In a dimly lit surveillance room tucked deep within the Resistance base, a dozen monitors displayed real-time footage from across the testing grounds. The walls were lined with screens showing thermal signatures, Lumina energy readings, and drone perspectives that tracked recruits' movements through each biome.
Kaori Yamashita stood with arms crossed at the center of the room, her attention shifting between screens. Around her, technicians monitored different sectors, occasionally marking points of interest on their tablets.
"Where's Neo?" Kaori asked, noticing the tech specialist's absence.
"She's fixing some issues in the forest biome," a technician replied. "She said something about a lot of sensors malfunctioning after that tremor made by the Guardian when it passed underneath the desert and forest biome."
Kaori nodded, turning her attention to a screen showing Leo and Aria entering the desert sector. "Those two work well together. The journalist adapted faster than expected."
"His shadow manipulation is a really good support ability," commented a gray-haired tactician beside her. "Though his Lumina reserves are little. Without proper training, he'll remain vulnerable against anything above Fodder-tier."
"That's why we test them," Kaori replied. "To see who needs what kind of development."
Another technician called out from across the room. "Commander, we have a situation in the eastern forest. Erikson is engaging multiple creatures again."
The main display switched to show a tall young man with slicked-back green hair firing green energy blasts from his palms. Three evolved wolves circled him. With a care-free attitude, he killed them one by one, a smirk forming on his face with each kill.
"Julien Erikson," Kaori said, her expression darkening. "Three-star C-class, capable of creating green energy blasts."
"And showing off as usual," the tactician added. "That last blast went wild, it hit something else entirely."
The secondary monitor showed the aftermath. It had hit the mantis beast Leo and Aria had been fighting, causing it to stagger backwards from the wound.
"That was Erikson's stray shot?" Kaori asked, eyebrows raising. "Interesting coincidence. We were about to get Voss out of there if things went south. The testing grounds aren't meant to kill promising recruits."
"The extraction team is standing down," confirmed an operator. "Looks like the archer handled it well."
Kaori studied Erikson's movements on the screen. "Keep a closer eye on him. His power is impressive, but his attitude concerns me. Did you see his file?"
"Yes, he's a former GPA special ops officer," the tactician nodded. "He was kicked out because... he caused too many messes for the GPA to clean up."
"If I remember correctly, Voss investigated him once," Kaori said. "An article about being a hothead with no concerns for collateral damage. The story was buried, of course, but Erikson never forgot the journalist who tried to expose him."
On screen, Erikson blasted another creature, laughing as it disintegrated. The display showed his Lumina readings dropping with each attack.
"Make a note," Kaori instructed. "Under no circumstances are Voss and Erikson to be placed in the same Squadron."
The tactician made the notation, then pointed to another screen. "You might want to see this. This group is the first to enter an orange zone. They are in the city ruins sector."
Kaori turned her attention to the indicated monitor, where three recruits moved cautiously through crumbling concrete buildings. The ruins created a maze-like environment of half-collapsed buildings and streets full of rubble.
"Isn't that the medic from the medical division?" she asked, focusing on a slender blonde woman at the rear of the group.
"Iris Mendel," confirmed the tactician. "A class-D healing specialist. She got top scores in the field of medicine, but still chose to join the squadron units."
The drone camera zoomed out, showing the three recruits and a large shape moving through the ruins in a direction that would cause them to intercept.
"They're about to encounter a peak Hunter-tier beast that moved from its original position in the outer red zone," the technician reported. "It's of the wolverine type, with some real strong defence."
"They are currently only three beasts of its level in the ground right now. Let's see how they handle it," Kaori said. "Switch to ground-level footage."
----
"I'm telling you, we should have turned south at that last turn," Iris Mendel said, adjusting the medical bag strapped across her shoulders. Her blonde hair was pulled back in a ponytail, revealing clear blue eyes that constantly scanned their surroundings.
"And I'm telling you to shut up and follow," snapped the man leading their group. Jackson Cindercrest, his name tag read, though he'd introduced himself as "Jax" with all the swagger of someone used to being obeyed. "I know exactly where we're going."
He was from the infamous Cindercrest family, the First-gen family that wielded the power of fire. After being ousted from the family, he sought out the Resistance in order to find a way to exact his revenge.
The third member of their group, a lanky technician named Asher, merely sighed. He'd given up arguing hours ago, focusing instead on scanning the ruins with a homemade device that detected Lumina signatures.
Although they didn't know it, all recruits were searched for any appliances that might give them an unfair adavantage over others, so it was fairly impressive that Asher was able to get his device in without being detected.
"There's a large concentration of Lumina energy ahead," Asher warned, tapping his screen. "It could be trouble."
"If it's trouble, we'll handle it," Jax declared confidently. "That's why they put me in charge."
"Nobody put you in charge," Iris muttered. "You just started walking first and wouldn't stop talking."
Jax turned, his expression darkening. "Got something to say, blondie? Because last I checked, healers stay in the back and patch wounds. They don't make decisions."
Iris frowned but said nothing. She'd met enough men like Jax during her time in the medical corps. All brawn and bravado until things went wrong. Then they expected her to work miracles.
"I'm just suggesting we proceed with caution," she said. "The map shows this is an orange zone."
"Orange, red, whatever," Jax scoffed. "Nothing we can't handle."
As they rounded a corner into what once might have been a town square, a low growl stopped them in their tracks. Standing amid the rubble was a beast nearly twice the size of an adult human being, its body covered in bone-like armor plates. Just like a human, this nightmare beast stood on its two hind legs.
"Don't move," Asher whispered, his device beeping frantically. "It's a powerful Hunter-tier beast."
The wolverine beast sniffed the air, clearly sensing their presence though it hadn't seen them yet. Its massive claws scraped against concrete as it took a step forward.
"This is perfect," Jax grinned, his hands beginning to glow with fiery energy. "Time to show why I deserve an A-class rating."
"Are you insane?" Iris hissed. "That thing could tear us apart!"
"Watch and learn, bitch," Jax replied. Before either could stop him, he stepped into the open and hurled a fireball directly at the beast.
The flames struck the creature's armored back and dissipated with no effect. The wolverine beast turned towards them, eyes narrowing as it identified the source of the attack.
"Nice going, hotshot," Asher groaned, already backing away.
The beast charged with surprising speed, covering half the distance before Jax could form another attack. His second fireball hit its fur, burning it but barely slowing the beast's advance.
"Scatter!" Iris shouted, diving behind a fallen pillar as the beast crashed into the space where they'd been standing.
Jax leaped aside, throwing flames continuously now, each blast having a diminishing effect as the beast adapted to the attacks. Asher scrambled up a partially collapsed staircase, typing frantically on his H-phone
"Its armor is strong!" he told his teammates. "Find another approach!"
The beast whirled, choosing Jax as its main target. It lunged forward, massive jaws snapping inches from his leg as he rolled away.
"Fall back!" Iris ordered, pulling a small capsule from her medical kit. She broke it, releasing a cloud of pungent smoke that momentarily confused the beast's senses.
They retreated through a narrow passage between buildings, the beast's roars echoing behind them. Jax led them through the rubble, finally emerging into what appeared to be an old courtyard.
"We lost it," he panted, hands on knees. "Damn thing was tougher than it looked."
A crash behind them proved he'd spoken to early. The wolverine beast burst through a weakened wall, blocking their exit path. Ahead of them, the courtyard ended in a large drop where part of the structure had collapsed.
"We're trapped," Asher stated unnecessarily, his device continuing to beep in warning.
The beast stalked forward slowly now, as if savoring their predicament. Its breathing came in intimidating huffs and puffs.
Iris moved to the front of the group, reaching into her bag for special medical injectors.
"What's the plan?" Asher whispered, eyeing the approaching nightmare.
Jax's hands ignited once more, though with noticeably less intensity than before. "We fight. What else?"
"We need to coordinate," Iris insisted, pressing an injector against her own arm. The stimulant would temporarily enhance her reflexes, though she'd pay for it later with exhaustion. "I have an idea, but I need you both to listen for once."