Chapter 14: Monsters
Ericna looked around at everyone with her signature smile. "So, are we just going to stand around? We should go out, walk, talk, and get to know one another," she said brightly. She seemed completely unbothered by the situation, acting as if everything were normal.
Yasukia sat up in his chair. "First you show up late, and now you're trying to tell us what to do?" he said slickly.
Ericna quickly turned toward him. "And who are you?" she replied, a hint of annoyance in her voice. "I recognize every face here except yours." She placed a hand on her hip.
Arisa turned toward Yasukia. "That's because he's not from here either," she said. Yasukia's attention now shifted to her.
"He's from the Eniyako," Arisa added.
The room fell silent. Everyone's eyes turned toward Yasukia. Even Yani's. Yasukia's expression changed slightly, as if realizing something.
"Your father… his name is Luis, isn't it?" Arisa said quietly. In the background, Ericna could be seen slowly making her way toward Arisa.
Yasukia's eyes widened, his face softening with what looked like remorse. "So it really is you, Arisa… I'm so glad you're o—"
"Shut up." Arisa's voice was firm and cold, cutting him off. "Ten years. That's all you have to say?" she continued.
Yasukia stared at her in silence, but Arisa didn't look away. Her glare was sharp. By now, Ericna had gently wrapped her hand around Arisa's arm, though Arisa paid her no mind. She kept her eyes locked on Yasukia.
"Alright, things are getting a little tense here. Let's go outside, Arisa," Ericna said in her usual calm tone, tugging lightly at her arm.
Arisa turned her head toward Ericna. She wanted to be annoyed, but Ericna's grip was gentle. And her smile was sincere, not eerie. Something about it calmed her down. With a quiet exhale, Arisa gave in and stood up, allowing Ericna to lead her toward the door.
Before they reached it, Ericna glanced back at Doragon, still holding Arisa's arm. "You too, pretty boy. Come on."
Doragon looked at them both for a moment. He said nothing, but stood and followed, descending the steps slowly. Ericna pushed the door open, guiding Arisa out with her. A few seconds later, Doragon stepped through as well. leaving Yani, Yasukia, and Z-Gem alone in the room.
Z-Gem turned toward Yasukia as the doors closed behind the others. The silence in the room felt heavy. "Damn, you're already pissing people off… not a good first look, kid," he said nonchalantly.
Yasukia stood up slowly, eyes still fixed on the door. "Can't say I blame her," he muttered. He seemed deep in thought. Though faint, fragments of old memories surfaced. His father and uncle talking about Arisa.
"So your dad is Luis Sylvesti…" Yani said, finally speaking up as she faced him.
Yasukia looked her way. "Yeah."
"Hopefully you're as strong as he is," Yani added.
"I'll be stronger," Yasukia replied confidently. "And what about you? How did you get involved with the Eniyako?"
Yani looked forward again. "That's a story for another time."
Z-Gem stood, stretching slightly before shoving both hands into his pockets. "We should join them. I haven't gotten a good look at the academy yet." He started toward the door.
Yasukia followed soon after. "I need some fresh air, to be honest." Yani stayed quiet, but after a moment, she rose from her seat and followed behind them.
——
By this point, Arisa and Ericna were walking down the hallway toward a set of double doors, Doragon following not far behind.
"You get defensive easily, don't you?" Ericna said, breaking the silence.
Arisa glanced at her as they continued walking. "You brought us out here to tell me that?"
Ericna shook her head with her usual playful smile. "Nope. We've gotta make the time pass, right?" She looked back at Doragon, then at Arisa again. "Figured I'd show you guys around a bit." She stopped at the doors, turning toward them as Doragon caught up.
"You know the layout of this place already?" Arisa asked.
"I've snuck into this academy plenty of times. Security sucks around here," Ericna said, her tone sounding almost disappointed.
"That sure makes me feel safe here," Arisa replied dryly.
"Well, not everyone is Ericna," Doragon finally spoke, his voice low and calm.
Arisa turned toward him. "You talk?"
Doragon met her gaze for a moment before looking back at Ericna. "She might not know, but I do. What's truly underneath that exterior," he said firmly, his tone causing a subtle shift in the air. Arisa's eyes flicked back to Ericna, curiosity showing on her face.
But Ericna diffused the tension instantly. With a mischievous grin, she unbuckled one of the buttons on her shirt, revealing a bit more of her chest. "I could show you both what's underneath," she teased.
Doragon quickly looked away, his expression unchanged. Arisa stayed silent, her eyes looking on, even more tinged with curiosity.
Ericna laughed softly at Arisa's reaction, then buttoned her shirt back up. "I'm sure we all have our stories," she said in a light, teasing tone. "For now, let's just start small." Doragon's earlier comment didn't seem to faze her at all. With that, Ericna pushed open the double doors.
Beyond them stretched a massive open training area, its scale almost overwhelming. The first section was a broad field of even, well kept grass. A peaceful green contrast to the metallic hum that lingered farther ahead.
Beyond the grass, the ground transitioned into what looked like a miniature artificial city. Rows of low rise structures, streets, and platforms stretched outward, many still under construction. The air buzzed with life and motion.
Workers moved in coordinated rhythm, some repairing damaged walls and shattered pavement, others deep cleaning the training surfaces. Mechanical lifts hummed as operators maneuvered heavy materials through the air. Sparks flared from welding points, and the distant clang of metal echoed like a heartbeat through the vast space. In the distance, large training drones hovered, scanning the area while a few armored figures sparred beneath them. The whole scene felt alive.
Ericna stepped forward, hands on her hips. "Welcome to the training grounds," she said proudly.
Arisa now stepped forward, her eyes sweeping over the vast expanse before her. The sheer scale of the place drew a flicker of awe from her. She stood near Ericna, who watched her quietly, the usual smirk tugging at her lips.
Doragon had already stepped off to the side, his attention on his Kleidi as he murmured a quiet command for it to call someone.
"This is one big ass training ground," Arisa said under her breath.
Ericna followed her gaze. "Well, when you're training some of the strongest people in the world, you kinda need an area like this," she replied casually, her tone carrying that teasing calm.
The double doors behind them creaked open. Z-Gem stepped out first, hands in his pockets, followed by Yasukia. "Damn," Yasukia muttered, his eyes wide. "I heard the training ground was big, but I wasn't expecting this."
Yani trailed in last, her gaze drifting to the far right where Doragon stood. Without a word, she turned and walked toward the opposite side, putting space between herself and the others.
Yasukia glanced back at Arisa and Ericna. The two were still talking quietly. Deciding to approach, he started toward them. He got close behind, but before he could get a word out, Arisa turned fast. Too fast.
Her leg snapped upward with precision, her heel slamming square into his chest in a sudden push kick that sent him flying back several feet. His boots tore twin trenches through the grass before he came to a halt, clutching his chest. The impact left a hush over the area.
Blood dripped from the corner of Yasukia's mouth as he lifted his head, anger flickering behind his eyes. "Look… I get it," he said, voice strained, "but I'll be damned if I just let you hit me."
Behind him, dark patches began to form in the air, flickering like oil under light. Four black, tendril like spikes burst out and coiled around him, their texture eerily similar to the portals Luis wielded. The spikes twisted, sharpening toward Arisa.
She didn't say a word. She simply lowered her stance. Battle ready.. Yasukia dashed forward and Arisa did the same. They were seconds from colliding when a massive shadow fell over them both.
A heartbeat later, the ground shook. With a thunderous crash, a giant, crystallized neon pink hand slammed down between them in a chopping motion. The shockwave sent debris spiraling outward, rattling the entire field. Dust rolled across the grass, and the metallic hum of construction machines faltered as workers and D.O.P. members turned to look.
Arisa's eyes darted to the side, she knew immediately. That it was Ericna. Yasukia froze, staring at the massive hand before glancing at her too.
"Can we not do this right now?" Ericna said, her voice sharp but weary. One hand rested on her hip, the other was still halfway extended from her chopping gesture.
She let out a small sigh, lowering her arm. As she did, the crystal construct dissolved into fading shards of pink light that shimmered briefly before vanishing.
Yasukia's frustration boiled over. "What the hell is up with you people?" he barked, turning on Ericna now.
Z-Gem stepped forward from behind Ericna, still calm, still casual. "I don't know how strong you are," he said, "but personally… Ericna's the last person I'd pick a fight with here."
Ericna turned slightly, her grin returning. "Oh hey, Z-Gem, been a while."
He gave a small smile back. "For you, it has"
Yasukia clicked his tongue and looked away, trying to collect himself. When he finally looked back at Arisa, she wasn't looking at him, she was studying Ericna. Realizing How known this woman was.
Yasukia exhaled and spoke again, his tone steadier this time. "I can't say I get why you feel the way you do. I probably never will. But I'm not here to defend the Eniyako. Just like you, I'm here at the heart of the D.O.P. because I have goals.. Goals greater than anything they'd ever let me reach. So don't see me as one of the Eniyako." He paused. "See me as an equal."
Arisa turned toward him slowly. Her glare softened only slightly, but her voice remained low and deliberate. "…We will never be equals." Her eyes sharpened, power humming faintly beneath her words. "No matter your goals… I can assure you mine are greater. Greater than everyone's here."
Her voice carried across the field, and the others felt it. The sheer conviction behind it. Even Yasukia did. For a moment, no one spoke. There was no arrogance in her tone, only truth. The silence held briefly before fading. The tension between Yasukia and Arisa had finally eased.
"See, this is why I like her," Ericna said with a grin, glancing at Arisa. "There's so much behind those eyes." She was still chatting with Z-Gem, who now stepped forward toward Arisa.
Arisa turned her head slightly, watching his approach. His posture was calm, his energy steady. She didn't sense any hostility.
"I looked into your profile," Z-Gem said, his tone even. "I'll admit, I'm impressed by you." He raised his hand slowly for a shake. "Z-Gem," he introduced himself.
Arisa looked at his hand for a moment. She hadn't seen that gesture since Ronnie. The familiarity tugged her memory. Like then, she accepted, gripping his hand firmly.
"Surprised you're in the C.F.R.," she said, her tone curious. "Aren't you a bit too…" her eyes looked at him from head to toe "good looking for this?"
Their handshake lingered for a moment before they both let go. Z-Gem smiled faintly. "Well, there's a lot more to me than meets the eye."
"Seems to be the case with everyone here," Arisa replied, glancing around the field.
"Besides," Z-Gem continued, "I could say the same about you… and Ericna."
Arisa turned toward Ericna, who was clearly enjoying the compliment. She brushed her hair back behind her ears with mock modesty. "Thank you, thank you," Ericna said playfully. Arisa tilted her head, then gave a small nod of agreement with Z-Gem.
"Hell, even Yani has her own charm," Z-Gem added with an easy grin.
Yani wasn't far from them, and she'd clearly heard him. Her head turned toward them, her expression unreadable but present.
"See? This is all I wanted," Ericna said loudly, spreading her arms. "To just talk, relax, and enjoy our time before shit starts to hit the fan." She turned toward Doragon, then to Yani. "But nooo, I've got two people here trying to give the whole nonchalant treatment!"
Her mock outrage drew a quiet chuckle from Arisa. Doragon ended his mysterious call with a slow sigh and started walking toward them. Yani looked out toward the D.O.P. facilities in the distance before finally turning and making her way back toward the group.
"I'm surprised you're even here, Ericna," Yani said as she approached. "You're the last person I expected to enroll in the C.F.R."
Ericna shrugged lightly. "You should know me by now, I don't—" She stopped mid-sentence, her eyes widening. "Oh, god… what the hell happened to you, Yani?" It was clear this was her first time seeing Yani's scars.
As Ericna spoke, Doragon's pace slowed in the distance. Something ahead caught his eye. From the direction of the artificial city, a D.O.P battle truck rumbled into view. The vehicle's heavy tires crushed the gravel underfoot, its dark steel glinting under the academy lights.
At least seven soldiers rode on board, their armor reflecting the faint hues of the training grounds. Doragon's expression hardened. "Eyes up," he said firmly.
The others turned toward him, then followed his gaze. In the distance, the truck rolled closer. Till it stopped a few yards away, its heavy engine growling before dying out. One by one, the soldiers stepped out. Some clad in full armor, others in lighter gear. A few wore face shields, the rest didn't bother. Some carried weapons, others just cracked their knuckles like they didn't need them.
The driver came out last. He was built strong, buzz cut hair barely showing the faded blonde beneath it. His uniform was cleaner, sharper. Marked with insignias that made it clear he outranked everyone else there.
"Well, well, look what we've got here," he said with smug confidence. "The newbies."
A few soldiers chuckled behind him. "You're lucky, you know that?" he went on, pacing slowly in front of the group, his boots crunching against the gravel. "Most of us had to go through school, five plus years of training camps. But you guys? Tenshi makes some new program and boom.. You all get tossed into the academy after a couple of field tests."
He stopped, staring them down, his grin widening. "Ticks me off. Makes me wanna let out a little frustration, you know?" He tilted his head, the smirk sharpening. "And since you're not official D.O.P members yet… as long as you give us a reason, we're allowed to have a little fun."
Ericna suddenly broke into laughter, not nervous laughter, but genuine amusement. Tears welled in her eyes as she tried to catch her breath. "You guys must be really stupid," she said between laughs.
The soldiers went still, all eyes on her. "You must be the type that doesn't do your research," she added, wiping a tear away.
Yani turned her back and began walking away without a word. Yasukia and Arisa stood firm, guarded. Z-Gem stayed composed. Hands still in his pockets.
The leader sneered. "And why the hell would I waste time researching a bunch of kids? I know what the C.F.R is, and I know it doesn't do a damn thing for the D.O.P You're just side projects. I'm not worried about any of you."
Ericna's smile faded. Her voice dropped, calm but cutting. "Then you're a dumbass."
The air shifted around her. Her tone was colder now, stripped of humor. "Turn around, and leave us alone. You and your little boy band." She added, the soldiers stiffened in response.
"Or stay," Arisa said suddenly, her voice low, dangerous. A flash of the soldiers from the café this morning crossed her mind. "Some of you love to act like you're above everyone. Let's see if you can fight half as good as you talk."
The man's grin twisted into anger. "I'll teach you brats to respect your damn seniors!" he roared. Sparks of electricity surged around his arms, crackling violently.
Ericna's eyes glowed faintly as she squared her stance. Arisa followed, shifting her feet, muscles coiled. Shadows began crawling outward from Yasukia's boots.
But suddenly a deep, metallic roar split through the air. The ground trembled beneath their feet. A brilliant green hue erupted from behind them, bathing the entire field in light. The soldiers turned instinctively, eyes wide, confusion flashing across their faces.
Above them, something massive moved. The light coalesced into shape, scales, a glowing maw. A dragon, formed entirely of radiant green energy, tore through the air with a bone shaking roar.
"Shit it's Dorag—!" The man started, but never finished. The dragon dove, its mouth wide open. The impact was blinding.
A thunderous shockwave rippled through the field as the beast slammed into the squad, consuming the truck and soldiers in a roaring blast of green light. The ground shook violently as the dragon dragged them through the field, all the way to the artificial city. Its tail carving through structures before crashing into one of the buildings. The tower crumbled, collapsing under the weight of the glowing monster before it finally dissipated into flickering streams of light.
The silence that followed was heavy. Arisa's eyes widened, the green glow reflecting in her pupils. Even Yasukia looked stunned. Yani simply kept walking, unbothered. Z-Gem's smirk returned, barely visible beneath the flicker of green still hanging in the air.
Ericna simply laughed. Soft, low, and dangerous. Her voice laced with satisfaction as she watched the chaos in the distance. Arisa turned, her gaze falling on Doragon.
He stood a few meters behind them, calm amid the dust and settling light. His eyes glowed an ethereal green, his dark hair floated upward slightly from the residual energy. His right arm was extended forward, fingers trembling slightly as the last traces of the dragon's power faded from his palm.
Then she looked back at Ericna who was still laughing. In that moment, Arisa finally understood. She was standing among monsters.
Chapter 14: Monsters
END