Chapter-5 The Edge of Survival

Outside the Holo Bridge, from the Trial of Judgment. The crowd on the Holo Bridge was a chaotic some of desperation clung to those who had failed, their eyes darting for any chance of redemption, while hope and determination burned in the gazes of beginners still clinging to their dreams.

Near the edge of the bridge, a heated argument broke out among a group of failed beginners, their voices rising above the hum of the crowd.

"You left me to die back there!" one of them shouted, a wiry boy with a torn jacket and a trembling fist aimed at his accuser.

A tall, scarred girl scoffed, her arms crossed. "You were dead weight, Liam. If I helped, you we both would've been wiped out by that Spectral."

"You had a weapon my weapon!" Liam snarled, stepping closer. "You stole it when I needed it the most!"

She shrugged, the faintest smirk tugging at her lips. "Survival of the fittest, right? If you couldn't keep it, you didn't deserve it."

The tension in the air thickened as Liam lunged forward, his frustration boiling over, but another beginner stepped between them. "Enough!" he barked, shoving Liam back. "We're all failures now fighting each other isn't going to change that."

Liam glared daggers at the girl, muttering under his breath as he backed away. The group dissolved into uneasy silence.

In the midst of the chaos, Mira and Riven moved through the crowd, their sharp eyes scanning the faces in the crowd.

Riven glanced sideway at Mira. "I'm suprised he really managed to survive." He said.

"That's what I've been saying. To use abilities of a spacelock without energy... there's something unusual about him."

Riven frowned, his gaze narrowing. "But do you really think he'll make it? Passing this trial is one thing, but becoming an Exodite? That's another level entirely…he passed thanks to your weapons."

'My side dagger…won't he won't make it pass the spectres Uzrudos… there other begginer that already lost in the last trial even with help from others weapons.' Mira thought.

Actually, The Serpentine Wraith is also a Spectres, he had it easy it was all begginer first encounter. It's to help them understand the world of technology, far evolved of there owns.

To her she had already saw most about, both worlds at a young age. It was really focused upon her, she felt heartbroken she wouldn't wish that on someone so young.

That why to Riven he anguished for her, his situation was similar but opposite. She doesn't feel for him. Yet she help him…sometimes I knoticed she does it? How much tho…beside that I'm not the same.

Riven, noticed since meeeting her, she does quiet gestures of aid, couldn't deny the subtle admiration he felt for her. Despite the cold walls she'd built around herself after all she'd endured, in Riven's eyes, made her strength all the more remarkable.

"Uzrudos is different he is a element giant his abilities is far pass a weak serpentine wraith despite the wraith being overall stronger when evolved." Riven said.

"How about this…if…if he manages do think his personality is like what we need." Mira said.

"Maybe…well we also saw his change during the trials who to say he won't go back to his old ways."

Mira didn't answered again she really reflected on what the right answer of Aiden. When no one had noticed that she entered the, bridge to gave her dagger, Riven noticed because he knew the kind of person she is.

That a fact is people change in good or bad ways, when they become a Exodite. Same as it also expose what begginer are against, the ight with Uzrudos. Some spectres are he is one, its a kind of creature.

She sighed. My dagger are special but he don't know how to use it. She knew there a special properties from her dagger, that she gotten from a place of dangers on her own.

In the world of Runners, all creatures from the Phantom Dimension are collectively referred to as Spectres. The term, coined for its simplicity and ominous, are haunting, otherworldly nature.

All Spectres are, born from the fractured zones of the Phantom Dimension, are the primary adversaries of Exodites, haunting the zones with their otherworldly forms and evolving dangers. These creatures serve as both the ultimate test of survival and the source of power, as deaths fuel the Exodites' growth while pushing them to their physical and mental limits.

So, When Mira watched Aiden's resolve harden, her thoughts lingered on his transformation from a man cowering in fear to one who chose to fight back instead of running. There was something admirable in his refusal to submit.

While walking they went back to what there were going to do. While so begginer may have failed that doesn't mean that they don't have so kind of ability usefully. In fact to them it was better to search in begginer, than the one that are already Exodites recruiting them meet in zones.

Minute's later, ahead there was a group of Exodites gathered around. The group are divided into two.

Exodite, who were have been actively doing zones for a while, there are eager to leave and return to hunting, there zones.

The other group is, those who failed the trial of judgment that wants to join, a group of Exodites, because that is the only way of leaving beside passing the trials. Even when you defeat Uzrudos.

One of the fighters said. "The trials are brutal, but they're worth it. Only the strong can collect the crystals from the zones."

"Come on let me join the group i can prove my strenghts in other ways." Another Survivor said.

"Really…it seem like all the trials doesn't align with the abilities a Exodites has."

"Really what's the abilities."

"One main is speed."

The first exodite spoke again. " what about that kid? The scrawny one Jax, is it? What's he doing here? He'll never survive the first round."

Another exodite said. "You'd be surprised. I've seen kids like him before. Weak on the outside but stronger where it counts."

Riven shook his head as passed the group. "I don't know why they're wasting time talking about him. He'll be gone before the real challenges even start."

The group real objective was the were looking for people they could manipulate, using for there own in battle. So that why there dismissive to most.

There are some of the begginer who failed, deue to desperation from wanting something without caring about themsleves. some others are darker who will do worst if joined another group.

Some begginer changed after they became a exodite, physical corruption there also the mental the were strong.

That why Riven is a bit skeptical of Aiden, it came down to what will he really do if they help or accept him into the group. Exodites encounter many dangerous while it's safer to be in a group it bring attention.

Those who failed to become Exodites were cast aside, left to fend for themselves in a world teeming with Spectres and dangers far beyond their strength. Mira felt only a cold detachment toward their plight, while Riven wrestled with a mix of pity and disdain, questioning whether their fates were deserved or simply inevitable.

'So many Exodites awaken after a brush with death cracks in reality or specter from the Phantom Dimension pushing them to their limits. They survive, yes, but they're never the same. Scars run deep, inside and out, marking them as "chosen," yet that choice feels more like a curse.' She glanced at Aiden, his stiff movements betraying the pain he carried. 'But he's different. He doesn't just survive; he adapts, fights back. I admire that... even if I'll never say it aloud.'

'The Phantom Dimension changes people, and not always for the better. I've seen Runners lose themselves, consumed by the energy coursing through them. Their strength comes at a cost mental cracks, physical corruption. How long before it happens to Aiden?' Riven's thought.

Riven broke the silence, his voice low. "You ever wonder why people keep doing it? Becoming Exodites, knowing what the Phantom Dimension does to them?"

Mira didn't look at him but replied, "It's not like they have a choice. I don't think Aiden wanted this? He's just trying to survive."

"Yeah, but surviving comes with a price," Riven muttered, glancing at the faint glow of a scar on his own forearm. "You've seen it the corruption, the isolation. You think he's strong enough to handle that?"

Mira hesitated, her eyes narrowing as she watched Aiden move through the crowd. "He's strong enough to try, and that's more than I can say for most. People like him... they adapt. They fight back. It's not about strength it's about will."