CHAPTER 47: FIRST TEST II

"Your first test, is to survive 6 hours in this Stage-2 gate."

Different reactions followed his words, murmurs, chatters, gasps and things of the like.

"The watch on your wrist, currently displays three, zeros, which is bound to change, depending on how well you perform in the test."

"Killing a Stage-1 out-worlder grants you an additional point, and a Stage-2, grants you ten. You would do yourself good to actively hunt for out-worlders rather than simply trying to survive."

A shudder ran through the spines of some. There were over two thousand students gathered, coming from both Elysium, and the rest of Aegis.

Particularly, those from outside Elysium felt like they had just been told to head to their deaths.

Unlike those from Elysium who had technology that enabled Gate simulations, to those from the rest of Aegis, especially those from the slums and the outer sector, Gates were like the jaws to hell.

Each Gate opening occurrence, was followed by destruction and death, so they had an instinctual fear for Gates, and saw them as bad omen.

But now, they were being told to enter one, and actively hunt for out-worlders.

Drew was not exempt from this suffocating feeling, though he was in a better position.

He had lost both his parents to Gate openings, and although he had run some Gate simulations with Sean, standing before a real one, made his guts twist in fear and hate.

Seeing the elicited reactions, Lt. Grayson entertained the thought of reminding them of the life saving feature contained in the watch, but ultimately decided against it.

Soldiers were not bred with the idea of safety in their heads as backup. If it meant that some of them would die, then so be it.

If they died, then they weren’t fit in the first place. Plus, the test was to survive. Killing out-worlders was only secondary, though a necessary step.

"You may enter," he said.

The moment he finished speaking, eager youths who had already formed cliques, began to rush forward, eager to start hunting and accumulating points for whatever reasons the points would be needed for.

Sean watched everything with calm eyes, watching as many hurried to what might ultimately be their deaths.

He looked over his shoulder, to Drew who was still struggling to anchor himself.

"This is a step to revenge you know?" He began, his voice coming out softly. "You hate out-worlders don’t you? How can you fear what you want to have revenge against?"

Drew looked away from the Gate, and met Sean’s eyes. The black eyes with rings of ruby that stared back at him, were calm and untroubled. A huge contrast to his that was full of turmoil.

"Why do you chase strength?" Sean asked.

"To..." Drew opened his mouth to speak, and then went silent. At first he just wanted to survive another day, and after he got used to that, he wanted to live a good life.

He had already begun tasting that, in living with Sean and Richelle. But now, what did he truly want? Why did he still want become strong?

"I don’t know," he replied.

"Then let me give you one until you can find yourself," Sean said.

"Revenge..." He continued. "...For the loved ones out-worlders took from you, kill... For the pain they caused you, kill even more. If you enter that Gate soft and without a drive you will die."

Sean could have easily reminded him of the safety option, but one did not face their fears and confront their pasts with the illusion of safety. That safety, defeated agency.

If Drew wanted to become something for himself, then agency should come before safety. If he still died...

’Well it would be a pity,’ he thought to himself.

Drew took a deep breath, Sean’s words striking a deep cord in his chest. He felt foolish and selfish for having never thought of revenge before.

His goal had always been to survive, and when he finally began to chase power, it was to live a better life.

’Mom and Dad must be calling me an unfilial child from heaven.’ He thought, feeling nostalgic.

He raised his head to the Gate and this time, though there was still fear, there was something else alongside it.

Surviving and killing out-worlders didn’t seem as much of a big deal anymore.

"Thank you," he said to Sean, who only nodded.

They waited for a while, until the crowd began to thin and the big wigs began making their move.

"Let’s go," Sean said, advancing towards the gate equally.

On the way, he met with the Crofts, spotting Julian who was looking at him with unfiltered malice, while the others gave him hostile looks.

Though Julian was the one who had been humiliated, Sean’s words and actions had effectively embarrassed them in public.

Emma met Sean’s gaze.

"If we cross paths during the test, I won’t hold back." She said, and turned her head away.

Sean smiled faintly.

"Lieutenant Grayson?" He called looking upwards.

"Hmmm?" Grayson hummed as he looked down, his eyes finding Sean’s.

"Is there a reward for eliminating others?" He asked.

Grayson went silent for a few seconds.

"Yes there is. You get half the points of those you eliminate, while they lose all."

Those who were still around, drew in sharp breaths at his words. Suddenly, everyone became an enemy.

Grayson cursed in his mind. This wasn’t information he was supposed to give out. It was meant to be something they figured out by themselves, thereby throwing the last few hours of the test, into chaos.

However now that Sean already asked the question, he couldn’t say no, only for them to go in and meet something different.

"I see... Thank you then," Sean replied, then locked gazes with the Crofts and walked past, heading to the Gate.

"Interesting," Seraphina muttered from the back, understanding the intent behind Sean’s words and actions.

The question Sean asked, was a question that any smart person would have put in mind, but none bothered to ask. They intended to find out by themselves, therefore profiting massively from it, while others did the hard work.

Now that Sean had voiced it out, he not only exposed the ploy, but delivered a veiled threat to the Crofts with a smile on his face... It was truly interesting.

Sean reached the Gate with Drew tailing behind him, and just before he stepped in, felt his pulse suddenly race, and the breath of death down his neck.

He didn’t show any visible reaction aside turning his head slightly backwards, and his gaze met that of a young man with blood red eyes, and messy black hair.

’Found you!’ He mused internally, before setting his gaze on Drew.

"Make sure you don’t die!"