In a dark skyscraper.
A long black sleek table sat in the middle of a large room. Sat at the table were ten figures in black suits and at the end of the table in the largest seat was Travis Black.
Travis pulled out a large cigar, and with a snap of his finger, a purple flame ignites it. "Bring the sponsors representative in."
The door at the end of the room opens, revealing a young man with white hair and red eyes similar to a cat. The young man walks confidently into the room. "You said that you made progress on the experiment?"
Travis flicks his cigar. "Yes, thanks to your bosses generous supply. We have created the first artificial daemon."
The young man yawns deeply. "That's great. I can assume you have proof of this?"
The room falls silent as the young man neglects to show Travis the respect that has been conditioned through fear. Travis stares daggers toward the young man. "Yes, we have a recording of the first subject encounter with some inquisitors."
The young man sighs through his nose. "That's it?"
Travis snaps his cigar as he releases his soul control, causing the room to shake. "That's all? We have created the first artificial daemon, and that's all you have to say?"
Everyone in the room suffocates from the overwhelming power Travis was releasing. Everyone except for the young man. "When the architects enlisted your organization for this endeavor, we expected real results."
Travis, now fuming with anger, smirks as he looks over at Grahm. "Send in 2120!"
Grahm nods and reaches into his pocket, pulling out his phone. Behind the young man men in lab coats roll out an unconscious young boy in a black jumpsuit. The young man giggles. "So a boy, this is what will lead us through the pesky inquisitors and to the holy grail?"
Travis grits his teeth with a smile. "Damon, was it? With an organization as capable as yours, I'm sure they could easily find a replacement for you."
Travis nods toward Grahm and with a press of a button, the young boy wakes up. Eyes glowing orange. "Target acquired."
The boy breaks free from his restraints and attacks Damon. Without even looking at the boy, Damon simply raises his hand toward him and erased him without a trace. "They call you lord of this castle, don't they, Travis? It's funny how mortals presume so much of themselves, even in the face of gods."
Sweat runs down Grahm's bald head as he thought. 'I didn't see his eyes glow. That was pure soul control. How can someone have such a dense soul?'
Travis closes his eyes for a few seconds as if contemplating something. "I apologize for my ignorance. We will call you when we are closer to obtaining the holy grail."
Damon smacks his lips in annoyance. "What a waste of a trip."
Damon walks toward the door, ignoring their obvious bloodlust of Travis. Grahm takes a deep, belated breath. "My lord, are we really in bed with those monsters?"
Travis spins in his chair toward the window in the back of the room. "Not in bed, more like a resourceful temporary ally. They give us the tools to make the artificial daemons and when they lead us to the holy grail, we will no longer need them."
Grahm nervously asks. "Are you sure that's wise, my lord? Their power is beyond our comprehension."
Travis laughs uncontrollably. "For now, but once I get my hands on the holy grail, no one will ever be able to touch me ever again."
At the inquisitor exam field.
Sable laughs. "That was an outstanding exam!"
Caleb sighs. "It was over the top. So, are we really doing the final exam tomorrow?"
Sable nods fervently. "Yeppers, there are too many exceptional talents this year and the looming threat of another great miracle war. We can't fall back to the standard of only 15 passing."
Caleb looks down at the field as men in inquisitor uniforms set up an arena. "Yeah, I agree with you there. However, I have a bad feeling that with this format that we will lose more than half of them."
The next day.
The participants stand in the field stunned. Don takes a deep breath. "I think it's obvious what this exam is."
Sable, standing in the middle of a large stone ring, speaks up. "Yes, that's right. Today's event will be a tournament between applicants!" Duke raises his hand. "Yes, Duke. What is your question?"
Duke with a concerned face responds. "Is this a team event or individual?"
A wicked smile creeps up on Sable's face. "No, my young underling. This event is one-hundred percent an individual event."
Everyone looks at their former teammates with vicious eyes. Mai turns toward team 1. "I have enjoyed my time with you all, and am eternally grateful for your help to get this far. I hope that if we face each other in the ring, it will be as friends."
Duke nods as Nina hugs Mai. "I had so much fun with you. I hope I don't have to crush you in the ring."
Don smiles. "We should thank you, Mai. Without your efforts yesterday, we definitely would've failed."
A chuckle catches the team's attention as they turn toward Ryan. Don, annoyed, speaks up. "What's so funny, mister first place?"
Ryan's chuckle broke out into wild laughter. "It's so funny how things work out. Here I was frustrated at the prospect of never testing myself against you all and now I have the perfect opportunity."
Ryan looks at his former team with glowing red eyes and immense blood lust. Duke clinches his fist. "I feel the same way. Someone needs to put you in your place. Everyone on this team worked hard to get us this far, and you still probably can't remember our names."
Don turns toward Duke, surprised. "Duke..."
Before Don could speak, Ryan interjects. "Duke the soldier with an animal side and healing factor. You use firearms, probably because of your military background. Mai, the sword girl who has just as much attack capabilities as anyone of us but fights passively. Nina, whose strength is at a crazy level even among knights. Then theirs Don, whose speed and adaptability is frightening"
Duke shocked grabs the back of his head. "I guess you knew our names."
Ryan's face turned sour. "Yes, I remembered your names. Because I am going to crush you. Teammates? You guys are just stepping stones. I will devour your talents and use them to propel me to further heights." Ryan turns around and walks off. "When I see you in the ring, it'll be as hunter and prey."
Don grabs his chest. 'It's that feeling again. Uncertainty and excitement. I don't understand this feeling, but I know one thing I want to fight Ryan more than anything.'
Sable smiles as he points to the screen above the arena. "This will be the roster for the tournament!"