The Great City
Far beyond Haydes lies The Great City, the largest and most advanced settlement since the Blood Bath—or The Purge, as some prefer to call it. At its heart stood The Citadel, a towering structure so grand and awe-inspiring that no one could glance at it once without stealing a second look. Its design was flawless, and its presence demanded attention.
From the left edge of the Citadel stood the ADV Games Arena, one of the most popular destinations in the city. People from far and wide came to witness the games held there. These games were not merely sport—they determined rank, status, and one's ability to defend the city. Participants were placed into ranks known as:
The Creches, The Xenons, The Accrehx, The Alphas, The Omegas, and The White Elders.
The system was divided into six levels, each governed by a ruler known as a Sentinel. At the top of the Sentinels was a mind-Azrax named Verise Zhersoux, whose word carried final authority after considering the advice of the others. The Sentinels oversaw promotions, demotions, and the enrolment of new Creches.
The time for the ADV Games had arrived. Contestants poured into the city, signing up for the challenges. Most had undergone gruelling and stern training under masters in the Alpha and Accrehx levels. Few came from the Omega level—it was rare, but not impossible.
Though called a "game," the ADV Games were anything but simple. The competition was divided into three intense stages:
The first stage being, The Hockey Trials; Contestants were split into teams and battled each other—not just with mere sticks and pucks, but with their powers. The purpose was to reduce the number of participants. It was chaotic, dangerous, and considered the most difficult phase. Players didn't know their teammates' abilities, and failure meant instant elimination.
The second phase is The Arena Duel: A one-on-one battle inside a circular ring suspended five thousand feet above the ground, without barricades. Spectators sat on elevated platforms shielded by force fields to avoid collateral damage. Here, you had to unleash your Azrax—a personal chimera-like beast. Failure to do so, even in victory, led to disqualification. Mastery of one's Azrax was the only path forward.
The Azrax evolved with its summoner. When fully mastered, it became a part of you, granting immense power and the sensation of invincibility. Without it, advancement was impossible. Therefore it has to be tamed
The final and the most confusing one is The Flag Quest: The final trial. Contestants were given half an hour to locate their personalized flag hidden deep within an expansive forest, armed only with a few cryptic hints. It tested intuition, survival instincts, and spiritual connection to the Azrax.
Gwenevier had waited years for this moment. She had failed in the last three Games, and while she remained a Creche, many of her peers had advanced to Xenon—the most populous level.
Last time, she was close. Or so she believed. She ran out of time just before reaching her flag. And in the rest her team was crushed during the Hockey stage.
But this year felt different.
She had trained hard—under the guidance of her older brother, a skilled warrior in the Accrehx level. He was well-known, having returned with his flag in third place during his own trials, earning him recognition among the Sentinels.
Now, in the locker room, Gwenevier sat cross-legged, meditating. The Creche games were still underway, but soon, the selection for advancement to Xenon would begin. The higher levels—Accrehx, Alphas, and beyond—had not yet begun their trials.
As she meditated, she relived her training in vivid detail. Her eyes closed, her mind sharpened. A faint crimson mist began to swirl around her, emanating from her skin.
She was strong with her Azrax. She knew how to connect with it—effortlessly, intimately. It was her edge. And this time, she wouldn't fail.
"Can't wait to see you get crushed out there like always, Gwen," Sarah said as she entered the locker room and spotted Gwen deep in meditation."You know it's not really about you, right? It's the team they stick you with. That's why you keep losing at hockey."
Gwen opened her eyes slowly, her expression unreadable at first—but her tone held a quiet fire."What do you want, Sarah? Huh?" she asked. "You know if I win this game, I get promoted to your level. Xenon."
Sarah smirked and scoffed."Oh, hell no. We might both be in Xenon then, but don't flatter yourself—we wouldn't be on the same level. You'd still be a rookie. A beginner. And that's if you even make it through."She turned toward her locker, grabbing what she needed. "It's honestly pathetic. After all your big talk, you still haven't cleared a single Creche level. Cheerio."
With that, Sarah walked toward the exit, her boots clacking sharply against the tile."I'm your number one fan, Gwen," she called with a sarcastic edge as her footsteps echoed into silence.
The massive bell rang throughout the arena, signalling the end of the final match.The winner of the Creche-level games had just been announced.Now, the time had come for the advancement games of the Creches—when the old Creches would move on... or be left behind once again.