After breakfast, the students lounged in the common area, their energy levels varying from lethargic to restless. The meal, though bland and uninspiring, was filling enough to demand a brief respite to let their bodies digest. Conversations were muted, the room steeped in the quiet anticipation of what lay ahead. It didn't take long for their questions to be answered. One by one, the instructors arrived, each calling out a specific group of students by their role.
"Instructors will see you now," Instructor Dong-soo's voice cut through the low hum of the room. His piercing gaze scanned the group as he gestured towards Tae-young, Joon-ho, and Hyun-ae. "Assassins, with me."
Without a word, the three rose, following Instructor Dong-soo down the hallway to a room marked with a sleek emblem of their role—a shadowy dagger piercing through the mist.
Behind them, Instructor Seung-hyun entered, his powerful frame commanding attention.
"Fighters, you're with me," he barked, motioning to Hana, Soo-jin, and Hi-ah. They exchanged glances before heading off, following the man whose every step seemed to resonate with strength and precision.
Instructor Ji-woo arrived next, his presence lighter but no less authoritative.
"Marksmen," he called, his sharp eyes locking onto Chin-hwa, Jin-kyong, and Kyung-mi. He pointed to a corridor leading to another training room adorned with a bow and arrow insignia. With purposeful strides, they followed, their marksman's instincts already attuned to detail.
Instructor Min-ji entered quietly but with an air of calm confidence.
"Support," she said simply, beckoning Kyu, Min-jae, and Kang-dae. They hesitated for only a moment before joining her. She led them toward a room glowing with soft blue light, a symbol of balance etched above the entrance.
Finally, Instructor Hye-won appeared, a commanding presence cloaked in serene elegance. Her voice was steady but firm.
"Mages, come with me," she instructed, nodding at In-su, Baek-hyeon, and Sang-hee. The three of them moved swiftly to join her, her flowing robes a stark contrast to their nervous energy as they headed to a room marked with a single arcane rune.
Joon-ho trudged behind Instructor Dong-soo, his mind buzzing with thoughts. The instructor's presence was imposing, a reminder of the staggering skill gap between them. Tae-young walked ahead with his usual swagger, while Hyun-ae kept a quieter, more measured pace. Joon-ho tried to mask his curiosity, but it was hard not to wonder what awaited them in the assassin-specific training.
The room they entered was dimly lit, the atmosphere tailored to sharpen focus and amplify instincts. Its walls were lined with various tools of the trade—throwing knives, short blades, and dark cloths meant to camouflage movements. In the centre, a holographic grid flickered to life, projecting a labyrinth-like structure that filled the space with an eerie glow.
"Take a seat," Instructor Dong-soo ordered, gesturing to three low stools positioned near the grid.
The Assassins obeyed, their movements almost synchronized as they settled down. Dong-soo paced in front of them, his expression unreadable.
"Today, we go beyond basic stealth," he began, his voice low but charged with authority. "This is about anticipation, adaptability, and precision. Forget what you think you know because the World NexaRealm Championship isn't about who hides the best—it's about who strikes at the right moment."
Tae-young leaned forward slightly, eager to soak in every word. Hyun-ae kept her gaze fixed on the instructor, her demeanour calm but focused. Joon-ho felt a flicker of excitement stir within him, his exhaustion from the previous night momentarily forgotten. Whatever this training entailed, he was ready—or so he hoped.
Instructor Dong-soo leaned back against the table, his arms crossed, observing the three young Assassins with a calculating gaze.
"Before we dive into training specifics," he began, "I want to see where each of you stands. Your strengths, weaknesses, and how well you adapt under pressure."
He walked over to a sleek black case on the table and opened it, revealing three brand-new NexaRealm headsets. The devices shimmered with the kind of polished sophistication that hinted at cutting-edge technology.
"These," he said, holding one up, "are the latest version of the Realm devices. As one of the five founding countries of NexaRealm, we've got early access. This isn't just for show. During the World NexaRealm Championship, these will be the devices used. And you'll be some of the first players in the world to test them out."
He passed a headset to each of them, pausing to let the gravity of his words sink in.
"This isn't just practice for you. Data will be collected—how you move, how you react, and how the device integrates with your neural patterns. Every moment will help refine this system before the tournament. Director Hye-su herself made it clear that this trial is critical. So don't hold back."
Tae-young was the first to strap the device on, his competitive nature lighting up at the prospect of something so cutting-edge. Hyun-ae followed, her movements precise and unhurried. Joon-ho hesitated for half a beat, examining the device before sliding it over his head. The faint hum of activation tickled his ears as the system powered up.
Instructor Dong-soo grinned.
"Let's see what you've got. Dive in."
Entering the NexaRealm
Joon-ho settled into the chair, adjusting the headset until it fit snugly. A soft chime resonated in his ears, followed by a smooth, melodic tone.
[Welcome, player: Joon-ho. Entering the world of NexaRealm. Please be aware of your surroundings and ensure a safe gaming environment.]
The familiar announcement carried a professional warmth, a reminder that even in this extraordinary simulation, reality still mattered. Joon-ho took a deep breath, exhaling slowly to calm the rush of anticipation coursing through him. As the loading bar in his vision progressed, the external world began to dissolve into an indistinct haze.
[Loading complete. You are now connected to the NexaRealm server. Prepare for an immersive experience.]
Suddenly, the world reassembled itself around him. A sharp rush of wind brushed past his face, almost startling in its realism. Joon-ho's feet found solid ground beneath him, and his eyes widened as he took in the lush, sprawling landscape of the digital realm. The terrain stretched endlessly, a combination of vibrant, emerald forests, crystalline rivers, and towering mountains crowned with glistening snow. Every leaf on every tree swayed with a natural rhythm, reacting to a breeze that he could feel as if it were real.
The details were overwhelming in their precision—textures, sounds, even the faint scent of wildflowers drifting in the air. The transition into NexaRealm was seamless, the digital and physical indistinguishable.
A system prompt appeared before him in glowing text:
[NexaRealm Health and Safety Precautions: Remember to take regular breaks to avoid overworking your brain. Stay hydrated during your gaming session. Ensure your environment is well-lit and ventilated. Do not use the Realm while fatigued or under any substance influence. NexaRealm is not responsible for negligence in observing these precautions.]
Joon-ho barely registered the warnings, his mind already focused on the virtual landscape ahead. His every movement translated perfectly within the realm; the light step he took forward felt as tangible as if he'd done it in the training room. He flexed his fingers, watching his avatar mimic the motion with uncanny accuracy.
As he turned, he spotted Tae-young and Hyun-ae materializing nearby, their digital forms as lifelike as his own. Instructor Dong-soo's avatar appeared moments later, clad in a shadowy outfit that exuded danger. His voice came through crisp and clear, a commanding tone that felt omnipresent in this space.
"All right," Instructor Dong-soo said, his voice carrying over the subtle hum of the virtual environment. "Let's see what you've got. This is NexaRealm in its purest form. No gimmicks, no training wheels. Just you, your instincts, and the choices you make."
Instructor Dong-soo's presence loomed over them in the virtual space, his shadowy figure radiating authority.
"Before we begin properly," he said, his voice calm but firm. "We need to move to a private arena. As expected, there are no interruptions and no distractions. Just you, me, and the challenges ahead."
With a wave of his hand, the environment around them shimmered. The vibrant forest and cascading rivers began to fragment, pixel by pixel as if reality itself was being rewritten. A low hum reverberated through the air, the sound growing louder as their surroundings dissolved into a kaleidoscope of colours. Then, as suddenly as it had begun, everything fell silent.
When the world reassembled itself, Instructor Joon-ho found himself standing atop a hill that seemed to stretch endlessly upward. The ground beneath his feet was firm, a mixture of soft grass and jagged stone. The sky above was an expanse of deep azure, yet there was no sun, no visible light source—just a pervasive, soft glow that bathed everything in a surreal luminance.
The horizon was missing entirely. Where there should have been distant landscapes or mountains, there was nothing but an empty, infinite gradient of sky and ground meet in an indeterminate blur. The effect was both eerie and awe-inspiring, a reminder that this was a crafted reality, one limited only by imagination.