Alvis could still feel Kaelin's eyes on him.
It was strange — that steady gaze had been there since the beginning of the trials, sharp and unreadable, like she was trying to peel away every layer of his thoughts.
But when the metallic voice of the facility's system echoed through the room, his focus snapped back to the moment.
"Third Trial… commencing."
The lights went out.
Not a flicker, not a gradual fade — just total black. The sound of someone's breath quickened behind him. His own pulse felt like it echoed in the darkness.
Then… the light returned.
But they weren't in the same room anymore.
The white walls and polished floors were gone, replaced by a massive, warehouse-like arena. Concrete pillars rose like crooked teeth from the ground, some broken in half, others connected by ropes and wooden planks. High above, faint daylight streamed through barred skylights, casting fractured beams across the space.
It was cold enough for the air to sting, yet not freezing. The floor wasn't smooth — it was scattered with uneven tiles, puddles of water, and thin strips of metal that groaned if stepped on.
And in the middle of the arena, two tall metal gates stood. One for Team Two. One for Team Three.
A deep, rumbling sound came from somewhere above. Alvis tilted his head just in time to see the ceiling shift — thick glass panels slid open, revealing cages suspended on metal chains. Inside the cages were strange, cylindrical containers marked with large red X's.
A new announcement came.
"Trial Objective: Retrieve your team's cylinder from the far side of the arena and return it to your gate. First team to do so wins. Obstacles will be… adaptive."
Arin's eyes darted over the layout. "Adaptive? That means the obstacles change depending on what we do."
Ren smirked. "So basically… a trap that learns."
Luma tilted her head, still smiling faintly like none of this was too serious. "Then we just have to be smarter than it."
Tam's knuckles cracked as he clenched his fists. "Or faster."
Alvis scanned the arena. It wasn't just the obstacles — it was the space itself. The puddles weren't random. The ropes, the planks, the half-broken pillars… they were all positioned like pieces of a cruel puzzle.
The horn blared.
Both teams surged forward.
The first obstacle hit almost immediately — the moment Tam's foot landed on a thin tile, the floor gave way, dropping him into a pit about two meters deep. The fall wasn't enough to injure him badly, but the cold water at the bottom made him curse under his breath.
Keira reacted fast, grabbing the edge of a pillar and swinging herself across the gap. "Watch the ground!" she yelled, her voice cutting through the chaos.
Team Two had taken the left side, trying to scale the rope bridge. But halfway across, the ropes snapped on one end, sending one of their members dangling and scrambling for grip.
Alvis's mind was racing. Every move mattered. Every step either put them closer to victory or closer to failure.
"Ren, go high!" Alvis barked. "Keira, take Luma and cut across the plank path. Arin, help Tam out of the pit and circle right!"
Ren didn't even question it — he dashed toward a pillar, using his momentum to climb. The second he got high enough, a small dart whistled past his face, embedding itself in the wood with a metallic thunk.
"They're shooting at us now?!" Ren yelled.
"Move faster then!" Alvis called back, already sprinting toward the rope bridge.
Luma kept her balance like it was nothing, her boots making barely a sound. She actually hummed under her breath while jumping over a loose plank.
By the time they reached the halfway point, Team Two was already at the far end of the arena. But their advantage collapsed when a metal grate suddenly slammed down between them and the cylinder, forcing them to double back and find another route.
"That's what they meant by adaptive," Keira muttered.
Alvis didn't waste time — he vaulted over the last beam, landing just a few meters from the red-marked cylinder.
Two members from Team Two noticed and charged at him.
One came from the left, swinging his arm in a wide arc. Alvis ducked low, sliding past him and using the momentum to grab the cylinder. The second tried to block his retreat, but Tam — dripping wet from the pit — slammed into him like a human wall, knocking the boy backward.
"Move!" Tam barked.
Alvis dashed back, clutching the cylinder like it was his own heart.
The arena seemed to fight back — tiles buckled, ropes snapped, a sudden burst of steam hissed from a hidden vent, blinding him for a second. But he kept running, boots hammering against the floor until he saw their gate looming ahead.
Ren swung down from above, landing beside him just as Alvis slid the cylinder into the gate's slot.
A loud clang echoed. The horn blared again.
"Winner: Team Three."
Cheers erupted from his team.
Luma stepped closer, still a little breathless from the run, and without hesitation leaned forward to press a soft kiss against Alvis's cheek. "I really hope we meet again," she whispered before turning away with that same faint smile.
Arin saw it. She didn't comment, just walked over and patted Alvis's shoulder. "Good job."
Before Alvis could respond, the guards stepped in, separating the boys and girls.
The victorious boys from both teams were led to the cafeteria. The day had been exhausting — the trials weren't just physical, they were mental traps, pushing them to think and adapt under pressure.
As Alvis entered the cafeteria, he noticed something strange. There were fewer boys than yesterday. And the ones here… they were all from the same group he'd gone to training with. Some looked pale. Others were holding their sides like they'd been hit too hard during the trials.
He barely had time to think before trays of food were placed in front of them.
Just as he was about to take his first bite, a shadow fell over him.
Crixus.
Without a word, the older boy reached down, grabbed Alvis's tray, and pulled it toward himself.
Alvis's fist clenched under the table. He wasn't strong enough yet, but every muscle in his body told him to stand up and punch the guy.
"Give the newbie back his food."
The voice was calm but sharp, carrying a weight that made the entire cafeteria pause.
Maxwell.
He was the top-ranked member of the Fangs — feared by everyone, respected by none who didn't know him. Even Crixus, his supposed friend, froze at the sight of him.
Maxwell didn't raise his voice. He didn't need to. "And follow me," he added.
Crixus hesitated, his jaw tightening. But when Maxwell gave him that look — the one that promised consequences — he shoved the tray back at Alvis and muttered something under his breath.
Alvis ate in silence after that, still feeling the tension in the air.
When they were done, the boys were being led back out. But halfway down the hall, a guard stepped out and tapped Alvis on the shoulder.
"You. Follow me."
The rest of the group kept moving as the guard led him down a different corridor — one he hadn't seen before. The walls here were darker, lined with doors that had no handles.
Alvis swallowed, unsure whether he was about to find answers… or just more questions.