The sun rose in an unusual way—as if heralding a step far greater, bolder, and more defining than anything before.
This time, there were no sharp cries of alert soldiers.No clashes of steel, no shattering armor.Only preparation.Preparation for a day larger than expected… perhaps larger than anyone could bear.
Raym stood before the mirror, staring at his reflection.The weight of the coming day had stolen sleep from his eyes.
He fastened his polished armor and reached for his sword—the blade he trusted, perhaps more than himself.Its surface gleamed from constant care, reflecting his pale face.
You're not ready for this yet, he thought bitterly.Maybe it's still too early for you.
Elsewhere, Lance prepared with excessive excitement, unaware of what truly awaited outside.Lyra, on the other hand, sat in silence—trapped in endless conversations with herself that led nowhere.
Yet all of them shared one thing in common:This might be the most important day of their lives.Their chance to prove themselves.To finally stand out.
The team gathered at the camp's checkpoint.Only a handful had come to see them off—though for Lyra, that was not the case.
At the gate, Arvela awaited them, greeting them with a smile that felt… forced.Was it a farewell?Or a warning left unspoken?
At last, they set out—toward an uncertain fate.
The world beyond the camp was unexpectedly beautiful.Abandoned villages.Empty roads.Ruins swallowed by nature.
Trees and flowers stretched endlessly, breathtaking in detail.
But shouldn't someone be living here?
Fear slowly crept in.The journey remained quiet—too quiet.
By dusk, they reached the edge of a forest where the wind whispered softly between the trees.It was time to camp.
They set up the tents swiftly and lit a fire—its warmth clinging to them like a fragile shield against fear.
Silence ruled, broken only by insects and distant owls.
Arvela kept diverting the conversation whenever they asked why she seemed uneasy about this mission.Eventually, she spoke of her father… and her little sister.Kind memories. Gentle ones.
Lance spoke next.A calm man who often placed others before himself.Proud of his progress, yet feeling restrained by something unseen.
Lyra followed.Her family had vanished under mysterious circumstances.Soon after, she found herself in the Fifth Unit—forging her strength with relentless resolve.
Finally, Raym spoke.
"I don't remember anything about my family," he said quietly."All I know is that I've always been in the training camp… until I joined the Third Unit.I remember my name… and a date I believe is my birthday. Nothing more."
A heavy sadness settled over the group.Arvela tried to comfort him—
Then it happened.
Footsteps.
Metal scraping against stone.
Arvela reacted instantly—extinguishing the fire.
"Hide. Don't make a sound."
Too late.
They had been watched from the very beginning.
The sound wasn't human—at least, not entirely.
Raym's trembling hand gripped his sword.Lance's earlier excitement had vanished, replaced by pure terror.
Lyra looked close to fainting.
Then—
Without warning—
A violent strike tore through the camp.
"Is everyone—?!" Arvela shouted instinctively.
Her arm was severed mid-sentence.
Smoke and dust filled the air.
From within it emerged a massive figure—humanoid, yet monstrous.Eyes glowing like burning embers.
A knight clad in black and crimson armor stepped forward.
And behind him… three more.
They stood tall before Arvela, who lay bleeding—certain these were her final moments.
Then Raym leapt in front of her.
Wounded, shaking—but standing.
Lance joined him, hands trembling.
Lyra rushed to stop Arvela's bleeding.
The armored figures watched with disdain.
They removed their masks—revealing hardened faces, twisted by something unclear.
Cruelty?Malice?
One of them stared at Raym.
"You're brave," he said coldly."Standing before us knowing you have no chance. I like that.It's a shame I'll be turning you into a corpse in seconds."
"Shut up!" Raym screamed."You attack when people are weak and call yourself strong?!If you're a man—face me head-on!"
The knight laughed… and accepted.
He struck with terrifying speed.Raym barely blocked.
Steel clashed again and again.
The others mocked the knight for struggling against a child.
Enraged, the knight grew faster.
Raym endured—barely.
Arvela, forcing herself up, shattered his armor in a sudden counterattack and bound the remaining enemies.
"Go!" Lyra shouted to one soldier."Call for backup—now!"
One knight tried to stop him.Lyra blocked him desperately.
Raym turned to help—
Too late.
The first knight appeared behind him.
Darkness gathered around his axe.
Lance jumped.
The blow struck his head.
He was thrown far—too far.
"LANNNCE!!"
Raym's scream tore the night apart.
The world went silent.
Memories flooded in.
Laughter.Training.Friendship.
The knight laughed cruelly.
Arvela turned—
The rest of the squad lay dead.
Blood everywhere.
Lance unmoving.Raym shattered.Lyra exhausted.Arvela bleeding out.
The knight raised his weapon over Raym.
Was this the end?
Had leaving the camp been a mistake?
Who were these men?
And what did they want?