Milo, Kai, and Nessa stood before Selene, their hearts pounding with anticipation and dread.
After hearing about Milo's bizarre experience with Kriz, Kai and Nessa had jumped at the chance to join the 20-year program, expecting an equally quirky interview.
Reality, however, had other plans.
Selene's piercing gaze dissected each of them, her expression as unyielding as the city's walls. "Are you certain you want to proceed with the second interview?" Her voice carried a weight that made their spirits sink.
The trio nodded, though a shiver crawled up Milo's spine. Selene's tone set off alarm bells in his mind.
"Very well," Selene said, rising from her seat. "Follow ."
She led them through unfamiliar corridors, finally arriving at a vast hall where other recruits had already gathered. Milo did a quick headcount: about 20 people in total.
"Welco," Selene began, her voice echoing in the chamber. "Your presence here ans you've expressed a desire to serve the city for 20 years and passed the first phase of evaluation. But what cos next isn't a challenge Von Elio can make 100% safe... It won't be like the cakewalk trials in the book you're familiar with."
Milo exchanged bewildered glances with Kai and Nessa. What fresh hell awaited them?
"To prove your trust in Von Elio and your commitnt to the city," Selene continued…
"You must jump into the sea of monsters."
A deathly silence blanketed the room, followed by a storm of disbelieving whispers and terrified murmurs.
"Jump... into the monster sea?" Nessa's voice was a ghost of its usual self. "But that's..."
"A death wish," Kai finished, his typical stoicism cracking like thin ice.
Milo's mind reeled, unable to process the bombshell Selene had just dropped.
All the challenges until now had been laughably easy, almost insulting in their simplicity. But this? This wasn't just a step up. It was a 'leap' into the realm of insanity.
Selene outlined the process, each word more surreal than the last.
Those who accepted the challenge would first receive the rabbit, defeat the swift, and then be granted the swift as well.
Not just the rabbit... They'd have THE SWIFT!
But the price was a journey into the depths of the monster sea.
The reward was astronomical, but the risk was equally colossal, if not bigger.
Once they accepted the rabbit, there was no turning back. They'd be confined to the training grounds until they were ready to defeat the swift and reach level 4.
"Once you hit level 4 and have your swift," Selene explained, her words sharp and precise, "you'll learn a technique called corrosive attack. With this skill, you'll hurl yourselves into the void at a specific point, enter your system book mid air, and overco the level 5 challenge – the Elephant."
Milo's head spun. This sounded like elaborate suicide masked as a loyalty test.
"If you conquer the Elephant," Selene concluded, "Von Elio will find you below and assist your return after a few days."
The room erupted into chaos – a cacophony of voices, questions, and exclamations of disbelief. Milo looked at his friends, seeing his own shock mirrored in their wide eyes.
"You have the option to withdraw now," Selene's voice cut through the din like a knife. "No one will judge you if you decide this is beyond your limits."
Tension hung in the air as everyone weighed their options. Finally, five recruits stepped forward, announcing their decision to bow out.
Milo found himself rooted to the spot, paralyzed by indecision. Part of him scread that this was madness, that he should turn tail and run. But another part, a part he didn't fully understand, kept him anchored in place.
He glanced at Kai and Nessa. To his amazent, he saw steel in their eyes. They were scared, yes, but also resolute.
"We're staying," Kai said, his voice low but unwavering.
Nessa nodded and locked eyes with Milo. "Together."
Milo felt a surge of pride and fear simultaneously. "Together," he echoed.
As the retreating recruits filed out of the room, Milo's group was paired with two more n. One was older, probably pushing 40, with an air of hard-earned experience that set him apart from the young recruits. The other was younger, maybe in his mid-twenties, but sothing in his gaze... nervousness?
The older man approached them, a weary smile on his weathered face. "First ti, eh?" he said, extending a calloused hand. "Na's Taron."
Milo shook it. "Milo. These are Kai and Nessa."
Taron nodded to them. "Pleasure. Don't fret too much, kids. I've spoken with Von Elio once, he's a good guy. Knows his stuff."
"You've... you've done this before?" Nessa asked, her eyes wide with wonder.
Taron chuckled. "Nah, first ti for too. But I've seen enough in my years of service to know when to trust a leader."
The young man Milo had noticed earlier sidled up to them. "Arnaud," he introduced himself, his voice barely above a whisper. "Also my first ti."
Sothing about Arnaud's deanor intrigued Milo. He seed... on edge, but not in the sa way as the others.
"Arnaud here," Taron said, clapping the young man on the back, "is sothing of a legend. He's the one who launched that fireball that distracted Fathoran and helped Von Elio in that epic showdown."
Milo's jaw dropped. He'd heard tales of that battle, of how Von Elio had toppled the tyrannical Fathoran.
Arnaud's gaze fell to the floor, clearly uncomfortable with the attention. "It wasn't a big deal," he mumbled. "Anyone would've done it... I got a push."
"Don't be modest," Taron insisted. "It was an act of incredible bravery."
Milo noticed that Arnaud seed almost... ashad of the praise. As if that mont of glory was a burden he carried.
As Selene began to give more instructions about the training to co, Milo couldn't help but reflect on the bizarre situation they found themselves in. Just weeks ago, his biggest worry was how to scrimp and save for his family with his 20 daily mana points. Now, he was about to hurl himself into a sea of monsters, trusting that a leader he barely knew would take him out of the depths.
The contrast was so absurd he almost wanted to laugh. Almost.
"What have we gotten ourselves into?" Nessa whispered, giving voice to everyone's thoughts.
Kai, ever the stoic, simply shrugged. "Guess we'll find out soon enough."
Milo nodded, a whirlwind of conflicting emotions churning in his gut. All the challenges up to now had been surprisingly easy, almost disappointing. But this... this was sothing else entirely. It was real, dangerous, and absolutely terrifying.
As Selene's voice droned on about the specifics of their training, Milo's mind wandered to his family. What would his mother say if she knew what he was about to do? Would his siblings understand the risk he was taking for their future?
But then he looked at his friends, at Kai's quiet determination and Nessa's nervous excitent. He thought of Taron's weathered confidence and Arnaud's reluctant bravery.
He realized that whatever lay ahead, he wouldn't face it alone.
The sea of monsters awaited, and he was ready to take the plunge.
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