The faint hum of medical machines echoed softly in the background, accompanied by the sharp scent of antiseptic. Selene slowly opened her eyes, adjusting to the dim lighting of the training camp's medical bay. Her body felt heavy, every inch of her muscles aching from the battle she had just endured.
She tried to move, but the sharp pain immediately shot through her entire body.
That fight…
Memories of the Tier 5 Metavore surged into her mind. How she had fought, how she had poured everything into the battle, how she… lost.
She bit her lip. Even after all the training, all the dedication—she was still not strong enough.
Her gaze shifted to the window beside her bed. Through the transparent glass, she could see most of the other cadets still recovering. Some sat with bandages wrapped around their bodies, others remained unconscious, while medical staff moved back and forth, ensuring everyone received proper treatment.
Selene took a deep breath.Why am I here?
Not in a physical sense—she knew why. She knew her initial purpose. She wanted to be part of the Aether Corps.
But after witnessing how weak she was in the final test… was she truly worthy of being one of them?
She clenched the sheets beneath her, frustration clouding her mind. Her father, a veteran of the Aether Corps, had fallen in battle, sacrificing himself to protect humanity. Since childhood, Selene had idolized him and wanted to follow in his footsteps. She wanted to be someone who protected, not someone who needed protection.
Yet, the events of the final test had proven how far she was from being worthy.
That Tier 5 Metavore toyed with her. With a single strike, she had been sent flying. Completely powerless. If someone hadn't saved her, she would have been dead.
Her eyes narrowed as she recalled that moment. Just before losing consciousness, she had caught a glimpse of a masked figure—someone who had appeared out of nowhere and annihilated the Metavore in mere seconds.
Who was that person?
Their movements were swift, efficient, and lethal. Unlike most Aether Corps fighters she knew, that individual fought with an unorthodox technique, as if they had studied the Metavore long before the battle had even begun. Every strike hit a vital point with unwavering precision, as if they had a perfect understanding of Metavore anatomy.
But what was even stranger…
Their movements felt familiar.
Selene tried to dig deeper into her memory. She had seen that fighting style before, but she couldn't link it to anyone at the academy.
She clenched her fists.Whoever they are… they are far stronger than me.
And that realization only frustrated her more.
A voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
"You're finally awake."
Selene turned to see Revand standing beside her bed, his arm still wrapped in bandages. His face looked exhausted, but he offered her a small smile.
"You were out for quite a while. We all thought you'd stay unconscious until the test results were announced."
Selene exhaled slowly. "How long was I unconscious?"
"Almost an entire day," Revand replied. "Many of us are still recovering, but the instructors decided to delay the results announcement."
Selene stared at the ceiling, processing his words.
The test results…
Yet, her mind was still stuck in the battle. She couldn't forget how utterly powerless she was.
Revand seemed to notice her thoughts and spoke in a softer tone.
"I know what you're thinking."
Selene turned to him but said nothing.
"You feel like you're not strong enough, don't you?" Revand continued, his tone filled with understanding. "I feel the same way. Seeing how strong our enemy was… I realized we're still far from ready to be Aether Corps."
Selene gripped the blanket tightly but didn't deny it.
Revand sighed. "But that's exactly why we're here. We took this test to measure how far we've come. If we failed, it just means we have to train even harder."
His words made sense, but Selene couldn't shake off her frustration. She didn't just want to get stronger—she wanted to make sure she never felt this weak again.
Revand exhaled and took a seat beside her bed.
"I'm also curious… about the person who saved us."
Selene tensed.
"You saw them too?"
Revand nodded. "Only for a moment before I blacked out. But they weren't part of our team. And the way they fought… it wasn't something a normal cadet could do."
Selene stared at Revand.
So it wasn't just her.
That person wasn't just some random passerby.
And for some reason, she had a feeling that this wouldn't be the last time she encountered them.
Before she could dwell on it further, the medical bay doors slid open, and an instructor stepped inside.
"Selene, once you're strong enough, report to the main hall. The test results will be announced soon."
Selene looked at them, then nodded slowly. "Understood."
Yet deep inside, she knew—this was just the beginning of her new journey.
Elsewhere…
In a dimly lit room, Lina sat in front of a holographic display, her expression serious. Energy diagrams, combat footage, and data on Metavores evolving at an unnatural rate filled the screen.
But her eyes were focused on one recording—a masked figure slaughtering a Metavore in mere seconds.
Lina let out a long sigh.
"Deren… you really have no idea what you've done, do you?"
She closed the screen and leaned back in her chair.
If the world started noticing that figure…
Then sooner or later, the truth would come to light.
And when that happened—Deren wouldn't be able to keep running from it.