The clacking of multiple needle-like legs created a cacophony of noise as a darkened and elongated figure arrived last to the circle of four, surrounding and kneeling to a large throne appearing to be made of stone sculptures. White armored soldiers guarded it with unflinching poise, while smaller creatures cleaned and crawled around the room like sentries.
"Ah, so the destitute one, has finaly made her appearance," A metallic voice spoke from one of the figures. It's large skinny frame seemed both robotic and skeletal. "Troubles in the dark layer, means trouble for us all. If this one knows anything, it is that the weakest link ismthe first to break. Hum, indeed."
The needle-like legs stopped and the dark creature bowed before the throne. "No troubles to speak of, you metalic hunk of data obsessed junk. The pits and arena are compleating strong warriors for the mothers army as we speak. My layer has never been stronger." The she hissed with contempt at his jab.
'Even before the mother, you can not stop your insulting inquiries. One day there will be one less of us, and I intend it to be you.' She thought while focusing on the one sat upon the throne.
A shuffle brought the metalic-blue creature, with long appendages and a slumped back, into the light of the throne as she spoke. The four entities bowed before the one whom sat on the stone throne, greeting her together.
"All shall be one!" They echoed.
"Jin-Githorax tells me of the death of one of your children," The one on the throne spoke in a beautiful and motherly tone. She played with one of the smaller creatures in her han gently. "Will you tell us, Sheolthred, how this came to pass?"
Aggravated clicking sounded from Sheolthreds many black needle-like legs, irritation impossible otherwise from her perfectly sculpted face. "It seems that an anomaly capable of destroying one of the newly spawned, appeared on one of the outer reaches. I hoped to remedy the situation by sending one of my Obliteratiors to exterminate the local populace, with your permission, great one."
The one on the stone throne rose in all her glory, a porcelain covered body with red robes flowing behind her and a great helm covering the top half of her face. "You need not do this alone, my Childe. When the old ones made me, they gave me a grand and absolute purpose, Multiply and unite. I made you from my own parts, along with the others. We are one, and we shall bring all into our fold. Every loss of life saddens me, be it enemy or otherwise. For that loss is a loss to us all. What are we?..."
"We are perfection," the four others recited.
"And all shall be One! Sheolthred, find this murderer and bring them before us. They shall hear out doctrine and through our words be born anew to answer for their crimes." She commanded with the athourity of a monarch. Leaving no room for negotiation.
'Anyone able to murder your children must be studied, extensively. The things it could teach us. Humm, yes.' Jin-Githorax rubbed his long metalic fingers over his strong .
"Your words, Mother, my will." Sheolthred spoke. Bowing her long body.
"As expected, you will perform perfectly. Now, on to the conquest of the wilds."
The day of the Hunters trials, at an undisclosed location..
'Everyone here seems prepared. I wonder how they measure up to our team though. We've been practicing everyday, and though I hate to admit it, they are the best of the class.' Alexander thought seeing the other kids from his school. They wear each dressed in their respective gear and seemed nervous above all else.
Not everyone trained as hard as Alexanders group, made of mostly none combative aristocrats and wealthy kids. They relied heavily on their family's influence to get by. Some were trained by excessive mercenaries but they all had one thing in common, they never faced Pdeath before.
The leader of the first group, had a very obnoxious demeanor with not an ounce of respect for the instructors that gave them advice. His group was made up of those in his class and rallied behind his every whim and word. They themselves were undertrained and seemed almost like bodyguards. The boy was named Jonathan Lionel, youngest son of the Lionel house of the main land. His hair was golden,but he had a skinny frame with glasses; he seemed to be the groups Tower.
A Tower was a teams long range damage dealer, using high tier spells to destroy or restrict enemies, much like Max's large dome spell.
"That's them, sir Lionel, the Akamais and their ilk. On the small island they are pretty influential and should be watched." A cloaked man next to Jonathan spoke under hushed breath.
The room was filled with hushed voices about one individual in particular.
How could they let an (F) rank in here? Doesn't the Association have any shame?
You would think the head of the Association would make a it illegal for those failures to compete with (D) ranks like us, if nothing but to spare or noses.
"Those weaklings have no idea what's about to happen. Keep your guard up." Kahawai confronted Alexander, who seemed unbothered.
'Don't worry, meathead. No one here even has a chance.' Alexander thought, scanning everyone.
'Two teams are (D) ranked, and only one other team has an (F) ranked member besides yourself.' Lunaris analyzed.
Bang!
A group of hunters in combat gear strode into the training area, where the participants wWaite. The other instructors and every kid recognized the Armour and silver insignia on the group, and immediately stood at attention.
The man that took the lead had short dark-brown hair, spiked exactly how he liked it. His silver Armor and black heavy cloak with the insignia of the Hunters Association made him to be the lead instructor that would presided over the hunter trial.
He walked infront of the four squads that where lined up in lines, Alexanders being on the furthest right, and having the most members.
'Atleast some of them are not a complete waste of time. There are some, however..'
"I am Paladin Faze, your direct commander from here forward. These are my fateful elder knights. We will be conducting this trial in groups, be ready. That is all."
Paladin Faze turned and conversed with his knights. All knights where atleast ranked at D or C, and had atleast a year of being a squire. Squires were the lowest level of the Association and held the most stress for the Hunter's.
'Okay, group. I see tactical gear in the corner, based on the obsolete devices it's close quarters.' Max spoke over Line.
'I also see computers that could have some information. If I can get a distraction, I could retrieve something.' Alexander saw the devices that some of the knights used to check on the trials information.
They agreed and set out around the tent to help eachother gather info. Talking to the other groups or trying to speak with the knight, who gave them nothing.
Alexander made his way towards the unoccupied computers seemingly without problems. No one stopped him, and the group asking the knights questions did a great job distracting them.
'Lunaris, let's get any info you can.' A nanite construct, shaped like a spider, so called Crawler, assembled itself and crawled from his palm towards the computers back side.
"What are you doing here, Hunter?"