It had currently been three days since they started this exercise, and Davis, their teacher, was very strict with everyone if not too strict. This was simply his personality. Though it was his way of doing things, it didn't mean everyone was happy with it. The past three days had been hellish, and this was only the first class out of hundreds to come.
Zilong grimaced at the realization, The first class was at the bottom of the tower, with each floor representing a different class.
Zilong's class was currently doing the splits, spreading their legs to the exact 180° mark, including Zilong himself. Mr. Davis had pushed them to their limits, exhausting them to the brink of collapse, but for some unknown reason, none of them had died from the ordeal. "Finally, you brats have managed to do the splits," Davis laughed.
"Zilong," a chubby boy called from behind. Zilong turned to see Neo looking in his direction. "What?" Zilong whispered, annoyed.
"What do you think the next floors will be about?" Neo asked, careful to avoid Davis's attention. All of them were currently holding a perfect 180-degree split, supervised by Davis, and would be in this position for about three hours.
Zilong could only imagine how much more gruesome the upper floors would be. Some students, like Emma and Ava, had already advanced to higher floors yesterday. He was eager and anxious to find out what horrors awaited them higher up. He glanced at Jacob, who seemed lifeless. Davis had really stretched him out—literally.
..
But Zilong also felt sorry for them. When news got out that their ship had gone missing, their families hadn't even bothered to search for them, shedding only crocodile tears on live television. Their aunt must be ecstatic that they drowned at sea, leaving Jacob and Emma with nowhere else to go.
The class was finally over, and Zilong stood up in front of the instructor. Davis smiled as he looked at them. "That's right. Now all of you are as flexible as you can be. It's time for you to graduate," he said, smiling.
Zilong helped Jacob up, and they left the tower. The sun was very bright, casting a warm radiance over the seemingly military facility. Zilong dragged his feet to his dormitory, clueless about what was going on around him. He and Jacob headed to the cafeteria for a free meal. "Well, at least that's one good thing about this place," he said. For the past six days, they hadn't been outside this facility, a testament to how tight security was around here. Tomorrow, Mr. Davis told them they would receive their first rune, which was a bit exciting.
They arrived at the cafeteria, ordered some food, and sat down at one of the corner tables. Zilong hurriedly ate his fried rice as he thought about the situation at the school.
Jacob groaned, "We're finally going to the next class," he said, sighing.
"Yeah, if I had to endure another day with Instructor Davis, I'd just collapse and die," Zilong replied.
Neo, the chubby kid, walked over to their table, carrying a whole tray of food. "I heard that in the next class, we'll have to learn hand to hand combat," Neo said, raising a finger.
"I know, right? Just thinking about it makes me shudder," Jacob sighed.
Zilong listened intently. "Wait, we're going to undergo hand to hand combat? And here I was thinking the worst was behind me," he said, taking another spoonful of fried rice.
"So, when is Ava going to come out?" Zilong asked, looking at Jacob.
Jacob looked at Zilong and shook his head. "I think they're not coming out of that hellhole until nightfall," he replied.
"What?!" Zilong looked at Jacob wide-eyed.
"Yes, it seems this military facility has its own rules. Individuals who pass the first class go to the second class, and a knight isn't equipped to go on missions unless they've passed class 25," Jacob explained.
Zilong leaned in with interest. "And with each class you pass, you tend to stay in the tower longer than before. I've even heard the emissaries stay in the tower for one week straight," Neo added, taking a bite of his chicken leg. This school was as hard as it could get. No wonder Zilong didn't see anyone except the new knights around; it seemed all of them were either in the tower or had taken missions.
"Wait what about the executioners" Zilong asked as he hadn't heard about them.. "the executioner title are given to those who have passed the final class, class 130," Neo explained..
It seemes that for one to actually combat these Onis they need to have undergone rigorous training.
"No wonder these people pay so high," Zilong sighed..
---
That day passed, and it was time for them to receive their runes. Each of them lined up in a single file, patiently waiting. When it was Jacob's turn, he looked around, puzzled. "Where is the ink?" he asked.
Davis smiled at Jacob. "It's not ink," he said. "Cold method or hot method?" he asked.
Those must be the methods of receiving runes, Zilong, who was standing behind Jacob, thought. Jacob raised his eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
Mr. Davis, his expression cool and calculating, stepped closer to Jacob. "Jacob," he said, "which method do you prefer?" Jacob, caught off guard by the question, looked bewildered. "What do you mean?" he asked, glancing nervously at Zilong, whose face was pale with dread at the thought of his own turn.
Mr. Davis's lips curled into a faint smile. "There are two methods, Jacob: the cold or the hot. Choose wisely." Jacob hesitated, his mind racing with uncertainty, before finally blurting out, "The cold method." Without hesitation, Mr. Davis—wearing a thick black glove—pulled out a short metal pole, its surface slick with frost from being dipped in liquid nitrogen for up to 24 hours. "Remove your shirt," he ordered. As Jacob reluctantly obeyed, Mr. Davis pressed the icy metal against his back. The cold seared into his skin coming with a *shh* sound.
"Argh!!" Jacob screamed.
Jacob's body convulsed as the freezing metal bit into his flesh, the unbearable cold spreading like fire across his back. Zilong, standing just behind Jacob, felt his stomach churn with fear, dreading the moment he would face the same torment. Jacob's screams pierced the air, his body twisting and turning as he tried to escape the agonizing chill. But before he could break free, a group of men in black suits surged forward, their faces impassive as they swiftly restrained him.
They held Jacob down with practiced ease, pinning him to the ground as he squirmed and thrashed.
He screamed and tried desperately to break free, but the men in black suits, as if trained for this, pinned him down.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the pole was removed. Jacob lay gasping for breath, his back now marked with a frostbitten rune, while Zilong looked on, his heart pounding in fear, knowing his turn was next.
Mr. Davis then looked at Zilong. "Your turn..."
*Gulp*