The ocean slept beneath the dawn.
High above the water, the First Ring rotated slowly in the sky, its massive structure cutting through mist and pale clouds. Its inner core pulsed with faint white resonance, steady and rhythmic—like a heartbeat that did not belong to the world below.
The light brightened.
A thin crack appeared along the Ring's surface.
Not from damage.
From awakening.
A whisper echoed through the air, too faint to locate, too old to ignore.
"The bloom has answered."
Gate Three
The Pre-Trial Gate stood tall at the edge of the district, a massive stone arch carved with swirling sigils that shifted when no one was looking too closely. Trainees crowded the entrance—some confident, some nervous, others hiding fear behind forced laughter.
A floating announcer crystal hovered above them, glowing bright.
"Pre-Trials commencing. Please form ranks by entry class."
Ren walked forward first, calm and observant. His staff rested across his back, his silver eyes scanning the crowd with quiet precision.
Rina stayed close to him. Her fingers tightened around the shaft of her staff as its bells rang softly, in sync with her breathing.
Kai bounced on his heels, chains clinking faintly at his sides, unable to contain his excitement.
A group of older trainees nearby snickered openly.
"Hey," one of them said loudly, smirking. "Isn't that the unstable girl from last night?"
Another leaned forward. "And the quiet freak with the threads."
A third laughed. "What's the chain mutt doing here?"
Kai turned instantly.
"Say it again," he said, cracking his neck. "But slower."
Ren placed a hand on Kai's shoulder without looking at him.
"Not worth it."
Rina shrank slightly behind Ren, gripping his coat.
The group laughed again and walked off.
Kai muttered under his breath, "One of them's losing teeth today."
The Overseer
A sudden pressure slammed down across the gate.
The noise died instantly.
Azen stood at the front of the platform.
He hadn't appeared—he was simply there.
Every trainee straightened.
"Silence," Azen said.
It wasn't loud. It didn't need to be.
He walked slowly across the stone, hands folded behind his back.
"Today is the First Gate," he continued. "You will be judged on resonance control, emotional stability, and combat instinct."
He stopped.
"Not strength.
Not talent.
Resonance."
Azen's gaze settled on Ren, Rina, and Kai.
"Do not embarrass me."
Kai whispered, "He cares."
Ren replied quietly, "He doesn't."
Rina nodded. "He absolutely does."
Azen walked away without reacting.
The Balance Field
The massive gates opened.
Light flooded the bridge, revealing the first arena.
Floating platforms spiraled outward over open water, each one shifting, tilting, and rotating unpredictably. The arena was alive.
A voice echoed through the space.
"Trial One: Balance.
Survive until only fifty remain."
Panic erupted.
Kai grinned. "Finally."
"We stay together," Ren said calmly.
"Right," Rina replied, gripping her staff.
The platforms lurched violently.
Screams followed as trainees slipped and fell into the water below.
Ren moved first. He grabbed Rina's hand and pulled her onto a stable section, thin micro-threads firing from his fingertips and anchoring the platform in place.
"Hold tight," he said.
Rina nodded.
Kai launched himself forward, chains snapping outward and hooking onto distant platforms. He swung through the chaos like it was a game.
"You can't shake what doesn't care about gravity!"
Azen watched from above, unimpressed.
Rina's First Control
The platform beneath Rina tilted sharply.
Petals burst from her staff on instinct.
Ren flinched—but this time, the petals didn't explode.
They spiraled beneath her feet, stabilizing the platform.
"I—I did it!" Rina gasped. "Ren, I did—"
The petals shattered into harmless light.
The platform lurched again.
Ren caught her without hesitation.
"You did," he said calmly. "Do it again."
She nodded fiercely.
The First Fight
Three trainees cornered them on a narrow platform.
"Well well," one sneered. "The unstable freak and the thread boy."
Ren lifted one finger.
A micro-thread formed—thin as air.
"It's not worth it," he said quietly.
They rushed him.
Ren moved once.
The three fell into the water in perfect synchronization.
Kai landed beside them, chains retracting.
"Did you just one-frame three people?"
"They were slow."
A Real Threat
A new presence landed nearby.
A trainee wearing a red mantle, aura sharp and gold, eyes calculating.
"I'm interested in you," he said. "Especially the girl."
Kai stepped forward instantly.
"Back up."
"Make me."
He moved fast—too fast.
Ren intercepted him with his staff. The shockwave rippled outward.
Rina was blown back but stabilized herself with petals.
Kai charged, chains flashing—but the gold-mantled fighter dodged cleanly.
"You're strong," he said calmly. "But sloppy."
The arena tilted violently.
The fighter flipped away effortlessly.
"Survive this round," he called. "I'll be waiting."
Rina exhaled shakily.
"He was strong."
"Yes," Ren said. "Good."
The Final Fifty
The platforms slowly stabilized.
The voice echoed again.
"Trial complete. Fifty remain."
Ren, Rina, and Kai stood together.
Azen appeared above them and nodded once.
Kai threw his fists into the air. "LET'S GO!"
Rina smiled, exhausted but proud.
Ren remained calm—but satisfied.
Nightfall
That night, Rina dreamed of standing on the ocean's surface.
Petals floated around her.
The Rings above burned too bright.
A shadow stood across the water, eyes like broken mirrors.
"Awaken again, little bloom."
She woke gasping.
Ren was already there. Kai rushed in behind him.
"Someone called to me," Rina whispered.
Outside, the Rings pulsed again.
Answering.
© 2026 Tamaurio Jenkins
All Glory To The Most High God
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