Gaelux's speech had rolled across the plains like distant thunder, shaking the very ground beneath them. When it finally ended… the silence lasted only a heartbeat, tense and electric, as if the air itself was holding its breath.
Then, the first young participant stepped forward.
Another followed.
And then another.
Suddenly—
"WOOOOOW! ORB VALLEY!"
"IT'S NOW!"
"LET'S GO, LET'S GO, LET'S GO!"
A tidal wave of euphoria swept through the crowd. Thousands of youths surged forward, bodies trembling with adrenaline, eyes wide as if witnessing a living legend. The colossal gates separating the city from the forest swung open with a groan that echoed across the plains like an omen.
Laughter and screams mixed with the sound of hundreds of feet pounding the earth. Courage ran alongside fear, adrenaline alongside hesitation, creating a chaotic symphony of emotion.
Angelo's heart pounded, chest heaving with excitement.
Tocre maintained his calm, every movement precise, eyes darting around, noting the shifting crowds and every potential hazard.
Aura Lana clapped her hands while running, her laughter clear and bright, a sparkling contrast against the tense atmosphere.
But then… the trio halted.
Before them, the gates of Orb Valley rose like a living wall: aged wood woven with dark stone, thick roots twisting across its surface, and faded symbols carved by time itself. The forest behind it seemed to breathe, slow and deliberate, waiting.
On the faces around them, every conceivable emotion appeared: awe, disbelief, exhilaration… and the quiet tremor of fear.
Some forced nervous smiles.
Others tightened their fists.
Some simply stared in stunned silence.
Then came the footsteps.
Heavy, measured, and unyielding.
A Royal Guard officer emerged. Her armor was dulled by wear, the steel catching only fragments of light, her face lined with years of battle and responsibility. No trace of empathy softened her gaze. She stopped before the crowd.
The murmurs died instantly.
Her eyes swept over them—evaluating, measuring, not seeing children but potential survivors.
"Very well. My name is Ysolde Nerissa Frostmar Oceara."
Thirty-nine years old. His voice carried authority, calm but icy, cutting through the lingering excitement.
"The information provided to you earlier… was for the public.
To calm families.
To maintain order."
A ripple of wary glances passed through the crowd.
"But you…" he said, pointing to the group closest to the gates. "…you are the ones going in.
You are the ones who will remain inside.
For you, the information is different."
The air seemed heavier.
More oppressive.
"The Orb Valley challenge has been ongoing for generations.
At first, it had no defined goal.
Youngsters entered to survive.
Some made it.
Others… did not."
No laughter.
No sighs.
No one dared breathe too deeply.
"This is part of the process.
And you accepted it the moment you crossed this threshold."
He began to walk slowly, deliberately, letting each word sink in.
"Inside, you will need to learn how to build societies.
Some of you are already friends.
Others will become allies.
That does not matter. Survival is the priority."
A pause.
A weighty silence.
"But understand this. Among you… there are spies.
They work with me.
They will report problems.
And yes… they may cause problems on purpose."
Eyes darted, suspicion igniting among the young competitors.
"Do not try to find them.
Do not investigate.
Do not accuse anyone."
He held up a small, cobalt-blue capsule.
"This pill erases the last five minutes of memory.
But if, during those five minutes, you commit to something…
Even if you do not remember…
You will fulfill it."
A few youths swallowed hard, the weight of the forest already pressing on their nerves.
"Promises made in secret… will remain secret."
He tucked the capsule away and fixed her gaze on the throng.
"Focus on survival."
Her tone sharpened.
"The challenge lasts thirty days.
Do not approach the Phantom Zone.
We are not authorized to intervene.
Even in case of illness.
Even in case of death."
The shock rippled across the crowd. Eyes widened. Breaths quickened. The reality of the forest—a living, breathing predator—settled in like ice.
"The forest has resources.
It is up to you to find them.
It is up to you to live."
He stepped back.
"Be strong.
Be smart.
And remember…"
A cold, merciless smile formed.
"This is a competition."
The gates swung fully open.
It was not an invitation.
It was a sentence.
One by one, the youths crossed the threshold.
The air changed instantly, thick with tension, scented with moss, wet earth, and the unknown.
The silence that followed was intense, charged, like the forest itself was watching their every move.
"Did you feel that?" whispered Angelo, voice tight.
"Nothing here is neutral," Tocre replied, eyes scanning every shadow.
The gates slammed shut behind them.
CLANG.
No return.
Ragnar's head turned slowly to Kall, voice trembling, almost a desperate whisper.
"Kall… I know you motivated me… I know. But… what he just said… it doesn't motivate anyone. It just makes me want to leave. I… I don't think I can. I should leave while I still can."
Ragnar took a hesitant step back, his legs feeling like lead.
Before he could retreat further, Kall grasped his arm firmly—not aggressive, but unyielding. His eyes, serious and unwavering, replaced his usual confident smirk.
"Did you hear exactly what he said?" Kall said quietly, yet with authority. "We've already crossed the line, Ragnar. You can't just turn your back and run now."
Ragnar struggled, but Kall held fast.
"Where is your honor, man?" he pressed. "Your family always said you shouldn't be here, right? Then prove them wrong. Prove it to yourself."
Ragnar's throat tightened.
"You can leave this forest as a champion… as a victor," Kall moved closer, reassuring yet firm. "We haven't known each other long, that's true. But don't worry about that. I'm calm. Friend of the forest. If you stay by my side, we'll survive. I promise. Both of us."
Ragnar averted his gaze. Fear was still alive, raw and pulsing.
"Don't let her words overwhelm you," Kall continued. "Even if they're terrifying… even if they're true. I'll be here with you. To protect you. Okay?"
Silence reclaimed the space, heavy and watchful.
Ragnar breathed in. One. Two. Three.
Then he raised his head.
"Okay… okay… okay…" he muttered, convincing himself. "I'll stay. I'll face my fears… I'll try to be as fearless as I can."
He looked Kall in the eyes, serious now.
"But just so you know: if something goes out of control… I'm getting out of here. And no one will stop me."
Kall released his arm and nodded, a subtle, confident smile forming.
"As you wish, my friend."
Further back, Kyle Serin observed quietly, calculating, unflinching.
He stepped aside, choosing another path.
And from atop the invisible walls surrounding Orb Valley, eyes watched every movement.
Unhurried.
Emotionless.
Ysolde Nerissa Frostmar Oceara knew better than anyone.
From this moment on,
they weren't just entering a forest.
They were stepping into a world alive, breathing, and hungry.