The break room they were led to was nothing like what Kail had expected. It was stark, cold, and featureless—just a large stone room with a few simple benches and a table in the center. The air felt even heavier in here, as if the walls themselves were pressing down on them. The flickering torches cast long shadows across the room, but it didn't ease the oppressive atmosphere.
A small, basic meal was set out for them: thin bread, a few pieces of dried meat, and a bowl of something that smelled faintly sour. The children hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to trust the food. But their growling stomachs won out, and they sat down, the silence between them growing thick and uncomfortable.
Kail didn't bother with the bread. He grabbed a piece of meat and bit into it, chewing mechanically. His mind raced, trying to make sense of everything. His stomach twisted at the thought of those who had failed, the gruesome images of the mangled bodies replaying in his mind.
Dial sat next to him, picking at his food, his gaze distant. "What do you think the next training will be?" His voice was low, almost hesitant, as though he wasn't sure if he even wanted to know the answer.
Kail didn't look at him right away, his eyes still locked on the small plate in front of him. He didn't have an answer. The whole situation was unpredictable.
"I wouldn't know," Kail replied flatly, his voice distant. He wasn't being dismissive—he just didn't have any answers to give.
Dial let out a quiet sigh, glancing around at the other children. His eyes lingered on Elara for a moment, her face pale as she picked at her food, before he looked back at Kail.
"This place... it's like a nightmare that keeps getting worse. What's even the point of all this?" Elara's voice trembled as she spoke, her eyes distant, haunted by the horrors they had already endured.
Kail's jaw tightened, the weight of her words sinking into him. He wanted to say something reassuring, but the truth was, he didn't have the answers. Not for her, not for himself.
Before he could respond, Lexis, who had been sitting quietly on the other side of the room, spoke up with a biting edge to her tone. "Well, whatever the point is, we can't keep mulling over it. If we do, it'll destroy us faster than whatever they have planned."
Kail turned toward her, surprised by the sharpness in her words. There was a fire in her eyes, something he hadn't expected to see from a small girl like her.
"Well said," Kail replied, his voice low but appreciative
The break room was eerily quiet as the goup sat around the crude stone table, picking at their sparse meal. The air was thick with the smell of stale bread and sour meat, but hunger drove them to eat in silence, each of them wrapped in their thoughts.
And just like that, the sound of boots against stone echoed down the hallway, growing louder and louder. The tension in the room skyrocketed as the children stiffened, instinctively bracing for whatever would come next.
Out the dark hole came two masked guards, their presence as cold and domineering as ever.
One of the guards commanded, his voice sharp. "Time to move."
Without a word, the group stood and followed the guards out of the break room.
The children shuffled into the corridor, the heavy footsteps of the guards filling the space with a foreboding rhythm. No one dared to speak as they walked, the dim light of the torches casting eerie shadows that danced across the stone walls. The silence was suffocating, the only sound the faint drip of water echoing somewhere in the distance.
They were led through a series of tunnels, the twists and turns disorienting. It was as though the labyrinthine structure itself was designed to rob them of any sense of direction, to make them feel even more powerless.
Finally, the corridor widened, revealing another cavernous hall. This one was larger than the previous chambers they had seen, with a high, arched ceiling that disappeared into darkness. Jagged Teeth Mask stood in the center, waiting for them like a predator sizing up its prey. His twisted grin gleamed in the torchlight, making the children's skin crawl.
"Welcome again...," he said, his voice cutting through the still air. "You've eaten, rested. Now, it's time to take your next step."
A low murmur rippled through the group, but it was quickly silenced by a sharp glance from one of the guards.
Jagged Teeth Mask gestured toward a pile of neatly folded garments on a table nearby. "Your training begins with discipline, and discipline begins with uniformity. Take these and put them on."
The children hesitated, exchanging uncertain glances.
"Now," Jagged Teeth Mask snapped, his voice slicing through their reluctance.
They moved quickly, pulling on the new clothes: simple black robes, wide sweatpants, and reinforced full feet-embraced sandals. The material was light against their skin; they fit well enough. When they were dressed, they stood in an uneven line, their breaths shallow as they awaited further instruction.
Jagged Teeth Mask began pacing in front of them, his movements deliberate, his gaze sweeping over the group. "From this moment on, you will be divided into two teams. Your progress—will depend not only on your individual strength but on your ability to work together."
He motioned to the guards, who stepped forward and began splitting the group. Kail ended up alongside Dial, Elara, Lian, Lexis, and Venn. Across from them stood the other team: Gorvan, Mina, Asher, Lira, Selen, and Dren.
"These are your comrades," Jagged Teeth Mask said, his grin widening. "And those"—he pointed to the opposing team—"are your rivals. Remember their faces, for they may one day be your enemies."
Kail's eyes narrowed anxiously as he studied the other team. Gorvan stood with his arms crossed, his broad shoulders making him look older than the rest. Mina's pale face was set in a determined scowl, while the twin-like Asher and Lira exchanged unreadable glances. Selen's gaze was cold, calculated, and Dren shuffled nervously, avoiding eye contact with anyone.
"The first skill you will master," Jagged Teeth Mask continued, "is sensory awareness. In battle, the sharpness of your senses can mean the difference between life and death. And the best way to sharpen them… is through combat."
A hush fell over the room.
"Spar," he said, his voice echoing ominously. "One on one. Random pairings. The fight will end when one of you admits defeat—or can no longer fight."
The group's expressions shifted from confusion to alarm.
"B-but we don't even know how to fight yet," Dren stammered.
Jagged Teeth Mask turned to him slowly, his grin seemingly widening. "Then you'd better learn quickly. Because surrender without a fight means elimination. And here, elimination… means death."
The weight of his words crashed down on them like a boulder.
"Begin now." Jagged Teeth Mask announced. "Each victory earns your team points. These points will determine your ranking. At the end of each month, the lowest-ranked individual... will be removed."
Kail's stomach twisted. He glanced at Dial and Elara, their faces pale but resolute. This wasn't just training—it was violation, in the most brutal sense.
Jagged Teeth Mask's voice cut through his thoughts. "Lian," he said, pointing to Kail's group, "and Mina," gesturing to the opposing team. "Step forward."