The scent of sweat and steel hung in the air, heavy with tension. The arena floor, once pristine, had turned into a patchwork of cracked stone, scuffed dirt, and dark stains that hadn't yet dried.
Each new candidate stepped forward under the gaze of a silent crowd and the unwavering judgment of instructors. There were no second chances. No retries. Just the gate opening... and what lay beyond.
Candidate #383, a stocky youth from a southern city, gripped his spear with white knuckles as a Scaled Saberfang Cat leaped into the ring. Fast and vicious. The moment the bell rang, he lunged forward. His strikes were wide, lacking form, but somehow—brute strength alone carried him through. One clean blow to the cat's skull and the beast collapsed.
A few scattered claps. Approval, muted and brief.
Next came #492, a quiet girl wielding twin daggers. Her opponent, a Steelhide Armadillo, curled and crashed like a wrecking ball. It took everything she had—agility, patience, and well-placed cuts—to pierce its joints. She won, but she left the field bleeding from her thigh and dragging one foot.
Then came #317.
He lasted less than ten seconds.
A sharp cry. Blood splatter. And the instructor's shadow appeared just in time to stop the creature's fangs from reaching his throat. The crowd turned away as medics rushed in, dragging the unconscious youth to safety.
One by one, the tests continued.
Some emerged triumphant, heads high and bodies marked with pride. Others stumbled out barely breathing, faces pale from the weight of failure. The arena showed no mercy. It didn't care for lineage, status, or potential—only performance.
On the elevated observation deck, the panel of military officers watched in silence. Their eyes flickered between the arena and the growing list of qualified names. So far, less than half had made it.
Then, a voice boomed across the arena:
"Candidate #427 — Lin Hao. Step forward."
A hush swept through the crowd.
Qingyue, standing near the side wall, turned her gaze toward the center. Her eyes softened for a moment, then narrowed in anticipation.
Lin Hao exhaled slowly, then stepped toward the arena gates.
They groaned open once more.
And the next beast waited in the dark.