Chapter 5: The Trial of the Desert
The scorching sun blazed above, its relentless heat bearing down on the eight stranded students. The golden sands stretched endlessly in every direction, with no sign of water, shelter, or even life.
Kazuki (Boy 2) crossed his arms, smirking.
"This is ridiculous. How does this test our powers? We don't even have them yet."
Aya (Girl 1) wiped sweat from her forehead, glaring at him.
"You don't seem to be taking this seriously. We need to figure out how to survive before we start arguing."
Miko (Girl 2) sighed, shielding her eyes from the sun.
"I hate this already… We should find shade before we collapse from heatstroke."
Yuma (Boy 3) looked around, his expression uneasy.
"And food… and water… What if we don't find any?"
Sachiko (Girl 3) crossed her arms.
"Then we'll have to find another way to manage. Complaining won't help."
Ryo remained quiet, scanning their surroundings. His heart pounded with uncertainty. Unlike the others, who at least seemed confident in their survival skills, he felt useless. He was the weakest among them—what could he even contribute?
Haru (Boy 4), the calmest of the group, finally spoke.
"First, we need a plan. We can't just wander aimlessly."
Everyone nodded in agreement. Even Kazuki, despite his arrogance, understood that they wouldn't last long if they didn't work together.
The Struggle Begins
Hours passed as they walked through the desert, their bodies growing weaker under the relentless heat. Their throats were dry, and their legs felt heavy.
Aya groaned.
"I… I can't walk anymore…"
Kazuki gritted his teeth.
"Don't be weak. We have to keep moving!"
Miko scowled at him.
"Not everyone is as stubborn as you!"
As their tempers began to rise, a sudden gust of wind swept through the desert, kicking up a small sandstorm. The group shielded their faces, struggling to stay upright.
And then—something moved in the distance.
Ryo squinted, trying to make sense of the blurry figure emerging from the sands. His heart skipped a beat.
It wasn't human.
The First Threat
A massive, shadowy beast rose from the dunes. Its glowing red eyes locked onto them, and its enormous claws dug into the sand. It resembled a monstrous wolf, but far larger—its entire body pulsing with an unnatural energy.
Yuma gasped.
"What… What the hell is that?!"
Sachiko took a step back, her hand instinctively reaching for a weapon she didn't have.
"A trial… The minister never said this would be easy."
The beast let out a deep, guttural growl before charging.
Panic filled the group as they scattered, dodging the creature's deadly swipe. Kazuki, always the reckless one, grabbed a broken piece of rock and hurled it at the beast's head.
It didn't even flinch.
Ryo, breathing heavily, clenched his fists. He couldn't just stand there. He had to do something.
And then, as if in response to his desperate will… something stirred within him.
A strange sensation coursed through his veins. The world around him seemed to slow, the sound of the wind becoming distant.
His vision sharpened. His body felt… different.
A power was awakening.
End of Chapter 5.