The moment I stepped inside…
Everything changed.
The air felt different.
Heavier.
Cold… but not normal cold. It felt like it was pressing against my skin, like something didn't want me here.
I stopped walking.
"…what is this place…"
The ground was rough. Dark. Cracked like it had been burned a long time ago. No grass. No life. Just empty space and broken land stretching out in every direction.
The gate slammed shut behind us.
CLANG.
I flinched. Hard.
That sound… it felt final.
No going back now.
A few students moved forward quickly, like they wanted to get it over with. Others stayed frozen, just staring around like me.
I could hear breathing. Fast. Uneven.
Not just mine.
Everyone's scared.
Good.
At least I'm not the only one.
"…spread out," someone muttered.
Yeah.
Makes sense.
Staying in a group might be worse.
Or better.
I didn't know.
I hated not knowing.
I took a step forward. Then another.
My boots scraped against the dry ground. The sound echoed too loudly.
Too empty.
I raised my hand slowly.
The spark appeared.
Small.
Steady.
But even it looked… weaker here.
That made my chest tighten.
"Don't do this now…"
I focused harder. The spark flickered but stayed.
Good.
Still mine.
Still working.
A sudden sound echoed in the distance.
Something moving.
Fast.
Everyone froze.
"…you heard that?" someone whispered.
Yeah.
I heard it.
And I didn't like it.
Another sound. Closer this time.
Something scraping. Dragging.
My heart started pounding again.
"Stay calm…" I whispered. "Stay calm…"
I took a slow step back.
Then—
Something moved.
Fast.
Too fast.
A shape shot across the ground, low and twisted.
One of the students screamed.
"WHAT IS THAT?!"
I saw it for a second.
And I wished I didn't.
It wasn't human.
It looked… wrong.
Too long. Too thin. Its limbs bent in ways they shouldn't. Its skin looked cracked, like the ground itself.
My chest went cold.
"…we're supposed to fight that?"
No one answered.
Because we all knew.
Yeah.
We are.
The thing lunged.
Straight at the nearest student.
He didn't even react in time.
A scream.
Then silence.
My body froze.
Completely.
I couldn't move.
I couldn't think.
Just… watched.
The creature turned slowly.
And looked at us.
At me.
My heart slammed so hard it hurt.
"Move…" I whispered.
My legs didn't listen.
"MOVE!"
I forced it.
Stepped back. Then turned.
Ran.
I hated it.
But I ran.
The ground cracked under my feet as I pushed forward. My breath came out sharp, uneven. My chest burned instantly.
Behind me—
That thing moved again.
Fast.
Too fast.
It was chasing.
Of course it was.
Why wouldn't it be?
I tripped.
Hit the ground hard.
Pain shot through my side.
"…get up… get up…"
My hands shook as I pushed myself up.
The spark flickered wildly.
Unstable.
Like me.
I turned just in time to see it lunging again.
Too close.
Way too close.
"No—!"
My hand shot forward on instinct.
Spark.
It hit.
Barely.
But enough.
The creature jerked slightly. Not hurt. Just… slowed.
That was all I needed.
I scrambled back, heart racing, hands shaking violently.
"That didn't even hurt it…"
My voice came out weak.
Useless.
Panic started rising again.
I can't beat this.
I can't do this.
I'm going to die here.
"No…"
I shook my head hard.
"No. Not like this."
The creature moved again. Slower this time. Watching.
Like it was learning.
That made it worse.
Way worse.
My chest tightened. My breathing got messy again.
Think.
Think.
You trained for this.
Did I?
No.
Not really.
But I have something now.
The spark.
The control.
The shield.
"Okay…"
My hands steadied just a little.
"Okay… just don't panic…"
I raised both hands.
Two sparks.
They flickered unevenly. Weak.
But there.
The creature lunged again.
This time—
I didn't run.
I stepped sideways.
Barely dodged it. Felt the air shift as it passed.
Too close.
Way too close.
I turned and threw both sparks at once.
They hit.
Small impact.
But I saw it.
It reacted.
Not much.
But something.
"…it works…"
My voice was shaking.
But real.
I can do something.
Not strong.
Not enough.
But something.
The creature turned again.
Slow.
Careful.
It wasn't rushing anymore.
It was watching me now.
Waiting.
Just like I was.
My chest pounded.
This wasn't a fight.
This was survival.
And I was barely holding on.
The system pulsed suddenly:
[Threat Detected]
[Adaptation Required]
"…no kidding," I muttered.
My hands shook again.
But I didn't drop them.
Didn't run.
Didn't freeze.
Not this time.
"I'm not dying here…"
The words came out quiet.
But real.
"I just got back up…"
And I'm not going down again.
Not now.
Not here.
The creature moved again.
So did I.
And this time…
I didn't hesitate.