choice. Ethan tapped Sera and Mei’s names without hesitation. Better to stick together—for now. Both Sera and Mei accepted his invitation as both of them had the same thoughts as him and wanted to stick together. This is their first time together, so understanding each other is crucial. They each turned toward their pods. The interior padding adjusted automatically, reading their suits and posture. With no need to say more, the three climbed in. The lids closed with a soft hum. A flash of light filled their vision— —and everything changed. It was like falling into a dream, only faster. No floating. No disorientation. Just a quick blink—then the world opened up. The three of them stood in the middle of a vast landscape. They weren’t in a classroom anymore. They weren’t even in a city. This place was huge. Massive trees stretched toward the sky, easily ten stories tall. Vines looped from branch to branch, and thick patches of moss clung to every visible surface. The air was damp, warm, and buzzing with faint animal sounds. A light mist drifted across the forest floor, and sunlight trickled down through the dense canopy in beams. Somewhere far in the distance, a beast let out a deep, guttural roar. Sera slowly turned her head. "We’re in," she said softly. Sera looked around. Her boots sank slightly into the wet soil. "This is a forest region," she muttered. "Weren’t the odds higher for a plains-type or desert sector?" "Randomized spawn points," Mei said. "It drops you wherever it thinks you’ll learn the most." Ethan added, "This looks like one of the more aggressive zones." Sera nodded slowly. That lined up. They were in one of the last places most students would want to be dropped—the constant-pressure region. It was designed to mimic a part of a real forbidden zone. Even though this was a simulation, the map itself was based on real-world data. Just this single sector alone was the size of a small city, and from the looks of it, it might be bigger, as there are parts of places where you can tell that there is more. Which meant danger could come from anywhere. And often. Ethan exhaled, scanning the treeline. "Let’s find a route out of this clearing. Standing still’s just asking for trouble." Sera pulled up her wrist display. A miniature map of the current zone appeared in the air, glowing with faint indicators. "No known movement within one hundred meters," she reported. "But that doesn’t mean we’re alone. Stealth-coded beasts don’t ping easily." Mei drew a slim blade from her back. It shimmered with blue light before fading to a neutral tone. "Let’s keep moving." They didn’t rush. They didn’t panic. They simply moved together. Each step was calculated. Sera took point, eyes scanning ahead. Ethan followed, in the middle position, watching flanks and elevation points. Mei covered the rear, her short hair tucked under her collar, and every movement was precise. They cut through the brush like it was second nature, adjusting without needing to speak. After about ten minutes of trekking, Sera held up a hand. "Hold." They stopped. She pointed toward a thick cluster of bushes near the base of a tree. Ethan squinted. It was subtle—but there it was. A glimmer of movement. Faint. Too faint for an ordinary simulation. "...That’s not a normal spawn," he said. "Nope," Mei said, already stepping sideways into a flanking position. "Standard formation," Sera said quietly. Ethan nodded. "Let’s do this clean." They didn’t talk again. They just moved. The hunt had begun. And the simulation—this giant forest of shifting threats—was waiting to see what they were made of. Whether they’d work as a team. Or fall apart. But right now? They were together. The field had opened. And the trial had finally begun.

Chapter 114: And The Trial Had Finally Begun

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