Millenium : The Awakening of Heroes

Chapter 17: Chapter 17 : The Last Trial



On the other side of the Pandemonium, in a vast hall with cold stone walls, Hélène sat alongside Dôma, who was observing the candidates with intense focus.

"What do you think of the candidates?" Hélène asked.

"Well, some of them show great potential," Dôma replied with a faint smile.

"Which one caught your attention the most?" she asked, intrigued.

"I'd say 456 and also 77," Dôma answered, his eyes glinting with interest.

"It's true that 77 is something special," she said, her smile widening. "He's clearly in a league of his own. Do you think he'll pass the exam?"

"It's highly likely," he replied, scanning the room. "In fact, he's already here."

"That's true," she noted, her gaze shifting toward the entrance. "However, 456 hasn't arrived yet. With only two minutes left, I assume all the other candidates are here."

Dôma gestured toward one of the passages. "Take a look to your right."

Ikku and Yumé emerged from the passage, tears glistening in their eyes.

"We made it!" Ikku exclaimed, his face lit up with a mix of adrenaline and relief.

"Yes," Yumé replied, his golden eyes sparkling as tears streamed down his cheeks.

Hélène watched the last candidates enter. "456, huh? Very interesting," she thought.

A familiar voice echoed from the passage Ikku and Yumé had exited.

"You're walking too fast!"

Kenny stumbled out, exhausted but maintaining his trademark nonchalance.

"Who would've thought we'd all figure out the right answer?" he said.

"Yeah, it required some thinking," Ikku replied with a grin. "In the end, the correct answer was silence, not picking any number. Since we all made that choice, we gave the same response, and no one had to stay behind."

"Sure, but let's not forget we didn't exactly do it on purpose," Yumé added with a laugh, his cheerful mood contagious.

"The result is what matters," Ikku said, amused.

Kenny, annoyed, chimed in, "But you guys wasted so much time in the labyrinth when there weren't even any traps! I should never have listened to you and just trusted my instincts."

"Ikku's right ! the result is all that counts," Yumé affirmed, still smiling.

Hélène observed them with a knowing smile. "Very interesting," she thought.

She stepped forward and finally spoke, her clear voice echoing through the hall.

"Congratulations to all of you for making it through this fortress. This trial is now over. The 63 people present have qualified. These past two days must have been exhausting, so you may return to the ship and rest. Tomorrow will be the third and final trial. Please meet here at 9 a.m."

Ikku exhaled in relief at the announcement. A wave of determination surged through him; only one trial remained before he could finally join Nexus. His long-awaited goal was now within reach.

"Shall we head back?" Kenny asked, his face weary but satisfied. "I could use a hot shower and a good nap."

"Couldn't agree more," Yumé replied, nodding with a knowing smile.

Without delay, the three candidates made their way to the ship. Every step brought them closer not only to a well-deserved rest but also to their shared dream. The quiet of the evening enveloped them as the warmth of the setting sun gave way to the cool evening breeze. They boarded the ship, ready to enjoy a moment of peace before the storm that the final trial would undoubtedly bring.

The next morning at 9 a.m., all the candidates had gathered. Ikku, Kenny, and Yumé waited nervously for the announcement of the final trial.

"Just one more trial, and we'll have made it," Ikku said, clenching his fists with determination.

"I wonder what it'll be this time," Kenny mused, his face serious.

A man slowly appeared in front of the candidates, walking with his hands behind his back. He was an imposing figure: bald, easily over two meters tall, with a slightly tanned complexion that contrasted with his thick eyebrows and deep-set dark circles. Dressed in a black t-shirt and green fatigues with large black boots, he exuded an air of severity. He appeared to be in his fifties.

When he finally spoke, his deep voice resonated:

"Good morning, everyone. My name is Sig. Congratulations on making it this far. This final trial will determine who is worthy of joining Nexus. Before we begin, you'll notice several guards around you. Please approach them to receive a randomly assigned number."

The candidates moved to the guards to collect their numbers.

"I've got number 2," Kenny said, holding up his slip of paper.

"I'm number 3," Ikku added, raising his own.

"I've got number 1," Yumé chimed in with a grin.

They wondered what the mysterious numbers could signify as they returned to Sig, who waited patiently.

"Does everyone have their number? Good. Follow me."

The candidates walked together toward the island's interior. After a few minutes, they ascended a long slope leading to the top of a mountain. There, suspended over a void, were three large round platforms resembling combat arenas.

"Arenas?" one candidate remarked, puzzled.

"Exactly," Sig replied with an enigmatic smile. "The numbers you received correspond to the arenas in front of you. Each of you will proceed to your assigned arena by crossing the bridge that leads to it."

Ikku headed toward the platform marked with his number, a growing sense of apprehension rising within him.

"In this trial, we'll all be separated," he thought. "But maybe that's for the best."

Once all the candidates were on their respective platforms, Sig picked up a loudspeaker and continued his explanation:

"This final trial is very simple: it's a battle royale. Your goal is to eliminate as many candidates as possible by throwing them out of the arena. Those who are ejected will be eliminated. This trial will last for 30 minutes. At the end of the countdown, if more than three candidates remain in any arena, all candidates in that arena will be eliminated. If three or fewer candidates remain, they will qualify. Don't worry about those who fall; there's a lake below."

Sig paused, letting the tension build before revealing one final piece of crucial information:

"One last thing: the space within each arena will gradually shrink throughout the trial. Good luck to you all. Let the trial begin!"

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