IV. Way Worse

For once again, Silence dominates the room for a few seconds, Calea's eyes widened after hearing the name of the instructors.

'They're.. Wait, hold on a minute.. If their name represent their weapon of choice, does that mean..' She thought, remembering the words that Axe said earlier.

"To turn all of you, into a merciless weapon on the battlefield."

Before Calea could say what she was thinking, someone else stopped her by speaking to the instructors, "So that's what he meant by turning us into a weapon.." He said, Calea saw the boy's face smiling, as if he was looking forward to it.

"Huh? what do you mean by that?" Another boy asked him, when he was about to answer, Sword coughed to stop them and get their attention.

"Ehem– You, what's your name" Sword asked while pointing his index finger towards that boy who was smiling, to which he replied, "Hm?– My name is Mash."

"You're quick, but that's not enough." Sword said, "Come here."

Mash was ordered to approach Sword, his smile disappeared pretty quickly, at first Mash hesitated, mainly due to the mysterious nature of Sword and the other instructors, but when he was still standing still, Mash had a thought..

'If.. They kidnapped us here for a reason, and that reason is the one that im thinking, then– This will be my chance, my turning point! When those bastard from the academy kicked me out, i thought that my future ended there, but.. If i can do it one more time, even if i became someone's dog, even if i am not a leader– I still want to hold a sword! And fight stronger opponent!'

Unexpected by everyone, Mash gathered his confidence and prepared for the moment where he will gamble his thought to be aligned with the instructor, he walked forward with a face of someone that had nothing to lose, until he reaches the spot where he stand face to face with the instructors, who watched him above the platform.

"Mash, i like that face." Sword said, clearly interested with the boy, "Now, Mash– Choose, where do you want to be? Do you want to join me, as the Sword, or do you want to join the other instructor, i will give you the privilege to be the first slave."

That sentence Sword just said ignited the fire inside of all other instructors, they began smiling in excitement while watching Sword as he declares himself.

"Oi oi, i thought we're gonna explain it first– Well not like it matters, alright then Sword." Said the Spear Instructor.

"Hah! that fucker, always stealing the spot for himself." Said the instructor Axe, he seems to be quite frustrated.

"Way to go Sword, i knew we shouldn't give you the right to speak first." Said the instructor Dagger, his voice sounded surprisingly calm.

Now, Mash has to choose one of the instructor, it seems like this was more similar to a faction than a simple slave-master relationship, he gathered his thought, thinking which instructor he should choose, thinking about it again, there are 6 choices, however there's only one that stands out to him, and that is..

'Heh, do i really need to think?' He thought, a smile formed on his face once again, he moved his head up, staring at Sword with his eyes that's filled with determination.

On the other hand, Sword who saw Mash's glare also began to smile, he knew he wouldn't give the other instructors a chance, at that point, Mash's fate was sealed.

"I'll join you, Sword!" Mash boldly said as he pointed at Sword's face.

"Good choice Mash, that's what i need, those eyes you have, it will be fun." Sword responded, "Come, and stand infront of me."

Mash obliged and walked, he glanced at the other boys, including Calea, but his gaze seems different, he wasn't empathizing, but rather mocking them.

'I'm one step ahead than all of you.' Mash thought as he stopped, Sword's body towering him from behind.

"What is— happening..." Someone from the crowd asked.

Sword then continues his speech, "Now listen up you worthless piece of shit, i'll give you a decision within a set of time, choose your instructor and stand infront of them, you may change instructor as long as the timer is still going, only 10 people is allowed to join each instructor, if you failed to choose an instructor beyond that point, that will be your end."

"W- WHAT.. H- HEY H- HOLD ON—"

"You may choose.. Now" Sword said, causing chaos to ensue.

Nothing can be wasted, each second count, no explanation needed, Sword started his countdown from 10, and soon after, everyone at the field ran towards the instructors, most of them chosed the closest instructor, many people pushed each other for the spot, because as long as you are within the 10 people lined up infront of the instructor, you'll be safe.

"GET OUT! THAT'S MY SPOT!!"

"NO! FUCK OFF! IT'S ALREADY FULL!"

"THERE'S STILL 2 SPOT LEFT AT HAMMER!"

"AGHH!! DAMNIT YOU SHIT!!"

Meanwhile, Calea also tried her hardest to find a leftover spot, she frantically running and circling each instructor, but it was all full, there's 10 people in each of them, she looked around to see that there was only 4 people that doesn't have an instructor yet, and Calea was one of them.

"3..." That's the countdown from Sword, decision is the key here, Calea need to push one people off for the spot, but her heart hesitated, it's as if her heart doesn't want her to steal from others, but there's no choice left, Calea doesn't know what will happen if she failed to choose an instructor.

'SWORD SAID IT WILL BE MY END IF I FAILED, COME ON.. COME ON, I'LL DIE!! I'LL REALLY DIE!!' She screamed in her mind.

Then, Calea saw a boy who had a skinnier body than the others..

"1..."

'AAGHH!!!' Calea felt the adrenaline coursing through her body, the feeling of guilt was devoured by her survival instinct, she ran towards that boy at full speed, planning to push him off.

"h- Huh? W- WAIT WHAT ARE YOU DOING!!" The boy screamed, his face turned anxious, and he also felt adrenaline rushing in.

THUD!

Both Calea and the boy clashed, in that split second where Sword was about to announce the 0 number, Calea saw the world in a slow motion, her mind races, her surrounding looks like a playground, she was the spectator, while her shoulder hurts from the body clash, Calea saw the boy losing his balance, in that moment, she thought..

'That's it, fall for me.. Just die! die!– So that i can survive..'

"0.. Stop."

Sword's word felt like a needle that pierces through everyone's heart, their body reflexively stopped like a puppet, it's as if Sword had some sort of a power in his word that convinces everyone's subconscious to obey him, Calea froze her body when Sword announces the end of the timer, her eyes gradually slide to her side, in there, she saw the boy lying on the ground, he had fallen, and Calea stole his spot.

'I.. I did it– Right?' She thought, still anxious whether she's safe or not.

"That's the end of phase 1. Now, for those who failed.." Sword said, he raised his hand and pointed at each of the individuals who failed to choose an instructor, when Sword pointed his finger, Calea saw a mana string traveled from Sword to the failed individuals, that's when she knew what's about to happen.

'THAT! DON'T TELL ME—'

BOOM!

The collar that was on the boy who failed exploded, his blew into multiple pieces like what happened with Barfal.

"A- AAHH.. AAAGGHHH!!!" Another boy who failed screamed when he saw the fate of those who fails, he tried to run away from the open field, he will do anything to get out, but unfortunately there's no such thing as an escape route, that's just how cruel this world is.

"W- WAIT WAIT!! DON'T KILL ME—

BOOM!!

"S- S– Spare me.."

BOOM!!

Another collar exploded, and another head was taken, now it's the time for Sword to point at Calea's direction, this will determine who will survive, is it Calea, or the boy she pushed.

"...You're lucky." Sword whispered.

BOOM!

Due to a stroke of good luck and miracles, Calea survived the punishment, the boy's collar exploded, although some of the shattered pieces hit Calea's head and injured her, it was better than to die.

'...'

Calea who was covered in sweat and blood, gagged at the scene beside her, there was so much blood and pieces of brain and eyes that sticks to her skin, its making her dizzy.

'I.. I– I killed him.. I killed someone..' Calea thought.

"That was a beautiful last second performance, princess." Said Sword out of the blue.

Calea who heard her status being mentioned, instantly turned her head towards Sword direction, she saw Sword's malicious smile forming as she kept staring at him, Sword knew about her, he must've purposefully made her to be the only girl in this place.

"Congratulation, to all of you who succeeded and have chosen an instructor, now.. If you haven't seen them, turn around." Sword said.

Everyone obeyed his order and turned around, including Calea, she rotated her body, facing the instructor infront of her.

"Looks like i got some pretty interesting slaves, now if you didn't notice me earlier, let me introduce myself." The instructor said in a bored tone before turning his body around, letting everyone see the weapon symbol behind his cloak.

An electric shock hit Calea like a lightning, a normal surprise wouldn't fit as the correct description, she didn't expect this instructor to be the one she picked, that's because she had never seen or even knew about this weapon, Calea had no idea what she will do in the future now, with this instructor..

"Scythe..?" She said.