End of the final trial

Alice and James quickly readied themselves to give Max the support he needed when they noticed other red monsters nearing them with an almost creepy smile.

''Sit!!'' Alice yelled making the effect of her skill widespread. The green line on her face glowed as she began to cough violently, feeling her throat flare with pain. The monster approaching began to stagger some sat on the ground while others remained standing.

Max and James quickly seized the opportunity, taking out the red monsters in a speedy and well-coordinated manner that showed off their growth and determination.

''ting, ting''

''ting, ting''

Alice suddenly felt a warm feeling down her throat, the warm sensation moved around for a bit before the lingering pain in her throat disappeared. Her safe zone was a green box that could only fit her, once activated she becomes invisible and undetectable like that of James' skill except hers can heal and make her recover the skills she has already used up. After recovering, the skill deactivates.

''Sit'' Alice recovered right on time to save James and Max from an ambush.

After defeating the red monsters, and leaving a bloody mess behind, James and Max approached Alice. Their bodies showed signs of fatigue, but their willpower remained strong.

Alice wished she could help but her current level prevented her from sharing the skill, safe zone with others.

''Danger, Danger'' The red monsters launched their axes with brute strength and deadly accuracy.

Max's soulless white eyes burned with fury and power as he raised his stick into the air, tensing his aching muscle before swiping at the incoming axes, like they were bugs. His feet were deeply rooted in the ground as he deflected the axes with the help of James.

The sound of the deflecting axes reverberated throughout the battlefield with a loud continuous bang.

Alice prevented the two from getting ambushed. Using her skill multiple times in a sort period, she continuously injured her throat in the process, which activated her safe zone skill. After recovering, she repeated the cycle.

The battle went on for an hour, many had succumbed to the heavy fatigue accumulated over time. Their bodies became sluggish, uncoordinated and numb, one by one the red monsters attacked the weakened blessed, brutally axing them before moving on to the next with a loud grunting sound.

Screams of terra escaped the throats of many as they witnessed the red monsters slice and dice others with just a single swing.

''fuck…I can't feel my arms…my legs feel broken'' Max was drenched in sweat, feeling his body slowly succumb to the claws of fatigue. He painfully glanced around to find the others in the same state.

Alice could not activate any of her skills, her throat was painfully swollen from the inside leaving her unable to speak while James felt intense pain in his back, shoulder, and arms which made just the act of holding his gun feel like hot coal was being poured on those areas.

The three were quickly noticed by a monster, disregarding their pain, Max and James moved closer to Alice. The three exchanged one final glance before, taking action.

''bang'' James fired a single shot before his skill promptly deactivated as pain shot through his whole body leaving him paralyzed state.

The bullet pierced the red creature's hand making it drop the axe, quickly Max appeared swinging his stick when he felt a sharp pain coursing through his vein, his stick disappearing from his sight as his body fell to the ground at pain's mercy.

The red monster slowly got up, taking its axe from the ground with delight in its creepy smile. At this point the three were completely incapacitated, Max could only watch on, as the axe was raised above his head, falling like a guillotine to divide his head from his body, when '' boom, boom''

The body of the red monster exploded into tiny bits of squirming flesh. The explosion caused the axe to miss the almost crying Max to the joy of the crying Alice and James.

'' you…. are... welcome'' a girl of unknown origin said as she stood over Max before her body fell limply to the ground.

The three thanked her in their hearts, seeing her as their guardian angel.

''ting!, ting!, ting!, ting!, ting!''

< final trial: protection of the marked ones has ended>

There was a sudden burst of bright green light which blinded many for a second before quietly dimming. The red monsters had all vanished with an even more intense burst of light with no trays left behind of their existence, all the dead bodies ignited into sparks of blazing light before rising to the skies in a sparkly motion.

'' I can move my body'' Max slowly stood up from the ground, his strength slowly recovering and his body ache quickly getting nullified as an electric sensation swept across his body.

''triple Max'' with his strength rejuvenated, James made his way to Max.

''we…. almost didn't make it'' Alice half-jokingly said as she joined James and Max.

'' We should thank her for saving you'' James glanced at the two. They all looked high and low but to their surprise they couldn't find the girl that saved Max. Unable to find her, they made sure to look for her another time.

They left their current spot, heading towards the heavily fortified hospital with the taste of victory in their heart. Their faces were as bright as day knowing their loved ones survived without exposing them to any form of harm.

The thick metallic door opened to the joy of the blessed, the marked ones rushed out like a river of water. Although the majority were over the moon with their profound joy, the minority broke down in tears. The hospital was now a mixture of explosive joy and mellowed sorrow.

Max hugged his mom with a racing heart and a soft smile, James lifted his grandma off the ground in his fit of joyous celebration while Alice tightly hugged his dad in the company of her brothers. Their hard work had paid off and they couldn't help but show it. 

In the black house of the president, inside the rectangular office; the formal working space of the president. Mr. White sat on the expensive and well-made leather chair with a sense of extreme comfort behind his expensive and well-crafted desk.

He slowly signed multiple papers without a bit of worry on his face. The office door promptly opened as a middle-aged woman walked with a tablet in hand, President White dropped his pen as his full focus went to the woman.

'' The United World Organization wishes to have a meeting with you, they say it's urgent'' She spoke in a lovely and well-mannered tone.

President White let out a chuckle before his orange-yellow eyes lit up '' those old farts just want to know how I gained a divinities blessing…. It's not a secret, just tell them Dr. Frost is the person they need to contact'' he said in a joking yet serious manner. The lady nodded in agreement, tapping her tablet to note it down.

'' The fatalities that occurred during this trial were almost neglectable…'' she briefly paused, taking a look at the president's reaction, he had a faint smile on, she then proceeded to continue '' Unfortunately one of the fortified buildings was breached by the monsters leaving 25 people with the bad luck penalty''

''I will speak to the other ministers to see what can be done about these 25 unlucky fellers'' President White sighed, finding the penalty very troublesome to deal with.

''Before the battles many claimed to have heard an unknown voice giving them courage' 'She said looking at President White with a suspicious stare.

President White's lips crawled up as he stared back at the lady '' that was one of my skills''. The lady smirked before continuing without delay, she had already known the answer.

''The low levels who you ordered to be placed at the front lines survived the battle, their performance seems to have sent a shockwave throughout the high levels rank. The high levels are eager to find out their identities''

'' Make sure their identities are kept secret'' The President grinned, his face displaying his unusual excited emotion. ''Also, inform the vice president, that she should declare publicly that tomorrow has been officially made into a holiday, and the blessed can rest at home with their families, today was very draining'' he added with his usual smile.

''Yes sir, I will be on my way out'' With that said she left without a problem.

''It seems I was right…. that boy…. and his friends are indeed harboring beasts'' Mr. White murmured inwardly.

25th January, 2025. The day after the final trial, Max woke up to a huge surprise, that made him giggle like a child.

''Ting! Ting! Ting!''

His face brimmed with excitement as his happiness burst out of his body like a fountain.

''hell yeah, finally a new skill' 'he excitedly yelled in celebration, his white eyes and crimson red hair shining brighter than ever unbeknownst to him.