The Orb

The group stood in formation outside within the sprawling Mars military base, the vast expanse of the facility dwarfed by towering hangars and gleaming rows of parked tanks and massive warships. The sun cast a reddish hue over the landscape, bouncing off the sleek, reflective surfaces of the machinery and the fortified structures around them.A grizzled soldier stormed into view, his shadow stretching across the recruits. His presence demanded attention, his voice erupting with the sharpness of a blade."ALRIGHT, NEW BLOOD! LISTEN UP!"

His boots struck the hard metallic ground with deliberate force as he paced in front of the recruits. "YOU WILL REFER TO ME AS SARG! DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?!"

"SIR, YES, SIR!" the recruits shouted in unison, their voices carried on the dry Martian breeze.Arnik and his companions stood at the front, their uniforms marked with red tags. The rest of the cadets bore blue, but the red tags made Arnik's group stand out like targets. The distinction was clear—red tags weren't just a sign of higher expectations but also a promise of harsher trials ahead.Sarg's sharp gaze landed on the red-tagged group. His smirk lacked any trace of humor, his eyes narrowing as they locked onto Arnik. He stopped directly in front of him, the intensity of his stare enough to make the air heavier."You five. Step forward," Sarg barked.The group hesitated for only a moment, exchanging glances before stepping forward in unison, separating themselves from the rest of the recruits."BRING OUT THE SECTIONING ORB!" Sarg's voice boomed across the grounds.Two soldiers approached, carrying a large, glowing orb mounted on a reinforced table. The orb emitted a faint hum as it pulsed with light, intricate patterns swirling across its surface. The recruits began murmuring amongst themselves, their voices tinged with apprehension."This," Sarg began, pointing to the orb, "is the Sectioning Orb. Every single one of you will be assigned a Master—a seasoned warrior who will train you. Depending on your potential, the stronger your Master will be. But don't think that's a reward."He stepped closer, his voice dropping into a growl that seemed to echo in their chests.

"DON'T THINK SCORING HIGH IS A GOOD THING! THE STRONGER YOUR MASTER, THE MORE HELL YOU'RE GOING TO EXPERIENCE! SOME OF YOU MIGHT NOT EVEN MAKE IT OUT ALIVE!"

A ripple of murmurs spread through the recruits. "Is that even allowed?" one of the cadets whispered nervously.Arnik clenched his fists, his jaw tightening as he stared at the orb. His heart pounded in his chest, the weight of the moment pressing down on him like a lead blanket.Sarg's gaze swept over the recruits before snapping back to the red-tagged group. His finger shot out, pointing directly at Arnik.

"YOU IN THE MIDDLE. STEP UP!"

Arnik hesitated only for a second before stepping forward, his fists still clenched tightly at his sides. The glow of the orb reflected in his eyes, casting a faint glow over his determined face.Sarg leaned closer, his smirk curling into something far more sinister. "Let's see what you're made of, Red Tag."The orb pulsed as Arnik stepped closer, its glow intensifying with each passing second. Suddenly, it flared brightly, casting a vivid green light that bathed the surrounding area. A name materialized within the swirling patterns of the orb:Alaric Vayne.Gasps rippled through the recruits, and even Sarg's imposing figure seemed to pause for a beat. Then, he let out a sharp, grating laugh, breaking the tension."PAAH! AHAHAHA! LUCKY YOU!" Sarg bellowed, his laughter echoing through the base. "You just got yourself one of the best. Step up, CADET!"Arnik swallowed hard, his fists unclenching slightly as he took a deliberate step forward. Having no idea who he would be teaching him.

"NEXT!" Sarg's voice boomed once more, and Markus stepped forward, his jaw set as he approached the glowing orb.

As he drew closer, the orb pulsed, its light growing steadily brighter before erupting into a fiery orange glow. The name Malrik Crowne swirled into view, its letters burning brightly within the orb.

The other cadets gasped audibly, their murmurs spreading like wildfire through the ranks.

"Malrik Crowne?!""No way..."

"I can hear the church bells"

Markus felt his stomach drop. "I better not have gotten some psycho as a Master," he thought, his fists clenching slightly at his sides.Sarg's reaction was immediate and explosive. He burst into laughter, doubling over and slapping his knee. "O MAN, THAT'S RUFF, BUDDY!" he howled, his voice carrying across the base.Markus scowled, his unease growing. "What's so funny?" he snapped, trying to keep his voice steady.Sarg wiped a tear from his eye, his grin wide and almost cruel. "What's funny? Oh, you poor bastard," he sneered. "You didn't just get some psycho—you got THE psycho. MALRIK CROWNE!"Markus's breath hitched for a moment, but he quickly composed himself, straightening his posture.Sarg leaned in, his voice dripping with mock sympathy. "Man, I literally feel sorry for you. You're gonna wish you were in hell, cadet."Markus's mind raced, but he forced himself to remain calm. "We'll see about that," he said evenly, though his thoughts screamed otherwise. "Great. Just great.""STAND NEXT TO THE FIRST LUCKY ONE," Sarg barked, gesturing toward Arnik.Markus moved to stand beside him, his thoughts churning as the faint glow of the orb faded behind him. "This is gonna be a nightmare."Rose stepped up next, her movements steady yet cautious. The orb glowed softly, its light shifting to a delicate pink before solidifying into the name: Mochizuki Miu.Sarg raised an eyebrow, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Very interesting..." he muttered. He gestured to the spot next to Arnik. "Stand here."Rose nodded, moving into position. Sarg clapped his hands sharply. "Hurry up, sleepyhead! Next!"Aika shuffled forward, her eyes half-lidded as if she'd rather be anywhere but here. The orb flared with a vibrant purple hue, the name Zara Blitz swirling into view.Sarg gave a low whistle. "Another lucky one... Looks like you've got someone who's going to push you hard."Aika yawned but gave a small nod, stepping into place next to Rose.Sarg's sharp eyes turned to Kai. "YOU NOW!" he barked.Kai squared his shoulders and strode forward. As his hand approached the orb, it glowed white, almost blinding in its intensity. The name Rintarou Takashima appeared in bold letters.Sarg's expression shifted into something between amusement and pity. "Rintarou, huh? Seems like he's going to have another test subject," he said with a snicker, loud enough for the other recruits to hear.Kai's jaw tightened, but he stood tall, his face unreadable. Without a word, he moved to join the others, the faint whispers of the other recruits following him.Sarg clapped his hands again, his voice booming. "Alright! That's all of you red tags sorted. Now, get ready—because from this moment on, your lives are no longer your own!"Sarg stepped back, his smirk deepening. "Good luck!" he barked, a strange gleam in his eyes.Before anyone could respond, he pressed a button on the side of the table. Instantly, the red tags on the group's uniforms began to glow, emitting a faint but intense light.Rose's eyes widened as she looked down at her tag. "Wow, what the heck?" she muttered, brushing her fingers over the glowing emblem.And in an instant, the group disappeared.The recruits watching gasped in unison, murmurs breaking out among the blue-tagged cadets. "Where did they go?" one whispered.Sarg straightened, his smirk unwavering as he folded his arms. "Off to meet their Masters," he said, his voice casual but laced with a hint of amusement. "And trust me, they're not going to like it."The glowing orb dimmed, its task complete, as the rest of the recruits stared, wondering if they'd just witnessed a glimpse of their own future.