Chapter 6 – The Arkaneum Trial Begins

The morning sky in Solmora City was still covered in a thin mist as Cain walked with Rin towards the gathering place for the Arkaneum test takers. The majestic buildings of Arkaneum towered around them, showing just how big this organization was in the world of Xenova.

Cain tightened his grip on her hand. Two days of training with Rin had not made him more confident, but instead made him realize that he was just a beginner in this world.

In front of them, an iron gate was wide open, revealing a large field where hundreds of participants had gathered. The sound of a crowd began to be heard, the chatter of participants who knew each other, as well as the sound of footsteps of the Arkaneum officers who were preparing to begin the test.

Before Cain could step inside, Rin suddenly grabbed his arm.

"Listen carefully, Cain." Her voice was flat, but sharp. "I can't help you from here. This test is not just about physical strength, but also cunning and survival instincts. If you're not careful, you could die here."

Cain swallowed. "Are you serious? There's a chance of death?"

Rin clicked her tongue. "You think Arkaneum accepts weaklings? This organization only takes those who are worthy. If you can't survive the early stages, then you're just an unnecessary burden."

Cain was speechless. He already knew that the test wouldn't be easy, but hearing Rin say it so coldly made it feel even heavier.

Rin released his grip and turned around, walking away without looking back.

"Hang in there, Cain. If you can't do it, then it's better to give up now."

Cain clenched his fists. He took a deep breath and stepped into the field.

As soon as he entered the field, Cain was immediately greeted by an intimidating sight. Hundreds of participants had already gathered in a line, each with a serious and focused expression.

An Arkaneum officer in a black robe approached Cain and handed him a small object. A metal tag engraved with the number '816'.

Cain stared at the number. 816 participants... that many?

He glanced around. The people here were not ordinary. Some naturally radiated Xenova, showing their skill in controlling this energy. Some looked ordinary, but their movements were calm and controlled, like experienced hunters.

Cain sighed softly. He felt like a small speck in a sea of extraordinary people.

"Don't give up yet," he muttered to himself. "I just have to endure, one step at a time."

Then Cain moved to one side of the field, looking for a place to wait. There was still some time before the exam started, and some of the participants seemed to have not yet arrived.

He looked around, trying to analyze the type of people who were taking this exam.

To his left, a group of large men were talking in low voices. They looked like soldiers or perhaps experienced adventurers. Their faces were covered in scars, and some of them even carried weapons even though they were only allowed standard equipment.

On the other side, there was a young man about 12 years old, with short hair and a serious expression. Although his body was small compared to the other participants, there was something about the way he stood, calm, confident, and a little intimidating.

Not far away, a silver-haired woman sat on the fence of the field, her eyes closed as if in meditation. There was no sign of power from her, but Cain could feel a strange atmosphere around her, like a gentle breeze flowing silently.

In another corner, a thin man in loose robes stood alone, observing the other participants with sharp eyes, like a predator choosing its prey.

Cain swallowed. The people here were not ordinary people.

He looked at his badge again. 816 participants... and only a handful would graduate.

An Arcaneum officer walked around the field, occasionally recording the names of newly arrived participants. Cain could see that the number of participants was increasing, although some were still absent.

"So there are still some who came late..." he thought.

He glanced at the entrance gate. Several people were still arriving, most of them walking quickly as if they didn't want to be late. Some looked confident, some looked nervous.

The atmosphere changed when a large man entered the field. His steps were heavy, and his gaze sharp like a wild animal. Some participants who recognized him immediately moved aside.

"That! Isn't he a former soldier?" someone whispered.

Cain tried not to pay too much attention, but it was hard to ignore the presence of such a person.

Time passed, and the number of participants was almost complete. Now all that was left was to wait for the official announcement from the committee.

Cain felt a sense of unease in his chest, but he suppressed it.

"Only need to survive, nothing more."

A loud voice suddenly echoed throughout the field.

"Attention all participants!"

A white-haired old man in a black robe stepped onto the podium in the middle of the field. His eyes were sharp, his gaze sweeping across all the participants as if he was judging who was worthy of surviving and who would fall first.

"Welcome to the Arcaneum Trial. Of the 846 participants present today, only a handful will pass. The rest will fail... or die."

"This test is not a game. No one guarantees your safety in it. Serious injuries are possible and in some cases, even death."

The previously tense atmosphere became even quieter.

Some participants looked at each other, some swallowed hard, while others remained standing straight without expression.

"If there are any of you who have doubts, who think this is just an ordinary test, or who are not ready to risk their lives, this is your last chance to leave. Once the test begins, there is no turning back."

He raised one hand, pointing to the gate behind him.

"We will give five minutes for anyone who wishes to withdraw."

It was quiet. No one moved at first.

Then, one person stepped back.

A man in his 20s with a sweaty face held his name tag with trembling hands. He took a deep breath, then hesitantly walked towards the exit gate.

Shortly after, two others followed.

Some of the participants who were still hesitant began to bite their lips. Some were trembling, clearly unprepared for the fact that this was no ordinary test.

Cain studied their expressions. He couldn't blame them. Not everyone could risk their lives just to join the Arcaneum.

However, he had no intention of leaving.

He gripped his name tag tightly, remembering the strange feeling in his dream, the feeling that he had to keep going.

"I have to survive… no matter what."

A few minutes passed.

The organizers looked towards the gate, making sure no one else was planning to leave.

Finally, the black-robed man spoke again.

"Your first test is the Endurance and Navigation Test," the man continued. "You will be sent to the Everhade Forest, and must reach the end point within the allotted time. There are no rules other than one: Survival. Oh, and of course… if you die, it's not our responsibility."

Cain felt his heart beat faster.

"Good luck."

The sky above the field suddenly vibrated with the sound of howling wind. Several participants looked up, their eyes widening as they saw four hovering vehicles descending from the sky.

Sky Drifter.

The sleek, aerodynamically designed vehicle slowly lowered its altitude, producing a strong gust of wind that blew away the dust on the field. Its underside glowed with a faint blue light, the Xenova technology that powered the vehicle pulsing softly like a beating heart.

Once the Sky Drifter landed smoothly, an organizer stepped forward and spoke in a stern voice.

"Participants, enter as directed. We will depart for the first test location in Everhade Forest!"

No one said much. With careful steps, the participants began to enter the Sky Drifter one by one. Cain followed the flow of people around him, his eyes observing the vehicle with curiosity.

The interior was spacious and modern, with chairs neatly arranged along the walls. There were no large windows, only a few transparent panels on the ceiling that showed the sky above. The atmosphere inside was quiet, full of tension hanging in the air.

Cain sat in one of the empty chairs, silently observing the other participants around him.

No one spoke.

Most had their heads lowered, some had their eyes closed, perhaps trying to calm themselves before the test began. A few just sat there with stiff expressions, focused on themselves.

Cain himself didn't know how to feel.

He had trained for three full days with Rin, but there was still uncertainty haunting him. He held the number 816 tag in his hand, feeling its cold texture.

The Sky Drifter soared into the air gently, with barely a jolt. The city of Solmora soon shrank in the distance, replaced by a vast expanse of green forest.

The Everhade Forest.

The place where the first test would begin.

A few minutes later, the Sky Drifter began to lower its altitude, then came to a smooth stop on the grassy ground. The door on the side opened with a soft hiss.

The fresh air of the forest immediately rushed into the cabin. The scent of damp earth, leaves blowing in the wind, and the natural silence of the forest felt so contrasting compared to the technology-filled atmosphere of Solmora.

One by one, the participants began to disembark from the Sky Drifter, setting foot on the ground of the Everhade Forest.

Cain stepped out, feeling the solid ground beneath his feet. The forest around him was dense, the trees towering with thick foliage that blocked out most of the sunlight.

He took a deep breath.

The first test was about to begin.

"The first test begins here: the Everhade Forest. This test is a test of endurance and navigation. You will walk through this forest to the end point."

The organizer pointed into the distance, though no one could actually see their destination.

"The end point is a ship docked on the other side of this forest. The requirement is simple, you must arrive there before sunset. There is no specific path, but if you want to survive, walk straight and do not deviate."

Cain narrowed his eyes. The instructions sounded too easy… and that made him even more suspicious.

The organizer continued, "One more thing. This is not just a test of endurance. The Everhade Forest is not empty. You may encounter various challenges along the way. How you overcome them? That is up to you."

The atmosphere grew tense. Some participants exchanged anxious glances, while others remained silent with serious expressions.

"Now, the test begins. Good luck."

Without further warning, the sound of a large gong echoed through the air, signaling the start of the first test.

As soon as the gong echoed through the air, all participants ran towards the Everhade Forest. The ground trembled under the footsteps of hundreds of people rushing into the dense trees. Cain ran along, feeling a cold breeze brush against his face as he entered an area filled with tall tree trunks and shadows lurking around every corner.

The footsteps around him echoed through the trees, but no one spoke to each other. Everyone was focused on their goal: reaching the ship before sunset. However, this journey was far from easy.

As Cain walked deeper, the air around him changed. The air that had once felt normal was now filled with a stinging humidity, accompanied by the faint scent of rotting flesh. The sunlight that should have helped with orientation was now blocked by the thick canopy, creating shadows that moved like dark shapes in the distance.

A few minutes after entering the forest, a rustling sound was heard from the bushes. Cain didn't think much of it at first, thinking it was just a twig being stepped on. However, the sound grew louder and closer.

Then, suddenly…

GRAAAAAH!

Out of the darkness, a black-furred creature with glowing red eyes leapt toward one of the tributes in the front row. A scream echoed as the creature grabbed a man and threw him to the ground.

"MONSTER!" someone shouted in panic.

The scream was like a trigger that turned the atmosphere into chaos. From various directions, other creatures began to appear, drawing the attention of the tributes who were now faced with their first obstacle.

These creatures had slender bodies and fast movements, with long claws that could tear through flesh with ease. They were "Vargmaw", forest predators that hunted in packs.

Cain held his breath, his brain working fast. He saw several participants fighting immediately, drawing their weapons or using their Xenova powers. Some were shooting fire, some were strengthening their bodies, and some were trying to run away.

A young man with short hair tried to fight the Vargmaw with a knife. His attack managed to scratch the creature, but not deep enough. In an instant, the creature pounced on him, knocking him to the ground.

"H-Help…" he muttered through broken breaths, before its claws pierced his chest.

Cain swallowed. He wanted to help, but his legs wouldn't move. His eyes were glued to the blood flowing on the ground, before he finally forced himself to run again.

Cain focused on trying to find an opening to escape this battle. "Don't stop, keep going," he thought.

He moved faster, avoiding unnecessary combat. However, before he could get far, a Vargmaw leaped at him with its claws outstretched. Cain reflexively rolled to the side, avoiding the attack just in time.

His eyes caught a gap in the trees, a more open path to continue the journey. Without thinking, he rushed towards it, knowing that this was not just a matter of physical endurance, but also of survival strategy.

Behind him, the sounds of battle still echoed, some of the sounds stopping suddenly perhaps because their owners were dead. But Cain did not look back.

As he ran, Cain almost stepped on a large root when his feet felt empty in the air. He gasped and stepped back step, realizing that the ground in front of him was a hidden swamp covered in a thin layer of leaves.

Nearby, another participant was not so lucky. He screamed as his body sank, trying to grab onto anything before being covered in thick black mud.

Cain took a deep breath, trying to calm his wild heartbeat. This wasn't just a test. This was a battle of life and death.

Why am I doing this? he thought. But deep inside, he knew the answer. The dream, the mysterious voice calling to him, it was all part of something bigger. If he didn't survive, he would never know what it all meant.

He was focused on one thing at the moment: reaching the ship before sunset.