Chương 19: weakling

Garmond approached the platform, anxiety twisting in his gut like a coiled serpent. He could already predict how this would turn out. With his thin frame and frail build, he harbored no illusions about matching the performance of the others.

"You can do it, Gary!" Devine's cheerful voice rang out from the sidelines, bursting with encouragement. The warmth of her support provided a fleeting comfort, yet doubt gnawed at him, a relentless whisper that he would not measure up.

"Such enthusiasm," Ariana chimed in, her tone dripping with disdain. "It's clear you won't pass this test. I can already predict your scores."

"Oh, really? And what do you think I'm going to get in the strength test?" Garmond shot back, masking his unease as he approached the massive round ball, its surface glinting ominously under the harsh lights.

"A two," she replied instantly, her confidence striking a chord of dread within him.

With a shaky breath, he threw a weak punch at the ball, feeling the impact reverberate through his bones. He stumbled back slightly as the blue screen flickered to life, revealing:

[Strength: 2]

Laughter erupted around him, a cacophony of mirth that sliced through the air like a knife. The other recruits howled, reveling in his embarrassment as if it were a show. Devine, despite her own limitations, managed to scrape by with a score above five, but her cheers were drowned out by the laughter that surrounded Garmond.

"Then she just had to rub it in," he muttered, clenching his bony fists in frustration. It was humiliating to be the center of everyone's amusement, a fresh wound that stung more deeply than he expected.

The inspector, still dazed by the unexpected low score, hadn't intended to highlight his failure, but the damage was done. Amid the laughter, Devine stood firm, her eyes locked onto him, radiating unwavering support that cut through the mockery.

"You might as well finish the test for her," Ariana teased, a mischievous glint dancing in her eyes. She knew Garmond wouldn't back down easily, not with Devine cheering him on.

"Yeah, laugh all you want. I still have someone rooting for me," he shot back defiantly, his voice steadying as he stormed toward the next test.

He squared his shoulders, summoning the same adrenaline he had tapped into when fighting the Cristalian wolf. The memory surged within him, igniting a flicker of determination. "Don't deceive yourself," Ariana warned, her voice dripping with skepticism. "That was just a burst of adrenaline. I doubt you can replicate it."

"Just sit back and enjoy the show," he retorted, a smirk tugging at his lips as he faced the next challenge.

"Hmph. Just so you know, you'll be getting a five in this one. Slightly better than the last, but still low…"

Before she could finish her sentence, the test began. Arrows launched from all directions, slicing through the air with deadly precision. Garmond stood frozen, his heart pounding in his chest, the palpable tension wrapping around him like a suffocating shroud. Whispers of disbelief echoed among the onlookers. "Maybe he can't even run again. He'll probably get a zero," Xena, the girl Darius had saved, sneered, her words dripping with disdain.

They had forgotten that he was the same person who had once saved them from the jaws of the Cristalian wolf.

Garmond closed his eyes, tuning into the world around him. The sharp whoosh of arrows drew closer, each sound reverberating in his mind. He could hear the collective breaths of his peers, their anticipation thickening the air, mingling with the scent of sweat.

Then, in a sudden burst, he moved.

VOOM!!

A blur zipped past the hail of arrows, stunning everyone present. It was as if he danced through the barrage, untouched by any of the deadly projectiles. Ariana stood frozen, disbelief etched on her face.

"Faze steps?!" she gasped, her voice trembling with shock.

Garmond reveled in the astonished expressions around him, feeling a rush of exhilaration swell within him.

Ding!

A loud beep echoed, drawing all eyes to the blue screen.

[Agility: 100]

"I knew he could do it!!" Devine shouted, her voice slicing through the stunned silence like a beacon. She seemed to be the only one who had truly believed in him, her faith igniting a spark of pride in his chest.

Garmond caught sight of Trevor, irritation flaring within him. Why didn't she support him like that?

"Hmph, probably cheated," Trevor muttered coldly, his voice barely audible yet laden with scorn. It was clear to everyone else that there had been no trickery involved.

"Well, what a way to break two records in one day!" the inspector exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with delight as she beamed at the score displayed on the screen. "We've got a speedster in the house!"

Her admiration filled the air, and Garmond could feel the shift in the atmosphere. The initial doubts about this ragtag group began to fade; they were more than mere commoners—they were potential.

But just as camaraderie began to blossom, the inspector's next words washed over them like a cold tide. "Oh, I almost forgot—you still have one more physical test to complete."

The collective joy in the air evaporated, replaced by an oppressive sense of dread. "Is it the stamina test?" Devine asked, her voice laced with concern.

"Why would they add a stamina test if there's no place to do it?" Hendrix chimed in, his question echoing their unspoken fears.

"Ah, that's because I'll be personally overseeing this test," she said, her jovial smile tinged with mischief that sent shivers down their spines.

"I'm sorry, but this might hurt a bit. We have to see how long you can last. This is how we'll determine your stamina."

As she spoke, a purple aura enveloped her, expanding outward until it engulfed the recruits. An oppressive pressure bore down on them, their insides churning as if ignited from within. It felt like their very organs were being crushed under the weight of an invisible force.

"What is this?" Garmond gasped through gritted teeth, his vision blurring at the edges. The air was being sucked from his lungs, and he felt the walls of the world closing in around him.

"My dear recruits," the inspector continued, her voice calm yet chilling, "this training is not to make you mere Karta. You, along with the other students on this ground, will become Hounts serving directly under the Emperor, just like myself."

Garmond's world darkened, his strength waning as he struggled to remain conscious.

"One down…"

"Two down…"

"Three…"

She continued counting, her voice steady and unyielding until only one remained standing. "You'll be the best of this group," she said, approaching Trevor, who was frozen in place, the pressure overwhelming him.

A purple hue surrounded her as she caressed his chest with her slender fingers. The pressure intensified, tenfold, and Trevor's eyes rolled back, blood seeping from his nose as his vision faded into darkness.

And just like that, they all collapsed.

"Well, I must say, they did well. No one died? Now that's a first," the inspector remarked, observing their faint breaths.

Just as their bodies lay still, a figure emerged from the shadows, cloaked and hooded, his presence commanding the room.

"You went a bit too far," the figure said, his voice gravelly.

"What can I say? They proved to be stronger than usual," she replied, a hint of pride in her tone.

"Get them a healer. They have all passed the test." The cloaked figure melted back into the shadows, leaving behind a room thick with tension and the echoes of their fate hanging in the air.