First day ?

The first day of university had gone pretty much as expected. The weekly schedule was eerily similar to the one I had back in my old world. Lectures played out like they would at any normal college—professors doing their thing, droning on as if nothing outside the walls could ever matter.

To be honest, the lectures were kind of a drag. I didn't have PK or Minjae around, and without them, everything felt dull and distant. Just another mundane day, or so I thought. But it ended up taking a turn I hadn't expected—one that was strange, almost surreal.

My last lecture of the day was titled Field Research. What that actually meant was a mystery to me. In Luminance Inc., "field researchers" usually referred to heavily armed operatives—soldiers sent to investigate raptures first. So naturally, I assumed this class would be about safety protocols, dos and don'ts, how to not die horribly.

I was wrong.

Our lecturer, Mr. Kim, was a large, broad-shouldered man with a few faded scars crisscrossing his face and neck. He didn't waste time on introductions. Instead, he led us deep into the campus, past cold, sterile labs and the containment chambers for lesser raptures, giving a brisk tour along the way. Eventually, we reached our destination: a massive hexagonal room.

The floor was padded. Training equipment lined the walls. A smaller door stood ajar, revealing a glimpse of a shooting range beyond. One wall was completely lined with weapons—mostly melee—along with shelves of safety gear and protective suits.

It became very clear what Field Research was really about.

Combat.

Mr. Kim's voice echoed through the room, deep and commanding.

"Alright. Today is your first lesson. I'd love to ease you in slowly, but the world's not that gentle. So, we're starting with a basic evaluation. I want to see your foundation, your instincts, your raw ability."

"Form pairs and grab a weapon of your choice!"

I did as commanded, grabbing a pair of batons that felt decently balanced in my hands.

Looking around, most of the students had already formed pairs. In my major, there weren't many of us—at least not those who'd gotten in through the entrance exam. Most of these people were recruits or the children of Luminance Inc. employees. Legacy kids.

There was one guy who hadn't paired up yet. Medium-length black hair, eyes a strange shade of lilac—contacts maybe, or a side effect of exposure to a rapture.

"Hey man, you got a partner? Wanna team up?" I asked, trying to sound casual.

He turned to face me. His expression didn't change—flat and unreadable. He gave a slight nod, then motioned for me to follow. We set up near the edge of the room, waiting for Mr. Kim's go-ahead to begin sparring.

I wasn't gonna lie—I was nervous. I was many things in life: a coward, a liar, a nerd. But a fighter? Not one of them.

A moment later, Mr. Kim gave the order to start.

I took a basic bladed stance, holding one baton in front of me and the other tucked closer to my side.

The black-haired guy took a balanced stance . His weapon was a long staff, resting at his side, its tip angled just slightly toward me. His eyes locked onto mine—or maybe my shoulder. I couldn't quite tell.

The battle began.

And all I could do was pray I didn't get completely wrecked.