6. Assignment

The battlefield was silent, the once-rowdy proving grounds had become a graveyard, littered with bodies remnants of the brutal test they had just endured. Blood soaked into the dirt, the stench of death thick in the air.

standing—26B, 09C, and 14A—were barely in better shape than the corpses surrounding them. Their bodies bore the weight of exhaustion and injury, their muscles screaming in protest with every breath. Cuts, bruises, and blood marred their skin, but they were alive. That alone separated them from the failures.

Captain Ryuji stepped forward, his gaze cold and unreadable. "You four pass."

Four?

26B, 09C, and 14A exchanged brief, confused glances. There were only three of them left—weren't there?

Then, from in the shadows, a figure hesitated before stumbling into view.

00A.

His body was tense, his breaths uneven. He had been hiding.

The three stared at him, disbelief flickering in their tired eyes. They had thought they were the only ones who survived.

Ryuji didn't react to their confusion.

No celebration followed. No relief. The words rang hollow in the suffocating silence. The four barely had time to process them before movement stirred behind the captain.

A unit of soldiers emerged from the shadows, clad in dark combat gear. They moved with machine-like precision, stepping over the fallen without hesitation. Without ceremony, they began collecting the bodies of the dead. Some were dragged, others were slung over shoulders, discarded like failed experiments—because that's what they were.

The sickening sound of flesh scraping against the dirt filled the air, but none of the four flinched. They had learned by now: the dead were already forgotten.

Before they could dwell on it, another figure stepped forward.

Shiori.

Her silver-gray eyes scanned the survivors, expression unreadable. There was no sympathy, no recognition of their suffering—only cold efficiency.

Then, with a voice like steel, she uttered a single word:

"Restraints."

The soldiers obeyed immediately.

Heavy-duty metal cuffs snapped around their wrists with mechanical efficiency, thick chains rattling as they locked into place. The bindings crackled faintly with Rift suppression technology—designed to neutralize potential threats, to keep them compliant.

This was not a reward. It was a reminder.

Shiori didn't acknowledge their reactions. Instead, she turned on her heel, her voice sharp as a blade.

"Follow me."

Two armed guards flanked her, both with sheathed swords at their sides. Their presence alone made it clear—if any of the four resisted, they would be put down without hesitation.

They marched in silence toward the towering structure ahead.

Inside the Base

The transition from the battlefield to the military installation was jarring. The cold steel walls stretched endlessly, illuminated by sterile white lights. The entire facility hummed with the precision of a well-oiled machine. Armed personnel moved through the halls, their expressions hidden beneath their helmets.

Everywhere they looked, there were weapons, security checkpoints, and reinforced barriers. There were no windows, no unnecessary luxuries—only functionality.

The four were led into a secured holding room. The walls were bare, the only furniture a single steel table bolted to the floor. As soon as they entered, the reinforced door sealed shut behind them with a heavy hiss.

Shiori stood before them, arms crossed. "From this point on, you're under my command."

Her tone left no room for argument.

She paced slowly, her gaze flickering between them. "You'll be assigned to my squad. Two more will be joining us—they're human."

Then, she turned to them one by one.

"Names. You'll need proper ones."

She faced 26B first. "You… from now on, your name is Jin."

Next, 09C. "You'll be Raizo."

Her gaze shifted to 14A. "And you—Kaiori."

Finally, she stopped at 00A. There was a pause as she considered, eyes narrowing slightly. "…Ren."

The names settled in their minds like branding irons. Their old designations, the only identities they had ever known, were discarded in an instant.

Shiori leaned back against the wall, arms still crossed. "You probably have questions about how the RRD and HDF operate. Here's what you need to understand."

She explained the power structure—the Human Defense Force (HDF) as the global military overseeing human survival, while the Rift Response Division (RRD) handled Rift-related threats. The RRD wasn't just a combat unit; it also specialized in containment, experimentation, and weaponization of Rift energy.

"You weren't brought here to live normal lives," she continued. "You'll fight, you'll bleed, and if you're lucky, you'll survive."

A heavy silence followed, each of them absorbing her words.

Then, Jin—formerly 26B—shifted slightly, expression tightening.

"…What about my arm?"

Shiori glanced at him. His forearm bore a deep gash, the blood dried but the wound still raw.

"Can I get it treated?" he asked.

She studied him for a moment before responding. "Medical bay is down the hall. Once this briefing is over, you'll get it taken care of."

Jin exhaled slightly, nodding. It wasn't much, but at least he wouldn't be left to rot.

Ren—formerly 00A—spoke next. "What happens if we refuse?"

A smirk ghosted across Shiori's lips. "You won't."

Her voice was cold. "This is your reality now—accept it, or die trying to escape it."

No further arguments came.

Meeting the Squad

After the briefing, the restraints were finally removed. The four flexed their sore wrists, but there was no time to dwell on it—they were immediately led through the facility.

Their first stop was the medical bay, where Jin's wound was treated with a specialized Rift-sealing gel. The substance numbed the pain instantly as it began knitting the torn flesh back together.

Then came the base tour.

The facility was massive—training halls, armories, mess halls. Every corridor had cameras, every movement monitored. Even as recruits, it was clear—they were not trusted.

Eventually, they arrived at their squad's quarters.

The heavy door slid open with a hiss, revealing two figures inside.

The first was a young man with brown hair tied in a ponytail, sharp features, and an intense gaze. He leaned against the wall beside a massive spear, its blade forged from Rift Crystal, glowing faintly with restrained energy.

Shiori gestured toward him. "This is Kenji."

Kenji gave a short nod, expression unreadable.

Beside him stood a girl—Hannah.

She was slightly shorter than Kenji, athletic, with short black hair and piercing blue eyes. Her stance was relaxed yet confident, arms crossed. Twin Rift-forged short swords were strapped to her back, their hilts worn from use.

Shiori continued. "And this is Hannah."

Hannah tilted her head, eyes scanning the four new recruits before scoffing. "Took you long enough."

Shiori ignored the remark. "Starting tomorrow, we'll head to HQ to make this squad official. Until then, rest. You'll need it."

With that, she left them in the squad room, the heavy weight of their new reality settling in.

Tomorrow, everything would change