Stadium Zone

The man's tone shifted, carrying a note of intrigue. It really is, isn't it "I've only seen something this integrated in two others: Kikaru and Gavlin. Your shard's connection is exceptional, almost seamless."

Elias's eyes narrowed slightly at the unfamiliar name. Gavlin? Must be from another block.

"What does it even mean, though? These lines?" Elias asked, gesturing at the vibrant blue network visible on his scan. His voice carried a mixture of curiosity and unease.

The doctor tilted his head slightly, as if considering how best to explain. "From what we've observed so far—though I admit it's not much—it could indicate your affinity with soul energy or another similar energy source," he began.

He tapped a finger thoughtfully on the clipboard he was holding. "We suspect the shard is acting as a kind of conduit between you and the Ikona. They call themselves that because, at their essence, they are soul energy. To perceive them, you must already have soul energy within you."

Elias's brow furrowed. "So… they're part of us, in a way?"

"That's one way to think about it," the doctor replied with a slight shrug. "But I'm just the guy in charge of scans, not deep theory." He laughed lightly, covering his mouth with his hand.

"What I can tell you is this: while taking blood samples, I noticed tiny particles left behind—fragments, really. I've been able to synthesize them into small air pockets. For brief moments, I can even hear your Ikona's voice and catch a faint glimpse of them."

Dot shot upward, her interest immediately piqued. "Wait, you've seen me?" she asked, darting closer to the doctor. "Was I dazzling?"

The doctor chuckled, giving no direct reply to her question but grinning as he looked at Elias. "Pretty cool, right?" he said, his tone almost playful.

Elias blinked, processing the information. "Yeah… it really is. I bet all of this is fascinating to you."

"You're not wrong," the doctor admitted, stepping back slightly as he scribbled something on his clipboard. "But enough about that. We're done with the scans here." He set the clipboard aside, then walked over to a nearby counter, where a small medical kit lay. "Before you leave, though, I'll need to draw a quick blood sample. Standard protocol."

Elias nodded, rolling up his sleeve as the doctor prepared the equipment. The process was swift—practiced hands inserting the needle, drawing the crimson liquid into a small vial, and sealing it carefully.

"All done," the doctor said, motioning toward Oliver, who had been quietly watching from the corner of the room. "Go ahead and head down to the stadium zone with Oliver. They'll handle your physical tests and outfit you with the necessary equipment."

Elias pulled his sleeve back down and glanced at Oliver. "Stadium zone?" he asked, standing up from the table.

Oliver nodded. "You'll see soon enough."

Elias walked alongside Oliver, his footsteps echoing faintly on the sleek floor. The corridor ahead seemed to stretch endlessly, its design crisp and clean, almost too perfect. His eyes wandered over the glowing strips of light running along the ceiling, flickering softly with each step as if alive.

They came to a halt before a set of massive double doors. Elias tilted his head back, eyeing the segmented panels and faint markings carved into the surface. "Big doors for… whatever this is," he muttered.

Oliver pressed his palm to a control panel, and the doors slid open with a mechanical hum. As they parted, Elias's gaze widened, his steps faltering slightly.

The arena beyond was enormous. A sprawling dirt field stretched ahead, long and rectangular, easily the size of a sports stadium.

Wide white circles dotted the ground in a precise pattern, their clean lines stark against the earthy tones.

Elias glanced around as he walked with Oliver toward the center of the area. His gaze locked on a man standing in the middle, dressed in a black suit accented with green metallic panels that gleamed faintly under the arena lights. It was unmistakably the same design Elara had worn during the fight.

Snapping his fingers, Elias said, "I knew I recognized that face from somewhere." His eyes narrowed slightly. "You were at the fight with the other Ikona user, right?"

The man's expression was as cold and unyielding as Elias remembered. His tone was sharp but measured as he replied, "That is correct. You can call me First Lieutenant Yui Rakamaki. But since you're not in the military, just call me Yui."

Elias noted the stiffness in Yui's voice and let his gaze wander behind him, where a massive construct loomed. The machine stood over twenty feet tall, its surface layered with heavy metal plates that gleamed like armor. It exuded an intimidating presence, but Yui didn't even glance at it.

"Of course," Elias said, trying to keep his tone neutral. "That's fine. I just want to do whatever I can to… well, help prepare for the alien invasion. Now that we've surfaced with these Ikonas, we can be a strong force to fight whatever they are and protect everyone."

Yui's expression didn't change. With a harsh tone, he turned to Oliver. "Get him the training suit and leave. Come back in an hour—after I've beaten this one down."