Saiki tightened her grip on the weapon resting against her chest, trying to steady the adrenaline coursing through her body as the simulation intensified. The Black Spear was a rigorous test of survival skills, and while she knew the enemies weren't real, the sense of danger felt all too genuine. Everything around her screamed at her to stay vigilant.
With cautious steps, she began advancing into the forest that was part of the simulation. The trees were dense, and the ground beneath her feet was murky, making movement difficult. The only sound reaching her ears was the muffled crunch of her boots pressing into the damp, mossy soil. There was no sign of anyone else nearby, but she knew this was part of the challenge—there was no one to rely on but herself.
The wind howled through the trees, colliding with the leaves to create whisper-like sounds, as if the forest itself was watching her. She knew that every step could bring her closer to the edge of danger and that any mistake might jeopardize her survival in this trial.
As she continued forward, her eyes scanned every movement around her, every shadow that might shift in an instant. Her suit helped identify obstacles and potential threats, but it didn't erase the tension. She understood that this challenge wasn't about fighting tangible enemies; her battle was within herself—with her ability to endure, her focus, and her trust in every step she took.
I started to hear faint footsteps weaving through the trees around me. The sounds were unpredictable, as if someone—or something—was trailing me in the shadows, but I couldn't pinpoint their source. Was it just my imagination? I wondered, but my heart began to race faster, and every sense in my body grew taut.
I stopped in my tracks, trying to clear my mind. At first, there was nothing to see—only shadows partially obscuring my vision and the trees stretching endlessly before me. There's no room for doubt, Saiki, I whispered to myself. But then, the sound came again, this time more distinct.
Soft footsteps, followed by the rustle of leaves underfoot. Someone—or something—was watching me closely. My grip on my weapon tightened as I began scanning the environment, my eyes darting to every corner of the dark forest.
Was this part of the simulation? Were these unknown enemies, or merely a figment of my imagination? I had no time to answer. My heart pounded in my chest, my mind spiraling through endless possibilities.
Two more steps echoed behind me, and then, suddenly, the sound stopped. The breaths that had seemingly followed me were gone, but the silence of the forest was far more unsettling than any noise.
"What are they waiting for?" I whispered to myself, adjusting my weapon cautiously, bracing for the unexpected.
A deep growl resonated from within the trees, shattering the forest's silence with sudden force, as if the ground itself trembled beneath its weight. The sound was powerful and commanding, like the roar of a massive beast nearby, yet I couldn't pinpoint its source. The fragile sense of security I had tried to build quickly crumbled, replaced by intense tension.
My heart began to race, and my entire body became more alert than ever. The sound wasn't human—it was primal, filled with strength and menace. The growl was unmistakable, as though something large, something far beyond a mere illusion, was watching me from the shadows of the trees. Is this part of the simulation? I wondered, but the growl felt real enough to let fear seep into my mind.
I turned my head sharply, scanning the area around me with wide, searching eyes. I couldn't see anything clear in the deep shadows, but I could feel it—a presence, unseen yet undeniable, observing my every move.
My grip on my weapon tightened as I took a deep breath. There's no time for hesitation now, I told myself. With the growl still echoing in my ears, I braced myself, ready for whatever might come.
The sound grew closer, sharper, and more menacing. The growl echoed through the trees in a terrifying rhythm, as though the beast producing it was drawing nearer with every passing second. My heart pounded at an unnatural speed, every nerve in my body taut and on edge. I can't let it get any closer, I whispered to myself.
My grip on the weapon tightened further, as if preparing to face something I wasn't sure I could handle. My hands trembled slightly, but I fought to steady them with every ounce of strength I had. I refused to show any weakness. The suit I wore simulated reality with unnerving precision, yet it couldn't dull the tension consuming me. The air grew heavier, as if everything around me was holding its breath, waiting for the silence to erupt into chaos.
The growl edged nearer, the sound now gliding through the trees like a phantom, closing the distance with every step. My ears strained to catch every detail, every faint rustle. There was no room for mercy in this simulation; any mistake could lead to failure.
Despite the mounting tension, I maintained my composure as much as possible, my eyes scanning every flicker of movement around me. I was ready—ready for whatever lurked in the shadows, even if I didn't yet know what awaited me.
As I scanned the shadows around me with sharp, focused eyes, a pair of red eyes emerged from between the trees, glowing like embers in the darkness. They were inhuman, pulsating with power and mystery, carrying a challenge I couldn't ignore. Whatever creature those eyes belonged to was watching me now, tracking my every movement.
Despite the advanced technology I wore, I couldn't suppress the shiver that ran through my body. Those red eyes were more than just a threat—they filled me with a sense of helplessness, as if I was facing something far greater than myself. With every step I took, those eyes followed, observing me cautiously, as though waiting for a moment of weakness.
I struggled to steady my breathing, my mind racing with questions. Is this part of the simulation? Or was this challenge more than I had anticipated? There was no time to dwell on the answers. All I knew was that I had to stay prepared and not let those eyes take hold of my thoughts.
I tightened my grip on my weapon and took a single step toward the trees that concealed the creature in front of me. My movements were quiet, calculated, but my heart pounded wildly. My gaze never left those red, merciless eyes staring back at me with unwavering intensity.
The creature leapt in an instant, a swift and powerful motion that made it feel as though the ground trembled beneath my feet. I faltered for a brief moment before raising my weapon and firing with all my strength. The shots rang out, one after another, cutting through the air toward it—but… to no avail.
My eyes widened in shock as I watched the bullets streak through the space around it, missing their mark entirely. The creature evaded them effortlessly, its movements fluid and impossibly fast, as if gravity itself had no hold on it. Those red eyes, still fixed on me, were filled with a mocking gleam, as though it was ridiculing my futile attempts.
The sound of gunfire echoing through the forest faded in an instant as the creature closed the distance between us, its heavy steps shaking the earth beneath it. A wave of frustration crept over me. I could see myself firing at it, yet there was no tangible effect. Was this part of the test?
Everything felt unnervingly real, but this simulation wasn't just about traditional combat. This trial was far beyond anything I had anticipated facing.
My legs began to move, carrying me at full speed as I bolted across the uneven terrain, desperately trying to lose the creature in the depths of the forest. Trees blurred past me, their branches clawing at my body like desperate obstacles, trying to hinder my escape.
I ran fiercely, dodging sudden obstacles that sprang up in my path, but the creature pursued me relentlessly. No matter how fast I moved, its heavy footsteps seemed to draw closer. Though I weaved through the trees and followed complex, winding trails, the feeling of being nothing more than prey clung to me like a shadow I couldn't escape.
My breath came in ragged gasps, but I refused to let fear take control. My hand gripped my weapon tightly, ready, but I knew that confronting the creature head-on like this wasn't the solution. I had to think differently, to approach this fight with a new strategy.
The forest seemed to shift around me, the trees appearing to close in as each step drove me deeper into the darkness. The creature's growls grew louder, its heavy, thunderous footsteps ever closer. I had to find a way out—some way to survive this chase!
At that moment, it became clear: I was in a trial without mercy.
Suddenly, the words of Commander Raio echoed in my mind, relentless and unyielding:
"You ran away instead of facing it..."
Those words were harsh, but they were the truth. I remembered that moment during the maze trial, when the test was nearing its end, and I had chosen to flee instead of standing my ground, as if avoiding the fate I was meant to confront. That decision had placed me at the bottom of the list, leaving me with no one to blame but myself.
At the time, I had convinced myself that running was the solution. But now, in the middle of this dark forest, with the relentless creature chasing me, I realized I couldn't keep running. If I wanted to earn the title of the Shadow, I couldn't continue to flee.
I came to an abrupt stop, closing my eyes for a moment. My emotions swirled within me, but the doubts faded as I felt the weight of solitude pressing down in this nightmare. The growls still echoed behind me, and fear gnawed at my mind, but at last, I made my decision.
I had to face it. If I wanted to be strong enough to win, I had to confront this unknown creature. There could be no more running.
I raised my weapon in front of me, my grip firm on the handle, my eyes locked on the target. There was no other choice.