The past is the anchor that help us not to drawn in quagmire of our life.
"Erick I've read your work and the designs you've submitted for your final projects and it's a perfect working progress more impressive than your classmates and my fellow teachers and I feel that you deserve a spot on the senior showcase that is held every year." Said the head teacher of the panel.
As professor Angel glanced over at Erick again she asked," you know what surprised me she is also on list you."
"I don't know who you mean professor." Remarked Erick with a smile.
"Is that so well I thought you might want to know as well but I have questions for you, why are you working a part time job?"
"Did you know that since you started this job of yours your position in the combat arts is the last?"
"it's been three years since you started school here and I'm proud to see that you have elevated your schooling but the one thing that made you whole is gone. You have a chance to be complete a scientist with a mind of a warrior. Even my fellow colleagues agree with me." Said Professor Angel with real anger in her voice as she kept seeing one of her promising students fumble his gifts away.
"My colleague here is worried about you young man, I myself am content with your efforts, every question asked and every action you took has made everyone hate you to the point where they are working harder than ever. All I'll say is that continue the great work and ask me any questions you have my boy." Said professor Andrew the head of the engineering department with some pride in his voice.
The he saw it was that everything changed for him when this student came in to his class and challenged him on the basis of electrical engineering, even though his knowledge was superficial the class was reinvigorated.
As similar sentiments were expressed from some of the heads of the faculties, General Colthorn glanced at his student with a mix of annoyance and clueless optimism.
"As I recall certain… uuhhhh. A deal was struck for your admission and show a bit of school spirit."
Erick frowned at the comment,"I did held my end of the bargain, I mean I participated and still I'm."
Colthorn started to get some headache,"it's your third year child, you're school spirit is at its lowest, and to remedy that you are going to participate in the shattered gauntlet. That is your final exam including your school work."said Colthorn sternly making sure that Erick knows there is no backing up.
Erick walked out of the meeting with the panel of professors with a sour test in his mouth. He knew that he had let his study and training slip favouring his girl and his craft. But The Shattered Gauntlet wasn't just a test—it was a proving ground. Only the best of the best survived it, and the failure rate was high. Not just in terms of his grades, but in terms of his limbs. Students have had their bones broken, scarred, or worse during the trials. And now, it was his final yearly exam. There was no escaping it.
Erick stood at the edge of the arena facing his sister on the other side attempting to get a glimpse of her emotions. As both siblings glanced at the crowd they were a bit more nervous of how much attendance were. As the buzz of the arena started to spread due to the arrival of the participants, general Colthorn walked out to the middle of the field,"Ladies and gentlemen,parents,staff and students and last but not least to both of your highnesses welcome to this year's special event, as you can see these students are our top 100 of the school, with exception of sixth and seventh years. Today you'll be able to witness why our school stands on the top of the country."
As Erick started scanning his surroundings, he noticed alliances being formed, others being betrayed and some like him standing alone.The moment a gun shut exploded, chaos erupted in the arena . Hundreds of students, once calmly taking sides, exploded into a frenzy of action. Dust kicked up from the ground as they scattered in all directions, each with a strategy of survival.
Erick didn't move at first,he saw the arena become this massive, ever-shifting battlefield. Large boulders rolled unpredictably, trenches appeared and disappeared, and from the far sides, mechanized sentries stood on rotating platforms, their sensors scanning for movement, their arms bristling with tasers and stun guns. Every part of the arena was designed to confuse, disorient, and challenge the combatants. The ground itself could shift without warning, throwing students off balance.
As everyone gazed to the weapon cache in the middle of the field, every student had a choice to make, either make a run for it to the cache or use the field to their advantage. Erick saw his sister and the rest of the students he saw as a threat going for the cache,fuck he thought as he started running hoping to catch the shields on the side. Everyone who saw him running to the cache were visibly surprised but everyone kept speeding up.
Erick run past everyone while they were picking up weapons the saw next to them, but he picked up two shields,a sword and crossbow with it's bolt. As he glanced at the cache carefully while running he saw a small bunch with live ammunition.
"Move." He yelled at his sister but it also hit him at the same, if those who mean him harm thought they can get him through her she'll die before the judges can get to her.
He run towards his ramming her down to the ground before anyone could be the wiser,"you bastard." She said to her brother confused on why he did what he did. "Look I think there are some live ammunition on the hip of cache 2 o'clock. Someone put them there, I don't know if it's for us or me someone wants to kill. Don't die we separate meet me at west end of the field. Take the shield and the crossbow. Now punch me." He said and with the punch from his sister he rolled over and run his fastest to the west of the field.
As Erick sprinted toward the west end of the field, his heart pounded in his chest, not just from exertion but from the growing tension in the air. He could feel eyes on him hungry, calculating. His warning to his sister had been rushed, but necessary. He had no time to explain everything.
Glancing back, he saw Glory get to her feet, now armed with the shield and crossbow, doing exactly what he asked. She wiped blood from her lip where she'd hit him, blending into the chaos of the battlefield as she headed in the opposite direction.
The arena roared with the sound of students clashing. Energy blades crackled, shields clanged, and the occasional blast of a gauntlet or other weapon rippled through the chaos. Erick zigzagged through the field, dodging attacks and obstacles, his goal clear: survive.
He glanced toward the cache again, his mind racing. Live ammunition in a training scenario wasn't just unusual,it was a death sentence. Someone wanted him or one of the students dead. The thought lingered, gnawing at him, but there was no time to dwell on it.
Suddenly, a sharp whistle cut through the noise, and Erick dove behind a large boulder just as an arrow embedded itself in the dirt where he'd been standing. He whipped his head around to see Dara, a sniper who had gained a reputation for her accuracy during training. She was perched on a raised platform, already nocking another arrow, her eyes trained on him.
"Shit," Erick muttered under his breath, realizing she wasn't aiming to wound. She was aiming to kill." It's me."
He raised one of his shields just as she loosed another arrow, the force of the impact sending vibrations through his arm. He gritted his teeth, knowing he had to move before she could get a clear shot. He bolted from behind the boulder, zigzagging once again to make himself a harder target.
Dara tracked him, firing rapidly, but Erick was faster than she anticipated. He sprinted toward a patch of cover, a low wall that formed part of the arena's layout. Just as another arrow zipped past his ear, he rolled behind the wall, catching his breath.
From his position, Erick could hear the distant shouts of other students fighting for survival, but his focus remained on Dara. She was good—really good—but she wasn't invincible. Erick peeked out from behind the wall, spotting her as she moved to get a better angle.
He glanced at the sword he'd grabbed earlier but knew it wouldn't be much use at this range. His eyes flicked to the crossbow Glory now had. If only he had taken that…
But then his gaze fell on something else one of the bolt pouch's he had grabbed. His hand moved quickly, rummaging through it until he found what he was looking for: a small, explosive bolt. One shot. That's all he needed.
Carefully, he fitted the bolt into the mechanism on his shield, a trick his engineering classes had taught him an improvised launcher. He only had one chance to get this right.
Taking a deep breath, Erick stood up from behind the wall and aimed at Dara's platform. She spotted him immediately, drawing her bowstring back, ready to fire. But Erick was faster. He fired the bolt.
The explosion was small, but enough to rock the platform, sending Dara tumbling from her perch. Her scream echoed briefly before she hit the ground, her bow clattering beside her. Erick didn't wait to see if she was still conscious. He bolted again, heading toward the west end of the field.
He could feel his muscles burning, the weight of the shields slowing him down, but he pushed through it. Survival was his only goal. He rounded a corner and found himself in a relatively quiet part of the arena, away from the larger brawls.
He scanned the area, searching for Glory. They were supposed to meet here. His heart raced faster as he thought of the live ammunition again. Whoever had planted it could be targeting her too.Suddenly, from the shadows, a figure emerged. Erick instinctively raised his shield, ready for an attack, but relaxed when he saw it was Glory. She looked unharmed, her eyes sharp as ever.
"Made it," she said, her voice breathless but steady. She tossed him the crossbow, her expression grim. "I took out three of them on my way here. We're not alone, Erick. Someone's gunning for you."
"Yeah, I figured," Erick replied, catching the crossbow and slinging it over his shoulder. "Live ammo at the cache wasn't an accident."
Glory's face darkened. "Do you think it's part of the test? Or something more?"
"I don't know," Erick admitted, his eyes scanning their surroundings. "But we can't stay here. We need to figure out who's behind this and finish the gauntlet."
As if on cue, a loud mechanical whirr filled the air. The arena's shifting walls began to move again, cutting off sections and forcing the remaining students into a tighter space. The final phase of the Shattered Gauntlet was beginning.
"Get ready," Erick muttered to Glory, raising his sword. "This is where it gets real."
From the distance, figures began to emerge other students, armed and ready for the final battle. Some looked determined, others desperate."30 people left." Muttered to himself,But there was something more sinister in the air now, something beyond the typical competition. Erick could feel it in his gut.
The royal rumble had begun….