The Descent Begins
The sky above the Trial Grounds fractured, a canvas of descending figures, each a warrior plummeting toward their fate. Burning thrusters on deployed drop-pods illuminated their silhouettes against the pre-dawn sky, each body a falling meteor.
Raj's pulse hammered against his ribs. This was it. The Earth Defense Exam had begun.
As the countdown hit zero, the candidates were launched from hovering drop ships miles above, hurtling towards the unknown, hostile terrain below. The landscape sprawled beneath them, a tapestry of dense forests, crumbling ruins, and scorched wastelands, all teeming with deliberately placed threats designed to weed out the weak.
The Trial Grounds pulsed with a dangerous energy.
Raj's eyes narrowed, scanning the terrain as he fell. The strongest would adapt in freefall, maneuvering to land in tactically advantageous locations. The reckless would be scattered, vulnerable to ambush before even reaching a safe zone.
He needed an isolated landing spot, somewhere to assess the situation before engaging.
But then—chaos erupted.
High above, energy flared. Explosions blossomed. Mid-air skirmishes broke out. Some warriors had already begun fighting before even touching down.
Raj watched as two Astra users clashed in freefall, their weapons igniting in brilliant bursts. One wielded a crimson spear, the other a pair of energy-forged daggers. Sparks flew as their Astra blades met, their bodies whirling in a deadly aerial ballet.
Another warrior, attempting to adjust his trajectory, was abruptly struck by a projectile—a searing blast of plasma from a sniper hidden within a descending drop-pod.
Raj exhaled sharply. This wasn't just an exam. It was a war before they even hit the ground.
II. Raj's First Move – The Calculated Descent
Unlike the others, Raj had no Astra-enhanced abilities to control his fall. He relied solely on instinct, body positioning, and cold calculation.
Wind resistance. Momentum shift. Landing angles.
He contorted his body, angling towards a cluster of ruins near a river, a location that offered cover without complete isolation. He didn't want to be a sitting duck, but he also needed to be close enough to observe the initial wave of combat.
A nearby warrior—reckless, untrained—lost control and slammed into the terrain at terminal velocity, his body a broken heap upon impact.
Moments later, Raj landed, tucking into a precise roll to dissipate the force. His boots skidded on the dirt, bringing him to a controlled stop, muscles coiled and ready.
Survive the drop. Done.
He straightened, taking in his surroundings. The ancient ruins loomed around him, draped in vines and punctuated by shattered stone pillars. The river ahead shimmered with an unnatural glow, energy crackling through its waters.
But he wasn't alone.
The instant he stood, a blade whistled towards his neck.
III. The First Encounter – Raj vs. A Desperate Opponent
Raj reacted instantly, the cold steel of the dagger flashing past his throat.
His attacker—a recruit clad in light armor, his breath ragged, eyes wide with desperation. "I need your survival pack. Give it to me, now!"
Raj's mind processed the situation in a heartbeat. The recruit's grip on the dagger was shaky—not a trained killer. His stance was narrow, unbalanced—no experience in real combat. His breathing was erratic—panic setting in. This was someone who had already lost his nerve.
Raj tilted his head slightly. "You're making a mistake."
The recruit lunged again, the blade aimed at Raj's ribs.
Raj moved.
One step forward, closing the distance. A sharp palm strike to the wrist—the dagger clattered to the ground. A swift leg sweep—the recruit crashed onto his back.
Raj knelt, his knee pressing against the recruit's chest. The recruit struggled, eyes wild. "P-please, I—!"
Raj's voice was low, steady. "If you're this desperate already, you won't last long in this exam. Leave."
The recruit trembled but nodded. Raj released him. Some warriors would kill for supplies. Raj wasn't like them. Not yet.
IV. The Chaos Unfolds – The War Begins
The sounds of distant battles echoed across the landscape.
Raj scaled a broken pillar, perching atop it to survey the scene. The battlefield seethed with activity.
In the distance, Gry was engaged. Three Astra users, each wielding enhanced melee weapons, surrounded her. She was winning. Raj watched as she evaded a sword strike, deflected an energy blast with a perfectly timed counter, and then crushed the final opponent with a brutal knee strike.
Elsewhere, Ron moved like a wraith, his Astra blade flashing in and out of existence as he cut down two warriors in rapid succession.
Then—an explosion ripped through the ruins ahead.
Raj's attention snapped towards the blast. A colossal creature had emerged from the depths of the ruins, a beast of corrupted Astra energy, its form flickering between reality and distortion. One of the battlefield's hidden terrors. A warrior attempted to engage it, launching a flaming Astra spear, but the beast absorbed the attack and retaliated with a devastating shockwave, obliterating the attacker instantly.
Raj gritted his teeth. This battlefield wasn't just about fighting other recruits. It was about surviving the entire war zone. And he was still unarmed.
V. The First Alliance – A Fragile Partnership
As Raj considered his next move, he heard footsteps behind him. Not an attacker this time. A warrior stood there—Bruno, the rogue fighter Raj had identified earlier.
Bruno smirked, adjusting his fingerless gloves, lined with Astra-infused runes. "You fight well for someone with no Astra."
Raj didn't reply immediately. He studied Bruno. "You followed me?"
Bruno shrugged. "You're interesting. And I have a feeling you'll last longer than most of these idiots. So, what do you say?"
"Say to what?"
"An alliance. For now, at least. You and I both know the smart move isn't to fight alone. Strength in numbers, right?"
Raj's eyes narrowed. Temporary alliances in war were as dangerous as the enemies themselves. But right now? He needed an edge.
He extended his hand. "Fine. But if you betray me—"
Bruno laughed. "Then I won't be the only one dying."
They clasped hands. The first true battle was about to begin.
VI. The Final Words Before War
Above them, the battlefield roiled, warriors clashing, creatures emerging, Astra weapons painting the sky with bursts of elemental fury.
Raj exhaled slowly. He had survived the drop. He had won his first fight. And now? Now, it was time to conquer the battlefield.
"Let's hunt."