The battlefield was littered with fallen debris, and the air was thick with the metallic scent of blood and the lingering haze of smoke. Zeke, Eliza, and Luca gathered with the surviving students, all of them shaken and on edge after the ambush.
A hush fell over the group as they absorbed the sight of the Espers—twisted, broken bodies strewn across the clearing. Their limbs bent in grotesque directions, with expressions frozen in terror, as if they had faced something far more horrifying than even the monsters they had absorbed.
Luca turned away, his face pale. "What… what kind of power could do that to someone?"
Zeke swallowed, his own sense of dread rising. This wasn't the work of any student. They'd all been struggling just to survive. And then, at the last second, the Espers had fallen. Zeke's stomach twisted. Rain crossed his mind, but he shoved the thought away, feeling a sharp pang of unease.
"It doesn't matter how they died," Eliza whispered, though her voice was tense. "What matters is why they were here at all."
As she spoke, her eyes fell on the symbol still glinting ominously from the badge one of the students had picked up earlier. The emblem of Ares.
Luca clenched his fists. "Ares… Why would they send Espers after us?" His voice was laced with a combination of anger and confusion.
"They aren't here to give us a fair fight," Zeke replied, his tone bitter. "They're here to see us fail, or worse."
The weight of their discovery was overwhelming. Their test, meant to challenge them against weaker monsters, had become a death trap orchestrated by forces they couldn't comprehend. Zeke looked around at the remaining students, their faces etched with fear and exhaustion. They needed a plan to get out, and fast.
"We need to move," he said, steadying his voice. "Everyone, stay close and be ready for anything."
The surviving students, though weary, nodded and took defensive positions, moving in a tight formation as they trudged through the dense forest. Every rustle of leaves made them flinch, their nerves worn raw by the relentless ordeal. The scent of danger hung heavy in the air, and Zeke felt the weight of responsibility press down on him.
Just as they began to move, Zeke caught a glimpse of something in the distance—a figure watching from the shadows, disappearing the moment their eyes met. He felt a chill run through him but said nothing, focusing instead on leading the group forward.
The survivors moved quickly, staying in a tight formation as the distant rumble of the transports drew closer. Zeke's heart pounded, each step feeling heavier than the last. They were almost there—so close to safety. But in the back of his mind, a nagging feeling told him it wasn't over yet. The battlefield, the Espers, the badge with Ares' symbol—everything about this mission felt wrong.
As they neared the edge of the forest, the transports finally descended from the sky, cutting through the fog with their sleek, metallic forms. Zeke breathed a sigh of relief, though it was brief. The soldiers from the rescue team swiftly moved to take charge, their efficient motions a stark contrast to the disarray of the students.
Zeke motioned for the survivors to board the transports. "Let's go. Fast."
The wounded and exhausted students climbed aboard, but as Zeke stepped onto the craft, his communicator buzzed in his ear. Mr. Alden's voice crackled through, urgent.
"Zeke, we've just received a signal. The devices are working again. Get back to the base now. The infirmary's filling up fast—there are casualties."
Zeke clenched his jaw at the words. The devices were working again. That meant they were no longer in immediate danger of being trapped here, but it also meant something darker was unfolding. The infirmaries would be filled with bodies—their classmates who had fallen, their fates sealed by the chaos they'd barely escaped. Zeke's stomach twisted in response.
"I'm on my way," Zeke replied, his voice steady despite the turmoil he felt.
As the transport lifted off the ground, Zeke glanced around at the surviving students—Eliza, Luca, and the others. They were alive, but barely. And the truth of the situation hung heavily over them: they had been set up, played in a game they barely understood.
The crafts cut through the sky, and soon the base came into view. The towering structures and medical tents were a welcome sight, but Zeke's thoughts were already elsewhere. What had truly happened during the exam? And why had the Espers been here at all?
As the transport landed and the doors opened, soldiers quickly escorted the students off, guiding them toward the medical teams. Zeke stayed close to Eliza, who was pale but focused, her eyes scanning the area warily. He didn't know what would happen next, but he knew one thing for sure—they weren't out of danger yet.
The group made their way to the infirmary, the chaos of the base overwhelming. Medical teams rushed around, tending to the wounded, and the air was thick with the sound of equipment and voices. But Zeke couldn't shake the feeling that the worst was still to come.
The moment he stepped into the infirmary, the reality hit him full force. Bodies—students who hadn't made it—lined the beds, their lifeless faces a stark reminder of the brutal test they had faced. The room was filled with the metallic scent of blood, and the air felt suffocating. Zeke's stomach lurched, but he pushed the nausea aside.
"Stay here," he told Eliza, his voice low. He had to get answers.
He made his way through the infirmary, his eyes scanning the fallen, looking for anyone who might have information, anyone who could explain what had happened. But there were only bodies—some recognizable, others unidentifiable.
Zeke felt a presence beside him, and he turned to see Mr. Alden approaching, his face grim.
"We need to talk," Alden said, his tone grave. "What happened out there?"
Zeke hesitated, the weight of the badge in his pocket burning against his skin. Ares. They had been the target of something far bigger than a simple exam. But for now, there were more pressing questions—like how many more would fall before they could stop whatever was coming.
"We're not done yet," Zeke muttered. "We need to figure out who's behind all of this—and why they're trying to kill us."
Alden nodded, his expression hardening. "Agreed. But right now, we need to focus on the survivors. And we need to prepare for whatever comes next."
Zeke glanced around at the faces of the surviving students, each of them haunted by the horrors they'd witnessed. They were barely holding it together—but Zeke knew this was just the beginning.
The game wasn't over. Not yet.