NINE YEARS

The sound of running footsteps grew louder and louder until it was a deafening roar, like a stampede of wild animals. The pounding of feet on the ground was almost palpable, shaking the earth and rattling nearby trees. It was an overwhelming sound, filling the air with a sense of urgency and excitement.

The whole woods seemed restless and the wildlife were all fleeing away from the sound of footsteps.

Due to the rattling of the trees most of the birds who had nested on them, quickly flew away to return at a later time of the day.

The different running footsteps, belong to a group of teenagers made up of different sexes.

They had on blue or black collarless polos that hugged their body showing their well-defined muscles.

As they ran, their legs stretched the plain matching colored pants of the polo's they had on which was partly covered below by sturdy military black boots.

At the forefront of this run is a 17-year-old with brown eyes and black hair. His eyes showed a fierce intensity and an underlying coldness within. His black hair bounced around his face with each step he took.

After each deep breath, he continuously pushed himself to go faster. He moved with an easy grace, his legs pumping like pistons as he covered the ground with long, powerful strides.

Not quite far behind is a young man probably in his early twenties in blue clothing. He had a fierce intensity in his eyes as he ran. His movements were fluid and powerful, his muscles rippling beneath his skin with each stride.

He breathed heavily, his chest heaving with each inhalation as he pushed himself to go faster.

The wind whipped through his hair, tousling it wildly as he ran, and his face was slick with sweat. He moved with a sense of purpose, trying to catch up with the first runner.

Following behind is a black teen with dreadlocks, he runs with a smooth, fluid motion. His face is set in a determined expression. His hair was pulled back and tied in a series of tight, thick locks, each one bouncing slightly with each step he took.

His dark skin gleamed with sweat in the bright morning sunlight, his feet pounding the ground with a rhythmic cadence as he pushed himself to go further and faster.

If there were any bystanders, he or she could have mistaken this as a normal marathon race on dirt terrain. But something was wrong with the runners.

The speed they were going was something impossible for seasoned athlete runners, over 5.2 seconds for every 100 meters, without it ever slowing down even after running over 30 miles.

The bystander would have had his or her worldview turned upside down if told that the race now was a 60-mile course done every morning by this group of teens.

Five who was at the forefront of the run, has grown in leaps and bounds, he is no longer that unsure young kid, but now a purposeful tall young man.

Even though he and a few didn't develop any powers or abilities, he got to find out that their body condition like the other's is actually above the threshold of normal humans ranging from stamina, strength, agility, mental fortitude, and IQ.

The only clear difference between the Neos and them was the special powers.

After this particular discovery, he was able to push himself and utilize what he had as much as he could and he succeeded, which he knew by his top placement in the training board of his sector.

The training of the Neos and them were different, they only had this daily 60-mile run together, and they went back to their sectors with their different trainers, who had different specific areas of specialty.

The sector was divided into two, Neo sector and Expendable. The meaning of his sector was blatantly clear, but everyone in it had a tacit understanding not to talk about it.

Raising his head he can already see the outline of the tall buildings, where their training grounds and sectors are.

He later got to know that they were actually on a big Island with the only sign of modernization being those buildings the rest was all unchartered woods.

He was brought back from his thoughts by the sudden intensified footstep coming from his back and he knew exactly who it was.

One Thirty was the only person who could catch up with him, even with his huge body his speed was nothing to scoff at.

It wasn't exactly a competition to finish first, but the competitive spirits of teenagers are something well known as they all struggled to overtake each other.

Not only One Thirty was trying to catch up, but the other's footsteps seemed to have increased as well and Five knew exactly why.

Today's 60-mile run was coming to an end, Five didn't stay around to get overtaken at the last minute.

He skillfully controlled his breathing and pushed himself faster. Soon he was crossing the big overhead signpost with the word "HELL" on it, which was placed on the rough makeshift entrance to the open ground surrounded by different tall walls and buildings and a tunnel at one side.

This has been their home for the past nine years.

But something was different today, running into the open ground, he saw two tall men standing close to each other, one in blue camouflage and the other in black.

The one on blue camouflage, had a huge dark shade on, which was doing a fine job of covering most of his expressions.

His beards were well-trimmed and maintained. He stood with his legs a little apart and his hands behind him.

While the one in black was also in the same posture, he had no glasses on and his beards were bushy and unkempt.

His eyes and face were expressionless, hiding whatever he was thinking or feeling, making it difficult for anyone to read him.

These two were the highest authorities here and referred to as Zero.

This was the second time they were seeing them, the first time was when they came out of the tunnel.

Almost everything they told them on that day had come true, they had indeed become stronger but also lost some of their comrades as their bodies couldn't adjust quickly enough to the hellish training they were subjected to.

Five and the others were wondering what they were doing here, they knew something big was coming up to have the two Zeros with their overbearing aura standing here once again after nine years.

Even with their growing confusion, they maintained the discipline that had been ingrained in their bones.

But instead of proceeding with the daily hundred push-ups after the run, they quickly arranged themselves and gave a salute to the two superior officers before them.

The blue camouflage Zero nodded, as a sign of acknowledgment before speaking. " Congratulations, your training is almost coming to an end." He paused for effects and continued. "But don't get too excited, you have three more tasks to complete before you officially become a Componere of PAX."

The hierarchical rankings of PAX were grouped into four Componere, Pacis Dator, Pacis Amator, Zero, and White.

The first three mean Peacemaker, Peace giver, and Peace lover.

"Go to your sectors, in 30 mikes your first task will be given to you, " the black camouflage Zero instructed.

They all saluted once again and briskly marched out to their sector, apprehension in their hearts about what the first task would be.

Five knew this would be the defining moment of his life, a chance to directly confront his fate.