Jack woke with a jolt.
Cold floor. Dim lights. Metal walls.
He wasn't in the padded room anymore.
This one was different — clean, but sterile. Three beds. Three lockers. One metal light flickering above.
And he wasn't alone.
Two others stood nearby.
A boy and a girl.
Their suits were tighter, more flexible — like advanced training gear. Their names were printed clearly across the front.
Michael.
Emily.
Michael stood with his arms crossed, face locked in a permanent scowl. Anger lived in his posture.
Emily looked… broken. Pale. Teary-eyed. She sat on the edge of her bed with her arms wrapped around her knees.
Jack sat up slowly.
Neither spoke.
> So this is it, he thought. The team phase.
He didn't say anything.
He didn't need to.
---
The Arena
Steel doors opened, revealing the vast battlefield of Arena Delta.
Ruins of buildings. Shattered towers. Craters.
Across from them stood three enemies.
One crackled with explosive energy, fists flaring like grenades.
Another shimmered with distorted air, controlling pressure and force.
The third glowed faintly green — a healer, calm and ready.
> "Trial begins," a voice called from above.
"You survive, or you die. Begin."
Jack stepped forward immediately — glancing behind.
Emily was shaking.
Jack narrowed his eyes.
> She's not a fighter. Not yet.
He raised a hand to Michael. "Stay back. I'll call you in."
Michael blinked, caught off guard.
"You serious?"
Jack didn't answer. He walked forward alone.
> "Let's make it loud."
Smoke burst from his arms — dark, swirling, alive.
From it rose a massive beast — thick arms, armored back, and legs like tree trunks. Its presence was like a moving wall of protection.
"Big Boy," Jack said.
The monster stepped in front of Emily like a bodyguard and stood still.
> "Protect her."
The enemy moved.
Explosion Guy charged up.
Air Girl raised her hands.
The healer stepped forward.
Jack moved faster.
From the black mist at his side, something low and sharp slithered forward.
Chomps.
A beast of teeth, squat and muscular with eyes full of hunger.
Jack whispered, "Go."
Chomps charged.
The healer didn't have time to react.
Jack slid across the ground, fast — right past the healer's feet.
Then—
CHOMP.
The healer vanished in a single, bone-crushing bite.
Blood sprayed across the arena floor.
> "Vein Grasp."
Jack thrust his hand downward — black, thorned veins burst from the ground, wrapping around Explosion Guy's arms and legs.
The boy panicked.
"You light up now," Jack warned, "and you'll lose both arms."
He froze.
Only Air Girl remained.
She launched a blast of air — Jack dodged left and countered, raising one arm as black smoke formed a needle-shaped seed.
He fired it at her like a dart.
It hit her chest — and started growing.
Fast.
Roots pushed from her ribs.
Vines tore from her back.
White flowers bloomed from her mouth.
She screamed, collapsed, and died — a silent bloom growing from inside her.
Michael stood stunned. Emily looked horrified.
Explosion Guy started sobbing, trying not to move.
Jack walked up to him.
> "Return."
The veins snapped tight once — both arms broke instantly — then faded into mist.
The boy passed out.
Jack turned and walked back to his team.
Big Boy stood down, mission complete.
Emily stared at Jack like she didn't know whether to be afraid or grateful.
Michael just said, "You're insane."
Jack didn't flinch.
> "No. I'm what they made."
---
Later, back in their shared cell
Emily curled on her bed.
Michael leaned against the wall.
Jack sat cross-legged on the floor, staring at his hands.
The monsters inside him were quiet.
But he could feel them.
Waiting.
And for the first time… he wasn't trying to silence them.
He was listening.
> If I'm going to survive… I need them. All of them.